The time had come for the God Emperor of Yi Ti to show the world that there was only one true Emperor. While General Pol Qo, known as the Orange Emperor, gathered up Princes around Trader Town and Tiqui, the armies of Bu Gai moved to secure the coast and establish control across the southern part of the empire.
On the land, a vast army of over one hundred thousand men marched along the Jade Road towards Asabhad and the home of High Prince Long Wei. With the army marching, several smaller Princes and warlords quickly capitulated as they never expected the Emperor's army to truly march before them.
At the town of Sunyong, the first true battle in many years for the Yi Ti took place. The vanguard of the Emperor's army, lead by Prince Li Kai came up against forces lead by General Cui Jin with an army of sixty thousand. Using the jungles of the Western Provinces to their advantage the forces of General Cui slowed down the Prince Li's advance forces and caused several sharp reverses against him. However the Prince was not to be denied and using combined arms of cavalry and light infantry he was able to work around weak points of their enemy and force them back to the vary gates of Sunyong. After a week of small probes a major assault was launched and after many hours of fighting fell the Emperor's forces. While a major portion of General Cui's forces were able to pull back down the road, a good third were lost in the fighting over three month campaign. The Emperor's forces were now halfway to Asabhad.
While fighting was going on along the western coast, another campaign ran along the eastern coast around Jinqi. Jinqi was the home of High Prince Zheng Jie, a many who wished to more than just High Prince and had been increasing his army and navy. Those plans came to not however when the full Imperial Navy along with an army of twenty thousand arrived off his shores. In a short yet vicious fight in which the Imperial Navy lost twenty ships to an estimated forty for the High Prince and the complete blockade of Jinqi. The army however was only strong enough to establish several fortified positions around the city, as they did not feel that they had the strength to actually storm the powerful walls of Jinqi.
The long army of the Azure Emperor had struck and only the coming days and months would see who would be victorious, all awhile in the north General Poi Qu readied his army.
The whirlwind of war had taken hold over Westeros. Hundreds of thousands of men now huddled in war camps as winter raged across the Kingdoms. However there were breaks within the storms that would see the sun shine, perhaps signs of a brighter future? While the weather caused all the armies to halt their activities during the month of January, temperatures began to actually rise the month following allowing once more for the soldiers to do their deadly work. What happened in the next two months still caused bewilderment to many.
The North
The coasts of the North found themselves under constant raids as Ironborn struck along the the Rills and the Sunset Sea. The raids concentrated on hitting the many fishing villages that helped supply the North during the winter months and saw the North's fishing fleet diminish sharply. Fortunately Lord Rodrik had ordered that many of the people along the shore were to be moved inland and losses were minimal in lives lost.
Ravens and messengers arrived at Winterfall stating that large bodies of Ironborn were moving across the North, almost the full might of the Ironborn being involved. Forces lead by Eddard Stark and Ser Helman Tallhart would march their forces in counterattacks only to find that while sometimes there are larger raids, they seemed to be following ghost sightings.
The only major clash took place in the The Rills when forces under Lord Rodrik Ryswell with a mixed cavalry/foot force engaged Lord Gorold Goodbrother a similarly sized force of Ironborn and which saw the Ironborn forced back to their ships with heavy losses and Lord Norne Goodbrother being captured. The raids would continue and cause losses on each side but it was clear that the main Ironborn efforts were concentrated elsewhere.
Dorne
Chaos, shock, hatred. These words best represented the situation within the borders of Dorne. As news travelled quickly of the attack on the Water Garden, thousands through their support around Prince Doran Martell. Many people were calling for the head of Aerion Dayne, a call that Doran Martell moved to achieve.
Leaving forces to siege the hold of House Fowler at Skyreach, and using supplies bringing brought up along the Skyrun River the main army of the Martells began pursuing the weakened Dayne force. Small groups of horsemen on sand steads clashed with each other as both sides attempted to raid each other and slow each other down. No quarter was given on either side and it wasn't uncommon for groups of horses to return to camps without their riders.
Doran attempted to send his stronger cavalry force under Lord Dagos Manwoody to get behind the Daynes but only succeeded in pushing back Dayne scouts and outriders as they were subject to ambushes and raids as they closed on HIgh Hermitage. When the main force arrived at High Hermitage they found that the castle was garrisoned by the main army head left towards Skyreach, beit getting low on supplies to do the constant raids. Leaving Harmen Uller with a small force to keep High Hermitage besieged, Prince Doran continued his task of bring the Daynes to justice.
Five days later the army of the Martells arrived before Starfall, having pushed back the efforts of the Daynes outriders to slow them down within the canyons and passes along the Torentine. They found that the Dayne army had withdrew to the island on which Starfall rested. A standoff now existed between the Daynes and Martells, as the Martell force began building siege equipment to finally bring down the Daynes and fulfill their revenge. As this was happening the Daynes suffered a loss when the wounded Lord Franklyn Fowler succumbed to his wounds as they were far more severe than first thought.
Men of House Manwoody charging into Battle
A week into the siege as the night just barely began to fade to a new dawn, fantic scouts rushed back the camps of the Martell forces as they reported hundreds of ships arriving on the shore as thousands of Ironborn and Reach soldiers splashed ashore in the warm waters of the Torentine. Thousands of Dornish soldiers quickly readied for battle, they easily grabbing their light armor and spears. Odds however were not on their side as the gates to Starfall were opened and the forces of House Dayne rushed forward. Swords, axes, and spears were bloodied as the thousands of men of Dorne, Iron, and Flower attacked each other.
The battle would see no quarter on the side of the Daynes and Martells, each side trying to rip each other apart. The Martells were able to overcome of the odds against them as the cavalry of Lord Manwoody executed several charges against the Daynes and Ironborn, seeing many rode down in the fighting. But the battle against such odds could not be sustained as the more lightly armored troops of the Martells were pushed back by the more armored Reachers and Ironborn. Using the cavalry of Lord Manwoody, Prince Doran, him having been involved in the fighting along his personal guard, pulled back his infantry back along the Torentine.
The combined forces of the Ironborn and Daynes had won the battle but had suffered heavily under the cavalry of the Martells and it would take many days for them to organize before being able to follow the Martells. The Martells quickly withdrew back to High Hermitage where they picked up the forces besieging the castle there and then began a withdraw further into Dorne. Messengers were sent to Skyfall to inform them of events, they having taken control of the castle when Lady Jorlyn Fowler surrender the castle and offered to join the cause of Prince Doran after hearing the loss of her husband and events at the Water Garden. The situation on Dorne had been turned upside down once more.
