Manderly's Navy and Heavy Horse

[assjfjgjsgjljljglgjfjsduar]

I think a lot of this hinges on 1. where Robett Glover is; he didn't come to Winterfell with Manderly and 2. when and whether Davos gets Rickon back. If Glover is leading a "shadow" force behind Manderly's Winterfell contingent — they could be sitting outside the castle and no one on either side would know — and if Manderly gets word that Rickon is secured, then the men Glover's leading (hypothetically) would be in a good position to relieve Stannis' men at Winterfell and/or other Manderly men inside who've switched sides.

The navy's use puzzles me, given that they don't have enough to take King's Landing and the ironborn threat is on the other side of the continent. But I'm sure he knows what he's doing. :P

ETA: Unless they use the navy to land a sneak attack on the Dreadfort. Never thought of that, but it makes sense. I doubt Bolton left that many men there.

[Lord Damian]

I think a lot of this hinges on 1. where Robett Glover is; he didn't come to Winterfell with Manderly and 2. when and whether Davos gets Rickon back. If Glover is leading a "shadow" force behind Manderly's Winterfell contingent — they could be sitting outside the castle and no one on either side would know — and is Manderly gets word that Rickon is secured, then the men Glover's leading (hypothetically) would be in a good position to relieve Stannis' men at Winterfell and/or other Manderly men inside who've switched sides.

The navy's use puzzles me, given that they don't have enough to take King's Landing and the ironborn threat is on the other side of the continent. But I'm sure he knows what he's doing. :P

ETA: Unless they use the navy to land a sneak attack on the Dreadfort. Never thought of that, but it makes sense. I doubt Bolton left that many men there.

Yes and it would take away a strong place to retreat to. Ramsay did seem like a "pinned" down person in hiding when he sent that letter, it it was him that sent it.

[bbqq]

I never thought of a two pronged attack. I do not know how many men Bolton left to defend the Dreadfort but if there are any survivors from Winterfell like say, OLD NAN or Beth Cassell that could give whitness that it was Ramsay that razed Winterfell and not Theon, then that might help spread even more dissent towards the Boltons. i think that Wyman is resolved to die though, he was relieved that his heir was back and he did tell Davos that he is now a prisoner of his own body. I think Lord Wyman and his men, win or lose, will go down fighting in Winterfell against the Frey/Bolton faction. The main host to be lead by Glover will act either on Winterfell as support or maybe on the Dreadfort. All this, once Rickon is securred ofcourse.

I agree, Glover is going to play a bigger part in the next part of this war. Wyman said that he didn't trust anyone in his council, but he clearly trusts Robett, and unless Galbart returns (where is that guy, anyways?) then Robett is heir to most of the lands in the Wolfswood, and the Dreadfort and Karhold are easily accessible by sea with the majority of their soldiers occupied with events at winterfell. With the allegiance of the Umbers, Wyman and Robett have the allegiance of most of the north (excepting the Barrowlands and the Rills, I don't know how they will play out) in their pocket already, providing they take the Dreadfort.

[CrypticWeirwood]

I do not believe that Manderly intends to go gently into the dark night. He’s a schemer, even a fighter, not a suicide. He’s got lots up his copious sleeves.

[SynthFG]

The navy's use puzzles me, given that they don't have enough to take King's Landing and the ironborn threat is on the other side of the continent. But I'm sure he knows what he's doing. :P

ETA: Unless they use the navy to land a sneak attack on the Dreadfort. Never thought of that, but it makes sense. I doubt Bolton left that many men there.

No other force has a navy on the East Coast now the Redwyne Fleet is on its way home,

The Nightswatch fleet has been wrecked,

The Crown/Lannister fleet was burned on the Blackwater along with the Baratheon fleet. The rebuilt ships were later stolen and are probably now in either Esos or the Step Stones

Salador San's fleet has been greatly diminished by wrecking and is now in the StepSones

As far as we know the Vale only has a small fleet for local patrols,

There is nothing to stop the White Harbour Fleet escorting a squadron of impressed merchants all loaded with troops to the Blackwater

[Arthanis]

Manderly fleet will be only force able to engage returning Ironborn fleet.

[Lord Damian]

Stannis, certainly with his background would make imediate use of those ships to transport Massey's sellswords.

[Ghost714]

Stannis, certainly with his background would make imediate use of those ships to transport Massey's sellswords.

Why would he need to, when he has enough gold to hire Sellsails? The smart thing to do would be to keep the Manderly Fleet in the North, where most like, it will be gravely needed soon. The Iron Bank basically gave Stannis a blank check, he can hire all the Sellswords he needs, and the ships to carry them, no need to use the only ships they have, for anything other than the North.

