What should Stannis have done after Renly's death?

[Floki of the Ironborn]

Assume that you're Stannis. It's the  early morning after Renly's death. Fifteen thousand cavalry, including several high ranking lords of Westeros, are swearing their allegiance to you. The siege of Storm's End is still on, Loras is fleeing back to Bitterbridge, and King's Landing is fearfully awaiting your expected arrival.

What do you do?

 

[James Steller]

Simple.

Stannis orders Davos and Lord Velaryon to maintain the siege of Storm's End. He then takes all his cavalry and rides to Bitterbridge to gather the infantry who follow those lords who just swore allegience to him. Based on that immediate departure date, he presumably arrives just as Loras and Randyll are trying to take charge of an utterly confused camp. Stannis rides in and takes advantage of the chaos, hopefully killing Loras and/or Lord Tarly.

From there, he consolidates his forces and returns to Storm's End to regroup, take the castle, and maybe summon some more men from the Stormlands. I also send out spies to see what Tywin and the remaining Tyrell forces are up to as I march on King's Landing. And if I really get to decide what Stannis does, I send a raven to Robb Stark, offering to meet with him after the Lannisters and Tyrells are dealt with.

[JLE]

March straight on King's Landing. Storm's End may be defying Stannis, but poses no military threat to Stannis's army in the field, if he leaves it alone, they have no soldiers to assault his rear. Hit King's Landing before the Tyrells have a chance to change sides, while Tywin is still penned up in Harrenhall, and before there is any chance of communication between Lannister and Tyrell. (With the added bonus that Tyrion's harbour chain would not have been ready yet, and there wouldn't have been half as much wildfire to deal with, although there was no way of knowing that.)

Then Stannis would be holding King's Landing: Joffrey and Cersei would be dead, Tyrion dead or captured (I assume he would not be able to flee, but there is less reason to execute him if he surrenders: whereas Joffrey and Cersei simply must die as traitors, Tyrion can say he was fighting in good faith for one that he genuinely believed to be the rightful Baratheon heir, and if taken alive, might be sent to the Wall instead.) Whether Sansa is executed by the Lannisters, or falls alive into Stannis's hands, would be anybody's guess, and would depend on whether Ilyn Payne followed orders.

Stannis might then be besieged in King's Landing by either Tywin or Tyrell or both, but with command of the seas, he could escape if the siege went badly.

And meanwhile in the north, Robb Stark still gets murdered at the Red Wedding regardless of *who* wins to the south.

[Adam Yozza]

Just now, James Steller said:

Simple.

Stannis orders Davos and Lord Velaryon to maintain the siege of Storm's End. He then takes all his cavalry and rides to Bitterbridge to gather the infantry who follow those lords who just swore allegience to him. Based on that immediate departure date, he presumably arrives just as Loras and Randyll are trying to take charge of an utterly confused camp. Stannis rides in and takes advantage of the chaos, hopefully killing Loras and/or Lord Tarly.

From there, he consolidates his forces and returns to Storm's End to regroup, take the castle, and maybe summon some more men from the Stormlands. I also send out spies to see what Tywin and the remaining Tyrell forces are up to as I march on King's Landing. And if I really get to decide what Stannis does, I send a raven to Robb Stark, offering to meet with him after the Lannisters and Tyrells are dealt with.

Wouldn't have worked. Much as I like Stannis, those 16,000 cavalry wouldn't have been able to defeat the 50k men at Bitterbridge (at least) and I doubt his men would be all that willing to fight their countrymen (we see how easily they defect during the Blackwater.

Personally, I'd send a few dozen men to watch the roseroad and intercept any messages going between the Tyrell's and the Lannister's; that would lead to hopefully capturing Petyr Baelish and voila, no alliance with the Tyrell's. While I'm marshaling some more troops from the Stormlands, I'd send the fleet off under Lord Velaryon's command to ferry the Narrow Sea and Crownlands troops to capture places like Duskendale, Rooks Rest etc and erode Crownlands support from Joffrey.

