Chapter 3: Dawn of War

The dawn of a new day bathed the once burning ruins of Castle Blacktyde in its golden light. The rays of the rising sun outshone the dying embers of the cleansing fire that occurred the night before. Where once the blue sky was obscured by clouds of smoke the sky was clear once more.

Darren could smell the salty air as he took a deep breath in. His sapphire eyes glistened as a lone tear fell down his tanned, weathered cheek. He could only feel a great sadness at the destruction he caused as he gazed at the ruins of the castle. His thoughts turned to a happier time when everything was right.

Darren could remember his liege before he turned away from the Old Gods. Lord Blacktyde was once a devout man of the Old Gods. He stood strong against the rising influence of the Drowned Priests and those who converted to the Drowned God. His liege was once a paragon of the Old Gods before he turned away from their beliefs.

He could almost go back and remember the vow they took before the weirwood. He stood alongside his liege as they knelt before the carved snarling face as they each cut their hands. The blood from their hands pooled enough from the cut as they both placed their hands on the bone white bark of the tree. With a deep breath they released they spoke as one, "With our blood binding us hear this oath. We pledge ourselves to the Old Gods and swear to uphold our belief. We choose the Gods of the forest, stone, bronze, and iron and will rather die before we pledge ourselves to God of the Drowned".

While at the time Darren believed they both took the oath seriously it had hurt having his liege bend so easily to this new God. His rage grew as if that was the final offense he could stomach. His people had once worshipped the Old Gods throughout the islands before they took to cutting down the weirwoods and worshipping that dark god.

He vowed upon his honor that e would bring retribution to Blacktyde and those who turned their backs on the Old Gods. His blood felt like it was burning his heart grew heated as if molten metal pumped in his veins. His eyes burned with a hatred and fury that could have melt an Other. With a singular goal in his mind, he gripped his ax and pledged to bring low his liege and all these Ironborn.

His eyes continued to grow misty as more tears poured down his weathered skin. All he could feel in this moment of recollection was a deep sorrow. Where once his eyes and body burned with a furious purpose it now sagged after the deed he had committed. He could make out the unmoving corpses of the inhabitants of Castle Blacktyde and even the family he had once swore to protect. While he knew his oath needed to be done as words were bound by action. He could not help but feel remorseful of slaughtering the entirety of House Blacktyde. From the greybeards to the youngest child anyone who followed the Drowned God was purged from the Island.

With a deep breath in Darren wiped away the tears that stained his face. He could not let those who followed him see any weakness. He must remain strong if he were to lead them against the coming retaliation from the Ironborn after they learned what had happened here. With his eyes clear and his resolve strengthened he started to move to the small encampment. The walk to the camp was short as they had set up close to the ruins of the castle. He started to make his way towards the center tent before he saw an approaching figure.

The person who walked towards him was of a close height to himself and he could see the familiar wind-swept brown hair of his closest supporter. The man nearing him was called Roland Red-Stained but to him he would always be Rolly. Rolly was a close friend who was the first to join Darren in his quest.

Rolly was around six feet tall with a slim, sinewy muscled build. While Darren was muscled as an ox Rolly was less muscled and more toned. He had always favored speed over power. He had an angular face that was tanned from harsh sunlight and had a small mole under the gaze of his startling green eyes. The face was unmarred by any scars and seemed to glisten as sweat drenched Rolly's face. His nose seemed to twitch in irritation as the scent of the smoke and ash still lingered in the air closer to the camp. He finally stood in front of Darren as he drew in a quick breath before we spoke.

"Darren we have sighted some ships along the northern coast. They may have seen the smoking from when we razed the castle," said Rolly.

"Just our luck how many ships did you spot," said Darren, "We may need to rouse all the men in camp."

"There were around four ships though they flew no sails on the ships," said Rolly thoughtfully.

Darren could not understand what the ships could be doing here. It was still to early for word to get out of what occurred here on Blacktyde. The did not have many men to use in battle compared to what some of the larger islands had. At most he could see them calling upon around 700 to 800 men who had joined him in their cause. Most of those who were encamped were women, children, and elders of the island who still followed the Old Gods. He grew even more worried as his men did not have the best armaments. Currently most were equipped with salvaged bronze weapons and some rare iron ones. They were not even armored as they only had the clothes on their backs.

