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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 22, 2020 17:37:26 GMT -5
Word came overnight by a trusted person of Dorne. Mace had been vanquished from the field of battle, Aegon had won a resounding victory. He now marched north, through the Kingswood, bringing with him a grand army of tens of thousands strong. It was composed of the Golden Company vanguard, followed by the soldiers of Dorne, then by Lord Rowan's command and with the rearguard composed of additional mercenaries and Stormlanders. The dawn of the next day, a horn pierced through the thick woods to the south, followed by several more horns. A bride, that went over the Blackwater Rush, was guarded by a detachment of Westermen soldiers. Addam Marbrand was their commander, appointed by Ser Devan of House Lannister. Ser Marbrand quickly got his men into order with a detachment on either side of the bridge and either side of the road. As Aegon, accompanied by his Queen, Arianne Martell, Captain-General Harry Strickland (having switched to a horse), his Hand of the King, Jon Connington, and the masterful spy, Varys, came into view, Ser Marbrand barked a command. The Lannister banner was tilted at an angle and the soldiers, on either side of the road, drew their swords before kneeling on the ground. Addam dismounted and knelt beside his horse at the side of the road. Reachmen, Westermen, and Goldcloaks upon the wall ordered the King's Gate to be opened across the river, which became visible soon enough to the Rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms. As they drew closer, the Westermen shouted. Long live the King! Long live the King!House Targaryen had returned to King's Landing.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 22, 2020 17:42:16 GMT -5
Devan Lannister was present, at the gate and within the walls of King's Landing. Having ensured he was dressed in his finest clothing, he stood beneath the banner of House Lannister, guarded by several soldiers and a few retainers, notably Ser Humfrey Swyft and Ser Lorent Lorch. The Westermen glances at Lord Tarly who stood with him as well as other members of the court. Obara Sand had practically vanished. She was likely with Aegon or coming to join them. Nonetheless, Devan hoped he was making the right choice here.
Harry Strickland, being as casual as ever, drank deeply from a flask before putting it away.
Look at that, Sire.
The Captain-General gestures to the kneeling Westermen soldiers and then at the gate. A grin crosses his face at the sight of the city.
Aegor Bittersteel, be ready for me to take your spot in the next life! I did what you couldn't!
The male laughs heartily, merry due to the alcohol in his system. He turns slightly and waves his hand.
Alright boys! Give them a good horn blow!
From the ranks of the Golden Company, several horns bellowed followed by the sounds of the elephants that lumbered about.
Beside Daemon Sand was Rolly Duckfield, a former squire of Harry Strickland, and had been honored with a white cloak, making him the second knight to join Aegon's Kingsguard.
Edric Dayne rode up front, given the position of honor with the King and Queen. The Sword of Morning looked behind them momentarily, remembering how the Kingswood had been a place of hiding as he traversed the land and sought to return home. It was a stunning victory when they came upon the field. His Grace had barely broken a sweat and crushed the Reachmen! And a great swath of them joined his side. It was unlike anything he could imagine nor seen in his lifetime. Slowly, Lord Dayne looks at the gallant Aegon Targaryen and his beautiful bridge, Queen Arianne. It made him miss his young wife... maybe she could be brought North when they were settled.
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 22, 2020 17:46:46 GMT -5
"Lannisters. Lickspittles, to the last."
Arianne wore an ornate golden circlet with a ruby set in the middle - the crown of one of the Dornish Princesses of old, that ruled before they bent their knee to the Dragon. The would-be Queen had swapped silks for soft furs. At her left side rode Ser Daemon Sand, sporting a pale white cloak. At her right was the King himself, her husband, the supposed Dragon of Storm's End. It gave her no small satisfaction to see the Westerman kneel.
"These are your fair weather friends, husband. I'm sure a few of them remember the Sack."
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Post by pontifex on Jun 22, 2020 17:46:57 GMT -5
Aegon couldn't help but smile. It had all come almost a bit...too easy. Surely it couldn't be this easy? He had been prepared for much worse, and this put him on his guard. The kneeling Westermen, they were the sons of those who had surged into King's Landing, murdered his kin, and declared the usurper King. There seemed so few of them now compared to his own hosts. The Reach had remained largely loyal to his grandsire and sire, but they had been of no avail and they had been of no avail to the Usurper's son either. Would such weak allies make a good long term alliance? Then there was Dorne, full of their own bitter resentments and yet possibly the most sincere of his newly found friends as had been predicted. All of his advisers had counseled him that Dorne's support was crucial. He had much and more to do, but for now, he would savor his victory. He advanced with the banners of House Targaryen and drew Blackfyre. "The Gates of King's Landing will open to the one true King!"
