AN: Quick question. I said a few chapters back that I was approaching a stopping point in this story so I could work on my other ideas and then start working on a more even rotation. I was just wondering, when I come back to this story, would you all prefer it be in this same story, or would you like me to mark this as complete and start from a second story? Just wondering.
And now the conclusion to the final battle of the Dornish War.
ROBERT
KING'S LANDING- SMALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
R: 3500 D:8000
Robert took a deep breath as he prepared himself. He was at a disadvantage right from the start. One misstep could be the difference between life and death, like any other battle. Thankfully he had been using his visits to Gendry as a way to improve his deck.
"My turn." He said as he drew. He scanned his hand and came up with a plan.
'I got to get rid of that Necrovalley, else I will have to keep dealing with his monsters having a huge boost. But until then…'
"I summon Robotic Knight, in attack mode." a man of metal appeared on Robert's side of the field. He had some ridiculous design that looked little like a knight, but Robert was not the one who named him. Despite his ridiculous appearance, he had 1600 attack points.
Next I activate the Machine Assembly Line." Robert played the spell and a conveyor belt appeared behind Robotic Knight.
"This card remains on the field, and every machine monster gains 200 attack points, bringing my knight up to 1800. Now, attack his Gravekeeper's Curse!"
Robotic Knight drew his sword and Gravekeeper's Curse crossed it with his staff, only for Robotic Knight to grab it with his other hand and behead the spellcaster.
R:3500 D: 7500
Despite the victory, Gravekeeper's Curse's corpse did not fade away like they usually do. Instead it appeared to just sink into the sand of the Necrovalley.
"I will end my turn with a facedown. Your move Doran. Or we can put this aside and finish this peacefully. It is not too late." Robert announced.
"Too late? I have always been too late. Now? I make up for it. I draw." Doran announced.
"I summon Gravekeeper's Nobleman in attack mode. Necrovalley also increases his attack to 1500."
Another robed figure came forth. This one had blue hair and gold earrings. It was clutching a tablet.
"I play two face downs and end my turn." Doran announced.
'That is a trap if I ever saw one.' Robert thought to himself as he drew. Unfortunately, he knew little about Doran's deck. Varys could only give broad ideas, but he liked to wait his opponent out and let them spell their own doom. This was no different.
'It may be better to spring the trap and then recover.' Robert mused to himself.
"Robotic Knight, attack his Nobleman!" he shouted.
Robotic Knight did so, stabbing the nobleman right through it's tablet.
R: 3500 D: 7200
Robert expected Doran to spring one of his traps, but he did no such thing. Once again the Gravekeeper monster sunk into the sand.
"Gravekeeper's Nobleman's ability activates. When he is destroyed in battle against an attacking monster, I can summon in face down defense any Gravekeeper in my deck." Doran explained as he grabbed his deck, picked one card out from near the bottom, and shuffled it again.
'I see. He had nothing that was strong enough to defeat Robotic Knight, so he sacrificed a monster that would not hurt him too badly, and if I had summoned a second monster, his may be strong enough with Necrovalley to block it.' Robert mused to himself.
"I summon Canon Soldier, put this card face down, and end my turn." He announced as the purple metal monster came forth, pointing his cannon right at the facedown card.
Robert had dealt more damage, but still had less than half of Doran's Life Points. This was going to take awhile.
"YOUR GRACE!" A voice called out. Robert looked behind him to see Ser Barristan, Ned, and Joffrey leading a group of guards into the chambers.
"Back all of you!" Robert roared. He looked back at Doran. "Your move."
Doran let out the laugh of a man without cares in the world. "I draw." He looked his hand over. "First, I flip summon my facedown- Gravekeeper's Visionary!" As the card was flipped over, the sand rose to make some sort of small throne. What sat on it was a man wearing a highly decorated outfit of metal, with a helm that resembled some sort of dog. It's already impressive 2000 Attack points rose as the sand glowed around him, raising him to 2500. Suddenly, the corpses of Curse and Nobleman floated back up out of the sand. They glowed as well, bringing Visionary to 2900 Attack.
"Explain." Robert demanded.
"That would be Visionary's ability. For each Gravekeeper in the graveyard, he gains 200 attack points. Next, I summon Gravekeeper's Priestess. And while she is on the field, all Gravekeepers including her gain another 200 attack."
The sand spun into a miniature tornado, and when it cleared a woman in a white robe with a head covering that obscured her face appeared holding a golden staff with the head of a Snake. Her attack was raised by the field and herself to 1700, while Visionary's went up to 3100.
"Now, Visionary, attack his Robot Knight!" Doran ordered.
"Not so fast Doran! I activate my face down, Covering Fire, now my Cannon Soldier comes to Robot Knight's aid, raising his attack to 3400.
Visionary began walking towards Robot Knight, only to have Cannon Soldier shoot it from behind. While Visionary was distracted, Robot Knight stabbed it from behind, causing Visionary to turn into sand.