With a heavy sigh he came to the harsh conclusion they may need to fight those on the ships. He turned to Rolly and with a heavy heart said, "Muster what men you can we may need to meet these invaders with bronze and iron."

With a quick nod Rolly set out farther into the camp. Darren could hear the shouts of Rolly calling their warriors to arms. His gaze followed the men as they ran around the camp grabbing what weapons they can. He could see the panic rise in the noncombatants as they hurried to the center of the camp leaving behind whatever they had.

With the camp going into action Darren made way to his tent to grab his sword. He entered through the flap and saw his sword by the edge of his bedroll. He stroud towards it with purpose as his thoughts grew grim, 'Whether this be the last time I wield this sword or not I will protect those who followed me.'

Northern Coast of Blacktyde

With the wind hitting the sails of the ships they drew closer to the northern coast of the island of Blacktyde. The ships were early longships the first ones that would later cause the Ironborn to be feared. The ships were around twenty-three meters in length. The longships were long and narrow and cut through the waves as if they were blades cutting into flesh. The curved prow and sterns of the ships allowed for the ships to glide across the water. Each of these ships had oars over both the starboard and port sides. (These ships I am describing are like the Nydam ship which was a precursor to the longships that we know the Scandinavian Vikingrs or Vikings used during the Medieval Age)

Each ship carried between 80 to 100 people though unknown to Darren there was more woman and children than warriors. The people in the ships were refugees from island of Harlaw. Recently the people who still worshipped the Old Gods were being hunted down to be culled and sacrificed to the Drowned God. In total there were around three hundred – four hundred refugees on this ship led by Ivar Harlaw.

House Harlaw ruled one of the larger islands of the Iro Islands. They ruled the island of Harlaw. The island of Harlaw was the most populous and richest island in the entirety of the Iron Islands. With their conversion a once proud center of First Men culture and religion died that day. While others of the island decided to follow this new god, many had rallied to Ivar to escape the Culling of Harlaw.

Ivar Harlaw was the third son of the current Lord Harlaw. While his family and most of the inhabitants of their domain converted to the Drowned God he himself remained a devout believer of the Old Gods. He was shorter than most inhabitants of the islands at five feet and five inches. He had dark, black hair cut which was shaved at the sides of his head and pulled into a long warrior's braid that reached his mid shoulders. He was of a paler complexion and was a fair face. His angular face drew attention to his light blue eyes the color of a fair sky.

His attention was turned from his ship as he gazed upon the light smoke we could see off the coast of the island. He could see that it seemed to have been some time since something had burned but he could still sense in his gut it may have happened recently. He called for the captain of the ship.

"Captain head towards the coast and wave the white flags we will see what is going on," ordered Ivar.

"Aye milord. Men let the white flags fly we make for the shore."

With the order given four stark white flags were unfurled and whipped behind the ships as they drew closer to the shore. Ivar could feel in his guts that this was a monumental step. He could feel that the gods had blessed him and those who followed him.

Northern Shoreline of Blacktyde

At the foot of the hill that overlooked the northern shore the island Darren had arranged his warriors in a line facing the incoming ships. In total he had summoned around two hundred men on short notice. The rest of the able-bodied warriors were back in the camp protecting it and the noncombatants. He had separated his men in two different formations each formation had around one hundred warriors each. The first line of each formation had fifty men and the back two lines each had twenty-five men to act as reserves. He could only hope the enemy did not have armor or any shields. Since there was sparsely any kind of defensive armament his forces had between them.

He would command the right formation while he had given command of the left to Rolly. He could slowly see the ships cutting across the water drawing even closer to the shores. Rolly had been right there was no identifiable sigil or motif on the sails. His worry grew even more as he did not know the reason for these ships being here.

He gripped his sword handle tighter as he could make out some activity on the decks of the ships. He was surprised to see each ship fly white flags. The flags whipped behind each ship as they finally drew close to the beach itself. He shouted for his men to hold as he started to make way to Rolly.

"Rolly tell your men to hold. Do you see the flags on the ships," said Darren, "Come with me and order some men to follow. We will greet them at the beach."