[Paurush]

Just a small point, but the Manderlys have been in the north for a thousand years, by all accounts I've seen.

Sorry about the wrong time duration !

Was just trying to imply that even though being the newest of the north men houses they still know the north well and are no fools !

[Lord Damian]

Why would he need to, when he has enough gold to hire Sellsails? The smart thing to do would be to keep the Manderly Fleet in the North, where most like, it will be gravely needed soon. The Iron Bank basically gave Stannis a blank check, he can hire all the Sellswords he needs, and the ships to carry them, no need to use the only ships they have, for anything other than the North.

Why buy more ships if you do not need them, buy more swords. Yes, debts have to be repaid, Stannis will want the money spent where he needs it the most. He is not frivolous

[Xanrn]

Trouble is what sellswords.

The Golden Company is invading Westeros and the rest are seemingly at the Slaver's bay. About to become Danys army.

Nah Massey is going to pull a Daeron and end up the same way.

[Silent_Hero]

Trouble is what sellswords.

The Golden Company is invading Westeros and the rest are seemingly at the Slaver's bay. About to become Danys army.

Nah Massey is going to pull a Daeron and end up the same way.

The ones at Mereen are the biggest and best of the Mercernaries but there's still more out there, like the one Oberyn Founded.

[aryagonnakill]

I believe that manderlys fleet will be waiting for davos to return and that as soon as he does they will sail to either karhold or the dreadfort or both. Both targets are very close to the water. Stannis was persuaded by Jon to attack Deepwood Mott rather than the dreadfort due to the dreadforts high stone walls, however stannis had come to the same conclusion as many of you that there are not many men left at the dreadfort. Since manderly is also aware of the karhold plot it is also likely that he will strike karhold. Karhold is also on the sea which does not freeze quickly, as opposed to the Dreadfort which is up a river which many have pointed out would have been frozen

[MadMage]

I figure Manderley is angling for the title of Warden of the North and/or foster parent of Rickon Stark once Davos returns with the kid.

As for his plan, I question the identity of the ghost of Winterfell. At first I thought it was Mance, but what if it's someone in cahoots with Manderley? Certainly someone that can protect him in the shadows or potentially offer an avenue of escape.

[PrinceHenryris]

Do we know what kind of horses Wyman considers "heavy horse"? In ADWD it's noted that Northern garrons fare better than the Southron destriers. Maybe Manderly's horses are a breed well suited for a Northern war?

[mbuehner]

Weren't the ships mentioned to be unsuitable for the open sea? That pretty much narrows downs the possibilities. Recall that Manderly previously sent a releiving force up the White Knife to relieve Winterfell after Theon's raid. I think its pretty likely that the ships are meant to support armies at or besieging Winterfell. The Dreadfort is an empty sack if the Bolton's aren't in it, and Northmen might sieze Kings Landing (succeeding where Stannis failed?) but couldn't hold it with no supply lines... assuming they survived the passage. Best guess is Manderly is satisfied because Davos and Rickon have been brought up the Whiteknife and are ready to drop the Manderly hammer on the Frey/Ramsey flank and use the ships to supply the siege of the remaining Boltons in Winterfell.

[Free Northman]

Weren't the ships mentioned to be unsuitable for the open sea? That pretty much narrows downs the possibilities. Recall that Manderly previously sent a releiving force up the White Knife to relieve Winterfell after Theon's raid. I think its pretty likely that the ships are meant to support armies at or besieging Winterfell. The Dreadfort is an empty sack if the Bolton's aren't in it, and Northmen might sieze Kings Landing (succeeding where Stannis failed?) but couldn't hold it with no supply lines... assuming they survived the passage. Best guess is Manderly is satisfied because Davos and Rickon have been brought up the Whiteknife and are ready to drop the Manderly hammer on the Frey/Ramsey flank and use the ships to supply the siege of the remaining Boltons in Winterfell.

The ships are seagoing war galleys. It is his crews that aren't used to sailing the high seas in autumn. That's why he needs Davos.

[HMFIC04]

Folks,

Research a little event called "Battle of Pskov" and Alexander Nevsky...

[Dornish Bannerman]

Yes, Manderly has got seagoing war-galleys, and he is most likely hoping to become the most powerful lord of the North. With the possibility of taking Rickon as a ward, he would be able to turn Rickon into his puppet as he is Warden of the North and Lord of Winterfell.

His heavy horse are most likely knights in the same manner as Southrons. They would be heavy armed, but more like the northern soldiers.

[boom]

How is it Manderly has this large calvary intact, why weren't they sent south with Rob Stark.