The Campaign of the Two Kings
Seagard, home of House Mallister
As the war raged in the North and south in Dorne, all eyes remained on events taking place within the Riverlands and Crownlands. On the northern coast of of the Riverlands at Seagard the force lead by Lord Jason Mallister watched day after day for reinforcements to arrive to relieve them from the besieging forces of the Ironborn. After days and days of watching the Ironborn, a day dawned to see that for some reason or another the Ironborn were packing up their camps, taking what treasures they had gathered, and were leaving.
While many wanted to launch an assault on the retreating Ironborn, Lord Jason kept his men secure in the holdings of Seagard, protecting them from the elements. Two days later the Ironborn were gone, just as thousands of Northerners and Freys under command of Lord Rodrik Stark arrived to relieve the siege. As the forces around Seagard reorganized Lord Stark quickly rushed south with his cavalry to link up with a second Stark force heading for Harrenhal.
Men of the Stormlands under Stannis
On the southern bank of the Blackwater Rush, the men of the Stormlands under Lord Robert Baratheon awaited an assault by the might of the Reach Lords. They watched as sharp fights between ships based in King's Landing (so of new construction) fought to hold back shipments of food from the Royal Fleet in Blackwater Bay broke out. These shipments were keeping the Stormlands army alive, and ever ship that made it received a hearty cheer from the besieged.
While skirmishing was a daily occurrence, this noticeably slacked off over several days as the weather began to improve and warm up. Sending out their own scouts the Stormlanders found that the Reach Army that had been reading to attack them had actually withdrawn back up the Roseroad, leaving only scouts to watch the movements of Robert's Army.
Taking full advantage of this, and due to getting low on supplies Robert ordered his army to move from their fortified camp and advanced to the Roseroad/Kingsroad crossroad and withdraw south to meet up with the army that Stannis Baratheon had finally reorganized and was advancing to strike the Reachers in their flank. Moving out of the Kingswood both forces meet up and formed a very powerful force with Stormlanders, Dornish, and rebel Reachers. While Robert resupplied his army, the forces under Stannis skirted the Kingsroad and began advancing north to try and assault the Reachers in the flank.
Forces were now converging in the Riverlands as thousands of the Seven Kingdom's male population marched to what many hoped would be the end of the war. Westerlanders, Crownlanders, Valeman, Rivermen, men of the Faith, Reach Lords, Northmen, and those just looking to make money all were were all moving. Groups of outriders in large numbers engaged each other in the Riverland countryside, trying to get information and stop the other side from gaining said information.
Rushing to link up with his reinforcements coming from the North, King Rhaegar forced marched his troops back up the Kingsroad to return to Harrenhal. Weather affected the march of all armies, but through sheer will Rhaegar was able to bring his army back into the protection of the camps around Harrenhal before any forces of Aerys could arrive. This was fortunate as his scouts reported that the Lannister army under Tywin was looping around to the south and marching towards a link up the army of the Crownlands under King Aerys himself.
As the weather began to warm up both sides readied for a battle that would be talked about for years to come. While the weather warmed, the march around the south of the God's Eye caused delays that allowed for thousands of reinforcements to arrive at Harrenhal for King Rhaegar's army. Over ten thousand Valemen arrived on ships supplied by the Gulltown Fleet, having landed at Saltpans and force marching as quickly as they could to get to Harrenhal.
While these men and Rhaegars were recovering from their long marches, after months of waiting forces of the North finally arrived at Harrenhal as well, lead by Lord Rodrik Stark as he had caught up with the army with several thousand very muddy and tired cavalry. One last group of reinforcement for Rhaegar also came from thousands of the Faith joining the Faith Militant with those at Harrenhal having grown to over ten thousand from across the Vale, Riverlands, and Northern Crowlands. The stage was set for the Second Battle of Harrenhal.
A Dragon Undone
The battle that so many sought out for various reason was finally upon them, however those that fought it were far different from what all expected. As the various armies rested after their long marches events began to unfold that would change the course of the war.
A link up between the Lannisters and King Aerys was achieved in the third week of February as cold and muddy troops joined together on the Kingsroad. There was however great rejoicing from the troops of the Crownlands as they were no longer alone in the fight against Rhaegar. Troops intermingled as meals were cooked, fires lit, and in some cases great cases of ale and beer broken out. While all knew that a battle was to take place soon, in fact within the next couple of days if the rumors were true, many tried to forget their worries and enjoy life while they could.
While this was going on Lord Tywin, several of his leal Lords and household guards went to meet with the King. Approaching the large black and red tent that was used by the King and surrounded by Wisdom Rossarts King's men and three members of the Kingsguard (Prince Lewyn Martell having gone out in charge of outriders around the camp), Lord Tywin and his men sprung into action.
Lead by Ser Gregor Clegane and Ser Amory Lorch the Lannister men assaulted the King's Men as more men spread out to keep any Crownlanders that wished to intervene at bay and at arm's reach. The men of the Kingsguard, Lord Commander Gerold Hightower, Ser Barristan Selmy, and Ser Harlan Grandison gathered around to protect the King as Lannisters and King's Men fought. While the King screamed for all those around them to be burned and called everyone (including those guarding him) traitor, the Kingsguard engaged the guard of Lord Tywin.
In a fight that would be remembered across Westeros three men of the Kingsguard fought for twenty minutes, cutting down Lannisters as they lunged for the kill. Ser Gregor quickly cut down Ser Harlan, the old man just not having the strength to hold back the man known as the Mountain. However the fight quickly turned against him as the able bodied Ser Barristan danced around the men and after a good fight gravely wounded the towering giant. Behind him Lord Commander Hightower danced with Ser Amory and Ser Burton Crakehall as they both pushed in towards the King. Ser Amory was cut down by the far more experienced Lord Commander but Gerold Hightower was not at his best due to a still healing arrow wound to the hand from the Kingswood Brotherhood. Ser Burton, with assistance from his brother Ser Roland who had just seen his father cut down by two members of the King's Men, converged on the Lord Commander and within a few moments ended the man's life.