"Aye you heard Stormbreaker men hold until we return," yelled Rolly. "If we are slaughtered drive those Ironborn curs into the water they reverently worship."

All around Darren his men screamed war cries as they prepared to hold as he and his party made way to the beach. The party of Darren and his men went down the hill to greet the ships inhabitants.

Northern Beach of Blacktyde

Darren upon closer inspection could see that most of the people on the ships were women and children. There was only a small portion of the people on the ships who were warriors. The anticipation of an upcoming battle bled away to relief. He stopped a few feet from the incoming party with his men. He could see the leader come to him along with his own small party of warriors.

Darren could see that this man was smaller than most he himself was around two heads taller than the man. He had pale skin, and he could see the focus in their blue eyes. Waiting for the man to make the first move he continued to grip his sword in case anything happened.

Ivar stood in front of one of the largest men he had ever seen. He stood taller than him with a large, muscled form as if he was more ox and man. With a shaking breath he knelt before the man in front of him.

"I beg your mercy lord for I seek refuge for my people," Ivar said wearily, "We come from Harlaw escaping the culling."

Darren's eyes almost bulged out of his face as he gazed at the man before him. He had heard what was transpiring on Harlaw. Most of the still devout First Men were being purged from the most populous of the islands without mercy. If these were survivors then there may be more throughout the entirety of the Iron Islands.

"Rise my friend you find yourself in good company," said Darren as he smiled, "You have found sanctuary on Blacktyde for we are of the First Men."

Ivar could only raise his head in shock he had assumed the worst as it was known Lord Blacktyde had converted. Ivar could only stare in shock, 'Who is this man before me?.'

"Who are you? Isn't Lord Blacktyde ruler of this island?."

"He rules no more since he turned his back to the Old Gods. I am Darren Stormbreaker and I rule Blacktyde," said Darren.

Ivar could only feel relief as he learned this news. There was more of them they were not the last of the First Men. Ivar stood to his full height and gazed into the eyes of the paragon of the Old Gods before him.

"It is good we have found you Darren we are all that is left of the First Men of Harlaw. My father has slaughtered the rest, yet these are those who followed me to safety. If you can promise me protection and safety for my people I will swear myself to you," said Ivar unwaveringly.

Darren could only smile as Ivar said this. He had hoped others would join him but not this soon. Especially a Harlaw he was still surprised that one had remained loyal to the gods. He felt it was a good omen. Maybe even more nobles would join, and they could shake off the yolk of the Drowned God and the Greyirons to return to how it was before.

"Come my friend we have plans to make. Have your people settle in our camp. We have enough supplies to last awhile," said Darren joyfully.

Ivar with a nod ordered his men to inform the others who soon began to depart from the ships. Ivar could see the relief of his people and those of the soldiers upon the hill as they all made way to the camp.

Rolly soon joined Darren as they made way to the center of the camp. He seemed less tense than before as they drew closer.

"We have been blessed by the Old Gods Darren. There must be others who will join our cause. Imagine it an Iron Islands free of the Drowned God."

"Aye I can only hope we make this dream a reality Rolly. Our people have already lost too much to this new dark god. I can only pray that we have time to act while they do not know what has happened here," said Darren as he stopped.

Darren could only gaze upon the sky with hope in his eyes. The oath he had taken would force him to face the drowned threat and hopefully drive it back to the sea. He had feared they were alone but with Ivar's arrival he grew more optimistic. With a new burning hope in his heart, he knew he had made the right decision.

Authors Note: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. I wanted to focus a bit more on character building regarding Darren. He will be a being of both great hope and great rage. I did not want to make him one dimensional since it left a bad taste in my mouth writing a character just described by his rage. I plan for the next chapter to kick off the first battle of Darren's Uprising. I really want Darren to capitalize on this opportunity since the other islands do not know what transpired at Blacktyde yet. He will face many challenging decisions very soon since not as many people still hold to the Old Gods as he believes now after meeting Ivar. I would love to hear your guys' guesses for where it will take place. I was wanting to blend some Gaelic/Celtic religious beliefs with some of those of the cannon Old Gods since they also had primarily nature worship though they did have names for their gods and even festivals as well. It makes sense to include those since so many of the First Men culture and religion was lost due to the Andal invasion. I will also touch on that but that will be far in the future.