Chapter 2: Consequences of Desires
Intro
The North once fielding one of the largest navies in the continent of Westeros under the long reign of King Brandon the Shipwright. His love for the sea would see the North have a standing fleet capable of going toe to toe with the Ironfleet of the Ironborn. His focus on naval build up and application would see to the cease of raiding by the Ironborn on the western coast, and slavers from Essos who once plundered and enslaved the Northman population of the eastern coast. While he would be remembered for this feat it was his economic reforms which truly helped the Northman prosper. He had seen to expanding foreign trade which brought much needed wealth into the Northern Lords coffers.
Minerals, stone, and iron would be mined by the mountain clans and used to trade in both foreign and domestic markets. Increasing the production of lumber in the lands of the Wolfswood would see to better trade deals with Bravos as the North would become their largest supplier of timber for ships. It also had the effect of expanding the Norths domestic need for lumber as early on Brandon the Shipwright had seen to the increasing of fishing vessels for both the Houses of the eastern and western coasts, and when these vessels would be threatened by raiders it would be the true start of the Norths naval build up.
The increased fishing industry saw to an increase of food production in the North, as their diets soon included more fish and other bounties of the sea. Plus, in some areas of the North the fishing vessels could even go out during winter if the sea was not frozen. This had an unintended effect of the North buying less grain from the South, though still they would need to buy grain especially when winter hit. This also allowed most Northern lords to have fuller coffers during the winter as with more local food sources utilized decreased the dependence some lords had on the South for foodstuffs during the winter.
Additionally, during the reign of King Brandon, the Shipwright, the merchant class was heavily invested in by the Starks as more trade meant more money coming into the North as Southern traders were foaming at the mouth to get a cut in the new Northern trade. Though most of this progress would be overturned with the departure of the King and his second son. King Brandon the Burner would rise to the throne with the departure of everyone who joined his father's daring expedition.
The new King would for months hope his father and brother would return for no matter their disagreements he still held onto the hope they would return. This hope would slowly die as days turned to weeks, and weeks turned into months. On the year anniversary of his father's journey King Brandon filled with grief and loss would order the scuttling and destruction of the Northern fleet and the burning of the dockyards and ship construction facilities built during his fathers reign. By doing this he would unintentionally set the North back centuries. His order to destroy the fleets of North would leave their western coast undefended and incur the raiding of the Ironborn for centuries to come. By going through with his decision, he would gain the epithet The Burner. With no protection against these vile ironborn raiders, it would see to the migration and depopulation of the western coast.
It would not be till thousands of years later under King Robb the Young Wolf which the North would start to build its owns navy besides what other Houses along the coasts could scrounge up. Though that is a tale for another time.
King Brandon the Burner POV
Brandon gazed upon the last dockyard his father had ordered built years ago as it began to burn. He had ordered the total destruction of anything related to his father and brothers seafaring ways destroyed. For in his misguided grief at the loss of both hos father and brother his heart turned black. Within the blackness of his heart which threatened to consume him was the desire to destroy anything that reminded him of them and their foolish voyage.
His grey-steel eyes took in blissful glow of the orange-red flames as they ate up the wood of the dockyard. The hissing of the wood seemed defiant though the wooden structure soon turned alit as it burned. His emotions, which had been as chaotic as he felt slowly dimmed as his vengeance was satiated. With the glow of the fire behind him he made his way towards the horses his guards had kept nearby.
His stoic guards followed him as he made his way towards his horse, yet stopped suddenly as he looked upon the horrified faces of the families who once called this thriving community of fisherman and shipbuilders home. The looks he saw were filled with fear and loathing. The commonfolk would never understand his choice as he had lost more than them. They could at least still be with family while he was alone. With one last look at the slowly fading embers of the ruined wooden dock he took the reins of his horse and mounted it. Without saying a word, him and his men sent out towards the somber and quiet halls of Winterfell.
KingOfSummer 245: So, I have thought of your previous review regarding whether the Starks and their forces would land in a landmass similar to Japan or England. I have worked on some worldbuilding the last almost 2 months regarding the landmass they will sail too. I do not want to give too much away but the landmass closest to the western coast of the North would be pre-Romanized Celtic lands of Scotland, Wales, England, and Ireland. I plan to go more into the world building, culture, and kingdoms present on the isles. Farther north of the isles would be an area similar to Northern Europe which includes Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland. And I do like the idea of starting a blog. I think I might start one sometime soon.
Shade: I love the idea you had regarding Brandon finding the Americas it would've been very interesting to write though I do not know too much regarding much about the early Americas history besides the early Inca, Mayan, and Aztec empires though those were more South America, Central America, and Mexico. I would love to write a story like that someday, but I hope you enjoy the ups and downs the Starks will face in these strange new lands.
Author's Note: I hope everyone is enjoying the newest installment of The Journey of Seafaring Wolves. I do plan on moving onto some of my other stories soon. I just wanted to get the progress rolling on this one. This chapter was more about the consequences of Brandon the Shipwright leaving and how it affected the North after his departure. And a little introduction of what our explorative Starks will come to face in the next few chapters. Thanks for reading and please leave a review.