Previous chapters from 13 are updated. I like to make changes several times over because I will reread the chapters at work in between doing various tasks.
Only then I will notice things that need to be fixed or expanded up.
The same will happen for this chapter as well.
I will also finish up my backstory of the Game of Throne World history in the next chapter, which will be 20K plus, from what I have written so far.
After that we will be heading back to Earth and beginning the story of the Marvel/DC world.
Everything seems like the North is overpowered, which its supposed to be as Harry Potter is on a weird journey due to Death, but we will go through that soon enough.
Anyway, have fun... or not.
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As the performances came to an end and the procession for the competitors began, all the foreign teams were introduced first, such as those from the Kingdoms of Westeros and Essos, leaving those of the North till last.
The reason for this was to introduce the competitors under the banner of the Houses they are representing as this is the Northern Games and they didn't operate collectively under one banner of the Northern Realms.
Therefore, those of the Western Coast were introduced first, leading all the up to the Barrowlands before spreading across the vast land and moving up from left to right in their introduction to the audience, just like the Olympics from the Terra Dimension.
Even those of the lands North of the Wall were introduced before those of Skagos and then last but not least, House Potter as they were the hosts of the games and House Stark as they reigned as Kings of the Northern Realms.
The intense cheer from the audience when the banners of the Northern Realms were shown was intense, as those to have held the games in their own lands were always left shocked at the excitement and seriousness the games meant to the Northern people.
More than anything that was evident in the rivalry shown between the Houses and their competitors as most looked on hungrily at House Skaggnar, Crowl, Stane, Beowulf, Hagrid, Umber, Karstark, Woodfoot, Mormont, Nightrunner, Shadow, Sable, and many others, as they were known for winning the most medals from the games each time.
Though the most surprising for most was the sharp eyes on House Reed and those of the Neck, Three Sisters, Iron Islands, Sea Dragon Point, and Flint's Cliff, since they were the best shooters, and marksmen in the Kingdom.
Such rivalry was on show for all to see and witness, though instead, it was hilarious for the Northern Magnars to witness, as was the exchange of money on various bets.
Even the newer Houses to the Northern Realms like Lannstark, Casterly, Durrandon, Goldenwood, Giantstone, Romyn, and many others were just as drawn to the games as they were fully recongised as part of the Kingdom by this and hoped to win some medals throughout the games.
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Moods were in high spirits as the opening ceremony proceeded as planned with the lighting of the Great Torch that would remain lit throughout the games, only for Quidditch to begin as House Potter, the hosts, were set up to verse House Wade.
They served House Dayne faithfully as well as the Old Gods, so it was odd for an Ikranä Banshee to notice with his sharp eyes, the golden necklace with the Seven Star Cross of the Andal Faith wore by all the members of the team.
Calling on the captain of their unit, the Banshee spoke of what he saw and further backed it up through the advance telescopes that were specially made for the Ikranä Banshee to use in flight.
Alerting those higher up in the chain of command, the Ikranä Banshee units were advised to closely watch out for any abnormal actions performed by the Quidditch players on the field, and those in the managers field box.
They weren't the only ones to notice the markings of the Faith, as King Arthur became aware of the necklace after closely securitising the players on the field.
All were largely dazed and not their usual upbeat selves he'd come to know over the years through countless months and years scouting the best players and coaches.
For a moment, he thought they were just a tad bit anxious by the atmosphere of the game, yet it wasn't long before he knew for certain they were far from their normal selves.
"Something is… wrong.
They are far from their normal selves… and above all else, I've noticed them all wearing a necklace of the Faith, with the Seven Star Cross evidently noticeable if you look a little closer."
Arthur's words instantly caused majority of the people in the private royal box to stop all conversation and focus on the players of House Wade, only to notice the necklace as King Arthur pointed out.
"Cousin,…" grumbled Tarius, with his eyes never once leaving the quidditch players, as the blood of House Potter from a cadet branch approached the seat of the High Magnar of Skagos.
"It's time… Sieg.
Ensure all preparations are in place and ready." The man with deep blue ocean eyes with a tinge of emerald, along with the dark black hair told all those present in the private box he was of Potter blood.
He simply bowed before Tarius and left, never saying a word but walked with a powerful stride that easily moved all out of his path.
Tarius on the other hand, sighed heavily as he knew what was to possibly come after seeing the Faith of the Seven necklaces wore by the players of House Wade, known for their fervent belief in the Old Gods, "My King, I believe the time has come… the moment we have dreaded but prepared for to no end.
I must ask for your leave, to prepare for what is to come."
King Thenar understood and simply nodded, "You may go, but not alone.
I give you command of House Stark forces to do what is necessary to keep the peace and uphold justice in the lands of the North."
Nothing more needed to be said for Tarius to rise up from his seat and make his way out of the private royal box, as the guards of House Potter mostly followed, with the rest remaining behind to maintain order and security.
Aurion, Qhan, and Farlyn too left with Tarius, ordering their personal guards to follow as they wouldn't be left behind beside family or the other guards of their Houses.
However, they weren't the only ones to join the High Magnar, as other Houses of the Northern Realms saw their sons and daughters also heading out, each taking their personal guards along as well.
The event couldn't be hidden from the eyes of the guests, yet it truly wasn't meant to, as it showcased the unity of the northerners and further emphasised the kinship all shared from youth through the education system for noble children.
Yet as those who stayed behind kept silent and watched the actions of the quidditch players closely, King Thenar quietly ordered for the guards to remain at the ready, especially those to have taken up station at the private boxes throughout the stadium.
He could somehow sense the mayhem to come but wasn't aware of the method which way the enemies were going to start the attack; however, it was far from simple, Thenar was certain of that.
It wasn't long before he'd been proven right as explosions fired off throughout Avalon one after the other, leading only to a surge of aggression from the players of House Wade, having heard the beginning of their attack in the far distance.
They began to throw circular objects into the crowds, only for them to explode harshly with a silvery fog spreading far and wide from the centre of the explosion.
Yet none were found to be crippled or harmed from the attacks, as the magic weaved into the stadium foundation ensured those attacked upon were safely whisked away from the site of the explosions.
Only, the silvery fog began to harm the magic weaved into the stadium, visible for many to see and notice as the players of House Wade hurled all the remaining circular objects on hand into the crowd, most of which quickly vanished away.
Sadly, those remained were caught up in the fog and became the first of many fatalities for all to see through the active magical projectors showcasing the attack.
Thankfully the audience far from Skagos were able to see the rushing forces of Avalon and the Northern Realms respond to the attack upon their land and citizens, relieving most of the stress on the players of House Potter who'd stepped up to stop the spread of the attack as much as possible.
Leading the charge in the stadium was Sieg, the Heir to House Pottarius of Tianna, an Isle of Skagos enhanced by Expansion Obsidian Obelisks, surrounded by personal guards of his House and those of Potter, Stark, and countless other Northern Houses, all of which were trained to combat magical users.
They were joined by Ikranä Banshee unit to stay behind at the stadium, busy shielding themselves against the few players from the bench of House Wade, each firing harmful spells capable of ripping through the Ikranä.
Now though, they were fighting back and were supported by northerners riding brooms, each wielding their magical foci to combat against the players of House Wade.
While those on the brooms fired spells and used the bludger still in the air to strike the enemies, the Ikranä Banshee unit were let loose with their enchanted bow and arrows, catching those in the air and even down on the ground through their effective fire rate and accuracy.
Sieg made sure the air support wasn't wasted and the warriors under his command, "For Avalon! For the North!" had been shouted aloud for all to hear that it caused the warriors of the Northern Realms to follow in kind with their own chorus.
Picked up by the magical projectors, the sound carried to those set up in Avalon as the attacks around the city were displayed, only for the viewers and Northern Citizens to see the heirs to the Northern Magnars and Magnara fighting at the centre of the battlefield against the feral believers of the Faith of the Seven.
