| “ | You Rangers love being the puppet masters, don't you?
— Horace Altman to Halt O'Carrick and Will Treaty
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One of the five orphans taken in by Castle Redmont, Horace Altman took out his frustrations with the world on his fellow orphan Will, a scrawnier and sarcastic child. When Horace and the other orphans came of age, Horace was allowed to join the Battleschool, where he ironically found himself a victim of bullies himself, though the harsh training regimen and Horace's natural skill let him go through it. After Will, who had since become a Ranger, helped Horace deal with his bullies, the pair became best friends and close companions, with Horace joining Will on many of his Ranger assignments. During the second coup attempt of Lord Morgarath, a knight who had been exiled 15 years ago, Horace met Morgarath and challenged the older knight to single combat; to the shock of all, Horace killed Morgarath, earning him a legendary reputation as a knight of the Araluen Kingdom.
Despite this victory, Horace learned that Will and their friend "Evelyn", who was the disguised daughter of Araluen's king Cassandra, had been taken captive by Skandian mercenaries. Horace and Will's mentor Halt traveled north, arriving just in time to aid Will's efforts to repel an invasion of Skandia by an army of nomadic Temujai raiders. He goes on adventures with Will for many years across the world, eventually falling in love with Cassandra and becoming prince-consort of Araluen. When Horace and Cassandra’s daughter Madelyn came of age, Horace sent her to Will to train as a Ranger, becoming the father of the first female Ranger after her success.
Battle vs. Gregor Clegane (TV Series) (by Deathblade 100)[]
The Trident, Riverlands, Westeros
Sir Horace Altman, the Oakleaf Knight and premier knight of Araluen, rode through the destroyed village. His bay battlehorse, Kicker, trod down on the blood soaked cobbles. As he advanced, Horace noticed a dead man-at-arms lying on the ground next to his last victim; a man in a crimson tunic with a golden lion embroidered on his shield. As Horace looks down at the other man, taking note of the golden boars' head on the shield; symbolising a soldier in the employ of Baron Arald of Redmont Fief, a drumming sound filled the air.
As the knight looked up, he noticed a the largest man he had ever seen wearing thick, heavy steel plate. He was mounted on a stallion and carried a huge two-handed sword on his saddle. As he charged towards him, Horace stood his ground, before drawing his longsword and advancing at a slow gallop. Ser Gregor Clegane responded by drawing his greatsword and swinging it at the Araluen.
Horace unslung his buckler and parried the strike from The Mountain's sword, the impact sending the Oakleaf Knight sprawling. As The Mountain dismounted his horse, Horace studied the 8 foot man; noting the heavy plate armour he was wearing and the length of greatsword in his hand. Gregor swung his sword at Horace, who again parried the strike. Keeping his footing, Horace thrust forward with his longsword, catching Ser Gregor in his leg.
Gregor reached forward and swung his sword out of rage forcing Horace to jump back. As the Mountain catches his breath, Horace retaliates with a barrage of sword stokes forcing the giant knight to his knees. As Horace is about to deliver the killing blow, a strike from Clegane's greatsword knocks the longsword from the Araluen's hand. Horace swung his shield at the giant man, who promptly tears it out of the Araluen's grip. A back handed strike from Gregor sent the younger knight staggering, before The Mountain picked Horace off of the ground, with one hand, and smashed his head against a broken wall, killing the premier knight of Araluen.
Gregor picks up his greatsword and yelled "For the Lannisters!" in victory.
Expert's Opinion[]
Despite Horace's considerable skill at arms, he couldn't match the type of fighting that Gregor Clegane could bring nor could he have estimated the type of brute strength that The Mountain could muster. This is the reason why he won.
To see the original battle, votes and weapons, click here.
Battle vs. Caspian (by MovieStuff65)[]
TBW.
Expert's Opinion[]
TBD.