THE MASTERS

VOLANTIS

Slave trade has been disrupted by Daenarys Targaryen's quest to put an end to slavery. To combat the growing threat the Masters of the remaining Free Cities have been funding the Sons of the Harpy to defy her rule in Meereen. They also gather in Volantis to discuss military action against the Dragon Queen. The nobles and masters of the free cities gather in the throne room of the Triarchs. For days they argue on a course of action. "My Lords and Ladies!" Aron mo Zad says standing up.

Zad is an information broker, merchant Lord, and long time enemy of Ilyrio Mopatis. "The Targaryen rise to power did not originate in Braavos...No it started in Westeros with House Romyn and crossed the Narrow Sea to Pentos where that fat Spice Lord Mopatis lives. This Dragon Queen is not alone she has a nephew and a niece...Who in Targaryen tradition married each other...This is a Targaryen plot to conquer both Westeros and Essos..."

"What are you proposing Lord Aron?"

"I am proposing that we divide our forces and send half to Westeros to help King Tommen keep the Iron Throne and send the other half to Meereen and destroy the Dragon Queen...For if we strike at the Dragon Queen her nephew will retaliate...No they both must die..."

"I agree with Lord Zad..." One of the Triarchs yell.

When they reach an agreement the army which is 250,000 strong is divided into two forces. The one to attack Meereen is commanded by General Ryheed of New Ghis. The army that will cross the narrow sea and aid King Tommen is commanded by Lord Thasten of Volantis. Each man commands a force 125.000 strong. A month passes before either is ready to set sail.

KING'S LANDING - THEON

Blackwater Bay has been blockaded by a thousand ships. Half the fleet is made up of Romyn ships, which number five hundred, three hundred sail for Lord Paxter Redwyne and the remaining two hundred ships are Dornish. On land Julian Romyn surrounds the city with over forty thousand men of the Expanse and thirty thousand Dornishmen. Theon Greyjoy walks the deck of his ship the Cracken unable to sleep. He tries to do his duty, but his mind is consumed with thoughts of marrying Catalyna Romyn.

"All is well my Lord..."

The man on deck says to Theon, "You just had to say it didn't you?" Theon asks, "As soon as someone says that...that is when things go to hell..." He did not know how to reply. "Never mind see yourself to some sleep I will take your watch..." As the man walks away he pauses. "Something wrong?"

"I thought I saw..."

Theon joins him and stares out over the water. There is a scout ship signaling, "All hands on deck!" Theon screams running to the watch bell. He starts ringing the bell. Other bells echo across the water from other ships. "All hands on deck!" One of the men signal the scout ship back with a torch. The ship is being chased by a dozen warships. Not far behind the chasing ships is a massive fleet.

The scout ship is sunk and the enemy attacks the Romyn fleet with fifteen hundred ships. Within the first few minutes sixteen ships are burning as the Romyn/Martell fleet is caught off guard.

"Signal our ships to rally near the shoreline!" Theon barks. The Iron Born live for battle at sea, so they do not panic when the surprise attack occurs.

"My Prince!" Out of respect the Iron Born refer to Theon as Prince. "Lord Redwyne's ship has been captured..."

"Signal all ships to snuff their lamps..." Theon's maneuver allows a few ships slip by the enemy or attack enemy ships. Theon orders the Cracken to attack the ship routing Redwyne's flagship. He leads his men aboard and they are able to rescue Lord Paxter Redwyne and sail away. Theon's ship rally near Sharp Point to counter attack. They do and sink many enemy ships, but eventually a retreat is called.

THASTEN

Lord Thasten is a man of the sea and a hardened battle commander. He is six feet tall very muscular and carries a broad sword across his back. He wears armor with a huge scorpion on it. the claws make up the shoulder pads and the tail curves around his waist. The legs of the scorpion wrap around his torso. As he disembarks his ship King Tommen waits with his advisors. "I am King Tommen this is my Uncle Lord Tyrion Lannister Hand of the King..." He introduces everyone else.

"I am Lord Thasten of Volantis...Greetings on behalf of the Triarchs of Volantis and the Masters of the Free Cities...I bring with me supplies and 125,000 troops to help the King keep his crown..."

"Your aid is most welcome..." Tyrion replies.

Thasten and his commanders are given rooms inside the Red Keep. After everyone is settled they meet with King Tommen and the small council. "The North has also declared its independence from the crown will you be helping us to invade the North..." Cersei asks.

Thasten shakes his head, "I am sorry, but no...My only concern is to destroy the Targaryens and their allies...Mainly Houses Romyn and Martell..."

Tyrion looks at Lady Vastell, "We have recently come to the knowledge that House Stark shares blood with the Targaryens...In fact this Aegon is in the North training a hundred thousand Wildlings to fight like a regular army..."

"Well I guess that changes things...But first we deal with the enemies in the South..." A man walks in and hands Thasten a letter, "My scouts report that the Romyn/Martell forces have fled to Ashford..."

JULIAN

Julian is in his tent writing a letter to his wife, "My Lord...Our scouts report that Eastern ships are attacking our fleet on the blackwater..."

Julian stands up and orders his squire to saddle his horse then he rides out with ten men to the shore and with a spyglass observes the battle. "Ride back to camp and sound the horn to break camp we ride for Ashford..." He says to his Squire. Julian watches for a few more minutes before riding back. When he returns to camp tents are coming down at breakneck speed. Wagons are being loaded and livestock gathered to leave.