With my numbers bolstered and knowing that Robb Stark was raiding in the west, I'd wait until I receive reports that Tywin has marched from Harrenhal (as he would, logically, have to do) before marching on King's Landing much like in canon, except with Velaryon in charge of the fleet they wouldn't be caught unaware by the chain and possibly the wildfire, reducing casualties. Still, even with Tywin locked in the West (as far as I/Stannis would know) and the Tyrell's neutral in theory, I'd aim to take the city quickly. The Narrow Sea forces would defeat the sortie's and start bringing assaulting the mud gate while the Stormlanders and Reachmen cross the Blackwater and use superior numbers to attack multiple gates, spreading the defenders too thin to have any chance of success. Once I hold the city, I may face a problem in the form of Tywin Lannister but holding the defensive position, and having similar numbers (in theory) I should be able to defeat him and if not, I can retreat to the fleet with a decent force of men and leave Tywin considerably weakened. 

Joffrey and Cersei would be dead, Tyrion either dead or captured, Lancel dead, everyone important in King's Landing either dead, imprisoned or sworn to me/Stannis and; depending on how quickly the Narrow Sea forces captured the coastal settlements, they may even have been able to take Rosby and capture Tommen.

[Coolbeard the Exile]

It is easy to say when we know what happend what was the right decision for Stannis to do.

We know that Tywin and Mace were able to reach King's Landing before Stannis could take the city so obviously going to Bitterbridge would be the better thing to do but Stannis didn't know that. 

I think that with the knowledge Stannis had that going for King's Landing was the best option.

He knew that King's Landing was relativly lightly defended and there should have been no way for Tywin and Mance to get to King's Landing so quickly. He didn't even know about the alliance between House Tyrell and House Lannister at all.

If he would have taken his army and gone after his infantry he would have lost time and troops in the endeavour.

He knew that Mance had 10,000 troops at Highgarden, that Loras took 4000 cavalry with him and that likely tens of thousands of more infantry would be on Tyrell's side.

He very well might be able to beat them but it would bloody his forces and allow the Lannisters to further fortify King's Landing. It is not a very good deal in comparison to swiftly capturing King's Landing.

This is how i would have done if i were Stannis

I would have sent more knights to recruit the infantry at Bitterbridge, maybe a couple of thousand.

I would have had Guyard Morrigen fight Cortnay Penrose and if he lost i would have killed him with a shadow assasin.

I then would head straight for King's Landing.

I would also send an alliance proposal for Robb telling him that i am just and that his dad died because he thought i should be king and that i would pardon him.

I would have made sure to kill Tyrion's clansmen aswell as pushing outriders further west.

I would also give explicit instructions for Imry to scout upriver with the swiftest ships and check out those winch towers.

 

[Lady Blizzardborn]

Early morning? I'd have breakfast. Easier to think, plan, and strategize on a full stomach.

[James Steller]

1 hour ago, JLE said:

And meanwhile in the north, Robb Stark still gets murdered at the Red Wedding regardless of *who* wins to the south.

The Red Wedding originated from Tywin's planning and negotiating. He only began arranging it after he defeated Stannis. The longer Stannis lasts, the longer the breathing space Robb gets to arrange for the North's liberation from the Ironborn.

[Robert Baratheon's hammer]

If Stannis were to take Kingslanding sooner and have Joffery executed. Would the Tyrells still form an alliance with the Lannisters? I suppose tommen is still alive so why not but at this point the boltons and the freys may not want to change sides leaving the Lannisters in a poor position to say the least.

littlefinger may tell Lysa to get the vale on the Lannister side as he fears what stannis would do to him.

But to answer the question If I were Stannis I would have left for Kingslanding before claiming Storms End. 