While fighting continued with some Crownlanders rallying to their King's side, however not nearly as many as the King hoped for, Lord Tywin Lannister and Ser Barristan Selmy began the deadly dance between each other. The fight lasted for several minutes with both showing their skill with a sword. For awhile no one was sure who would win, but the fresher Tywin finely worn down the already embattled Selmy who dropped to the ground with a severe wound to his leg. Tywin quickly disarmed the great Knight as he yielded and then advanced on his old friend the King.
Declaring that the reign of the "Mad" King was over and that Aerys was under arrest for vast crimes against the Realm, Lord Tywin Lannister had him confined as screams of betrayal, fire, and becoming a dragon escaped from his old friends mouth. Fighting between the King's Men and loyalist and the Lannisters continued for a couple more minutes, but with the King under arrest it quickly came to an end. Men of the Crownlands, intermixed with Lannisters an outnumbered returned to their tents, knowing that if they had tried anything (and if they even wished to do so) would have ended with failure. One Dragon had now been undone.
Second Battle of Harrenhal
Back in Harrenhal an assembly between the Lords of the various armies was arranged to help coordinate the upcoming battle. Taking place in the Hall of the Hundred Hearths hundreds gathered for the midday meal, with all speaking on the upcoming battle. As men sat down, others gathered in small groups. Lords Rodrik Stark, Jon Arryn, and Hoster Tully arrived in one group, followed by their household guards and retinues. Approaching the King, Lord Rodrik gave a simple nod as the men behind him spread out. In a loud voice he bellowed. "King Rhaegar Targaryen! For acts of tyranny against the Realm and Seven Kingdoms you are hereby under arrest!"
Men sprung into action as knights and warriors of the Vale, Riverlands, and the North drew weapons, moving to apprehend King Rhaegar. They however had not truly appreciated the efforts that the King had gone through in the last few months to court lessor Lords and men who served him as near a hundred men rose, including men of those who had declared for the Faith.
Screaming erupted as womenfolk and young ones rushed out of the hall and fighting broke out. The men of the Order of the Dragon, Ser Tristifer Darry, Ser Richard Lonmouth, Ser Hoster Whent, and Ser Robert Whent all rallied behind their King as men of the Faith swarmed to protect him as hell. As news circulated about what was happening within the Hall reached the weary men outside battle broke out between Rhaegar Loyalists and men loyal to the Lord Protectors. Thousands now engaged in a battle many were not expecting to come from within.
Inside the Hall blood flowed as men fought and died. Ser Tristifer Darry and Ser Richard Lonmouth went down with bloody wounds as Greatjon Umber and Lord Ondrew Locke attempted to breakthrough to King Rhaegar and knock him out. While the Greatjon was pushed back, Ser Tristifer was able to kill Lord Locke before falling to the ground with a sword wound in his chest. Brandon Stark and two Whent brothers, Ser Robert and Ser Hoster, fought each other with the Northmen almost being overwhelmed before Ser Brynden Tully jumped in and killed Ser Robert and forcing Ser Hoster to withdraw.
Ser Theodan Wells, commander of the Warrior Sons, rallied his knights and pushed back several Vale Knightsmen and Northerns cutting a bloody path to rescue the King as he and Prince Oberyn of Dorne fought for their lives. Lord Rickard Karstark lost his life as Prince Oberyn cut him down with quick and accurate spear strikes, as Lord Rodrik and Lord Jon advanced on both with Lord Hoster Tully working with his brother to fight Lord Marq Grafton who had rallied for the King. The King himself killed Royce Coldwater and Lord Horton Redfort of the Vale as they tried to knock him down but was clipped in the arm by a lucky sword swing by Lyn Corbray who himself was knocked down with a head wound.
A hole was created for Rhaegar to attempt to get out by men of the Faith as Elia Martell screamed soldiers closing in around her. Seeing this Prince Oberyn called for Rhaegar to take care of his sister as he bull rushed men lead by Lord Clement Piper and Lord Norbert Vance of the Riverlands. The Prince, against overwhelming odds, cut down Lord Norbert and wounded Lord Clement as well as at least six other men before being brought down by at least three sword wounds. His sacrifice enabling loyal men of Rhaegar to get Queen Elia to safety.
With the King being able to withdraw from the Hall, loyal men of Darry, Whent, and Grafton and the Faith withdraw to cover him and rally those they could to his side. Outside was utter chaos as men who thought they were allies suddenly became enemies. With numbers against them however the loyalist of King Rhaegar we beginning to be pushed back as thousands of Valemen, Northerns, and Riverman fought to end the war on their terms. The worse of the fighting took place between men of the Faith and the men of the Riverlands and the North. The battle would see the loss of Harrenhal to the Lord Protector's forces and the death of Lord Walter Whent as he tried to rally his army against the Protector's forces.
Fortunately for Rhaegar, through the High Septon and those loyal to him, horses had been saddled for him and those who followed him and he was able to meet up with major elements of the Faith, Loyalist, and sellswords and pulled back from the battle, his wife by his side.
Hundreds, if not thousands had been killed in the fighting as each side fought for those they believed in. As the sun began to set the fighting finally came to an end, bodies once more littering the grounds. While King Rhaegar had lost a huge portion of his army, he was able to withdraw with many still loyal to him. These being men from Houses Whent, Darry, Morton, Grafton, men from Dorne still in the Riverlands, men of the Faith, and many sellswords. The army of the Lord Protector's had been bloodied as well, but were now very concentrated for the next series of events to come forth.
Combined Lannister and Tyrell Army at King's Landing
One major element of in the tragic beginning of the Year of 281 After Conquest remained to be played out. As fighting took place to the north, the army of Lord Mace Tyrell marched north and crossed the Blackwater rush on farries and barges and marched to link up with the Lannister Army. They achieved this as they came within sight of the great capital city of King's Landing.
Seeing the flags of the Lannisters and Tyrells the Gold Cloaks and garrison force under Lord Manly Stokeworth opened the gates to the armies, believing that they were there to help secure the city. In this they were correct, but they were there to secure it for themselves and not for the King. Thousands of men of the Westerlands and Reach passed through the gates of the city who then quickly spread out to secure various points throughout the city.