Wielding Stygian Steel and Wintersteel weapons, the Heirs were slicing and cleaving through the screaming madmen of the Faith, shouting non-stop about the Seven Gods of the Faith while attacking the innocent masses they called heretics simply because they didn't follow their gods.
Such scenes were shown to the world for them all to see the ruthlessness and cruelty of the Andals, and those who practised belief in the Faith of the Seven.
Several Knights who were evidently stronger and more skilled than the rest of their brethren causing mayhem, leading to several heirs they came across to be severely injured that they whisked away from the battlefield by their personal guards who continued to fight in their honour.
Thankfully, the timed arrival of High Magnar Tarius made sure the Knights were taught a lesson they'd never forget until time came to meet death in the afterlife.
He wasn't alone as Aurion, Qhan, and Farlyn were by his side, as well as their personal guards, so he charged with the large group under his management.
The Knights were caught off guard by the number of combatants but held to the belief their Gods were watching over them, and their weapons wouldn't fail up against Northern Steel.
None knew it yet, but the Knights were all heavily armoured and equipped with a steel recently developed and commissioned by the Faith, having learnt somewhat how to better the forging of iron by studying the Stygian Steel weapons sent by House Gardener to House Sevenstar back on Andalos.
Sadly, all the preparations made by the Great Alliance, House Sevenstar, and the Faith were for nought to protect the Knights against the wrath of the Northerners and their allies, all who wanted nothing more than to shed the blood of the bastards to have attacked their people in the stadium and around the city.
Soon, the proud warriors of the Faith to have come rushing to the aid of the Knights were outright slaughtered, while those they had tried to save were beaten to a pulp but not killed.
Instead, some of the magically gifted in the ranks of the Warriors of the Faith began to fire off the Unforgiveable Spells, not caring one bit of their surroundings after noticing the severe losses, they let loose upon all they could harm before possibly succumbing to the Northern Heathens.
Such a despicable act required the punishment to be nothing less than brutal and ruthless so none would dare follow in their footsteps, leading to Tarius charging ahead on his lonesome, shielding the masses against the wildly fired spells until he started to fight back at the dozen plus magically gifted in the ranks of the Faith.
It wasn't long before he'd gain some support from his friends to cut down the Warriors of the Faith, before coming face to face against the magically gifted assailants, only to show them no mercy as they beat the life out of the men, before sending them all away to the cells of Camelot via multiple Portkeys.
Magical species throughout the stadium to have been caught up in the mess, fought back against the forces of House Wade to defend the innocent until they gained the necessary support from Sieg to back off and take a moment to gather themselves before joining the fight once more.
Elmer during all of this as the Chief Warlock, called for all the available forces throughout Skagos to tighten the borders, as well as increase patrols, while he practically ordered Arch Magnus Helena Ravenclaw to prepare the borders of the Northern Realms for any sudden attack and to have magical defences at the ready.
As Chief Warlock of Skagos, Elmer called on the Magical Forces of the Northern Military to deploy with the consent of King Thenar, as General Julius soon arrived with his soldiers to stop a large raid upon the docks of the city, along with the army, and navy sending their own forces to aid in the defence of Skagos.
Splitting up the forces as deemed necessary, General Julius made sure the assailants were captured over being killed outright, which eventually saw to the arrest of hundreds in a short period of time as the city delved into the realm of mayhem but began to see some sort of relief.
In the stadium however, Sieg and the forces at his side were leaving no moment of rest for the enemies, as they finally crumbled under the strength of the North.
They captured all the players of House Wade, while slaughtered those who came to their aid from the crowds of the stadium, ensuring it was all witnessed by the viewers of the magical projectors.
Though it wasn't long before all those captured were brought to the stadium after it'd undergone some repairs after the feed to the projectors was cut, and the audiences were advised it'd resume in a couple hours' time.
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Tarius oversaw the transport of the captured enemies with Sieg not far off managing the guards of the countless Houses to have provided their support in the battle.
None of the Northern Houses were missing from the guards overseeing the captured being led into the stadium grounds which were changed into a forest meadow open enough for the crowd to view and those from around the world through the magical projectors active once more.
It wasn't long before Children of the Forest walked over to the open clearing where a Ygg-Atkaye-Weirwood Tree stood tall and proud by its lonesome right now.
As the captured were treated much like Argo Sevenstar and his Warlords, having become worthless after the interrogation via veritaserum, they could do nothing as the Children cut open their guts and planted the saplings of the Ygg-Atkaye-Weirwood Tree in their bodies.
They even showcased it on the magical projectors for the known world to see, as the wrath of the Northern Realms was far from simple, pleasant, or short, so they were soon updated on the course of events up until now.
"It is far from a 'pleasant' or 'good' evening, after all that occurred a couple hours earlier," spoke a heavy toned Tarius, with his voice reaching all in the stands of the stadium, and across the city, including those tuned into the feed displayed on the projectors.
Tarius hadn't changed his clothes, nor did he remove the blood of those slaughtered earlier, evident for all to see, something that caused many to feel discomfort, though it was only for those viewing it far from Skagos.
He wasn't the only one to be covered in blood, or bandages, as many Heirs of the North gathered by Tarius, standing near Aurion and the others as they'd taken charge in managing the prisoners with Sieg.
The Magnar and Magnara of the Northern Realm looked on proudly at their children but showed no emotion beside anger and stony-faced grief for the attacks upon their homeland.
"Today… our homeland was acted by the savages of Andalos and their Faithful cunts in our lands down south.
With the belief their Gods called for a Holy War against the Old Gods, to destroy magic and all those related to it, as per the will of their Gods, through the words of corrupted mortal men who call themselves Septons, Lords, and Kings, chose to attack during the pinnacle of our greatest festival.
Yet,…I saw with my own eyes as those who'd been given shelter, security, and safety were stripped of it all, as they fell to the blades of the southern savages, long drawn to fight for the gods asking for the blood of the innocent.
Thankfully, they are now in death's embrace, far away from our land and shores to harm any no one ever again.
Instead, here we stand together... as hundreds face Northern Justice for their actions, while we come to share the truth that led the pious House Wade to attack the lands of the Old Gods for another faith." Just as Tarius said this, the Magnar of House Wade walked out with King Arthur by his side.
The Magnar appeared heartbroken and emotionally drained but had the strength to stand side by side with King Arthur, who seemed just as affected by the whole course of events.
"The players of House Wade to have begun the attack in the stadium were in fact captured by the faithful of the Seven and forced to comply with the plans of the savages.
Investigators discovered soon enough the players weren't forced to comply as originally thought but were turned into senseless and controllable slaves for the supposed 'Warlocks' of the Faith to use as they pleased.
Authenticated by magic itself, and the True Song of the Children, we've come to find the players of House Wade are not to be held responsible for their actions…
It's been reported they lost track of time and found large gaps in their memory, except for the moments where they had to expel magic through a spell.
However, King Arthur of House Dayne has chosen a means of punishment for the players and House Wade for the attack in the stadium."
At this point, King Arthur stepped forward just as the Magnar of House Wade watched his King's back before he made his proclamation that'd affect their homeland.
"I, King Arthur of House Dayne, King of the Stoney Dornish and the Red Mountains, have decided House Wade shall fight in the battle to come against the Andals and their Faith of the Seven, to regain the honour they'd lost due to their actions.
Their saving grace is the fact unknown artifacts somehow influenced the players to take such devastating actions, otherwise their would be nothing to save House Wade from the wrath of the Northern Realms, or that of my own.
As such, the people to have all the honours of being members to House Wade's Athletic Forces are to be enlisted in the army of my lands.
They will serve until it has been deemed acceptable for them to reclaim the honour of their actions and are trained to remain more vigilant of their surroundings going forth.
In saying that, House Dayne and its vassals will strengthen their alliance with the Northern Realms by joining the counter efforts against the Faith.