R: 3500 D: 6900
"Impressive move, unfortunately, it can not work again." Doran spoke as the sand began to come together. It rose up and reformed Visionary.
"You see, by discarding my Gravekeeper's Vassal, I can activate Visionary's effect, keeping him on the field. And with another Gravekeeper in the Graveyard, he gets even stronger."
Visionary's attack grew to 3300.
"Now, Priestess will destroy your Cannon Soldier." Doran declared.
Gravekeeper's Priestess ran up and used her staff to turn Cannon Soldier into scrap metal. But instead of disappearing, it went on the conveyor belt of the Machine Assembly Line.
"That's the other effect of the Machine Assembly Line. When a machine is destroyed, I put two tokens on the conveyor belt.
R: 3400 D:6900
"Very well then. I end my turn." Doran said.
"My move then." Robert said as he drew. That Visionary was going to be the end of him unless he could figure out a way to defeat it. Even if he destroyed Priestess, Visionary would get the same boost from her being in the graveyard as the field.
"First I play this card face down. Next, I summon Machine King Prototype, in attack mode."
A throne of metal appeared, as a machine of grey and red sat upon it.
"Robot Knight and the Assembly Line increase his attack by 300. More than enough to get rid of your Priestess. Attack!"
Machine King prototype raised its arm, and it shot forth like an arrow and crushed Priestess' head. It's corpse was swallowed by the sand, and glowed as it kept Visionary strong.
R: 3400 D: 6700.
"That's it for me." Robert announced.
"My move then." Doran said as he drew.
"First, I summon Gravekeeper's Spiritualist." Another woman appeared on the field, this one wearing an animal mask that hid her face just like Visionary.
But she will not be on the field for long. Her special ability allows me to take her, and any monster in my hand, and fuse them together!"
Robert gasped in shock. He was not expecting a fusion.
"So, by giving up my Gravekeeper's Recruiter in my hand, I can merge the two into Gravekeeper's Supernaturalist."
A tattooed cloaked bald man appeared briefly, only to have his body melt into Spiritualists. What emerged from the fusion was a white haired man holding a staff and with much gold adorning his body. His 2000 attack was increased by Necrovalley to 2500.
"But that is not all. He gains another one hundred attacks for the levels of the monsters used to fuse him. And with two more Gravekeepers in the graveyard, Visionary's attack increases as well." Doran explained.
Supernaturalist now stood at 3200 attack, while Visionary's became 3700.
"Now then, Visionary will attack your Robot Knight." Doran announced.
"He will do no such thing. I activate Threatening Roar, preventing you from attacking this turn!" Robert revealed the card, and a terrible screech that forced everyone nearby to cover their ears halted both monsters in their tracks.
"Your move then." Doran said, anger apparent on his face.
"Aye." Robert drew. He only had two cards in his hand. He had to make them count.
He looked at the new one. The gods were finally showing him favor.
I play Pot of Greed. Now I draw another two cards." Robert did so. He looked at the three cards and began to form an idea.
'It's a two in three shot of working. No, more like a coin toss if his deck is like most.'
"I activate the spell card Hammer Shot. This destroys the monster on the field with the highest attack, which is your Visionary."
A giant wooden mallet landed on Visionary, crushing it into sand. Doran did nothing to stop it.
'Heh, so I was right. That card in his hand was not a Gravekeeper, otherwise he would have saved it and made it more powerful. At least I got rid of it.'
"Now I summon Bistro Butcher. And then I play Swords of Revealing Lights. Now you can't attack for three turns. That is all for me." Robert declared.
As the swords blocked off Supernaturalist, Doran began his turn.
"This is bad." Ned said. "Now Robert has to rely solely on what cards he can manage to draw."
"At least he has his monsters to take the hits for him. And he still has that one facedown." Ser Barristan replied.
"I summon a second Gravekeeper's Curse. And end my turn with his affect." Doran said as he played the monster.
Curse threw his staff right at Robert, hitting him square in the shoulder.
R: 2900 D: 6700
"That's bad." Ned said.
"Bad? Father can destroy that monster easily." Joffrey spoke up.
"Aye. But Doran can spare the Life Points of losing him, unlike His Grace." Ser Barristan explained to the prince.
"My move." Robert said as he drew. He looked at the card. 'I need more time.'
"I attack your Curse with Bistro Butcher!" He declared.
Bistro Butcher ran forward and sliced Curse to pieces from beyond the swords.
R:2900 D: 6200
"Now, since Bistro dealt you damage, you draw two cards. That will be it for now." Robert said. Doran did so.
"My move." Doran said as he drew a fourth card into his hand.
"Now then, I summon a second Gravekeeper's Priestess, which brings my Supernaturalist to 3400. But that is not all! I activate my trap card, Rite of Spirit. This lets me bring back one Gravekeeper's monster in my graveyard. I choose Visionary." The monster rose back up from the sand. And with another Curse in the graveyard, he now boasted 3900 attack points.
