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Post by Gandalf on Jun 3, 2020 7:17:59 GMT -5
Bloodstone, largest of all the Stepstones, was nothing but the king of barren rocks and salty waves. Daemon Targaryen made his 'seat' here in days of yore, when he took the Narrow Sea from the Three Sisters in Fire and Blood with Aurane's distant kinsman the Sea Snake. A wooden castle stood where he once held court, inhabited by whatever pirate or sellsword with enough men to force out the previous incumbent. During the Ninepenny Kings, it became a base of operations for the Band of Nine, and many of the defeated cutthroats and vagrants remained on the isles after the defeat. Even now, it was filled with them. Would be conquerors, exiles, and pirate lords populate the barren islands that make even the blackened earth of Dragonstone seem like paradise. A lesser man might lose hope, but Aurane had seen an opportunity. Cersei Lannister, bless her blackened heart, had made him a gift of ten of the finest warships in the Seven Kingdoms, just as the Redwyne fleet sailed back into the east to deal with Greyjoy.
Power begets power. With these warships, he would build a fleet and an army to take what should rightfully have been given to him already. More had already flocked to his banner; skiffs, cogs, even a handful of war galleys had pledged their fealty to the Lord of the Waters. To start with, Aurane and his ships would make his way to the Grey Gallows. Whatever flotilla would not join would be seized by force. The banner of a white seahorse on a black field rose up the mast of the Lord Tywin as it left Bloodstone Cove.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 4, 2020 10:46:56 GMT -5
Grey Gallows was commanded by a pirate by the name of Norys Redbeard, an exile of Great Norvos, a more inland Free City. His upswept mustache was grand and brightly colored red, something easy to spoke with a telescope from any distance. He commanded a flotilla of 19 vessels, of which two were war galleys and the remainder were captured and refitted cogs. His crew had just returned from pillaging a convoy of ships, from Lys, when one of their ships raised a series of flag signs; sails on the horizon! Norys went about commanding his men into order and loading their ballista. Arrows were brought from below for ammo and more arrayed for battle. Redbeard pulls out a telescope and looks out at the horizon.
What in the world...
What were those ships?! They were immense in size! Ten of them, three decks tall, and bearing the banner of the white seahorse. His view also noticed more war galleys and other cogs following. Double what he had! Norys slams his telescope shut, gritting his teeth tightly as all knew who that flag belonged to.
Velaryon...
He says with a thick Norvosi accent. His crew wanted to fight, despite the greater numbers and the larger ships, but Redbeard wasn't a fool. He points to his first mate.
Lower the standard! Relay a parley message by flag!
An 'aye aye' followed as a fellow Essosi commanded the standard be lowered. From his ship, a flaming arrow was fired over the bow and off to the side. Then, with two brightly colored flags, an accent of blue, the first mate began relaying a message of parley from his captain.
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 4, 2020 11:49:33 GMT -5
Aurane likewise ordered a standard of parley raised. Fighting would be a waste of good ships. The Lord Tywin drew closer to the Norvoshi captain's vessel. The Lord of the Waters was stood on the prow of his flagship, clad in Myrish silks and sporting a fine hat that made him seem a head taller. At his waist hung an ornate sword, gold and with a ruby inlaid in the pommel. With a flourish, he made his way to the deck, where the two ships were coming alongside one another. The anchor was dropped, and the three-decker came to a halt.
"Hail, Captain! A fine day, no? I have brought a gift for you, as a token of my friendship!"
Aurane gestures flippantly. A half-naked Lyseni prostitute emerges from the Captain's cabin and lewdly struts next onto the deck, clad head to toe in gaudy jewellery. Oddly, her and Waters looked rather alike - both silver haired and bright eyed. The Lord of the Waters grinned.
"I stole her from some merchant prince making the crossing. Don't you think she looks like a Dragon Queen? She's yours now, anyway, if you'll hear me out. I have a proposition for you."
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 4, 2020 11:57:29 GMT -5
Norys watched as this rather flamboyant display of a person appeared upon the deck. This was a Velaryon? Seemed a bit odd for those Valyrian descendants. Well, going off the old stories of the various Sea Snakes from their lineage that sailed the open blue and were invincible on the high seas. Nothing made them fear the waters! Still, if this captain had these ships, he must have some reputation. Redbeard's head turns to the Lyseni prostitute, but doesn't seem at all impressed.
Propping his foot up on the edge of the ship, Redbeard crosses his arms, looking straight up at Aurane.
