Episode 6 - Rebellion
- 9 Chapters
Chapter 1: The Shield of the West
War in the West! As sailors depart from Lannisport, tourney grounds are being prepared & noble lords arrive in droves. The House of Lannister has proclaimed war upon its most hated enemy: House Greyjoy of Pyke. Punishment for their violation of the King's Peace. Now, Lord Lannister gathers a War Council, a shield to serve the Westerlands in the wars ahead.
As the Lions of the Rock chose their generals & admirals to serve in the battles to come, the Kraken protests in fury. They vow to send an emissary to the capital, to petition the King's Justice be dispensed against House Lannister for violating the King's Peace. As Lord Greyjoy's explanation for recent raids was accepted by the crown, there is no basis for a just conflict against the Kraken itself.
This conflict presents our first "Riposte" situation! Refer to the Map for the exclamation in Pyke, to Chapter 3 of the Rules for further explanation.
Chapter 2: The Pride
When lions gather, it is difficult to avoid the posturing common amongst them. So as two lions wed at Casterly Rock - Lady Constancia of House Lannister, to the second of the Reyne boys, James, the gifts showered upon them could feed a small region for a year to come.
Lord Reyne is humbled by the absence of his heir, apparently too sickened to travel, an unusual sight for the strapping knight. But this strangeness is dwarfed by a gift of dowry made for the Lioness. Lord Lannister offers to Castamere, for the hand of his daughter no less, that Lord Reyne come & lead his naval effort against the Iron Isles. To become Lord Admiral to the western fleet.
A rift seems to mend in west, as the lions form a pride.
Chapter 3: Night Falls
Heavy ships leave Lannisport due north. Marius sits with uneasy thoughts. His orders are clear, his victory will be complete. His father knighted him just a fortnight ago, it was the honor of his life. But he also knows what others do not.
He was there, after the wedding, as his sister convinced her new father in law of the plans made. Of the swift ships he was to take, the course he was to chart. The victory this new fleet would have as Marius' heavy ships would smash the Greyjoy rear. How they would strike down Lord Dagon & end this war before it even begins.
And as he sees Pyke in the distance, he knows not to steer Portside, but straight ahead & past the channel.
Far away Lord Reaper Greyjoy sails toward a small fleet of Longboats, a tiny force trying to outspeed him toward Hammerhorn. They maneuver as if waiting for reinforcements. But they underestimate him. His subjects take hostages, he does not. His Iron Fleet crashes into the tiny Longboats & he watches the Lord of Castamere drown beneath the waves, he braces for a second fleet to surround him. None ever comes.
Ser Marius Lannister arrives at the port of Ten Towers, at the isle of Harlaw & its namesake lord. The docking ships are unloading cargo as he arrives, none the wiser. Marius strikes carefully, with precision for the lives of both sides. His men are instructed to take hostages, not to raze the island. Lord Harlaw watches on as his men surrender, reading a scroll before letting it tumble into his hearth.
Chapter 4: Great Honors
Lord Leanor Velaryon is Master of Dirftmark & Lord of the tides. A man of many victories, countless achievements for the crown, a man who's house is decline, an old man with a heavy heart but much confidence put in him by the crown & its princes.
Today he weds his daughters, ladies Valaena & Marilda Velaryon to the sons of Barrowton - lords Donnel & Barron Dustin. The heroes of Sisterton.
But he does more than that. As celebrations continue, he exercises the power vested in him by the crown, to appoint the first member of King Aerys' Small Council. As Lord of the Tides, Lord Laenor was the right man to chose a worthy candidate for the King's Master of Ships, to be an ally to the crown's endeavors & his own alike.
Lord Killian Stark, a son of both Winterfell & White Harbor, & now Master of Ships to his grace's small council shall soon leave Driftmark to govern in his grace's name.
Chapter 5: Woes of Southshield
As the construction of the great harbor at Greyshield continues, many of the minor houses of the other Shield Islands & the mouth of the Mander protest against the future overlordship of House Grimm. They may be supplied by Highgarden with coin & timber, but not yet with a claim uncontested.
House Serry of Southsield rises to reclaim some of their contested lands, only to be struck down. The rumors speak of Lord Mandon Grimm putting their keep to the torch, brutalizing many of their forces on a campaign to reign over Southshield & possibly even end the line of Serry. The lords beckon for protection & acknowledgement of their claim.
Chapter 6: Fire over Bloodstone
As the deep ports give way to the treacherous narrow passes of the Stepstones, Teora watches carefully over the bow of her Flagship, the pride of what will soon be the only Fleet of the Stepstones.
Bloodstone's forts are sprawling entanglements of wooden carcasses & cave systems. Its pride is its harbor, defended by half a fleet, the other out on patrol when the westerosi strike.
As the dornish ships merge with the stormlander's, they rain a hail of arrows & boarding men onto the enemy position. The most brutal of the fighting happens in the initial clash of fleets, with the pirates barely being able to embark from the harbor.
House Drahar has ruled the waves from Volantis to Myr, or so they've told themselves. Teora looks for the admirals, Harlon or Vargo amidst the thicket, so do Archibald & Ser Edward. The last vestiges of a proud line, the father & son must be found & eliminated. But they are nowhere to be found.
