After much work, we are pleased to announce that the manuscript known as "The Crandal Manuscript" has finally been restored and translated. It was found in surprisingly good condition given it's age, and most of the words have been recovered. It is apparently an eyewitness account of a battle for which we have no other actual history. The author mentions the onset of an unusually brutal winter, so, it is our suggestion to examine know tree ring data for potential dates for this so-called "Battle of the Bastards". There are also some clues in the manuscript which may lead us to the site if we can get funding for a search. I believe recognition is in order for our entire team for their tireless efforts on this project. Enclosed is the full translation.
JCF
Introduction
The rulers at Winterfell have ordered that no ravens be sent regarding the transfer of power in The North, but, by the time that this correspondence reaches you, it will surely have been preceded by rumors. It took several weeks for this report to be compiled, given my other duties here, and it will take as many months for it to travel the length of the continent and reach you (if you receive it at all). I sent it along with a wandering crow. I stressed to him that this was Citadel business of the greatest import, but, he seemed an unlettered fellow, and I have no doubt that there is an even chance that this document may find use as privy paper before it reaches Oldtown.
This Night's Watch brother and Lord Jon Snow spoke for a long while, and from their conversation, I garnered some understanding of the recent events at Castle Black. The Lord Snow, advised the brother to bypass King's Landing, go straight on to Oldtown, and, when there, to look up one of their own who is studying at The Citadel. The stated reason for avoiding King's Landing was the unpredictable political situation there, but, I am of the opinion that Jon Snow wishes to control any information about the situation in The North which reaches the Iron Throne.
It saddens me to confirm that Maester Aemon, one of our most respected members, has recently passed on at the age of one hundred and two.
The True Account of the Battle of the Bastards
Prologue
Prologue
I, Wylam Crandal, a maester of The Citadel, serving at Bear Island for many years, did go with that tiny force led by lady Lyanna Mormont to Winterfell. House Mormont has been the most loyal Stark banner for a thousand years. My purpose in going with the war party was to attend to the wounded and injured. I had with me my medicines, but, also saws, tourniquets and other ghastly tools of surgical trade.
How Winterfell, the ancient seat of House Stark, since the age of the First Men came into the possession of House Bolton has been written of by others, and I will not go into that here, but I will touch on what has happened since. Lady Sansa Stark, the elder daughter of Eddard Stark, who was residing in The Eyrie had been given to Roose Bolton's legitimized bastard, Ramsey Bolton, the former Ramsey Snow, in marriage. The marriage was intended to legitimize Bolton rule over The North. Sansa Stark had gone unwillingly into this marriage, and the legendary cruelty of the mad Lord Ramsey finally caused her to escape. She leapt from the high walls of the castle into the deep snow with Ramsey's much abused servant, Theon Greyjoy. This is the same Theon Greyjoy who briefly held Winterfell on behalf of the Ironborn and who was raised with Lady Sansa and her siblings as Lord Eddard's captive and ward. She flew to Castle Black where her kinsman, Jon Snow was the Lord Commander. On Lady Sansa's way to Castle Black, she acquired the services of the famed swordswoman Lady Brienne of Tarth, and her squire Podrick Payne. Theon Greyjoy then left the small party to go back to his home on the isle of Pyke.
Not much is written about Jon Snow. He was born in the south at the end of Robert's Rebellion. Eddard Stark insisted that the infant Jon Snow was his son, but, the mother's name, country, or even if she was of high birth or low has remained a secret to all including the boy. The babe was was first seen with Lord Eddard shortly after the famous fight at the Tower of Joy. Jon Snow was raised in Winterfell and joined the Night's Watch in the last year of our beloved King Roberts reign. House Stark's tradition of sending it's noble sons to serve at The Wall is as old as The Watch. Jon Snow served as valet and aide to Lord Commander Jeor Mormont and, he, himself, eventually rose to the position of 998th Lord Commander. Lord Commander Snow was famous, or infamous, for opening the gates of Castle Black to the King Beyond The Wall, Mance Rayder, and his wildlings, recruiting their warriors, and allowing the families to settle in The Gift. He also sent a fleet into Hardhome to evacuate that town before it was over-run by whitewalkers. I, myself, was skeptical of the whitewalker claims, but I have later interviewed enough wildlings to become convinced of the veracity of the tale.