I already have four wives and they drain me plenty enough!
Norys then clicks his teeth slightly. Maybe the first mate or one of his other commanders could use an exotic woman.
But we will take her off yer hands and hear this proposition of yours. Don't have much of 'er choice with your monstrosities bearing down.
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 4, 2020 12:07:15 GMT -5
"Maybe the gold will be of some use to you if the girl won't."
Aurane kissed the girl on the neck and gently nudged her forward, where she would cross onto the Norvoshi ship.
"I cannot imagine gold being very easy to come by on these Gods forsaken rocks. But I am generous. Join my fleet, Redbeard. I can get you enough gold to bathe in, and lands to call your own."
He gestured behind him, at the craggy rocks that filled these treacherous waters.
"These barren rocks are a home to those who have no other place to go. But I can give you a place to go, captain. A land to call your own."
Drawing his sword, he tapped the flat of his blade on the Ship's mast.
"These ships I command are what was left of the Iron Throne's own royal navy. They have no defence against men like us. Join me, and we will sail to Westeros and take whatever we can. Sail with me, Redbeard, and I will make you a lord. What say you, Lord Redbeard?"
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 4, 2020 12:14:53 GMT -5
Norys looked over at the craggy rocks indicated by Aurane. These rocks were where his crew lived and his family had started itself up. Redbeard had three sons and two girls, four wives, two former mistresses, and enough gold to pay his men, his ships, and maintain what he needed to live off the seas. The Norvoshi turns to his crew, looking at them.
Whatcha think, lads? Wanna become Sers and Lords? Have castles and plenty of pretty noble lasses?
The crew replies with a resounding 'aye' that echoed to the nearby ships. Norys grins.
Come on! Show me you really want that! Make the seas quiver at your resolve!!
A further 'aye,' louder than before followed as Redbeard turned to Aurane Waters. With a rather, overly done, bow, Norys submits to the proposal of Aurane.
Well, seems like the Redbeard Fleet will joining you, Lord... err... what is your name, Captain? What should we call ya?
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 4, 2020 19:13:17 GMT -5
”I am the Lord of the Waters, my dear Redbeard. Ready your ships, for soon enough we will leave these islands. Have your men spread the word that I am looking for any man with stones enough to sail for Westeros.”
They shared a cup of wine; Arbor Gold, plundered from a trading cog. In truth, the ships were growing more scarce. Ironborn were bad for business. When the easy pickings dried up, the pirates would come flocking to Aurane, he was certain of it. He had the largest pirate fleet in the Stepstones. With his new ships in tow, Aurane would prowl the Stepstones, seeking to win pirates and ruffians to his cause with promise of land and gold in Westeros.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 5, 2020 19:30:45 GMT -5
From the seven remaining islands, and the various pirate crews that infested these wars, four known pirates sail to join Aurane Waters.
The first to join as an Ironborn captain named Rance Weaver, who commanded a single war galley, named the Deep Lurker. Following him were a pair of brothers, surprisingly, one commanding a fleet of seven vessels and the other a flotilla of nineteen. These two were Lysserion brothers, Drako and Daarius, exiles from the city of Lys. The final fleet was twenty ships in total, commanded by a Braavosi corsair, Essorio Shivers, who had a great reputation given the size of his fleet compared to the others. These four, along with Norys Redbeard, formed the beginnings of Aurane Waters grand fleet.
Rance Weaver: 1, war galley
Drako Lysserion: 7, 3 war galleys and 4 cogs
Daarius Lysserion: 19, 5 war galleys and 14 cogs
Essorio Shivers: 20, 5 war galleys and 15 cogs
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 7, 2020 10:36:24 GMT -5
The armada of sellsails, cutthroats and turncloaks departed from The Stepstones for the Narrow Sea, the formidable Lord Tywin leading the formidable fleet that the Lord of the Waters had mustered under his black banners. They entered the Blackwater Bay after a fortnight of sailing, passing the nearly deserted Massey’s Hook and islands of Driftmark and Dragonstone. With no Royal Fleet to stop them, they had mastery of the Narrow Sea - and Aurane had the pickings of the islands there. They did not dare yet to pass close to King’s Landing itself, but instead made their way to the top of Cracklaw Point. Claw Isle, domain of House Celtigar, defended only by women and old men after many of their chivalry had been cut down fighting for Stannis Baratheon. Reportedly, Claw Isle was stocked with fabulous treasures and trade goods, and it was as a result of this reputation that Waters sought to capture it. Under cover of darkness the smaller ships approached Claw Isle’s harbour, whilst the rest of the fleet was spread out all over the Cracklaw, mooring in the coves and beaches until word was sent to join the attack; signalled by the way of a fire arrow. The advance party were to quietly dock at the harbour and prepare for landing, while a lone skiff skirted around the castle itself to try and find a water gate or point of entrance for the pirates to take advantage of.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 7, 2020 19:01:43 GMT -5
The landing did not go as planned... there was something that went wrong for the advanced party hit resistance rather quickly. However, things were turned right around. Despite getting the jump on the pirates, the garrison of Celtigar's castle were hardly in a good situation as many of their good men fell at Blackwater and their lord, Adrian, was captured by the Iron Throne. They lacked skill whereas these corsairs were ones that were seasoned in a good fight, whether it was boarding a ship, enduring the waves, or landing to raid and plunder. The garrison, that had been there to resist, was rapidly falling apart as they were cut down by spear, sabre, and arrow.
