Episode 8 - Black Banners
- 8 Chapters
Chapter 1: Upon the Throne
After months of diligent siege, the Blackfyre rebels finally break through the defenses of the Red Keep. It is less of a battle & more of a surrender but as Daemon climbs the steps onto the Iron Throne, it feels as if the entire realm is bowing before the Black Dragon at last.
The Black Dragon however, has as many heads as the Red. As soon as the ascendant heroes arrive, they begin making rivaling proclamations. Lord Butterwell, the architect of Whitewalls & King Daemon's return promotes his allies to audiences with the King. While Ser Kurt Arryn- the heir to the Vale gathers all knights & servants of the keep to make a grand declaration:
Lord Eldon Tyrell, Lord Paramount of the Reach, is in great support of their cause & is to be made Master of Ships on Daemon's council. As Butterwell's men erupt in protest, silenced by Kurt's mute uncle, the Lord makes a second announcement: The King has chosen a wife. Kurt's sister, Lady Gloria Arryn is to marry King Daemon II. upon the war's conclusion!
Pandemonium erupts in the Red Keep, there is even rumor of light skirmishing as the Blackfyre factions try to push the other out of the Great Hall. Butterwell is seen entering the King's chambers after that. It is said Godric Corbray had held the King from sitting the throne that day, in fear of what he may decide.
After that, Butterwell occupies Maegor's Holdfast- the most secure location within the Red Keep, sallying out daily to meet with the angered King.
Chapter 2: Gatherings
The Watergardens of Sunspear fill with the chatter of lords. So do the halls of Storm's End & Highgarden. In Lannisport, they even marry a Crakehall to an Oakheart, uniting the Westerlands & Reach for the first time.
But nowhere does chatter & hushed conversation draw more attention than in Riverrun, where the Lord Paramount gathers a council of Riverlords - one that looks to many like the step toward an independent Kingdom, detached from any crown.
Chapter 3: Freedom
As Lord Caswell puts it, immunity. Lord Cecile Arryn leaves Bitterbridge with the threat of future consequences & not much more. As the Tyrell men depart as well, Bitterbridge becomes quiet, with nothing but the business of returning bodies left to them.
Chapter 4: Vance
The downfall of a great house is often seen. But the return of one? House Vance had been split between Wayfarer's Rest & Atranta during the outset of the last civil war. During the outset of this one, they've united again. Two holds but one family, now larger & more powerful than most other Riverlords.
Chapter 5: Fighting Pits
The practice of fighting pits where slaves battle each other to the death is a barbaric entertainment brought to the Narrow Sea through the roots of Valyria. As the city of free men, the Braavosi would not tolerate the practice in Tyrosh.
When a westerosi fleet arrived at the Free Cities' shores, carrying Braavosi sellswords, the Tyroshi quickly reconsidered their traditions & entertainment preferences. As the Sealord of Braavos discusses details with the Archon of Tyrosh, the westerosi move on to more pressing matters.
Chapter 6: Who may pass?
The accursed conglomeration of rocks called the Stepstones are not anyone's worry most of the time. But when fleets prowl from Bloodstone & Grey Gallows & permit no merchant to cross that serves a Kingdom hoisting the black banner, then no goods travel from Lannisport to Pentos & from the Arbor to King's Landing, throwing the realm into serious struggle.
The smallfolk of the capital are already in uproar but many more soon may be.
Chapter 7: The Guilty & the Innocent
At yet another funeral in Storm's End, too many now, Lord Garic Baratheon, the Master of Laws, shares his verdict about what he calls as "plain to see to all lords of the realm".
As Lord Arryn's guilt, not of the laws of the Crown, but the Laws of the Gods, is clear for all to see, Lord Garic points to an earlier crime: the murder of Lord Ryger at Gulltown. Lord Garic announces that both Lord Cecile Arryn & Lady Peggy Tully are to stand before the gods to receive their punishment as they've been deemed guilty by the Crown & its people.
Many may see this as a simple step between Black & Red banners, but the Riverlords will not. To them the verdict represents a violation of the principle contract between liege & bannermen.
Chapter 8: Lord of the Sunset Sea
The weather is clear, the mission twice so. Ser Marius Lannister is to travel north toward Pyke, not to engage Lord Greyjoy, but to stray a few ships from his fleet, try to scout & lower their numbers.
Knighted only recently, leading the Lannister fleet is the honor of a lifetime.
With heavy ships in tow, Galleys & Drommonds mostly, the fleet departs sunny Lannisport due north.
As he sails through gentle seas, Marius expects to spot them near Pyke in two days time. That night- he is awoken by horns. The Iron Fleet is on straight collision course with him. He considers his options, he will not be able to turn & outrun them. He sends scout back home. They may warn Lannisport to fortify. He knows it won't be enough. But he'll buy them a week.
A son of a second wife, a week is all he can give House Lannister now. Twenty years for a week.
The struggle is brief, the Iron Fleet sails smaller sails, but twice as many. They are encircled & quickly slaughtered. A few ships make it back to harbor, where new Galleys roll off the shipyards.
Ser Marius Lannister is Lord Dagon's newest sacrifice to his strange god.