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Post by oznerol on Jun 22, 2020 17:57:55 GMT -5
"Lannisters. Lickspittles, to the last."Arianne wore an ornate golden circlet with a ruby set in the middle - the crown of one of the Dornish Princesses of old, that ruled before they bent their knee to the Dragon. The would-be Queen had swapped silks for soft furs. At her left side rode Ser Daemon Sand, sporting a pale white cloak. At her right was the King himself, her husband, the supposed Dragon of Storm's End. It gave her no small satisfaction to see the Westerman kneel. "These are your fair weather friends, husband. I'm sure a few of them remember the Sack." After a particularly delightful, passionate and almost violent intercourse Arianne had convinced him to join the whitecloaks. That served him well for still loving that woman, after all those years. And, now, he was a Kingsguard, or would be if that whelp managed to reign for more than a winter. At least they got the capital, he could smell the piss and shit from miles away. Gods, the mud would be so hard to remove from the cloak. "You should have all Lannister killed and be done with all these"Said Daemon with a scowl. He wears male and a shirt of scales, white on white. "Grant the Rock to Myrcella and wed her to Trystane. Martells on the West, that'd be good for a change"He gestured with a gloved hand to the Lannister banner. "And this man isn't even of the main line, a second cousin tops. A cat more than a lion. And with no balls, it seems"
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 22, 2020 18:07:42 GMT -5
"Runt of the litter, for certain."
The Queen grinned, casting her eyes over to Ser Devan, loitering under the limp hanging banner of the Lion of Casterly Rock. She turned to the King.
"It is my Lord Husband's decision as to what befalls the Lannisters. Perhaps this Ser Devan will be useful, if he hates his kin as much as we do."
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Post by pontifex on Jun 22, 2020 18:19:04 GMT -5
Aegon gave it all thought, mulling it over. At last he spoke, his amethyst eyes sparkling. "I see." He said softly, almost inaudible over the din of the cheers and trumpets. "Yet, Myrcella is of House Baratheon, not Lannister if my understanding is true." The matter had not been settled legally, he was aware. "This one is no lion, he is a hyena." Aegon concluded. "He feeds on the leavings of the Lion, or would claim it, it seems to me." Yet such a man would have uses. A catspaw of a differend breed. "Tell me" He asked of his entourage. "How many men did this Lannister bring to my cause, and had he not, could he have stood against me?"
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 22, 2020 18:43:51 GMT -5
"My cousin told me he commanded twelve thousand or so. Not even enough to stand against either one of our forces, let alone our combined strength."
Arianne wrinkled her nose. The city really did stink of all kinds of filth, the stench carried to her nose by the Blackwater Rush.
"A man of little honour, even for a Lannister."
She concluded. To turn on your kin was unacceptable. If Devan had any sense, he would have taken Myrcella back to Casterly Rock and ruled in her name.
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Post by pontifex on Jun 22, 2020 18:55:38 GMT -5
"An opportunist then." Aegon concluded "What would you have done with him, Arianne?"
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Post by AxBrew Sunster on Jun 22, 2020 19:21:47 GMT -5
Randyll Tarly stood under his own banner, face hard, Heartsbane on his back. His arms were folded across his chest as Aegon's forces approached. The banners of the dragon danced alongside the Martell sun, and a few scattered banners from the Stormlands and the Reach. The business with the city watch commander, and the issue of Tommen - he would still like the boy safe, and out of the hands of someone who might push his claim - were weighing on him somewhat. He watched impassively as the force drew closer, giving the order to open the gates when Aegon himself approached.
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 22, 2020 19:30:45 GMT -5
"I would send him to fight Stannis Baratheon. If he wins, we reward him. If he dies, so be it. He will not be able to turn his cloak to such a man."
Stannis would have his head even if he turned to his side. There was something remarkably easy about manipulating predictable men. It also sent him far from Casterly Rock. The Queen smirked.
"But it is your decision."
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Post by pontifex on Jun 22, 2020 19:35:37 GMT -5
Aegon smiled. "The Gods are good, Arianne." He said grasping her hand. "They have seen fit to give me a wife of great beauty and great wisdom, yes. I see it clearly now. These great lords must be made to prove their valor, musn't they? Tarly included. It is on thing to strike the banners when the cause is hopeless, and it is another thing to prove valor." The gate was approaching, and flower petals were falling amongst them now. "Who would you send north to represent Dorne in such a campaign?"
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 22, 2020 19:51:51 GMT -5
"Nobody I would want to lose."
Arianne japed, laughing pleasantly at her husband's flattery. The thought of any man of the desert going to North in winter amused her.
"You might go yourself, once you put a babe in my belly. A king on the battlefield is worth ten thousand men."
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Post by pontifex on Jun 22, 2020 19:59:51 GMT -5
"Mayhaps the Pretender may be assuaged." Aegon replied cryptically. "Yet Dorne's spears may yet go north. I have heard disturbing reports of the Riverlands - these Freys - and Baelish. A jumped up man he seems to be but no matter, we shall have plenty of time to discuss these problems among...dozens more." he said with a scowl. Aegon sent for his Hand and issued orders. "Assemble all these lords in the Red keep. Tarly, Lannister, all of our commanders, the Kingsguard, the Small Council, all of them. Send word to the High Sparrow I request a private audience."
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Post by AxBrew Sunster on Jun 23, 2020 3:36:32 GMT -5
Tarly fell into the procession that made for the keep, eventually joining the King and the other lords he had ordered gathered.
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