Fighting would break out between remaining King's Men and those loyal to the King, but for the most part the fights were kept to only a few parts of the city. With so many troops before them many saw the fight to be hopeless and either laid down their arms or simply returned to their homes. One area that saw fighting (more like slaughter) as men of the Hightower and Tyrell secured the Guildhall of the Alchemists of Visenya's Hill. The order of the Alchemists were all but extinguished, though many men of the Reach were lost when several castes of wildfire exploded, fortunately it not spreading due the measures taken to stop such devastation.
In the end the capital was secured by both Lannisters and Tyrells and the banners of House Targaryen lowed from the walls. Chaos now gripped the Seven Kingdoms as thousands more lay dead and wounded, a King arrested, another behind a small loyalist army, Lord Protector's standing on their ideals, and religious war gripping the nation.
Lord's Stark, Arryn and Tully have broken guest right and attacked the man they swore loyalty. If you fight for them you fight for oathbreakers and murderers.
To Rhaegar Targaryen @Mortis Nuntius
From Lord Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North and Protector of the Realm
Rhaegar of House Targaryen,
You have been found guilty of treason against the realm and an enemy of the Iron Throne. You have broken the laws of gods and men and sown deceit and destruction with your harpist's tongue. You have rescinded all your oaths to the lords and ladies of the Seven Kingdoms in your blind and ruthless ambition. The Lords Declarant are prepared, however, to offer you and yours more mercy than you had in store for those you deemed traitors.
You will never sit the Iron Throne. Your blood shall. Surrender the Princess Elia to us so that if she gives birth to a son, he may be proclaimed the rightful King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men. You will be allowed to take the black of the Night's Watch and serve the Seven Kingdoms to the best of your abilities with the honor you have left in you.
Let this bloodshed be ended and the rightful and just rule of House Targaryen restored.
Lord's Stark, Arryn and Tully have broken guest right and attacked the man they swore loyalty. If you fight for them you fight for oathbreakers and murderers.
To Rhaegar Targaryen @Mortis Nuntius
From Lord Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North and Protector of the Realm
Rhaegar of House Targaryen,
You have been found guilty of treason against the realm and an enemy of the Iron Throne. You have broken the laws of gods and men and sown deceit and destruction with your harpist's tongue. You have rescinded all your oaths to the lords and ladies of the Seven Kingdoms in your blind and ruthless ambition. The Lords Declarant are prepared, however, to offer you and yours more mercy than you had in store for those you deemed traitors.
You will never sit the Iron Throne. Your blood shall. Surrender the Princess Elia to us so that if she gives birth to a son, he may be proclaimed the rightful King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men. You will be allowed to take the black of the Night's Watch and serve the Seven Kingdoms to the best of your abilities with the honor you have left in you.
Let this bloodshed be ended and the rightful and just rule of House Targaryen restored.
OOC: We specifically made sure not to take the guest right.
IC: The day I entrust my wife and children to an oathbreaker and godless cur like yourself will be the day the Wall comes crashing down upon your blighted land. I am your King, I have survived your treasonous attack and I shall see justice done for the men you have murdered so cravenly.
You and your fellow conspirators may take the Black themselves, the rest of your vassals may go home knowing their disgrace.
I have sworn to rule Westeros with justice, wisdom and good faith. I will die before I turn it over to a dog.
OOC: Mod confirmed. Your men have been at Harrenhal for weeks and Jon Arryn and others certainly lived under the roof, they never took their leaving gifts and never refused food or anything of that nature. You can't just call guest right ended. Every Vale and Riverlord present broke guest right, Brandon did as well and whatever Northmen of his armies arrived before Rickard did.
The men of the Crownlands had been Dragon men for three centuries, true they had fought against them in the past but always under the banner of one coloured dragon or another. So it was not a surprise that when King Rhaegar arrived shortly after news of the two betrayals acompanied by the High Septon and Queen Elia of Dorne that Lord Rykker, staunchest champion of the old King threw open his gates and bent the knee to the man he had tried to kill less than a year before. Such were the fancies of fate.
The crowds watched Rhaegar and his small and bloodied army arrive and they would see his tranquil features and the fiery determination of his men and the old banners flying and they would rejoice. Just two days later they would be rewarded for their loyalty when bells rang throughout the city celebrating the birth of a new Prince and Princess born to Elia of Dorne in the Dunfort.
As Rhaegar feasted in the hall and took oaths of fealty and began to lay out his plans it was clear that this war was far from over.
To: All lords of Dorne except Ladies Blackmont and Fowler
The Martells have been scattered, there is no need to continue to fight, any who would stand down will end this war with their keep, forces and lands unmolested
From: Aerion Dayne, Lord of Starfall
To: Jorlyn Fowler, dowager Lady of Skyreach
(secret)
I strongly urge you to reconsider, your late husband was a true and leal freind to me in my darkest days, in his final hours he begged me to protect his daughters, I swore by the Old Gods and the New that I would and I intend to honour that vow. I would see nothing but peace and prosperity for his family, do not make his sacrifice mean nothing, let the falcon soar alongside the star
To: All lords of Dorne except Ladies Blackmont and Fowler
The Martells have been scattered, there is no need to continue to fight, any who would stand down will end this war with their keep, forces and lands unmolested
From: Aerion Dayne, Lord of Starfall
To: Jorlyn Fowler, dowager Lady of Skyreach
(secret)
I strongly urge you to reconsider, your late husband was a true and leal freind to me in my darkest days, in his final hours he begged me to protect his daughters, I swore by the Old Gods and the New that I would and I intend to honour that vow. I would see nothing but peace and prosperity for his family, do not make his sacrifice mean nothing, let the falcon soar alongside the star
To: Ser Barristan the Bold, of the Kingsguard @Skrevski
From: Tywin Lannister
Aerys was mad. You know that as well as I did, how he mistreated those that we both valued. I respect you too much to bribe or threaten you, but do not attempt to rally to side of traitors and thieves. Wait, for both our sakes.
To: Ser Gregor Clegane @Skrevski
From: Kevan Lannister
I'm happy to inform you on behalf of my brother that House Clegane is now extremely wealthy, and that you have a place at Lord Tywin's personal guard should you wish it. A Lannister always pays his debts.