The actions of the Faith today have opened my eyes… that peace and coexistence is not possible with the Faith of the Seven…
So war it shall be…"
It was quite the shock for the audience around the known world to hear House Wade had been used in such a way by the Faith, yet confirmation by King Arthur of House Dayne's involvement in the Northern Realms revenge caused most to go dead silent.
Those in the stadium and throughout Avalon knew House Dayne wouldn't back out of the war to come as their Men-at-Arms fought to protect the people, fighting beside High Magnar Tarius and King Arthur himself.
What none were aware of yet was the involvement of House Yronwood and Martell in the decision made by House Dayne, but such facts weren't for the masses to be aware of just yet.
King Thenar watched from the side of the forest meadow as the execution performed by the Children at the will of High Magnar Tarius proceeded without his involvement but express permission.
Soon, a new cove was granted upon the Northern Realms of Ygg-Atkaye-Weirwood trees formed from offerings of the bodily forms from the prisoners.
As the screams and suffering of the executed finally became silent, Tarius once more addressed the audience seated in the stadium and around the known world.
"I, Tarius of House Potter, High Magnar of Skagos and her Isles, declare this cove that'll become part of Avalon as a reminder of the Faith attacking these lands.
The souls of the executed shall forever be sealed within the trunks of the Ygg-Atkaye-Weirwood trees, unable to ever gain true peace and rest in death.
Therefore, the Northern Games will commence once more in a week's time, as we mourn the losses from this heinous attack and bring peace to the victims' souls in the afterlife.
However, I swear to you all, you will see the perpetrators brought to justice and sentenced to death by the laws of the Old Gods.
That, I can assure you will happen with all my might to enforce it so."
King Thenar stepped forward after this moment and accepted his proclamation, only to ask Tarius quietly to lead the Northern Magnars and their allies to the War Chamber of Camelot, as they had much to discuss about the battles to come.
They left the meadow made in the centre of the stadium before Aelflyn loyal to House Potter appeared and grabbed hold of the Magnars and Magnara, as they all vanished from the stadium and arrived in Camelot.
Even those of the Northern Realms to have fought beside the northerns were also brought to Camelot and invited into the War Chamber, as they had every right to participate in the planning of the war to come against the Faith.
Tarius invited his best friends as well, and even their family members with the approval of his friends, as they knew the behaviour of Northerners best.
Believing their parents wouldn't cause any issues in the discussion and planning, they were brought in, causing Lord Vaethan, the Freeholder of House Belaerys, to be drawn into the meeting, only to find himself so out of place for a time that he couldn't do much besides watch the Generals of the Northern Military Armed Forces lay out the best possible plans with their strategists to retaliate against the actions of the Faith.
He wasn't the only one to feel like the odd one out, as the uncle of Prince Qhan of the Golden Empire was present along with the father of Prince Farlyn from the River Rhoynar Kingdoms.
Though before anyone could be familiar with one another. King Thenar spoke up from his seat as Commander in Chief, "Lord Vaethan of Valyria, Prince Aang of the Golden Empire, and Prince Rugyen from the Kingdom of the Rhoynar Rivers.
You, along with your spouses of great renown, have been included in our talks, solely at the behest of one man.
High Magnar Tarius," they all turned to face the young man ruling over the greatest piece of land considered in the known world, though the man in question remained stony-faced, never once expressing an emotion as Thenar continued, "He accepted the involvement of your children wasn't the wisest decision… however what is done, cannot be reverted.
Magnars and Magnara have come forth to speak highly of your children, having placed their lives on the line for another Kingdom than their own, even if the first thought on their minds was to protect their sworn brother.
As such, I wish to show you the same trust as the children have displayed in one another by including you in our plans for the Faith.
You may not wish to be involved, and we respect the decision you may take, but that does not stop us from garnering your thoughts."
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Aurion watched his father from a seat not far off from Tarius, but closer to Sieg's second brother who currently attained the title Pottarius in Tianna.
The man wasn't as involved as his elder brother in the affairs of Avalon, however Halfdan oversaw the whole island of Tianna in the absence of their father who'd joined the Magical Forces a couple years back.
Aurion spent much of his youth with the sons of House Pottarius, as well as Black, Greengrass, Longbottom, and many others, the Heir to House Belaerys considered them all friends and allies that'd last a lifetime, if not extend out for the next few generations.
So, he closely watched for his father's response, only for Prince Aang of the Golden Empire to speak up first, "King Thenar…
I cannot say if my Emperor would agree to aid in your endeavours… yet as Prince and blood of the Emperor, I can say with certainty, I'll continue to stand with my nephew and whatever actions he may take.
It may not give you thousands of blades to fight by the side of your forces, but you'll have the very best and deadliest forces my cadet House can offer." Prince Qhan couldn't help but grin at the actions of his dear uncle.
Prince Rugyen added right after, "My own situation makes it difficult to fully commit the forces of the Rhoynar Rivers.
Believe me when I say this, it is not a slight to the Northern Realms in any shape or form, but an age-old deal struck out with the Council by King Hugor of Andalos.
Therefore, it'll be impossible to secure the commitment of the Council to fight against Andalos, however they will remain neutral, that I can guarantee.
In my own personal case though, House Oyaniera will pledge its sword, shield, and spear to your cause… after all the people of the Rhoynar in Avalon were just as discriminatorily slaughtered by the Faith." Farlyn couldn't help but smile and nod to his father, who did the very same back to his son.
This just left Vaethan, as all eyes fell on the Valyrian Dragonlord, yet the man simply sighed before saying "To be honest, King Thenar, I wasn't willing to send my son or any member of my Household to fight this pointless war against the Faith… yet I've come to change my mind on such matters after seeing the report of the citizens visiting Skagos to have died at the hands of the Faith.
As such, House Belaerys will give their support to House Stark and the Northern Realms.
We share our Gods, for one Kingdom prays to those aligned with Nature and the Land, while the other Kingdom follows those of Fire and Destruction.
To attack your Gods, is to attack ours…
They shall pay for their transgressions by Fire and Blood, by Bronze and Ice."
'"By Fire and Blood, by Bronze and Ice,"' chorused and Northern Magnars and Magnara, much to the shock and awe of the invited to the War Chambers.
Even Aurion, Qhan, and Farlyn participated in the call, much to the delight and approval of the Northern nobility, all of which was noticed by their fathers and uncle.
Collectively, they couldn't believe how well integrated their children had become with the Northern Realms, but it was good to see they were part of a society that was incredibly tightknit and loyal to one another.
King Thenar looked over all the invited guests before stopping once more on Lord Vaethan of Valyria, Prince Aang of the Golden Empire, and Prince Rugyen from the Kingdom of the Rhoynar Rivers.
"I thank you all, and will accept the aid you will provide, which brings me to the next point we must discuss," yet before he could say more, an officer of the Northern Military entered the War Room with a letter that first ended up in the hands of a strategist of the army.
Having read through the note, she moved quickly to King Thenar's side, but only after passing it over to an assistant with magical capabilities to make several copies to be distributed.
"It appears before we can go any further, we must take the new report from our scouts into consideration.
The Centaurs, Dryads, and Nymphs scattered throughout the Riverlands have discovered a large host of Andals marching upon the North, as well as the allied Houses to the Blackwoods and Mudd of the Rivers."
The Magnars and Magnara from the Riverlands in the War Chamber were instantly worried for their Seats of Power as well as the smallfolk through their lands who'd be left defenceless in the face of a great host.
Noticing the downcast mood of the Riverlands nobility, King Alerin Blackwood quickly stepped up to ease their minds, after which Thenar continued to speak on the matter, and how they'd be able to stop the host of the Great Alliance from affecting the powerplay in the region.
One of the strategists advised the schedule for the host to have reached Rivia would need to be revised if it'd interfere in the war between the Blackwoods and Brackens, which led to Aurion suggesting a particular tactic to cripple the host of the Great Alliance.