[Lady Blizzardborn]

2 hours ago, Robert Baratheon's hammer said:

If Stannis were to take Kingslanding sooner and have Joffery executed. Would the Tyrells still form an alliance with the Lannisters? I suppose tommen is still alive so why not but at this point the boltons and the freys may not want to change sides leaving the Lannisters in a poor position to say the least.

littlefinger may tell Lysa to get the vale on the Lannister side as he fears what stannis would do to him.

But to answer the question If I were Stannis I would have left for Kingslanding before claiming Storms End. 

If Stannis had taken King's Landing a great deal of the realm would have decided he'd won. Tommen would likely have been found and killed. Myrcella, being in Dorne, would have stood a chance of surviving. The Martells had the power to protect her or get her safely out of the country.

A Tyrell-Lannister alliance at that point would require Margaery to marry Lancel or one of his brothers/cousins.

[The Hoare]

Arrange a marriage between Shireen and some Tyrell.

With the power of Highgarden he would surely win

[Leo of House Cartel]

If Catelyn couldnt be found, Id quickly send out ravens to Winterfell, Riverrun, The Twins, White Harbour, Last Hearth and Barrowton offering terms of alliance to The North and Riverlands. By bringing The King in The North over to his side, The Mannis could have added sympathy - "His brother was The Neds best friend, both lie dead at the hand of those Lannister bastards!" Stannis' mantra of "Stark would steal half my kingdom from me" must have been heavily ego induced, seeing as Stannis would have know that Robbs' forces probably also considered him the true Baratheon heir, so would have having "half the kingdom" fighting for similiar reasons to you really be so bad? Stannis must have known he would never be able to hold The North once the fighting was done.

Securing Catelyn would obviously have sped this process up, and her companion Brienne would certainly have came in handy too. Tarth could have acted as a fine "secret base" for Stannis' Blackwater Armada, should Brienne and Cat be brought round to the idea that "It was those cursed Lannisters who sent the Shadow." Stannis could have lied and told Cat of how "Jon Arryn came to me, speaking of shadows chasing him." 

Stannis could also have sent out fake letters under the guise of Renly. Perhaps a letter to Highgarden ordering forces camped there to begin the march for Kings Landing? I don't know if this would even be possible, but a couple of "false flag ravens" from Renly/Stannis could certainly have had the potential to divert The Lannisters attention before the attack on Blackwater commenced. 

 

 

[PCK]

Two things. Either go directly to the Tyrells and make an alliance with them, or as was said, go straight to KL and ignore Storms End.

In reality, if you read Stannis closely and what he says, it's no wonder people won't follow him. And this is not even taking into account he doesn't follow the seven.

[devilish]

a-            Take as many troops and supplies as possible away from the Stormlands and land them to Dragonstone. Irrespective of how many soldiers the Lannisters-Tyrell can master. They won’t be able to take dragonstone without losing most of their forces. Therefore Stannis men will be safe.

b-            Send Ravens to Robb. Renly is dead, the Tyrell-Lannister alliance is imminent and there’s no way in hell the young wolf would survive this. The time of pettiness is over. Stannis will offer Robb a trip to white harbour and a 20k army at his disposal if the latter commits himself to fight for Stannis claim and offer his family + men asylum. Robb can keep the North for himself once the war is over.

c-            Stannis fleet will escort Robb and his man to white harbor. It would then go to dragonstone to transport Stannis men to the same destination. Meanwhile Melisandre will be encouraged to create more shadow babies. Margaery, Tywin and Joffrey will be the next targets.

d-            Robb would probably march his men north to secure Winterfell. In his absence, Stannis should lead his troops  to secure Moat Cailin. Once the road to the North is open again, Riverland Lords will be able to find refuge to the North. Hopefully that would further boost their army

e-            Dominance at sea is paramount. Lord Manderly will be encouraged to build more ships. Meanwhile Stannis fleet will set sail to Arbor to take the Redwyne’s fleet by surprise. By doing so, it would disrupt the crown plans of attacking the North by sea.