To: Sellswords across Essos, Ibb, the Basilisk Isles, Summer Isles, Slavers Bay and Southryos
I am looking to hire sellswords fight for House Dayne, fight for me for gold during the war in Westeros and after it grants of land in Dorne, fight for your own futures and a place where you can forge them
As the flowers blossomed and snowfall came to a close in the dramatic Year of the False Spring, great changes took place in the Seven Kingdoms. All stood witness to the rising of the Great Houses of Westeros against what was perceived as royal tyranny and congenital madness in a struggle of the nobility against an increasingly erratic and authoritarian Crown which failed to protect their ancient rights and privileges. On one hand, there was the Mad King, who had struck against his anointed heir, burned men alive for imaginary insults and boldly assaulted the Faith of the Seven at King's Landing. On the other, there was the King in Harrenhal, a promising young prince who soon proved himself his father's son in policy and reign, threatening houses with fire and blood and breaking Maegor's laws. Already exhausted at the menace of a long and bloody war that would only decide which of the despots was to sit the Iron Throne, both of whom were abominations of incest, the Great Houses of the Seven Kingdoms came together as one for the first time in their long history. The message could not be any clearer; the legitimacy of rule rested on the King's acclamation by the great nobility, and once the nobility's rights had been attacked the King was no longer king at all. It was a war of the original people of the Sunset continent against their conquerors who would see their laws and customs undone. Above all, it was a war founded upon the ideals of honour and chivalry which no longer could be monopolized by the two dragons.
Once both Aerys and Rhaegar Targaryen had been declared traitors to the realm and enemies of the Crown, the Lords Declarant assembled and proclaimed a regency council of seven sacred regents for the as of yet vacant Iron Throne:
RICKARD STARK, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, Protector of the Realm,
TYWIN LANNISTER, Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport and Warden of the West, Hand of the King,
JON ARRYN, Lord of the Eyrie, Defender of the Vale and Warden of the East,
MACE TYRELL, Lord of Highgarden, Guardian of the Marches, High Marshall of the Reach and Warden of the South,
HOSTER TULLY, Lord of Riverrun and Lord Paramount of the Trident,
LEYTON HIGHTOWER, Lord of the High Tower, Lord of the Port, Voice of Oldtown, Defender of the Citadel and Beacon of the South,
ELIA MARTELL, mother to the rightful heir to House Targaryen,
To: Ser Barristan the Bold, of the Kingsguard @Skrevski
From: Tywin Lannister
Aerys was mad. You know that as well as I did, how he mistreated those that we both valued. I respect you too much to bribe or threaten you, but do not attempt to rally to side of traitors and thieves. Wait, for both our sakes.
To: Ser Gregor Clegane @Skrevski
From: Kevan Lannister
I'm happy to inform you on behalf of my brother that House Clegane is now extremely wealthy, and that you have a place at Lord Tywin's personal guard should you wish it. A Lannister always pays his debts.
Ser Barristan says that due to his wound he would like to return to the White Sword Tower to recover and to perhaps reunite the Kingsguard as he is unsure who all still live.
A maester responds that Ser Gregor is unable to respond at the time as he has been given Milk of the Poppy for his wounds.
To: Sellswords across Essos, Ibb, the Basilisk Isles, Summer Isles, Slavers Bay and Southryos
I am looking to hire sellswords fight for House Dayne, fight for me for gold during the war in Westeros and after it grants of land in Dorne, fight for your own futures and a place where you can forge them
To Lord Quellon Greyjoy @Numby
From Lord Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North and Protector of the Realm
Leave my shores. Now.
To Prince Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne @Duzzit
From Lord Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North and Protector of the Realm
Private:
My Prince,
It is with great sorrow that I write to you in these times of war, for blood has been shed needlessly and repeatedly in the name of tyrants and traitors to the realm. The Seven Kingdoms bleed, my lord, and our hearts and families bleed with it.
I write to inform you of Prince Oberyn's noble fall in battle and assure you that the Regency Council means no harm to you and yours. The events that took place at Harrenhal were of the greatest misfortune and I deeply regret that noble blood had to be shed for the sake of peace and justice in the realm, but it is a price we must all pay. I respectfully send you Prince Oberyn's remains to be buried with his ancestors. Rest assured that the Septon and the Silent Sisters performed the last rites accordingly and that all prince's honours have been observed.
As much as I loathe to approach you in this time of grief, war still plagues these kingdoms and we must do our duty to the Iron Throne to see the king's peace and justice enforced as soon as possible. Your sister, the Princess Elia, has been granted a seat in the Regency Council, as the mother to our future king, your nephew Prince Aegon, and hopefully also as the voice of Dorne in the royal court. We confirm all the rights and privileges of the Principality of Dorne, for they are not ours to take away. We offer you every possible aid against the monster Aerion Dayne, whose fate we leave at your discretion, and others who would invade your principality in your time of weakness. The lineage of Nymeria will not fail. On the contrary, the Regency Council shall do its best to ensure that the blood of Nymeria sits the Iron Throne once again and that the sun and spear retain their rightful place in the Seven Kingdoms.
The cheers resounded across the Lannister camp as red and gold banners fluttered in the wind. After months of slogging through the dirt, not quite knowing what or where they were fighting, what appeared to be a decisive victory and copious amounts of ale was amount to gather anyone to the Lannisters' side. Well, anyone that wanted to avoid a smack with a sharp implement.
"Li-on! Li-on! Li-on!"
In the field, a crowd of yelling men were watching as a boy cavorted on a pony with a dagger and the tattered ruins of Ser Harlan Grandison's white cloak, yelling shrill jesting proclamations to bring him the royal sweets, to burn his mother for treason, and the ilk.
"Li-on! Li-on! Li-on!"
From the now ruined center of the camp a pair of heavy wagons were pulled out under heavy armed guard, Ser Tygett Lannister watching personally. While they were muffled, the rumors were that the screaming King Aerys was still yelling obscenities and curses from inside. Serjeants had guided loyal westerlanders to watch the procession and jeer, while being sure to break up any Crownlanders or Riverlanders brave enough to try something.
"Li-on! Li-on! Li-on!"
High above on a nearby knoll, Tywin's only response was to motion to an aide to close a tent flap.
"Li-on! Li-on! Li-on!"
Below, and with a watching coterie of redcloaks in tow, Jaime eagerly joined in the cheering as the carts were pulled away, his friends and comrades from the youth of the west cheering alongside him. They had all thirsted for war and battle, to earn honor and cover themselves in glory as their foes ran beneath them, and the lack of exposure to the horror of war had done nothing to quench that thirst. Jaime would admit that he felt inklings that something here wasn't quite right, but just inlkings.