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As the large host of the Great Alliance neared the Riverlands, scouts were sent ahead by King Artys Arryn, having attained control over the enormous forces after convincing King Merle it was in his best interest, seeing he had zero combat experience.
The forces of the Reach fell in line with the host from the Vale, yet the Stormlanders and those of the Westerlands remained under the management of specific individuals selected by their Kings.
King Maron of House Durrandon had his own plans to seize Wolf's Den and possibly Oldcastle, believing himself better than Artos 'the Warrior Reincarnate' Sevenstar, a foolish figure of the Andal Faith to have fallen under the weight of King Brandon the Bloody Wolf's blade and forces.
Maron never once believed the Andal's Agony Woodlands existed, even when news of it reached the Stormlands, though he ignored and the pleas of his advisors to not go ahead with the plan to attack Oldcastle and the Wolf's Den.
Yet the man knew what was best, and strode on ahead, never once considering the words King Desmond had said back at Casterly Rock, so most of his forces were prepared to attack by ships while a smaller portion was sent off to the Riverlands.
King Tytos similarly employed most of his forces to attack the Iron Islands, and Western Coast of the Northern Realms, but sent enough of a host to join the Great Alliance in the Riverlands.
He too ignored King Desmond's words, though that was largely due to how King Morgan called him a slave, and nothing more than an upstart House.
Tytos actually cursed his own damn luck to not know of Morgan's true origin, as he'd been led to believe the new King of House Martell was regent until time came for Qylen's son to rise up.
But by the time he knew the truth, it was too late for Tytos to come back from the insult, so he instead prepared his forces to inflict damage upon the Dornish sent to the Riverlands.
They'd act at night, sabotaging the Dornish camps to make their life far worse than the rest to the North, yet he didn't know there was a rude awakening for his host upon their arrival after seeing all those sent by the Dornish.
King Desmond and King Morgan as the two strongest rulers of Dorne besides King Arthur of House Dayne, gathered all they could, even go as far as to recall some forces always left on standby near the Kingdom of House Dayne in case of the peace treaty fell out.
Much of the forces were those of Andal nature, with barely a few of First Men blood, as many believed they'd either fled to the North or died in battle during the first 'true' crusade against the First Men and the Old Gods.
Totalling just close to a host size of 125,000 thousand people, the Dornish were only closely matched by the Reach and Vale, as they each brought one hundred thousand men.
Westerlands and the Stormlands sent no more than sixty thousand, as the commanders of the hosts advised the Kings of the Great Alliance present that their own Kings had made other plans.
They were advised of King Maron's decision, along with King Tytos, to plan their own separate attacks upon the Northern Realms, which only angered Artys to secure the reigns of the alliance present.
He even gave King Morgan's half-brother command over the Westerland host in battle, as they'd all be tested in combat against Houses Blackwood and Bracken to help raise House Justman as the River Kings.
Artys and Merle believed the size of their host was more than enough to take over the Riverland for themselves, but in truth they had to hand it over to a local House of the region, otherwise their rule wouldn't stick.
As such, the current Lord of House Justman and his sibling were riding nearby Artys and Merle as they reached the site of their camp just on the outskirts of the Riverlands.
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"Aren't these lands under the control of House Strong, Merle?" asked Artys, having come to first name terms with the King of the Reach during the long march so far.
The King of the Vale didn't notice it, but his words brought down King Merle's mood, but the man persevered, saying, "Yes… the lands are considered under the rule of House Strong… though in truth they are part of the Reach.
*Sigh* They have cut all ties with the Reach and House Gardener, even repelling their oath to my throne, so while I may wish to take back these lands and teach House Strong a lesson, they'd never forget… I am also afraid it'll label me and my bloodline as kinslayers."
Artys nodded his understanding, having realised some time back that Merle in truth worked effortlessly to stabilise the Kingdom of the Reach as it assimilated to the Faith of the Seven and gave up the ways of the First Men.
The King of the Vale could do nothing but give his earnest respect to the young King to having worked so diligently to turn his vassals from one faith to another without a civil war rising up.
It nearly came with the defection of House Strong, but those willing to side with the last of the First Men Houses left without a fight and either escaped North or came under the shelter of House Strong.
Merle and his father before him had worked effortlessly to ensure a stable Kingdom, yet Artys couldn't help but curse himself for lacking the strength to finally seize complete victory over the First Men native to the loyal.
Even now, he'd only managed to secure enough of a host only by calling on Andal Houses and their own forces, but it strained their own men back in the Vale, leaving them practically defenceless.
Thankfully, House Arryn of Andalos sent over some forces to help guard the region, while also sending enough to join Artys in his march upon the Riverlands and the North.
Artys couldn't help but thank his cousins back home, praying their support would keep his people safe, and one day prosper his lands enough to help secure its full control under his House of Arryn in Westeros.
Though such thoughts were left in the back of his mind for now, as he gathered his men and commanders, including those from the hosts to have joined together, leading to a unique group gathering in one tent.
They were called together to discuss how best to handle the forces of the Blackwoods and Brackens, not knowing it'd be the first night of many that'd make their life a living hell.
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Wargs, Skinshifters, Skinwalkers, and Druids worked together to make the nights of the grand host suffer under the blaring sounds of animals, creatures, and whatever else they could utilise in the darkness to strike fear into the hearts of the enemies.
None were physically harmed by the creatures and animals, since their growls and roars throughout the night caused more than enough harm to the mentality of the host members.
Only those of Dorne received some sort of reprieve from the forces of the Northern Realms, but not by much if word from King Morgan and Desmond ran true.
Therefore, for a whole week, the host of the Great Alliance was utterly tortured mentally by the Northern Realms, even when King Artys and Merle sent scouts out to find the creatures and animals to kill off so they wouldn't repeat their incessant barking all night long.
They were far from successful, having returned with countless scars and injuries from the creatures and rabid animals.
Artys was pleased to no end that none had died, yet annoyed there were people now injured from the pointless scouting journey.
His mood only worsened when a commander loyal to House Arryn arrived with King Merle and a commander from House Gardener.
Both commanders reported to the two Kings that besides the Dornish host, all others were showing signs of heavy fatigue and sickness even.
It'd reported started after the meat from a particular boar spread through part of the Westerland and Stormland host, causing a significant number of people to turn sick overnight, further straining the supplies.
They had more than enough to stage their insertion into the warfare between the Blackwoods and Brackens, but the latest reports from the two commanders made Artys reconsider if participating in the power struggle of the Riverlands was the wisest choice.
Broaching the subject with Merle, the two discussed what their next course of action should be, if they were to leave the Riverlands alone, however Artys relented in the end to the sound strategy proposed by Merle.
They were to continue with the attack on the two First Men Houses and their vassals, only to seize the Riverlands, during which time the fleets of the Vale and Reach would be able to drop of fresher men to refill the ranks lost, while sending away those injured and sick.
This meant their final charge on the Northern Realms would comprise of Vale and Reachmen to have the strength for the fight up against the heathens.
…
..
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The new plans of the Great Alliance host caused the forces of the Northern Realms to reconsider their own strategy to cope with the giant host.
It soon led to the Winter Legion being called upon by King Thenar and the Northern Military Armed Forces, along with the Ikranä Banshees, to serve the Kingdom in the war against the Great Alliance.
Neither Order expected to be called for war, as they had other duties in regards to the safety of the Northern Realms, yet now they were given the chance to shine against the largest host to ever gather against a sole Kingdom.
To best combat against the giant host without ever truly coming face to face with one another, the Ikranä Banshees were ordered to harass from the skies while the Winter Wolves, Bears, and Lions had the joy of striking from darkness of the night on land.
Nine thousand soldiers of the Winter Legion, alongside a thousand Ikranä Banshees made their way down south from Rivia, having been fully equipped by House Makerstark.
Most made camp in the woodlands and forests of the Riverlands, with aid from House Blackwood and their vassals to hide the Ikranä Banshees.