A short note: "King Beyond The Wall" is a bit of a misnomer, since The Freefolk, as the wildlings call themselves, have no true kings in the sense that we know kings. The Freefolk kneel before no man, and they chose to follow who they will based solely on a potential leader's talents, not through force of heredity. I shall continue to use the name Freefolk for these people in the rest of this report.
In response for bringing the Freefolk south of The Wall, Lord Commander Snow was killed in a mutiny, but was brought back from the dead by a priestess of R'hollor named Melesandre who had some influence on Stannis Baratheon and his queen, and was residing at Castle Black after the loss of the Baratheon army outside Winterfell. Some followers of this strange religion have been known to possess the skill of reviving the dead. I have interviewed Lady Melesandre for this report. She insists that only her god, the Lord of Light is capable of bringing someone back from the dead, and that, as his servant, she is only a means for him to accomplish his will, and if it wasn't the Lord of Light's will, Jon snow would have remained dead in spite of her efforts.
The conspirators were eventually all hanged, and Jon Snow, using the fact that he technically died at his post claims to be free of his vow to serve the watch for life. I am hard pressed to fault the legality of his logic. The de-facto Lord Commander at Castle Black is presently Eddison (doloruus Edd) Tollett. When Jon Snow, Sansa Stark, and Ser Davos Seaworth (Stannis Baratheon's former hand, and now friend to the Stark cause), arrived on Bear Island, Jon snow was wearing the Valyrian sword Longclaw, which I have seen many times, since it was given to Lord Snow by it former owner, Jeor Mormont.
The flight of lady Sansa was only the first of several events that made the conflict inevitable. Lord Roose Bolton's lady wife, Walda Frey, gave birth to a son. As Roose Bolton's true born son, the babe's existence threatened Ramsey's inheritance. The abominable Ramsey killed his father with a dagger and sent the unfortunate Walda and the babe into the kennels to be eaten alive by his brutish, man-eating hounds, thus claiming the castle for himself. Smalljohn Umber then arrived at Winterfell and presented Ramsey with the last surviving Prince of Winterfell, Rickon Stark, who had been in hiding at Last Hearth, for the purpose of sealing an alliance against Jon Snow's wildlings, whom he feared. Thus, Ramsey Bolton had in his possession the last true born male heir of House Stark known to still live. With this, Ramsey Bolton sent a message to Jon Snow threatening to attack Castle Black and promising every manner of depravity. No man, lord or king, has ever threatened to attack the Night's Watch before this date.
If the things that the witnesses to Hardhome say are even half true, then horrors not seen since The Long Winter are close upon us and the realms of the living will need a Warden of the North more sober than Ramsey Bolton. Thus the decision to end Ramsey Bolton's hold on Winterfell was inevitable. The Starks would fight for the honor of their house, the rescue of their brother, and revenge for the red wedding. The Freefolk would fight for nothing less than a land on which to farm and heard, and the very survival of their people.
Sansa Stark presently sent Lady Brienne to her cousin, Brynden "The Blackfish" Tully, to request his help. The stubborn Blackfish was holding Riverrun against a siege by the Freys and the Lannisters at the time and refused to budge, which kept the Tullys out of the war for The North. Lady Sansa, Lord Jon Snow, and Ser Davvos Seaworth traveled the north lands attempting to raise what remained of House Stark's old banners, which brought the trio to Bear Island. And, thus we found ourselves encamped on the wind swept grass near Winterfell.
The Battle of the Bastards
Brothers, I shall now describe to you the bloody horrors that I witnessed in this grim land where I loyally serve.
The day before the battle, the war leaders of each side met upon their horses on the frozen field between their forces for the required parlay where each side delivers terms that the other cannot accept, but, which must be done for the sake of appearances. With Jon Snow was Lady Sansa Stark, Ser Davos Seaworth, Lady Lyanna Mormont, and the chieftain of the Freefolk, Tormond Giantsbane. With Lord Ramsey were members of houses Umber and Karstark. The banners of Stark and Bolton fluttered in the frozen wind. The words of those individuals involved was reported to me as follows:
Treacherous Lord Ramsey spoke first, with ringing voice, and he said "My beloved wife, I've missed you terribly. Thank you for returning lady Bolton safely. Now, dismount and kneel before me, surrender your army and declare me the true lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North. I will pardon you for deserting the Night's Watch. I will pardon these treasonous lords for betraying my house. Come, bastard, you don't have the men, you don't have the horses, you don't have Winterfell. Why lead those poor souls into slaughter? There's no need for a battle. Get off your horse and kneel. I'm a man of mercy".
