Using that mushroom encounter as momentum... the Order of the Bronze continued on with their streak...
With one hill tribe falling after another, none being able to evade or escape.
And before long, the Royce lands and the House territories of those adjacent to them... were suddenly freed from the worry of unwarranted raids and ambushes.
That recurring trouble was gone for good... and it felt too good to be true.
And it actually was an undeniable fact, especially with local lords opening up their dungeons to imprison all the captured scum.
The defeated savages were there... all awaiting due process and due justice... unprecedented throughout the Vale's history.
And it was the Royces, the Bronze Order, and the very Young Bronze that they had to thank.
Of course, the overachieving heroes had no time for the gratitudes, generous praises, and perhaps all the hypocrisies.
They still had hill tribes to get to... or maybe it should be mountain clans... not that the distinction mattered, for Ronan Royce had eventually turned his eyes to the Mountains of the Moon.
The great mountain range of this eastern realm was home to the truly established wild folks.
Perhaps far more formidable and dangerous compared to the sparse and scattered groups in the lowlands that they just bested.
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The so-called highlanders were not to be underestimated, and the terrain of those infamous mountains was much more so.
And as covered, time was of the essence... for when the exploits reach the clansmen's ears... they might just actually come together to make the task that much harder for anybody.
Consequently, after subduing about two lesser-known clans... the infamous Black Ears were the first to try and lend an ear.
Or try to take ears.
Truly true to their name, birthed from their habit of chopping off the ears of their victims... and wearing those as a necklace.
Ears that turn black from rot.
And they fought like madmen... and madwomen. With their woman leader being named T'chellah, daughter of T'cheyk.
A fact that was known after some interrogation... with the young lord chuckling at her for being a "Black Pant-Ear".
For their madness meant nothing against the bronze... and the surviving Black Ears themselves were the ones roped up in one long piece of rope.
Echoing their defeat with the cruel trophies that they were proud of.
And under this chained bounding, they were to be transported straight to the Eyrie and its sky cells, to await judgement.
Of course, soon to follow at their side were the Moon Brothers.
Moon worshippers in the Mountains of the Moon... who attacked under the guidance of the moon during the peak of the night.
They most likely hoped to aid the escape of the captured Black Ears that they apparently had a close bond with.
Alas, their intent was already deduced by the orderer of the Bronze Order, so their night raid was easily reversed... and they can at least move together in bounding ropes with the very clan that they had bonds with.
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Next to try another night raid against the Bronze Order were the Howlers.
And they really tried their terror.
Guttural howls of men echoing through the gullies at night, meant to break the courage of those who heard them before blades were drawn.
Unfortunately for them, their odd howls were matched by the barks of the K9s.
And aside from matching against the men who were tasked with the night's watch... they were confronted with bronze warriors whose sleep was disrupted and had anger to vent.
Before long, the Howlers could howl no more. With dirty travelling undergarments stuffed into their mouths as a form of petty vengeance.
Accordingly, their leader... White Eyes, descendant of the White Eyed, didn't have to suffer such an embarrassing fate.
For he died fiercely and honorably against the Young Bronze in single combat.
Yet it was not really single combat when the white-eyed man had two howling wolves to fight alongside him.
Still, their triarchy of man and wolves were defeated, with knives lodged deep into each of their foreheads after the young lord precisely threw them.
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On a unique encounter, they then found another cave-dwelling clan... who called themselves the Bat Men.
Yet they were not that fierce... only shrieking "ki-ki-ka" at the sight of them to call upon the rush of the many bats that also lived in their large cave.
But after those numerous bats rushed out... they were easily solved... and that was it.
For they were just bat-shit crazy, most likely from eating bat shit.
Of course, what made this unique is due to the fact that the Royce men's easygoing little leader was actually quite solemn after hearing this clan's name.
But then just oddly japing that if these Bat Men had billions and trained with "Tibetan monks"... then they might actually have been the ones that were defeated.
Granted, the Order members just counted that along with his many eccentricities. Supported by his command to collect as many of the batshit...
For they were to apparently be used for great advancements of the future.
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Soon in this mountain cleansing journey, the Bronze Order came across the more infamous Milk Snakes... and that made for an interesting match.
But the process was all the same.
The only difference was to be on the lookout for being nicked by their blades...
What these Milk Snakes milked from snakes wasn't milk, after all.
It was venom.
Fortunately, after plenty of experience using nets, bolas, and lassos... they had no need to really get close.
Perhaps only dodging or shielding against the poisoned projectiles that were flung away.
It made the notorious Milk Snakes really just akin to the many tribesmen and savage clans before them.
Especially when the Young Bronze took away their snake-like element of sneaking and surprise... by just rushing at them with an unsuspected raid.
Of course, as a self-given reward for his keen efforts, the young Royce took out his pencil and brought paper... ready to write things down.
Clearly expecting to extract the Milk Snakes' methods for extracting unique "snake juice".
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Soon after, he did the same to the spotted and caught Redsmiths...
In spite of this clan's much-improved weaponry that was a step above stone tools and stolen blades... they were just no match.
After tens and tens and tens of clashes, the Order of the Bronze was nothing to scoff at... which may just be the main goal in this ambitious task all along.
Experience and a winning momentum were key. Even when they are mostly using restraint in these battles and confrontations.
Of course, the capture of these blood-iron melders with "non-lethal" means was a must, for they probably might hold very substantial knowledge.
With a curiosity on where they actually spotted the materials they were smithing.
Was it stolen from Vale forges and material reserves? Or was there a chance that they knew a mine-worthy spot in these large expanses of mountains?
Other than that, those of Royce blood in the midst also showed some measure of caution... as these Redsmiths might truly have a trace of being the ancient Bronze King's olden vassals.
For red smiths apparently relate to coppersmiths... and copper is quite essential for the making of bronze.
Granted, the paths had diverged in this long passing of time and even the Royces, who should remember, could no longer recall.
Much less a clan that had thrived in backward savagery...
So, for what they're worth... the Young Bronze would make sure to squeeze it out of them. Just as he did with the previous ones who could only divulge what they know.
And that was no longer just a matter of their young lord being persuasive... but more on the fact that he used tortures as well.
Which were just tickles at their simplest... and perhaps it was best not to mention to anybody else about those tricks that were far, far worse.
Worst to the point that many of the feral Painted Dogs actually lost their color... and the spectating Stone Crows might have just turned to stone from shock.
After all, these two infamous Arryn-killer clans have inevitably been vanquished by the unstoppable bronze as well.
With their crow-dog leftovers being sent to the Eyrie for trials...
Yet most of them are likely to be judged by the current Lady Paramount into an opened Moon Door.