"Ser Jaime, a message from your father."
Another blond Lannister byblow, his head covered by a looted halfhelm signaled for Jaime to follow. The redcloaks moved to follow, and Jaime turned to them angrily.
"I think I can find my father without a minder, thank you."
"We have orders—"
"Now you have new ones."
Jaime dismounted and followed the page, walking in a out of the way route away from the host and up the knoll, slowly making their way in the same vague direction as Tywin's tent.As they turned past a copse, now hidden from the view of the main host, the page tore the helm off, waves of golden hair falling down to her shoulders. Jaime widened his eyes. "Cers—"
His voice was muffled as his sister pushed him gently to the ground and kissed him. "Jaime, finally. I wanted to find you."
"Aren't you supposed to be heading home?"
Cersei kissed him deeply again, straddling him. "I'm supposed to do a lot of things, Jay"
House Baelish sadly announces its intent to declare for Rhaegar Targaryen, Lord Jasper's dreams of a grand coalition to crush the tyranny of the monarchy having been tragically dashed by a self-serving attempt by the Lords Paramount to replace the Tyranny of One with the Tyranny of Many.
Jasper's family in the Vale are instructed to go into hiding and leave their pathetic seat to its fate.
From: Jasper Baelish
To: Lords Hoster Tully and Jon Arryn @EliudFS1@Ceslas
You brought my family in from the cold...and then promptly left it in the darkness shortly thereafter. I will not forget the kindness you bestowed upon me and mine, but likewise cannot forget your actions here. Easy come, easy go I suppose. The upper crust of Westerosi nobility must fend for themselves.
For the sake of our old friendships, I do not wish to see myself legally revolt against my Liege Lord. As such I hereby abdicate the title of Lord of Mildor Point and return the lands to the possession of the Eyrie, and dissolve all ties of fealty to House Arryn.
It has been my honor and pleasure to serve for and by both of you. I wish you good fortune in the years to come.
Messengers and Ravens were sent all across Westeros with the words of the High Septon.
"People of Westeros! A great injustice has taken place at Harrenhal! Men who owed their word to their true king, King Rhaegar I Targaryen have turned down the path of darkness and launched the ultimate betrayal. Many were lost in trying to protect the King, his Queen, and myself when Lord Protector's Stark, Arryn, and Tully assaulted us within the great hall of Harrenhal. But do not fear! Men of the Faith Militant rallied and fought back against the tide of darkness and allow us to continue the struggle!"
"I now call on all those loyal to the Faith of the Seven to through off the yoke of the power of the Lord Protectors! Not just those in the north but in the south as well as Houses Tyrell and Lannister now sit the capital with armies of swords. Rise people of Westeros! Rise and defend what is true, the Seven call you forth and we MUST rally to fight the terror that we know see! Join the Warrior Son's and Poor Fellows. Join the Flame of the Dragon and see Westeros united one the one True King! Long Live King Rhaegar and long live the Seven!"
From: Jasper Baelish
To: Lords Hoster Tully and Jon Arryn @EliudFS1@Ceslas
You brought my family in from the cold...and then promptly left it in the darkness shortly thereafter. I will not forget the kindness you bestowed upon me and mine, but likewise cannot forget your actions here. Easy come, easy go I suppose. The upper crust of Westerosi nobility must fend for themselves.
For the sake of our old friendships, I do not wish to see myself legally revolt against my Liege Lord. As such I hereby abdicate the title of Lord of Mildor Point and return the lands to the possession of the Eyrie, and dissolve all ties of fealty to House Arryn.
It has been my honor and pleasure to serve for and by both of you. I wish you good fortune in the years to come.
PRIVATE
Do not be foolish, we did what had to do to prevent Rhaegar from tearing apart all the nobility that were opposed to him. I will not do the same. If you lay down your arms I promise no punishment will come to you. But if you continue this course I cannot guarantee your safety.
From Borros Yronwood
For laying down his sword in a battle that saw him protecting the man he calls king I call Barristan Selmy a coward and oath breaker and challenge my false brother to duel to the death so that blood may wash away the shame he has brought to our order.
To Prince Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne @Duzzit
From Lord Rickard Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North and Protector of the Realm
Private:
My Prince,
It is with great sorrow that I write to you in these times of war, for blood has been shed needlessly and repeatedly in the name of tyrants and traitors to the realm. The Seven Kingdoms bleed, my lord, and our hearts and families bleed with it.
I write to inform you of Prince Oberyn's noble fall in battle and assure you that the Regency Council means no harm to you and yours. The events that took place at Harrenhal were of the greatest misfortune and I deeply regret that noble blood had to be shed for the sake of peace and justice in the realm, but it is a price we must all pay. I respectfully send you Prince Oberyn's remains to be buried with his ancestors. Rest assured that the Septon and the Silent Sisters performed the last rites accordingly and that all prince's honours have been observed.
As much as I loathe to approach you in this time of grief, war still plagues these kingdoms and we must do our duty to the Iron Throne to see the king's peace and justice enforced as soon as possible. Your sister, the Princess Elia, has been granted a seat in the Regency Council, as the mother to our future king, your nephew Prince Aegon, and hopefully also as the voice of Dorne in the royal court. We confirm all the rights and privileges of the Principality of Dorne, for they are not ours to take away. We offer you every possible aid against the monster Aerion Dayne, whose fate we leave at your discretion, and others who would invade your principality in your time of weakness. The lineage of Nymeria will not fail. On the contrary, the Regency Council shall do its best to ensure that the blood of Nymeria sits the Iron Throne once again and that the sun and spear retain their rightful place in the Seven Kingdoms.
I will agree with you that the realm bleeds for foolish reasons, though let us not pretend machinations on all sides did not precipitate the situation we find ourselves in. My brother died with a blade in hand, protecting our sister from what he thought were people coming to kill her. A senseless death, but at least he didn't go in his sleep. Your offer of Elia possessing a seat on the Regency Council is a generous one, given how people north of the Red mountains usually react to women holding any power but I do not control my sisters actions. From her letters, it appears she is quite enthralled by Rhaegar and her last message indicated she was quite determined to see things through to the end. I'd ask, that should a fight come near her again, extreme care would be taken to see her unharmed, given her status. My family has bled a lot as of late.