House Strong even called on their vassals to silently provide their aid to the forces of the Northern Realms, while also amassing their own forces to help the River King's in the great war to come.
The current High Magnar of House Strong, Brandon, was named in honour of his late grandfather and ancestor, the Bloody Blade, which endeared him to the northerners, with his standing already better than anyone could have expected after swearing featly to House Blackwood.
It hadn't happened in Brandon's lifetime, but he couldn't be happier for such action from his late grandfather as the Northern Realms and House Blackwood worked together to his House and its vassals never lacked anything, especially with House Gardner trying to regain the land stripped from their Kingdom.
Therefore, Brandon made sure the forces of the Northern Realms were safe, fed, and secure from the scouts and spies of the grand host, which was made easier by the loyal magical forces to his House providing their support and assistance.
The Wolffolk loyal to House Strong since Brandon the Bloody Blade's reign were the very first to aid the northerners in their guerrilla warfare like tactics.
Beginning at night, the Wolffolk shifted into their Wolfen forms before howling away throughout the night, further agitating the creatures and animals roaming freely through the woodlands and forests.
After a couple nights of this, a groggy and weary host of the Great Alliance came to face off against their first trial of many throughout the march taking over the Riverlands.
To the surprise of the grand host, an unmarked cavalry stood at the ready atop their horses, each equipped heavily, including the horses, though none bore any markings of a House.
Rather they wore one single crest upon their clothes, armour, and equipment, representing the totality of the Riverlands instead of a single House or King.
A Ygg-Atkaye-Weirwood tree rooted into the green lands of the Riverlands, as the canals and rivers cut through haphazardly, was the crest worn by the warriors dressed in dark tints of green, with light shades of the platinum silver colour of the trees and their Blood Crystals.
The dead silence from the side of the Riverlanders was deafening to witness for the grant host, just as the warriors mounted atop the Northern Svaðilfari steeds equipped their bows and fired off a wave of arrows.
Blocking out the light of the sun by the hailstorm of arrows, the forces of the grand host were ill prepared and equipped to survive, as a large portion of the front lines of the marching host fell in quick succession.
Two more waves were fired before the mounted Riverlander cavalry atop of Svaðilfari steeds charged, even surprising the other forces of the North by their appearance, as they were not made aware of any Riverland Order or force joining their efforts in battling the Great Alliance.
However, it wasn't long for the commanders of the three Winter Legion divisions, and that of the Ikranä Banshees to learn the Riverlanders had come together after peace between the Blackwoods and Brackens was settled by Northern nobility.
It happened back in Avalon during the Northern Games after both Kings saw their people fighting together against the savages of the Faith, while the heirs of the Houses fought in tandem against the Knights of the Seven.
Unity only came about after the Heir of House Blackwood saved the Eldest Daughter of House Bracken, securing an alliance through marriage, and the fealty once they were accepted under the protective and supportive umbrella of the Greater Northern Realms.
The one of the main reasons for House Bracken to finally accept House Blackwood as the rightful Kings of the Riverlands, besides saving a daughter in the heat of battle, was the difficulty to continually fund a war.\
Prosperity of House Blackwood came from the main House up in the Northern Realms, as well as the Starks and Potters, including all their vassals, so the Brackens were significantly out of their depth for far too long.
As such, they decided it was high time to kneel and swear fealty, ensuring their history and faith remained unchanged by the Andals, who'd begun the march upon the North.
.
Thankfully the alliance between the two Houses came at the perfect time, as Special Forces trainers arrived by Drop Capsules to quickly gather together an army for the Riverlanders that brought the people together under one banner.
Stringent and brutal training mixed in with reports of the actions taken by the Andals upon the innocents when they landed in Westeros and back on Essos, helped the warriors all form a bond through their connection to the Riverlands.
So, the charge by the Green Drengr of the Rivers, as they'd come to call themselves, brought nothing but chaos against the grand host, breaking away shortly after a quick but lethal cavalry charge.
It all caused enough mayhem amongst the ranks of the grand host that none were able to track the direction of the escaping steeds.
Artys and Merle cursed their fortune to have suffered so harshly from the sudden attack, as the earliest reports by the commanders suggested several thousand were injured or outright dead from the cavalry charge.
They gathered all those harmed in the charged to heal from the damages, while the dead were burned or buried outright, causing the grand host to slow down once more and utilise much of their resources.
It'd further strained the grand host who were beginning to notice some of the smallfolk levies leaving during the hours of the wolf, hoping to escape with their lives in tack.
Guards were placed around the camp sites to stop anyone from trying to escape, yet it still resulted in hundreds if not thousands to leave, even if a portion were hunted down by the orders of Artys.
Some were lucky to come across forces of the Northern Realms and were given the chance to settle in the lands up north, as long as they were First Men.
Andals were knocked out and later returned to the grand host but not exactly in the camp, so more often than not, they were caught by the guards and made an example of.
Only those with families and children back home were kept by the Northern forces and later extracted to the Northern Realms after Special Force units brought their families away from the lands of the south.
This went on for at least a week, as the Green Drengr of the Rivers continued their raids on the grand host until they saw a number of deaths in their own ranks, which just brought forth the northern forces to intensify their attacks.
It left the grand host with few options but to either continue trying to take over the Riverlands for House Justman to claim as their Kingdom, or instead leave for the Northern Realms.
Merle and Artys struggled to come up with a decision, which just led to the commander of the Dornish host to suggest they give up trying to take over the Riverlands as a whole, and instead focused on striking upon Houses helping strengthen the locals.
This caused the grand host to split up during their march so they could attack several Houses at once, including their port settlements which were required to help refreshing the ranks of the host with fresh blood.
Yet the split forces were heavily opposed by the Green Drengr of the Rivers, the Winter Legion, and the magical beings swore to protect the region, all of which were led by members of House Peverell as they were considered their spokespeople in the area.
As such, all those gathered to fend of the grand host were from all over the Riverlands, yet even then they were far from capable of surviving against such a large host.
After splitting, the grand host was far from small and capable of seizing at least the port of one House, causing the last of House Teague to escape from their ancestral home and found security in the safety of the northerners working in secret against the grand host.
While this seemed like a victory for the Great Alliance, it had caused more problems for the large army as they were now practically managing the port and setting up expansive camps outside of the port settlement.
There was no way for Artys and Merle to manage the port settlement while watching over the large host which was becoming more and more rowdy as the days passed and more succumbed to death or sickness.
Too many were injured or outright dead from the attacks organised by the Green Drengr of the Rivers, yet the forces of the grand host were still capable of leaving the Riverlanders injured and somewhat broken.
Yet it wasn't going to last as King Thenar and the Northern Military Armed Forces approved of the Wolfen Riddari moving into the Riverlands to help reduce the effectiveness of the grand host and raiding upon supply carriages sent from the Reach and Vale Kingdoms.
They'd yet to face off against the grand host, however it was expected of the Wolfen Riddari to oppose the Andal forces due to their intense training and skills as cavalry mounted on Direwolves.
Their arrival lit the necessary fire under the arses of Merle and Artys, as they began to prepare for the next leg of their journey, having come to the decision to leave the Riverlands for now and simply focus on the Northern Realms.
Unfortunately, the grand host faced many trials upon their journey to Rivia, as the Riverlanders were far from sympathetic to the actions of the Andals and fought to free the First Men captured and forced to battle as part of the Great Alliance.
Similarly, the smallfolk harmed in the former lands of House Teague were safely whisked away by Northern forces, especially the Winter Lions, and Bears after raiding the keep and the surrounding lands once the grand host had left.
It was a hollow victory since House Teague wasn't overly keen on returning to their ancestral seat but sent back those who were willing to return and begin the time-consuming effort to rebuild the damaged land and help the smaller settlements flourish once more.
More support came from House Blackwood, but it wasn't all too much largely due to the grand host still travelling through the lands of the Riverlands and hadn't yet reached the Neck.