On the other side of things, the skiff was more successful at remaining quiet and under the radar, likely due to the ongoing actions at the harbour. A point of entrance was found, on the side it was searching. A gatehouse, under defended and neglected, by the looks of things. This entrance faced in land, towards the Crackclaw Point. Likely neglected either by the absence of Lord Adrian or because they never imagined an attack from the West. It was the best place to throw some ropes up, get over the wall, overpower the little guard there, and open the gates for their comrades to swarm.
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 7, 2020 20:19:41 GMT -5
Waiting for the signal, Aurane’s men would then commence to land their ships at the docks of Claw Isle, hopefully drawing enough of the Celtigar garrison out for the men entering from the other side to sneak in and open the gates. Then, the castle would be all but theirs. Once the entrance was found, two more smaller ships were sent to assist the first crew in getting inside the walls.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 7, 2020 21:49:39 GMT -5
The taking of the gatehouse was nearly flawless. Though some men died trying to scale the walls, and taking down the guards, the location was secured. For now, the gate remained locked, but, as according to Aurane's instructions, a torch was used to light an arrow. Their best archer, raised the arrow high and fired it off. It's illuminating glow streaked past the tower of the keep, flying high for all to see.
Norys notices the signal and nudges Aurane in the shoulder.
Well, guess we can see if yo'r promise is as good as gold.
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Within the harbour, the advanced party was still clashing with what garrison sallied forth to fight with them. The garrison's bodies were piling more than the corsairs that had landed.
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 7, 2020 22:00:27 GMT -5
With the small skiffs packed with corsairs and sent to rear of the castle, Aurane brought the Lord Tywin itself to the docks, he and his personal crew disembarking and engaging in the fighting. Aurane gave an order to one of his captains, who bellowed;
“Surrender! Lay down your weapons, and we’ll spare your lives! Surrender, to the Lord of the Waters!”
Aurane ran around his men like a madman, encouraging them onwards when the faint hearted looked like they might falter. Great riches supposedly lay within the castle, and the Lord of the Waters was eager to get his hands on the hoard that the old dragon Celtigar had been sleeping on.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 7, 2020 22:43:43 GMT -5
The call of surrender was soon followed by a wave of men throwing down their swords, spears, and shields. The garrison had panicked at the sight of many ships, further impacted by the word of the Western Gatehouse falling to the corsairs. Without their lord, they were nothing... Adrian was captured, the most veteran of their own dead, and they weren't eager to fight to the death. The Red Crab had made very little friends due to his avarice and sour attitude. His one son, Maric, who lived was more capable than his old father, but hadn't awoken quick enough to aid in the defense of his home. Besides him, he had two sisters and his elderly mother. There was little choice but to surrender given the position of the corsairs under the Lord of the Waters.
Aurane Waters had secured Claw Isle for whatever purposes he desired.
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 8, 2020 8:41:32 GMT -5
The weapons of the garrison were gathered up by Aurane's men, who stood to one side as their lord was the first to enter the fortress. The surrendered would be press-ganged into service, with those that refused thrown in the dungeons.
"Come, my captains. We shall have the first pick of Lord Celtigar's famous treasures."
The motley crew of pirate lords and sellsword captains followed him into the now open gatehouse. Orders had been given for the family of the Red Crab to remain untouched, locked in their quarters whilst the Pirate Lord and his crew pillaged the castle. All the rest was fair game. Soon, the castle would be converted into Aurane's base of operations in the area, a ramshackle seat for this 'Pirate King' to hold court over the Narrow Sea.
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