Within two hours the army is on the march, with the Calvary and archers bringing up the rear guard. They march through the Kingswood on the southern side of the Blueburn River towards Ashford. When they reach Ashford Julian meets with his advisors. "We have received no word from the fleet, but if anyone survived they will make for Dorne..." Lord Axel says.

"Our scouts saw them unloading Elephants, horses, and a large number of troops...They got up eighty thousand before they had to withdraw...Many of them were from Volantis..."

"We may as well assume that their forces number over one hundred thousand..." Over the next few days Julian's army rests in shifts after a long forced marched to Ashford. Those not resting prepare the castle defenses for a siege. Water, wine and ale are stockpiled, meat is slaughtered and salted, bread baked and stored. Arrows are made and piled up on the walls for use. Two weeks after arriving at Ashford the armies of the East arrive.

"I would say seventy thousand strong not including the Westerosi forces..." Prince Oberyn says to Julian on the battlements. The army numbered seventy-two thousand five hundred easterners and fifteen thousand Westerosi.

"Riders approaching!" A man screams.

"I am the Baron of Volere in Volantis...I am sent by Lord Thasten of Volantis to negotiate terms of surrender..."

"We accept your surrender..." Julian says causing his men to laugh.

The Baron smiles, "It is you who should surrender...You are outnumbered..."

"Numbers don't always win battles..."

"Is that your final answer?"

"It is..."

"As you wish..."

The Catapults are loaded, the tar balls and boulders covered in tar are set on fire. The first volley is fired at the wall and main gates. Julian's archers aren't posted on the wall itself they stand on wooden scaffolds behind the wall. So when the tar balls and boulders hit his men are not harmed. "Fire!" Julian screams. A hail of arrows and tar covered boulders are fired back at the enemy. They only fire one volley and the enemy and stop. Two catapults are destroyed and three hundred men are killed.

"Hold!" Julian commands and they wait. All night the enemy pounds the wall and main gates

"They will come at us with the Elephants first..."

"Yes..."

At sunrise the next day mounted Elephants roar and get ready to charge with a battering ram group. "Remember aim for the Elephants..." Lord Anders says.

By high noon the ground is littered with sixty dead Elephants and over nine thousand men. The main gate had been breached, but the enemy withdrew after heavy losses. House Romyn had placed it's defenses well to hold the castle on all sides.

MEEREEN

Ilyrio Mopatis stands in the throne room before Queen Daenarys. "How many did you say?" Daenarys asks keeping her voice calm. A Queen cannot show weakness even in the face of overwhelming odds.

"One hundred and twenty-five thousand...Half the troops they raised..."

"How long do we have?" Ser Jorah asks.

"A few weeks..."

"Numbers do not win battles..." Hector says.

"No but they do help..." Prince Quentyn.

"They have sent the other half West to aid King Tommen..."

"And my nephew?"

"In the north your Grace..."

"You have two large Dragons...Give me command of the army...When the enemy arrives I will give them so much blood they will wish they had stayed in Volantis..."

Daenarys gives Hector command of her forces. Hector commandeers the ships docked in port and place catapults on them. He closes off sections of the street to create bottlenecks and place catapults on wooden scaffolds. Now all they had to do was wait for the arrival of the enemy. They did not have to wait long as five days after the preparations were completed the enemy attacks. The stars fill the sky and a wind blows from the West carrying a light chill on it. The night is lit up as flaming projectiles are fired from both sides. There are two hundred ships on the docks and fifty men manning each ship. They fire a steady stream of flaming rocks at the enemy. There job is to hold them off as long as possible.

After three hours the defenders on the docked ships are overwhelmed. The enemy lands its troops on the beach and as they do Daenarys stands on the roof of the Pyramid with Drogon and Viserion. She climbs onto Drogon's back and they fly off to attack. "Dracarys!" The two Dragons attack the enemy ships sinking fifteen ships before attacking the army storming the city. Because of the Dragons many of the troops break ranks and flee by horse or foot in different directions. As Drogon is pulling up Daenarys is struck in the shoulder by an arrow. Wounded Drogon flies her back to the Pyramid where Maester Olyse is waiting.

"Go my children and avenge me..." Daenarys says to the two Dragons. As they fly off Daenarys is carried into the bedroom where Olyse attends her wound. It seems like a victory, but the Sons of the Harpy open the gates for the Dothraki Horde. The Masters have a deal with the Dothraki.

HECTOR

"My Lord the Dothraki are running a muck through the streets..."

"Hold the remaining troops at the Pyramid..."

The man salutes and walks away, as he does Prince Quentyn walks up to Hector, "The Queen would like a word with you..."

She is sitting up on the bed, the arrow had been removed, "I am told the Dothraki have entered the city..."

Hector looks at Quentyn before responding, "Yes my Queen..."

"Defend my people..."

"Your Grace with all due respect the Pyramid gives us the high ground...We cannot face the Dothraki in open combat..."

"The streets of the city and roofs of the buildings will give us the advantage..." Quentyn says speaking up.

Hector ignores him, "You gave me command of your forces...Trust me..."

"What kind of Queen am I if I do not protect those I rule..."

He sighs, "As you command your Grace..."

"No wait...I have an idea..." Daenarys quickly says.

Khal Jhaqo and his blood riders agree to meet Daenarys in the great arena. "I have come to acceot your surrender..." She says to them in Dothraki. They laugh and threaten to take turns raping her. That is when Daenarys pushes over the braziers setting the platform on fire. Her clothes catch fire, but she is unharmed. When the fire dies out Khal Jhoqo is dead along with two of his bloodriders. The other two are badly burned, but Daenarys is unharmed. The Dothraki bow to her and name her their Khaleesi.