The second part of your message however must surely be a cruel jest on your part Lord Stark, and if I were a more suspicious man I would think you were trying to keep Dorne fighting until the very end. You say that you and the Regency Council will aid me in my mission to end the Child Murderer Aerion Dayne, and yet the onlyreason that that foul beast is not in my possession at this very moment, is that a force of Reach Knights had reinforced Dayne by sea, using Ironborn ships to do so. Two of your council are Reachmen and your plan must have been coordinated over months of discussion, so I find it doubtful that the commander of the force that landed in Dorne did not know that your forces were to stop fighting for Aerys loyalists, especially despicable ones like him. Were the raids on your coast and Seaguard all false then that you would use such men to attack me without even discussing terms, siding with a man who sends assassins to kill little girls?
I am willing to negotiate Lord Stark, but make no mistake. There will be concessions I seek, especially from the Reachmen aiding Dayne. Do you have the authority to speak for your entire group Lord Stark, or should I address another of your members?
I will agree with you that the realm bleeds for foolish reasons, though let us not pretend machinations on all sides did not precipitate the situation we find ourselves in. My brother died with a blade in hand, protecting our sister from what he thought were people coming to kill her. A senseless death, but at least he didn't go in his sleep. Your offer of Elia possessing a seat on the Regency Council is a generous one, given how people north of the Red mountains usually react to women holding any power but I do not control my sisters actions. From her letters, it appears she is quite enthralled by Rhaegar and her last message indicated she was quite determined to see things through to the end. I'd ask, that should a fight come near her again, extreme care would be taken to see her unharmed, given her status. My family has bled a lot as of late.
The second part of your message however must surely be a cruel jest on your part Lord Stark, and if I were a more suspicious man I would think you were trying to keep Dorne fighting until the very end. You say that you and the Regency Council will aid me in my mission to end the Child Murderer Aerion Dayne, and yet the onlyreason that that foul beast is not in my possession at this very moment, is that a force of Reach Knights had reinforced Dayne by sea, using Ironborn ships to do so. Two of your council are Reachmen and your plan must have been coordinated over months of discussion, so I find it doubtful that the commander of the force that landed in Dorne did not know that your forces were to stop fighting for Aerys loyalists, especially despicable ones like him. Were the raids on your coast and Seaguard all false then that you would use such men to attack me without even discussing terms, siding with a man who sends assassins to kill little girls?
I am willing to negotiate Lord Stark, but make no mistake. There will be concessions I seek, especially from the Reachmen aiding Dayne. Do you have the authority to speak for your entire group Lord Stark, or should I address another of your members?
I expected nothing else from Princess Elia. She does her duty to her husband and shall not find neither censure and nor violence from me or the Regency Council for that. This I vow you.
The presence of knights of the Reach at Starfall is a misfortune, and I assure you that I do not call any Ironborn my friend. I intended to engage them at Seagard with Lords Frey and Mallister, but they scurried away before they met out steel. It was only one more unfortunate event in a long series of them.
As Protector of the Realm I preside and speak for the Regency Council, but our decisions are taken as one. I shall bring your terms to their attention and have an answer that stands for all of us. What other concessions do you wish?
To: The Lords Declarant (except Elia Martell) and Quellon Greyjoy
From Aerion Dayne, Lord of Starfall
My Lord Regents
A great and terrible accusation has been leveled against me, that I was the person behind the horrific massacre at the Water Gardens, owing to the pressures of my immediate campaign against Doran Martell and other issues I will go into shortly, I did not have the time to present a defence and clear my name, I will do so now
The truth, and I am hesitant to admit this even now, is that the true architect of that bloodbath was the late Franklin Fowler, Lord of Skyreach, but I beg forgiveness on his behalf for this
After his grievous wounds in the Battle of Skyreach Lord Franklin was not in a good way, the wounds slowly sapped his strength and left him in constant pain, the only thing that would allow him to eat or sleep was a little milk of the poppy. I spent as much time with him as I was permitted, feeling indebted to the man for his loyalty where few others would give it in my cause, I tried a number of methods I learned from Starfalls Maester in my youth to help him keep his mind sharp through the haze, including suggesting that he work on a new seal design to take his mind off things. I later received the news of the horrors of what took place in the Water Gardens, that the letters found on the killers, no, murderers of poor Andrey Dalt and Tyene Sand were stamped with that same seal
My cousin Balerion and I searched Lord Fowlers possessions over the objeciton of his squire (who sadly died in the battle of Starfall)and found not only the seal but the original letter, although barely legible and after I sent his squire outside we confronted him, he broke down sobbing, saying he was afraid for his House, his family, his men and Dorne. That Doran was going to bring the wrath of the mad king down upon us all, that we'd all burn with wildfire, that drastic measures were needed. That if House Martell were cut down Rhaegar's support in Dorne would dry up, he claimed he wrote the letter as he did to further my cause, deluded as he was. He swore Balerion and I to keep silent, for fear of retaliation against his own kin, neither of us were wiling to deny a scared, sobbing, dying man his wish and so we agreed that we would not speak of it for the rest of his days
After his passing I am no longer bound by my vow but I feel responsible for those he left behind, I feel that I must protect his family, his widow and his twin daughters, so I am writing this now: In the name of the Old Gods and the Seven and any and all other deities you would invoke, do not persecute his family for his actions, they had no knowledge of it and please, do not judge him. He was scared, under immense strain and slowly dying, he was not the man he once was, I beg of you to take that into account when you read this, remember the Lord Fowler you knew before this war began, not what happened after Skyreach
Doran Martell has leveled serious charges against me and I do not blame him, he lost his baseborn niece because of this, though I am not a father as of yet I know that if this had happened to one of my sisters, I would be calling for the head of the man responsible. As the tyrant he was, Rhaegar overstepped his bounds in his decree afterwards. But I cannot claim I am blameless. As Lords Wyl, Blackmont and Manwoody can vouch, part of my appeal to them to join me was that Doran Martell was bringing us and our families into the war against the Mad King and that we would all face his wrath if we were to lose, we would all face the wildfire. If those words helped convince Lord Fowler in his fevered state that this was needed then part of the guilt of those deaths is around my neck as well. If so I shall gladly carry it until I go to join the Old Gods. Perhaps I will meet Tyene Sand and Andrey Dalt there, if so I will beg for their forgiveness
That is the truth, the letter and seal I have preserved and can be shown if needed, again my lords, please forgive him, he knew not what he was doing
Name: House Baelish Lord of Mildor Point: Jasper Baelish Seat: unnamed flint tower ("the Drearfort") (vacant) Religion: The Faith of the Seven Words: none Season: Spring
The unnamed flint tower, referred to as the "Drearfort" by Petyr Baelish, now empty and vacant
Ser {Albert Baelish} (b. xxx, d. xxx), Knight of Mildor Point and founder of House Baelish.