The Baratheon & Martell forces storm the Harbor as one, men of Houses Fowler & Tarth fighting shoulder to shoulder. The worst is done in a day & half. The rest, the remaining men in the caves, must be cleaned out by a garrison. But for now, victory - & Bloodstone, the beating heart of the Stepstones, flies the colors of Baratheon & Martell.
As the glorious conquerors fight the Great Crab at Bloodstone, Admiral Lotar sits at wait by Grey Gallows. His blockade has crippled its port, with the "Fishfleet" serving faithfully at his side, although he trusts these entrepreneurial privateers not a moment too far.
He hopes that either mutiny will take Grey Gallows before he does, or his reinforcements arrive by the time the Pirates sail out to meet him in force.
The remainder of the Drahar fleet is a thorn in his mind, he has yet to face. They've ensured that no support might come to them from the Free Cities but he worries still.
Chapter 7: Great Fury
"Ours is the Fury" are the House Words of Storm's End. As Victoria Baratheon is laid to rest in the earth of the Stormlands, the funeral procession counts not only the Lord's & Ladies of House Baratheon, their principle vassals & bannermen, but also, the Prince of Summerhall, Maekar Targaryen amongst its attendants.
As Lord Garic puts his daughter into the ground, there are words of faith, of trust & of memory, to be sure. But it would not be a Baratheon funeral without words of fury to exchanged - aloud over the crashing waves of Shipbreaker Bay.
Lord Garic thunders into a speech about the dire times to come. Silently supported by all those in attendance, including the Prince. Then, as bestowed upon him, by the crown's magnanimity, Lord Tarth presents his liege with a title, for all the realm to witness & to obey.
"Unrest is increasing all across Westeros. Whispers of Blackfyre sympathisers are heard everywhere. I forsee a tremendous battle coming, one that will decide who stands united and who is trying to divide. The perpetrators of my daughters demise should be ready to meet a similar fate to that which they have caused. Do not underestimate the strength of the Stormlands, the Dornish who have recently allied with us, have already recognized our strength and I'm sure more will do so very soon."
- Lord Garic Baratheon, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands & Master of Laws to the Crown.
As Lady Victoria, buried in arms, sabre at her side, embarks on her last voyage, to be judged fairly by the gods, her house departs on a path of peace, justice & security for the realm. In her name & that of the gods, the fury of House Baratheon will be righteous, but stern in the face of injustice.
Chapter 8: King Daemon II.
An easy thing to replace, a Dragon's Egg is not. But Lord Butterwell traded an Egg for a real Dragon at Whitewalls. A Dragon of Black - a Dragon to cast out the usurper Aerys & his brothers alike! A Dragon to rule!
Daemon Blackfyre, the oldest living son of the his namesake father, is crowned King Daemon II. at castle Whitewalls, heralded by the fine knights of the realm. Already, many great houses have sworn to him. Butterwell swears of allegiances from House Bolton & Reyne, Rowan & Velaryon, Massey & Corbray, Frey & Yronwood. And even the Lord Paramount of the Trident, Ser Kermit Tully supports the Young King's cause he swears, allowing him to pass uncontested, through his lands. Many more will flock to the Black Banner, great lords & minor ones alike.
The host marches with many captives as well, many lords who's lives may be traded for support, Dayne, Caron & Lothston amongst them. Their march is not a long one as Daemon's seat awaits him just a ways south.
King Daemon Blackfyre II
"Young Daemon"
Ser Veynar Velaryon
"Veynar Sourwine"
Ser Godric Corbray
"Godric the Valyrian"
The Blackfyre forces arrive at the city within a week's march. The city defense are chaotic, the Goldcloaks deserting in record number. When a well provisioned, properly organized army with competent commanders at its helm arrives, the gates of the city stand little chance.
The outer walls are taken within a matter of days. Battle erupts in the streets, with the Blackfyre force quickly gaining the upper hand atop the Hill of Rhaenys & later Visenya as well.
While Daemon forms his battle camp within the ruins of the Dragonpit, he prepares his assault on the Red Keep, the walls of which have held firm & are currently held by the household guards of its inhabitants & whatever remains of the cities forces.
Butterwell arranges for a second coronation, in views of the smallfolk. The High Septon of the Faith anoints Daemon his grandsire's true successor & the line of Daeron to be illegitimate. All while the realm looks on.
Chapter 9: Prince Maekar of Summerhall
Ravens fly in every direction from Storm's End as Prince Maekar begins his march north. As minor houses add their meager forces to his strength, he tells the Lord's Paramount to each raise hosts to vanquish the force that may arise from this foul endeavor. As the Crownlands raise their banners for him, he commands each nearby army, to declare their loyalties & march to the capital at once. As ships sail off from harbors near & distant, he orders that whomever has a fleet to sail it, embark with your strongest men & meet him at the city gates to save his brothers throne. He swears that if he were to stand alone atop Aegon's High hill when he has vanquished these forces, if no bannermen's troops stand beside him, then all the realm will wish the usurper had gotten their way & decimated the entirety of the realm, than to live with the besmirched honor of opportunism in this dark hour.
