Someone did point out that it would be an innovative idea to make Darren a skinchanger. Darren is a skinchanger who uses a seagull. I figured it would be a smart idea since it allows him an aerial view from his seagull. It is also inconspicuous since seagulls would be common on the Iron Islands. I planned to reveal it later as the skinchangers and any First Men are being persecuted without mercy by the Ironborn. But it seemed right to include it in this excerpt since the next chapter will be about the Raid on Orkmont.
Chapter 3: Darren's Uprising
Excerpt from A Cumulative Record of House Stormbreaker by Maester Riddick
Darren's Uprising was a short-lived war between the last First Men of the Iron Islands and the divergent culture of the Ironborn. The war lasted around one year and while not significant to the later wars between the Stormbreakers and Ironborn. It would be the first war to try and cause a resurgence of First Men culture and religion on the Iron Islands. This war would be the crucible in which Darren and his followers were made into figures they would later become. The war would see the rise of Heros of the First Men such as Ivar the Tenacious, Roland the Red-Stained, and Darren the Kraken slayer.
While later these men and others who followed Darren would be immortalized they would have to face many hardships along the way. Ivar Harlaw was the first noble to join Darren after the Retribution of Blacktyde. The Retribution of Blacktyde was the first event during Darren's Uprising where under Darren the local First Men population rebelled against House Blacktyde.
Darren had led his followers in a surprise attack against the small garrison force of House Blacktyde before the gates of the castle itself. They would slaughter all who followed Lord Blacktyde and would take the keep relatively unscathed. The same could not be said to Lord Blacktyde, his family, and those who followed him. It is said they were all slaughtered from the youngest babe to the oldest greybeard. Legends say Darren choked the life out of Lord Blacktyde as he gazed upon his keep burning and his people being put to the sword.
Many maesters debate how this rebellion could have succeeded but it is widely believed that many of the inhabitants of the Island of Blacktyde despised the religion of the Drowned God. Especially those First Men turned away from their culture and history which was seen as blasphemous against the Old Gods. It did not help that many of the newly christened Ironborn burned and chopped down the sacred weirwoods and godswoods throughout the Iron Islands. In response to these actions many of the pious First Men led armed revolts against the Ironborn. Sadly, many of these revolts were put down brutally with the survivors' becoming thralls and other being sacrificed to the Drowned God.
The last known bastion of First Men culture and religion that was not snuffed out was on the island of Blacktyde. Prior to Lord Blacktyde conversion he was known as the last Great Lord to still follow the Old Gods. It is not known what made him change his mind, but some speculate that it was from the influence of House Greyiron. Though some other maesters speculate it was a pragmatic decision to see the safety of his people and domain. The latter is highly unlikely due to the actions of Lord Blacktyde. In some accounts it says he had started to cull the First Men and had them drowned in the name of his new god. Though we may never know the true reason as all who knew are gone to time now.
The rebellion on Blacktyde was also able to succeed as it was least populous of the islands. Many of the inhabitants did not convert to the Drowned God and many swelled to Darrens banner. It was easy for them to slaughter to garrison force as they heavily outnumbered those under Lord Blacktydes command. Through sheer numbers the First Men overwhelmed the defenders and slew them all. It was child's play for them to then raze the keep to the ground and finish off the last Ironborn inhabitants.
It was quite fortuitous for Ivar to meet Darren as Ivar and his followers were escaping the Culling of Harlaw. While Ivar was a son of the ruling Lord Harlaw he still followed the Old Gods and saw to save those who he could. In some First Men accounts it is said he gathered all he could and set off with four ships. In the records it says the Old Gods guided him to Darren as together they would strike out against the Ironborn. It is more likely that they sailed North from Harlaw and were drawn to the island due to the smoke of the razed keep. Whether by the Gods or common-sense Ivar would be lead to Darren and join his cause.
While the rebels did not have numbers on there side they made up for that in lightning quick raids. The tactics they employed were hit and run before heading back to sea. It is known that the forces under Darren were not heavily equipped though they did have some ingenious ways to make up for it. The forces under Darren were lightly armed and armored and allowed for greater mobility and flexibility of his forces. It is common for most Westerossi armies to implement the hammer and anvil tactic, but Darren would form a military doctrine more focused on a fast-moving formation that would skirmish with an enemy force and draw sections away from an enemy army.
His logic was to pelt enemy forces with projectiles from archers or even slingers to weaken an enemy formation before using their greater mobility to fall back and force enemy formations to give chase. Darren would have his forces go to planned out sections which would be littered with traps that would slow down enemy forces. He implanted fortified positions using stakes and even barricades when given the chance. This could cause an enemy force to be funneled into an area of his choosing. During his later campaigns use formations that could encircle enemy armies with his lower numbers till they were packed tight while his army struck from all sides.
The first use of the skirmishing tactics was used on Raid of Orkmont. It is not known how Darren successfully evaded the patrols of Orkmont to later raid the island itself. Some maesters believe it is due to superior seamanship, but many assume Darren was a skinchanger. A skinchanger is a person with the ability to enter the mind of an animal and control its actions. Not much is known about the skinchangers of the Iron Islands as it is believed all were slain with the other First Men. Some believe he was one since in other records it mentions later descendants of House Stormbreaker showing this talent. It is even rumored that House Farwynd has in the past shown to have this gift.
What we do know is that Darren successfully evaded patrols from the forces of Orkmont and raided the island itself. Not much is recorded of Darren's first move, but some believe he was able to rescue some First Men of the island. The effect of this raid brought the eyes of the entirety of the Iron Islands on Darren and those who followed him. This caused war to break out between the Islands as Darren caused as much chaos as he could. The war only lasted a year and saw to the exile of Darren and all his followers from their home. The exile of House Stormbreaker did not hinder them as they grew in power on the mainland and would declare war on the Iron Islands many times throughout history till Aegon's Conquest.
Author's Note: I will work on the next chapter, and it should be coming out soon. I plan on Darren's Uprising being a few chapters as it is such a short event in House Stormbreaker's history. Please make sure to leave a review as it helps me grow as an author.