The Ikranä Banshees had made the journey for the grand host rather difficult, firing from high above at the enemies, while deploying Drop Capsules, when possible, to release Special Forces units to help battle the large army from the darkness of the night, if not possible during the day.
…
..
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As this all occurred, elsewhere the ships of House Durrandon of the Stormlands and House Lannister had begun to move, somewhat behind the agreed upon schedule sorted long ago during the visit to Casterly Rock, as both forces found several different problems to deal with last minute so they couldn't leave so easily.
It was partly due to Ikranä Banshees sent ahead to deploy Special Forces units in the Stormlands and Westerlands, giving them free reign to cause utter mayhem and chaos throughout the lands, attracting the attention of the ruling Houses.
This meant King Maron and Tytos held back from leaving for the Northern Realms according to the original schedule, and instead allocated part of their forces to deal with the rebels.
Sadly, it'd taken up far too much time and drew the attention of the Kings for too long that neither took notice of the lack of information released from the Northern Realms, more so considering magical projectors were set up in places like Dorne, Stepstones, Riverlands, and parts of the Vale.
Its release was controlled heavily by agents of the Northern Realms intelligence agencies, especially the White Night as they were supporting the Kingsmen, who were assisting Crown Prince Theon Stark in his separate mission to deal with the naval forces of House Durrandon.
Accompanied by members of House Durrandon of the Northern Realms, House Goldenwood and even House Storm, who'd settled in the North during the time of the Durrandons, after escaping the Stormlands with the death of King Edric the Faithsbane.
They weren't the only House of the Northern Realms to join Crown Prince Theon in his mission against the Stormlands, and the forces they had gathered to attack Oldcastle and Wolf's Den.
In truth, both Keeps and the surrounding lands that made up the port cities were far too well equipped and protected for the forces of the Stormlands to try and take over.
Lately, the number of forces available had increased drastically after the events in Avalon caused the whole North to remain alert and ready for war.
As such, the Eastern Fleet of the Northern Realms, as well as the fleet sent by the Lords of Skagos, were more than enough for Crown Prince Theon to lead the charge against the Stormlands.
A tactical genius and strategist, Theon Stark devised a plan to attack in the dead of night against the Stormlands Navy, first by using Wargs and Animagus to scout the number of ships they'd be opposed against.
To their surprise, the ships were not solely designed in the style of Westerosi shipwrights, but those from Essos and even Valyria, which caused Theon to frown in displeasure, and made a note to inform his father and his council of the specific news.
Using the Communication Mirror designed for use during war as it'd directly connect to the headquarters of the Northern Military Armed Forces, and the War Chamber of Winterfell, Theon soon received the answer to commence the attack while also receiving the order to capture as many ships as possible, especially those foreign to Westeros.
So, it wasn't long before the forces were mobilised for the battle to come throughout the night, with Theon equipping his Fallen Star metal longsword, shield, and bow, all so he'd be ready for any sort of situation.
The northern ships were magically reinforced through runes but also the wood used in their craft, and they were made with copper sheath hulls to ensure safety from deterioration caused by sailing through the ocean.
Besides magical enhancements, which included the use of expansion runes to increase the interior space for crew and cargo, the ships packed more than a punch when up against the ships of the Stormlands.
They were similarly enhanced magically but were far from the level of the Northern Fleet, so they practically split apart after being rammed through in the middle of the night.
Attacking when the crew of the Stormland navy was mostly asleep, with very little guards awake and the few magical employing wards around their ships, caused the Northern Fleet to barge through with ease, leaving what remained to finally turn around flee back to Blackwater Bay.
They weren't too far away, since they only left not too long ago from the Stormlands port, having finally made the decision to head off towards the Northern ports.
So, while the Northern Forces capitalised on the captured ships and their crew, sending all of it back to the North, giving the remaining Stormlands fleet the time to escape and return back to their shores.
Theon stood atop the captain's deck of his personal ship, Wolf's Wind, watching over the remains of the captured fleet just as his father called through to his personal Communication Mirror.
"Son…"
"Father…" replied Theon to Thenar, who was clearly in his personal solarium of Winterfell, and alone as no other was shown to be present.
King Thenar held a glass filled partly with Firewhisky to help with the sombre mood he was stuck in, though his hope through his call was to find some peace.
Sadly, it wasn't so, "Was he caught, my child?"
Theon couldn't stop himself from sighing out of frustration, "No father… the Kinslayer escaped.
His own ship was further back than we were made aware of, so it wasn't difficult for a portion of the Stormlands navy to break away and head back home."
Having heard the report from his eldest child, Thenar closed his eyes momentarily, letting go of a breath he'd held for some time now in the hopes to hear the right words.
Yet unlike before, his eyes sharpened to an aggressive state much like that of a predator on the hunt, "Go… chase after the fool, and bring justice to the resting soul of your maternal grandfather.
Make him pay in blood within the halls of his ancestral Keep he'd taken his own kins life to obtain…"
Theon set alight by the same icy fire in his father's eyes, "I swear it by the Old Gods, the Kinslayer will pay for his crimes."
Thenar simply smiled back weary at his son, "Make sure your cousins of the Storms are present by your side in battle, for we fight as one and for the same cause."
.
..
…
Having studied the designs of House Durrandon's Keep created by Bran the Builder, Crown Prince Theon devised a plan to not just simply attack it but sack the place completely.
After sending the captured Stormlands fleet back to the North, Theon and his forces went up against several more skirmishes against their navy as King Maron escaped back home.
During these battles, Theon not only improved his capability as a fighter, but his leadership skills to lead the Eastern Northern Fleet to crush the Stormlanders, and steal away any resources, including manpower for the North.
At the same time, he'd learnt a whole lot more about the Stormlands after it came under the reign of King Maron, from the prospective of the commoners.
All of it just led to Theon being well prepared for his battle to take the Keep of House Durrandon, whereas King Maron simply knew war was on its way to his homeland.
No news from the ships he'd left behind to safeguard his return home told the man to prepare for battle, yet Theon planned for it to be far from simple or easy to contend against.
Starting in the dead of night, when even the moon did not show its presence, Storm's End stood proud and tall for all to see as the magically imbued flames of the Keep continued to shine alight for ships to be made aware of the rocky shores, and harsh waters in the region.
As such, Longships were utilised to navigate through the harsh waters of the bay, especially as the signal for the attack revolved around several Special Forces units sent ahead to ignite it.
First, they were tasked by Theon to clear away some of the stationed guards at the bay port, before setting the ships ablaze through the Greek Fire jars they kept on hand through the Storage Rings.
The signal of the flames was the marker Theon looked out for in the darkness of the night, before pushing forth the longships to land and begin their attack.
Northern Forces knew the battle ahead of them at Storm's End would be far from easy simply due to the vast number of Knights, and levies still remaining after the return from the failed invasion of the North, so Theon set the ships with siege weaponry to fire continuously at the camps set around the large Keep, ensuring the forces of King Maron were disrupted during their attack.
Men loyal to House Durrandon were scattered dealing with the growing fire across the ships that even spread over the seawater, and the incoming projectiles sent out from the ships of the northern fleet, so it wasn't difficult for the longships to dock.
Magical beings such as Giants, Children of the Forest, Druids, Wizards, Witches, Goblins, Dwarves, and many others charged out into battle, either fighting against the forces dealing with the growing fire spreading from the ships of the Stormlands or battling those camped outside of Storm's End.
Those firing arrows in the direction of the northerners found it difficult, if not outright impossible to get past the wall created by the giants wielding their shields.
The men on the ground thought this gave them the right opportunity to take down the Giants, but they were not prepared for their Halfling brethren to guard their weaknesses.
Not only that, the men of House Durrandon were far from prepared to defend against the bloodthirsty Dwarves and Goblins, as they wanted to showcase their ruthlessness in battle to only create fear in the ranks of the foes, but for the Crown Prince to take note of their actions.