The white wolf, brave, beleaguered Lord Jon spoke next, a true northern accent coming forth from his his throat. "You're right, there's no need for a battle. Thousands of men don't need to die. Only one of us. Let's end this the old way; you against me."
Lord Ramsey then replied "I keep hearing stories about you, bastard, The way the people in the North talk about you, you are the greatest swordsman that ever walked. Maybe you are that good, maybe not. I don't know if I'd beat you. But, I know that my army will beat yours. I have six thousand men. You have, what, half that? Not even?
Lord Jon then said "Aye, you have the numbers. Will your men want to fight for you when they hear you would not fight for them?
Lord Ramsey pointed and said "He's good, very good", and turning to fiery haired Lady Sansa, said, Would you let your little brother die because you are too proud to surrender?"
Lady Sansa then spoke and asked "How do we know that you have him?" Smalljohn Umber, hairy and brutish, then reached into a sack tied to a saddle and threw the great head of a black direwolf on the frozen ground. lady Sansa looked at Lord Ramsey with cold, blue eyes and said "You're going to die tomorrow, Lord Bolton. Sleep well". She then turned her horse and rode away.
Lord Ramsey turned to Lord Jon and said "She's a fine woman, your sister. I look forward to having her back in my bed. And you're all fine looking men. My dogs are desperate to meet you. I haven't fed them in seven days, they're ravenous. I wonder which parts they'll try first. Your eyes? Your balls? We'll find out soon enough. In the morning then, bastard". The heathen, Bolton, and his men then turned their horses toward Winterfell.
The Stark battle plan was a good one. They were to stay in position and allow the petulant Lord Ramsey to attack, Trenches the Stark forces had dug would direct the Bolton cavalry into a narrow area in the center. The Stark center would then fall back allowing the Bolton cavalry to pursue. The Starks would then envelope the Boltons on three sides. It was a good, solid, classic plan of battle that no-one learned in the arts of war could argue against.
This was the plan devised at the Stark war council the night before the battle. Lord Jon, Lady Sansa, Ser Davos, and the Giantsbane present. When the council ended and the two siblings were alone, lady Sansa spoke. "You've known him for the span of a single conversation you and your trusted advisers, and you sit around making plans to defeat the man you do not know. I've lived with him. I know the way his mind works. I know how he likes to hurt people. Did it ever once occur to you that I might have some insight.If you think he'll fall into your trap, he won't. He's the one who lays traps. he plays with people, he's far better at it than you. He's been doing it all his life. You don't know him.
Lord Jon then said. "Alright tell me. What should we do? How do we get Rickon back".
Lady Sansa, her clear voice lower did say "We'll never get him back. Rickon is Ned Stark's true born son, which makes him a greater threat to Ramsey than you, a bastard, or me, a girl. As long as he lives, Ramsey's claim to Winterfell will be contested, which means he won't live long. Listen to me, please, he want's you to make a mistake. I don't know anything about battles, just don't do what he want's you to do. If Ramsey wins, I'm not going back there alive. Do you understand me?
Jon Said "I won't let him touch you. I will protect you".
Sansa's last words before exiting the tent were "No one can protect me. No one cans protect anyone". Then she walked out into the cold. As we shall see, Jon Snow should have kept all of this sisterly advice in mind.
Outside, Ser Davos walked the beyond the camp and came across the remains of a pyre. Amongt the charred wood, he found the remains of a toy stag, which he recognized, for he had carved it himself and given it to Stannis Baratheon's young daughter, Shireen for whom he had fatherly affection. The priestess Melesandre had convinced the proud Lord Stannis (or King Stannis, depending on your point of view) that he was the reincarnation of Azor Ahai, and that his victory was necessary to save the realms of the living from the long night. She also convinced him that victory could only be assured through the sacrifice of royal blood. Thus, Princess Shireen was tied to a stake upon a pyre and her innocent life burned away.
Thus, the Stark and the Bolton forces would array against each other on the hard, frosted grassland outside the walls of ancient Winterfell. The savage Boltons had left flayed prisoners burning upside down on crosses in the middle of the field. The Stark army numbered just over 2,400 men. The bulk of the army composed of 2,000 Freefolk led by their chieftain Tormund Giantsbane. Also on the Stark side were 200 men of house Hormwood, 143 men of house Mazin, and 62 ferocious fighting men from house Mormont brought by lady Lyanna. Ser Davos Seaworth served as second-in command.
