Storm's End was a formidable fortress. Ever since it had been built eight thousand years ago, it had never been taken by force. In ages past, the Andals had tried multiple times, only to be broken against the walls of the legendary First Men stronghold. Stannis Baratheon held Storm's End against a hundred-times-his-number army during Robert's Rebellion. The only way to take the fortress was through treachery or starvation. The Usurper's brother had appointed one of his most leal men – Gilbert Farring – to hold the seat of House Baratheon with two hundred men. Due to having first-hand experience with the latter scenario, Stannis had left the larders of Storm's End fully stocked before departing north. Later, Mace Tyrell had been besieging the ancient keep with no success in sight for the second time, until he had withdrawn back to King's Landing to support his daughter in her upcoming trial against the Faith.