As this went on, Druids worked with the Children of the Forest to remove the enchantments to Storm's End that were built into the castle long ago during its construction overseen by Bran the Builder.
They'd been enhanced over the millennia by graduates of Hogwarts who were loyal to House Durrandon and native to the Stormlands, but since the arrival of the Andals, the number of Wizards and Witches counselling Kings had drastically reduced.
Nowadays, they were bound through means discovered to have originated from Essos, so it wasn't odd to see a few magicals taking action for the side of House Durrandon, yet they failed to put up much of a fight against the dozens of Druids and Childrens of the Forest destroying the enchantments.
With the enchantments gone, the Giants were able to ram open the gate to Storm's End in a couple of minutes, while the other magical and men forces were combating the opposing army.
Theon brought more than thirty thousand men along with around a thousand magical beings as well, since they were able to ensure the opposing force was held off for the Giants to break through the Keep gate.
Still, this did not mean the battle was any less bloody on either side, with losses mounting up across the various smaller battles occurring from the docks to the castle outskirts and even now the courtyard of Storm's End.
Looking all around him, Theon understood his actions led to the successful raiding of Storm's End, a feat that shouldn't have been possible as it'd easily take up several moons to complete, yet here they were achieving in a single day.
Being shielded in part by his personal Wintersguard unit, Theon charged ahead into the Keep and made his way to the Throne Room, only to find a fully equipped King Maron seated atop his throne.
"Ahh, so you're my grandnephew through my niece…
At least she was of use to your barbaric father for breeding." Smirked King Maron in the hopes of fuelling the rage of the Northern Wolf, yet Theon didn't flinch.
Instead, he stood tall and continued to glare at King Maron with his sword in hand and bloodied by fallen foes, "Whatever you wish to say, let it out now, because it won't be long before you will be gasping for breath and peace, Kinslayer.
Today, I take justice for not only my grandfather, but the rightful lineage of Durrandon that not only has a Seat in the Northern Realms, but courses through the blood of the Kings of Winter."
Without wasting time for a reply, Theon charged forward as King Maron took hold of his new forged Warhammer after Godsgrief was taken back by the Northern Realms, having been crafted by four Grandmasters Smiths during the era of Bran the Builder.
Having been trained in the martial artform of House Durrandon from the Stormlands, Theon knew how best to contend against Maron, who was rather active, healthy, and well built for his elder age.
Therefore, Theon was already on the backfoot against Maron, using his above average height and lanky build to strike shallow yet painful cuts all over the Kinslayer's body.
Maron was finally able to push Theon back from being too close, and finally began to make good use of the Warhammer, even catching the Crown Prince in the side, sending the young man sprawling.
Taking this moment to end the fight for good, Maron charged ahead and pulled back on the Warhammer to crush the body of his grandnephew, only for Theon to roll away and grasp his longsword once more.
Theon tried to get in close once more, but now that Maron found himself in a rhythm of sorts, he wasn't going to give up his position of power for it to end up in the young Starks hand.
Sadly, for the King though, Theon had trained for far too long with his cousins of House Durrandon from the Northern Realms, so it wasn't long before he started to utilise more than just his sword in the battle.
Punching, kicking, and even using one opportunity to body slam Maron when he overextended, gave Theon the strength to finally catch the King of the Stormlands off guard and land a lethal blow through his gut.
It shouldn't have happened as King Maron had worn his enchanted armour, which was supposed to cover such small gaps that Theon utilised to land the lethal blow, however historians who'd study the legendary battle would stated it had to do with the craftsmanship of Wintersteel and its tendency to bypass particular magical enchantments upon armour.
Maron refused to fall from the lethal attack on his body and continued to fight back until he collapsed to one knee, struggling to still hold onto Godsgrief, Theon proclaimed with his longsword in hand, "I, Crown Prince Theon Stark, sentence you, Maron the Kinslayer to death!
May Durran laugh as the Old Gods torment your soul for the actions you have taken."
With that said, Maron lost his head off his shoulders, causing the northern forces to rumble aloud in victory as the remaining forces opposing them began to surrender.
…
..
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Elsewhere, Tytos stood atop his flagship, having left behind his wife and children after settled all the mess that continued to plague his land for so damn long.
It'd affected the schedule of attack proposed during the forging of the Great Alliance, yet as no news left yet of the Riverlands and Northern Realms campaign, Tytos wasn't aware of the likelihood his fleet would be intercepted as well.
The journey for the most part was fine for the Westerland fleet, yet as they neared the Iron Islands, they began to find themselves in small skirmishes.
Striking in the dead of night, the Westerland navy saw some of their numbers fall, but not enough to deter King Tytos from attacking Old Wyk.
With majority of the fleet aimed to take down the Seat of House Greyironstark, Tytos planned to use the momentum of their fall to capture the rest of the Iron Islands before moving to attack Frosthill, Cape Kraken and Flint's Finger.
His belief in success came largely from the huge number of Knights, Warriors and Faith Militant sent over by House Sevenstar and Arryn of Andalos.
All five hundred ships were of the latest ship designs available across Essos, along with some edits to allow for magicals capable of utilising the elements to improve the travelling speed.
Warlocks from Essos had joined the Westerland fleet, joining Tytos even, as he lacked any magical force of his own that was loyal to House Lannister after they all fled with his father.
The few who were in service now, had voluntarily joined his House in the hopes of greater fortune and promises Tytos offered, much of which he paid through gold alone.
So, it wasn't long before Old Wyk was in sight of the fleet, however unlike any other Iron Island, it was surrounded in a heavy fog, making it difficult to navigate towards the docks.
The magicals part of the fleet were alerted the moment they entered the fog as the sensation of magical energy grew around them, yet it was too late to escape as they were primarily located in the central ships of the fleet and unable to escape with ease.
Tytos had heard as such from his own loyal Wizards and Witches, yet he listened to the Warlocks of the Faith, covered in long hoods of white blessed cloth hiding their faces.
They were just as doubt to the Faith as the Militant fellows, yet wore clothing far more expensive, evident by the quality that even Tytos took note of and hoped to enquire about its source.
Similarly, he was drawn to the equipment possessed by the Knights and Warlocks of the Faith from Andalos, as its murky golden metal tint told Tytos it was far better in quality than forged iron crafted by the Andalos smiths.
Other artifacts and equipment of unique quality and metals were shown to Tytos back in Casterly Rock for him to understand their value to the campaign of the Great Alliance.
In fact, Avalon was a proving ground for many of the artifacts, but not all of them as the Faith chose to keep some away from the enemies for now, so they had greater impact and devastation in the enemy ranks.
Tytos trusted the artifacts and uniquely crafted equipment would grant them enough strength to come away victorious from the war against the North.
So, he was slightly caught off guard and impatient when the magicals in service to his House were behaving skittish, whereas those of the Faith remained unmoving and devoted to the hymns of the Seven.
After nearing the docks of Old Wyk, the crews of the Westerland fleet prepared for a battle to the end, yet the fog led them to find the docks silent and guarded by a bare number of men.
Following the plans settled back at Casterly Rock before leaving for the Northern Crusade, the Warriors, Knights, poor fellows, and the Faith Militant were sent out to wreak havoc amongst the ranks of the few stationed around the docks.
In quick succession, the forces of the Westerlands handled the opposition without raising any alarms, so the ships quickly docked to allow their cargo to jump off and prepare for the chaos they were ready to cause.
Unfortunately, the decision made to split up the forces to cover more ground while the fog remained heavier at the docks than it was out on the open water, began to see the rise of the locals as they awoke from the slumber the Westerlanders believed them all to be in.
The first loud cry from a Knight led to many more to rise up in the dense fog before they went dead silent, sending an eery chill down the spines of the Westerland forces until the commanders of such a large force stepped up to cool the tense minds of the masses.
Better yet, those of the Faith which meant the Knights, Warlocks, and Faith Militant were singing hymns to deal with their own thoughts while trying to help their allies, but it wasn't easy when the magicals loyal to House Lannister were on the edge, constantly checking their surroundings.