His son, Lord Jasper Baelish (b. xxx), Former Lord of Mildor Point, raised to nobility for his services to Lord Arryn while fighting the Mountain Clans. Relinquished the title of Lord of Mildor Point to House Arryn, though the Eyrie never replied to the offer.
His Wife, Lady Alayne Baelish (b. xxx), Former Lady of Mildor Point.
His son, Petyr Baelish (b. 268) A clever and cunning boy for his age.
His second son, Andrew Baelish (b. 280)
About House Baelish and Mildor Point:
House Baelish is a small one, making due where they can and just trying to survive and make it in the world. While they are nobility, the Baelishes live little better than well-off commoners.
The Baelishs are so poor, their "seat" lacks a proper name (instead being mockingly referred to as the "Drearfort" by the little Petyr, who is smart enough to already name over 200 Houses across Westeros). House Baelish's holdings comprise the smallest of the Fingers, and are located to the southwest of the Pebble.
The seat of House Baelish is an old flint tower. An open stair winds around the inside wall, and each floor has only one room. The ground level houses servants and dogs in the kitchen, the middle floor is a modest hall, and the third floor contains the lord's bedchamber. It has arrowslits for defense but no windows. A broken longsword and an oaken shield depicting the Baelish titan's head hang above the hearth.
The vicinity includes several flocks of sheep, a village of a dozen families near a peat bog, and a hermit's cave. Under good conditions, it takes only half a day to traverse the territory. There is no safe anchorage nearby for large ships due to the historically dreary weather and choppy waters around the Fingers.
An ever-present reminder of how lowly House Baelish is, the family lacks words like the other great and powerful noble families of Westeros.
The Lord of Mildor Point is Jasper Baelish, grandson of the first Baelish who crossed the Narrow Sea from Braavos to serve alongside Lord Corbray. He served with dictinction in the War of Ninepenny Kings, gaining the trust and confidence of Lord Tully in the process and providing hope for the next generation of Baelishs that their station in life will not be the same as at current. A skilled warrior and cunning man, Lord Baelish was the first in his family to be raised to the rank of Lord, for his services against the Mountain Clans on behalf of Lord Arryn.
Lord Baelishs' eldest son and heir is the young Petyr Baelish. While inheriting little to none of his father's martial skill, is seems abundantly clear that the young Petyr has inherited his father's intelligence, and more. By the age of 12, Baelish was beginning to teach himself to read with what little scraps of paper he could find (the Lord Baelish only learned to read upon becoming a Lord, in order to better communicate with his liege Lord Arryn). The young Baelish could recite almost the entirety of Westeros' Great Houses, and all of the Houses of the Vale at the age of 10. At age 12, Baelish quit memorizing the Seven Pointed Star, having claimed the tome to be "even more dreary than my home". Any promise for a career at the Citadel having been dashed by a lack of funds, and a future with the Faith of the Seven "entirely out of the question" in the words of Petyr, Lord Jasper sent the future of House Baelish to Riverrun to be fostered by Lord Hoster Tully. A fostering at Riverrun was perhaps the greatest gift to House Baelish. Not only is the future Lord Baelish able to obtain an education that can properly fine-tune his skills, but it comes for free.
One of the greatest strengths of House Baelish, if not the greatest strength, is the family's ability to cultivate and sustain friendships with more powerful men and families. The Baelishes have (for a few generations now), demonstrated a knack for resourcefulness and loyalty to those who call upon them for aid. With little to gain but likewise little to lose, House Baelish has developed a history of being friendly and helpful to more powerful and wealthy lords and nobles.
With the dawn of the recent war across Westeros, House Baelish's fortunes took a turn for the better, and then for the worse. Having proclaimed Rhaegar Targaryen King at Harrenhal, Jasper Baelish rose to become one of the more respected foot-men of the rebel cause, only to see Lords Stark, Arryn, and Tully betray the new King at Harrenhal less than a year after the beginning of the rebellion. Having managed to leave the castle for Duskendale, the now relatively friendless Jasper Baelish resides with what is left of Rhaegar's army, having to choose between his previous friendships and loyalty to Houses Arryn and Tully, and his new King.
Petyr meanwhile has escaped the castle of Riverrun, apparently missing in the Riverlands...
Lord Jasper Baelish. His young son Petyr is said to bear a striking resemblance to his father.
Economy: Poor
House Baelish possesses lands of almost zero monetary worth. What little incomes they have are usually eaten up by maintenance and providing for food, clothing, and shelter for their household. The family lacks any comforts that the status of nobility often provides.
Despite these shortcomings, House Baelish has accumulated quite a substantial fortune at Harrenhal's grand tourney, and during the opening months of the War of Two Kings. Well over 45,000 Dragons have recently been deposited into numerous accounts and investments tied directly and indirectly to House Baelish in both Westeros and abroad.
Military:
House Baelish possesses enough men-at-arms to ward off brigands and bandits, though little more.
Despite their lack of numbers the family has a long martial history, though Petyr shows little interest in continuing the family tradition of serving as a sworn sword to greater lords.
Jasper Baelish's charisma, reputation, and modest wealth (compared to a regular man-at-arms) has led to a group of a few hundred men-at-arms to follow him as of late.
Alliances, Agreements, Pacts and Trade:
Sworn to King Rhaegar Targaryen?
Friends with House Tully of Riverrun?
Sworn to House Arryn of the Eyrie?
Problems:
Despite being members of the nobility and having recently come into a considerable amount of wealth, House Baelish is still a relatively poor family. Some merchant families in the Vale and across Westeros boast more wealth than the Baelishs.
House Baelish is one step above being mere knights, and only two steps above the status of hedge-knights and commoners.
The war in Westeros has ruined the family and placed its future on the continent in doubt. House Baelish's relationships with Houses Arryn and Tully look to be at an end...