With the Freefolk was the giant Wun Weg Wun Dar Wun, also known simply as Wun Wun who stood as tall as a weirwood tree and who's chest was as thick as a weirwood's trunk. The old cliche says that there is always some grain of truth in legends There is always some truth to legends Your humble chronicler had believed that giants must have been some ancient hairy, creatures who may be now lost to time, or may even still exist in the deepest forests, but, having no contact with modern men. Thus, they would became larger in men's minds as stories about them were told. Then, I met and spoke with the mighty Wun Wun, and now know the truth that giants are as real and intelligent as you and I.
The Bolton army numbered 6,000 men. 5,000 men from house Bolton, 500 men from house Karstark commanded by Lord Harold Karstark, and 500 men from house Umber commanded by Lord Smalljohn Umber.
Missing from the battle were Houses Manderly, Glover, and Cerwyn who refused to raise their armies. Also missing was Lady Brienne of Tarth, who was traveling back north from her failed mission at Riverrun. Ramsey Bolton left his horrible curs out of the battle. Likewise, did Lord Snow leave out his terrifying white direwolf, Ghost.
Lord Ramsey brought forth young Rickon Stark, cut the ropes holding him and made him run across the field to his brother. Rickon ran as lord Ramsey loosed arrows from his longbow, intending to miss, toying with the young man, and with his brother, at the other end of the field. Jon Snow, brave and foolish, jumped atop his great black steed and charged across the field towards Rickon. When he reached his beloved brother, one of Ramsey's arrows found it's mark and pierced the young man's body and he fell, breathing his last breath on the cold ground.
Jon Snow found himself alone on the field, equally distant from his own lines and from his enemy's, his choice to charge forth, or retreat back to his army. As the Bolton archers loosed their first volley, he spurred his charger forward. Ser Davos ordered the Stark cavalry and Freefolk to charge, and carefully laid plans blew away in a frigid northern wind. Jon Snow's horse was laid low by an arrow. He arose, and, throwing belt and scabbard aside, drew Longclaw. Ramsey Bolton ordered his light horse to charge therupon.
From my vantage point a safe distance from the fray, I saw a man standing alone between the two charging armies awaited the fate which the gods had decided for him, when suddenly the forces collided all around him. Bolton arrows continued to rain upon the men as they fought, bringing low men and horses on both sides, as Ramsey Boton sacrificed the lives of his own men for the chance to kill Stark men and Freefolk. Men who had their screaming horses shot from under them continued to fight on foot. I saw Jon Snow in the midst of the chaos, fighting with skill and fury. Once before, as a much younger man, did I see a knight wield a sword in battle with such fury and shadowcat-like prowess, and that knight was no less than Prince Rhegar, himself. Ser Davos, unwilling to shoot his own men as Lord Ramsey, ordered his archers to drop their bows, pick up swords, and charge.
Like Jon Snow, the great kings and princes of the age fight from the front, so their men can see them and take heart knowing that their lord is at their sides. One such prince was beloved King Robert who, with his great hammer, relished in the fury of battle. With Lord Ramsey, I saw something new and different. He stayed in the back, ordering his forces here and there like a Cyvasse master controlling the board from above. Craven, for sure, but a much more efficient use of a commander's time, for it allowed him to see everything at once, and command with flexibility.
Arrows from Bolton longbows continued to darken the sky. Bodies of the dead piled up on the field as great, gruesome barrow mounds. Men's blood melted the frosted ground which turned to mud. Lord Ramsey ordered his infantry to enter the battle next. This included the northern screamers of houses Umber and Karstark, and the spearmen of house Botlon who were disciplined solders of a kind rarely seen in the north.with great shields.
The Bolton spearmen surrounded the Stark banners and the Freefolk, forming a half circle and locked their shields. Jon Snow's men found themselves with a phalanx on three sides and a mountain of the dead to their rear. Men battered themselves against the shield wall in desperation. Wun Wun threw man and shield and spear aside, only to see them replaced. Smalljohn Umber led his northerners over the hill of the dead, attacking Jon Snow's rear. Still living men trapped on this heap moaned ans screamed.
The Bolton infantry then closed the half-ring of shields and spears tighter. Spearmen moved not as separate men, but as a single wall of steel. It was an alien tactic for this frozen land and seemed borrowed from the ancient armies of Essos.