Only moments later, the Wizards and Witches shifted to not just protect their King, but those loyal and valuable to the Lions of the Westerlands, ignoring those of the Faith especially as a sudden explosion nearby caused utter mayhem in their ranks, sending people rushing in all directions without a care.
A chain reaction soon followed with countless more explosions all over the large docks, breaking away much of the infrastructure for the ships to utilise, pushing them away easily from the coast, and stranding the remaining forces.
Tytos just so happened to have made landfall, so his anxiety shot through the roof after witnessing his personal ship pushed far away from the docks, but before he could scream to one of his Wizards or Witches to apparate to the ship with him in tow, the sudden rumble of the earth as if a stampede was on its way caused his attention to swerve from the ship to the dense fog that barely showcased the elegance of the port city.
His heart dropped as the banners of House Greyironstark, a dark green and shaded-scale serpent coiled on a field of ocean blue along with an iron and ice crown that showcased the wolfen link to House Stark and the Northern Realms, came into his view just as the ironborn rushed forward like Viking berserkers.
King Baldur 'the Ironwrath' Stark's actions to implement the Viking culture into the Ironborns was truly successful as the army of the Westerlands saw the berserker rage for all its fury for the first time in such a manner.
Armoured in enchanted leather, even magical leather for some, was not enough for the Ironborn as they equipped themselves with a shield, weapon of their choice and anything else to get them through the battle.
Tytos didn't have the time to order an escape or retreat before his forces were thrusted in battle, causing his magical forces to dive straight in as well, including those of the Faith.
Warlocks began to wield the elements they were attuned to, while a decent number employed a unique murky light element to enhance weapons and even for a few, provide a second burst of energy and strength.
They mostly used such skills on Knights of the Faith or the Militant nearby in their service, yet in the rare circumstances to bolster the mood amongst the ranks, they were spread out to those not in direct service to the Sept and Faith.
Wizards and the Witches on the other hand were doing their best by employing magic spells that had greater effect over a large area than individuals unless they had no other choice.
Most utilised a sword, daggers, a shield, or any of sort of weapon in another hand to work in tandem with their magical foci, however the enchanted armour of the Ironborn meant more power was required to take someone out.
As time passed by with the battle raging, those magically gifted were beginning to strain from the amount of magic expended, along with the physical exhaustion building up, even after consuming Pump-Up Potions to reenergise the body.
Only the Warlocks appeared unfazed in any shape or form, continuing to wield elemental magic along with linguistic magic, which made it easier to practise specific elements for those without an affinity to one.
Yet this placed a large strain on the body, when no magical focus was utilised, which in this case was true for many of the Warlocks.
Only a few, who were dressed in the clearest white cloth robes of golden tint and colouring that even repelled blood from staining, had personalised magical foci such as rings, bangles, and even a staff for one Warlock.
He in fact dealt the greatest damage to the Ironborn, constantly firing 30 centimetres wide fireballs, half a dozen or so each time, at the rushing Ironborn.
Most impacted or hit a target, though majority saved themselves by their shields, with an early few caught off guard in the beginning of the battle, but as it progressed and the fog cleared up in the vicinity of the battleground, it was easier for the Ironborn to guide the Andal forces through their attacks to gather up in one central place instead of being scattered all over.
There were many to kill and plenty to capture, especially the Warlocks as their magical capabilities went against the systems known and practised by the Northern Realms.
However, it'd be fortunate if any of the Warlocks left with the ability to practise magic after they had mercilessly attacked the Ironborn through highly volatile magical spells.
In comparison, those of Wizardry capabilities fought weapon in handle while discharging spells, but often more than not, they were outright lethal or injurious.
It was a mercy given by those of Wizardry-kind as they'd somewhat considered themselves of the Northern Realms, having spent most of their youth on Skane Island, learning all that was possible about magic and developing their own masteries in specific fields.
Tytos's own Chief Mage, Garson Blogdan, originated from a Magical House of the Riverlands, as the fourth son to a Magnar serving a High Magnar loyal to House Blackwood, knew better than anyone how the magically gifted of the Northern Realms behaved and acted.
This included the Ironborn, who'd adapted to northern customs, and their culture, while incorporating Viking aspects to gain a uniqueness of wholly of their own.
So, it wasn't long before Garson realised, he'd either die in battle at the hands of an Ironborn Berserker or be captured by one of the saner fellows and made a prisoner of House Greyironstark.
Leaving him with little to choose in regards to his future, Garson chose to fight for his life, and began to instruct the Witches and Wizards under his command to best battle against the Ironborns, ignoring the struggles of his King, who'd come face to face against two veteran Ironborn Warriors.
Truthfully, Tytos recognised the two as members of the infamous Basilisk Guard of House Greyironstark, adopting the name from the dangerous and outright terrifying magical creature.
Tales of the Basilisk Guard spoke of young men and women from all over the Northern Realms and abroad, gathered together at Old Wyk to learn through Mundane and Magical means to survive on land and especially at sea.
They'd undergo some of the most brutal and vicious training regimes to become the personal guards to members of House Greyironstark, though only after they survived a trial while trekking through a Basilisk den and retrieving the shedded scales.
As a gift for surviving the final trial, a full cover Basilisk-scale armour and cloak were awarded, and at times if the individual was rather daring, a blade made from the tooth of a Basilisk, making them rather dangerous and terrifying in their own right.
It was even believed the Commander of the Basilisk Guard had the ability to turn anyone into stone as long as they made eye contact, and willed it so, which truthfully became a rumour after an artifact gave such functions to said Commander and became tied to the authority of the position, while ensuring the intent of the user could never abuse its use.
So, wielding Wintersteel Longswords along with shields as they had the dexterity and strength, the two Basilisk Guards quickly put Tytos and remaining Knights by his side, down as hard as possible.
The loyal Knights to House Lannister were mostly cut down by the two guards, as a handful were mercifully left to the side after sustaining injuries that incapacitated them from joining the battle any further.
The rest however were gutted and thoroughly thrashed, while the two Basilisk Guards were protected by their allies and comrades against the magical attacks launched by the Wizardry-kind commanded by Garson and those aligned with the Faith of the Seven to save Tytos.
It was futile, as they soon learnt from the mind-splitting scream to have sent all but those of the Iron Islands onto their knees from the far distance in the sea of the dense fog.
They all soon saw the reason for their sudden misery which only further ruined any thought they'd survive what now felt like a pointless campaign issued by the Great Alliance.
"HAHAHA!
OUR HIGH MAGNAR OF SEA AND IRON HAS FINALLY TAKEN TO THE OPEN WATERS ATOP JÖRMUNGANDR, THE GREAT SEA SERPENT OF HOUSE GREYIRONSTARK!
TODAY YOU SHALL FOREVER REMEMBER WHY NONE FUCK WITH THE NORTHERN REALMS!
FOR NONE SHALL EVER PASS OUR BORDERS WITHOUT THE GREAT SEA SERPANT'S BLESSING!
FOR THE OLD GODS!"
The voice of an overzealous Ironborn reached all in the silence created by the roar of the enormous Basilisk, atop which rode one young and daring man, heir to the Seat of House Greyironstark.
All those fighting in service of the Faith stood up and rushed to continue the fight, whereas the rest gave up, including Tytos as he'd been deeply scarred across his chest by the blade of a Basilisk Guard the moment he looked over towards the open water and notice the creature easily over a hundred metres long and wide enough to easily swallow a mammoth whole, if not two at the very least, simultaneously.
Thus came the end of the Westerland navy's campaign for the Iron Island, and the Northern Realms as a whole, since the smaller fleet sent with Tytos' younger brother was caught in a trap during a nightly raid that saw most of the fleet dead in the water.
Only a handful of ships survived and escaped with the younger brother escaping successfully, though it wasn't long before news reached of Tytos' failed campaign.