Jon Snow's army became a desperate press of men unable to move. With my own eyes, I did see John Snow disappear below the writhing human sea. I am told that in the crush, Tormond Giantsbane and Smalljohn umber found each other and the Giantsbane did put a dagger of sharpened antler through the Smalljohn's neck, his life leaking out of him in a pool of red. The battle was lost. The united cause of the Starks and the Freefolk was perishing with every last man who fought for it in the cold mud outside Winterfell. I then heard the blare of trumpets echo over the rolling hills of the northern plain. The Knights of the Vale had entered the battle.
Some weeks earlier, Lady Sansa had sent a raven to Lord Pyter Baelish who was commanding the Arryn forces holding Moat Cailin on behalf of Lady Sansa's cousin, the young Lord Robert Arryn, and, so, Lord Baelish led his men north. The Knights of the Vale rode over the hill in their martial magnificence, their bright eagle and moon banners flying proudly in glorious blue and white against the dreadful grey north sky. The Arryn heavy horse smashed through the Bolton shield wall from the rear. With the collapse of the shield wall, the battle turned quickly. From a distance, I saw the unmistakable red hair of Lady Sansa who sat atop her horse on a hill with Lord Baelish on her right and Lord Yohn Royce on her left.
Lady Sansa had pleaded repeatedly of her brother not to commit to the battle until he had more men. His reply had always been the same. There are no more men, we fight with the army that we have. I approached the lady some time after the battle and asked her why she did not inform Lord Snow that she had secured these reinforcement and that they were on their way. I did not get an answer.
The craven Ramsey Bolton retreated behind the great gate of Winterfell with his generals, leaving the men who fought so bravely for him to be slaughtered to the last man like so many bleating sheep. Jon Snow, the mighty Wun Wun and Tormond Giantsbane, and a small band pursued on foot. I followed.
When I reached the outer ward of the ancient castle, it's gate had been smashed to pieces by the giant who had finally fallen for the last time, feathered by dozens of arrows. Bodies of Bolton men lay strewn throughout the courtyard. Jon Snow dropped Longclaw and lifted a shield decorated with the Mormont bear, and ran towards his enemy who shot arrow after arrow into the shield. Jon Snow broke Ramsey's jaw with the shield and jumped atop him. In a dark rage, he turned the mad lord's face into so much ground mutton with his bare fists.
What remained of Ramsey Bolton was found the next morning in Winterfell's kennel, eaten alive by his own dogs. It is suggested that it was Lady Sansa who unleashed the starved curs upon him, but no one is sure. What is known is that the line of house Bolton died that day for all time.
Epilogue
The pyres burned for many days after, the stench of roasting man-flesh invading one's nose and never leaving. Burned were the bodies of wasted men who will never again look into a sweetheart's eyes, or feel soft, tilled soil between their fingers. The common people do suffer so when the higher-born decide to fight to posses this castle or that castle, or to call themselves wardens of one thing or another. The glory of warfare is lost on those who must afterward put together the broken bodies and mumble some philosophical nonsense to men with broken souls. I busied myself with stitching wounds, sawing limbs, and carrying the arms and legs which I stole to the fires.
Lady Melesandre was banished from The North for her aforementioned crimes on the day the lords of the great northern houses met in the great hall at Winterfell, including those who stayed out of the war. Lady Lyanna Mormont arose and said these words:
"Your son was butchered ad the Red Wedding, Lord Manderly, but you refused the call. You swore Allegiance to House Stark, Lord Glover, but in their hour of greatest need you refused the call. And, you, Lord Cerwyn, your father was skinned alive by Ramsey Bolton, still, you refused the call. But, House Mormont Remembers. The North remembers. We know no king but the King in The North who's name is Stark. I don't care if he's a bastard, Ned Stark's blood runs through his veins. He's my king until his last day".
Lord Manderly rose next and said. "Lady Mormont speaks harshly and truly. My son died for Robb Stark, the young wolf. I didn't think we'd find another king in my lifetime. I didn't commit my men to your cause because I didn't want more Manderleys to die for nothing. But, I was wrong. Jon Snow avenged the Red Wedding. He is The White Wolf, the King in The North". Harold Glover did rise and with a great oath, did rise next and pledge his fealty and, at that, all the men rose, lifted their swords and shouted greatly. This is how kings rise in this country, not in golden ceremonies with crowns and septons, but raised swords and great shouts of "The King in The North!".
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