"That will be it for now." Doran spoke.
Robert sighed as he drew. This was the hardest duel he had since Trant.
"I play Cup of Ace. Now we flip a coin. Heads, I draw two cards. Tails, you do."
A giant gold dragon appeared in between the two, and it threw itself in the air. When it landed, Robert's face was clearly visible.
"I will take these." Robert said as he added two cards to his hand. "I summon the Guardian of the Throne Room. And the Machine assembly Line increases his attack to 1850." The metal guard appeared on the field.
"Next, I will play this card face down. And I will attack the Priestess with Guardian." Robert announced.
Guardian's missiles shot forth and obliterated the Priestess.
R: 2900 D: 6050
"That's all from me." Robert said.
"Now Robert has three monsters on the field, and two face downs and swords will last another turn." Ned said.
Doran drew a card and grinned.
"You should not have attacked with your Butcher Robert. It made it so I could play this! Mystical Space Typhoon!"
Winds blew away the swords of light.
"Now then, Visionary will attack your Guardian. But that is not all. I activate my other trap, Magician's Circle. This lets both of us summon a spellcaster monster when one on the field declares an attack. And for mine, I choose another Visionary!"
A second Visionary appeared right next to it's twin, as the first prepared to attack.
"I do not have any spellcasters in my deck, But I activate my trap, Negate Attack. So now your battle phase is over." Robert revealed before the attack could happen.
Doran grew more impatient. "Fine then. It doesn't matter. I end my turn."
"Clever. He saved it until a turn he knew he would lose." Ned summarized Robert's strategy.
"My move then." Robert drew. But he already knew what he would do. After checking it, he made his move.
"Before you do so, I would like to activate one of my card's abilities." Doran announced. 'I doubt I need to, but just to be safe, I will discard my Charm of Shabti from my hand. By doing so, none of my Gravekeepers can be destroyed by battle." He explained.
"Well then it's a good thing I am not destroying them in battle. Now that both your traps have been tripped, I can tribute all three of my monsters, and summon Beast King Barbaros."
All three monsters faded from existence, and where they once stood now was a monster with the body of a monster, the face of a lion, but the center of a man. In its hands were a spear and shield. It boasted 3000 attack points.
"Now I activate his ability. Since I sacrificed three monsters to summon him, I destroy all cards on your side of the field!" Robert explained.
Barbaros lifted his lance, and impaled the ground, removing Necrovalley. It then did the same with both Supernaturalist and one of the visionaries. But the other evaded.
"Do not forget that I can save at least one Visionary by discarding my Gravekeeper's ambusher." He explained. "All you did was make him stronger."
It was true. Visionary lost 500 attack points from Necrovalley, but gained 600 from its ability. Bringing it up to 4000.
"Mayhaps, but it was enough. I end my turn." Robert announced.
"We will see about that." Doran said as he drew. He only had two cards in his hand right now: Imperial Tomb of Necrovalley, which he just drew, and an Owl of Luck, which he had no use for before with Necrovalley already on the field.
'Might as well set them up for later.' Doran thought to himself.
I play this card face down, and set a monster. Now, Visionary, attack his Barbaros!" Doran ordered.
Visionary launched himself forward, only to be blocked by Barbaros' shield. It was then Doran saw the trap card flip over.
"Draining Shield. It negates your attack and adds his attack points to my Life Points." Robert revealed.
R:6900 D: 6050
"YES!" Ned found himself letting out a cheer. "Robert just took the lead for the first time in this duel."
"Whoo." Robert let out a small whistle. "This what you feel for having more than 4000 life points? I understand the appeal. I feel I could swim to Bravos."
"Enjoy it while it lasts. I assure you it will be a temporary feeling." Doran grinded his teeth.
"My move then." Robert declared as he drew.
"First, I will summon my Enraged Battle Ox. But that is not all. I activate the spell card Back-Up Rider! This card will strengthen Barbaros by 1500! More than enough for Visionary. So he will attack."
Barbaros charged at Visionary. The monsters met in the middle, only for a second Barbaros to appear out of the air and catch Visionary from behind, fading with its kill.
R: 6900 D: 5550
"That is not all. Now enraged Battle Ox will attack your set monster. And his ability means you take piercing damage from beast-warriors like him."
Enraged Battle Ox ran forward and cut the face down Owl in half.
R: 6900 D:4350
"I do not activate An Owl of Luck's effect." Doran announced. He could not. If he did, he would have no way to defend himself.
"That is it for now." Robert announced.
"My move." Doran announced. He looked at the card he drew.
He laughed.
It was not a laugh of success, but of despair.
"Might as well show it. I activate the field spell card Necrovalley. I did not even need to use my Owl's ability."
The sand returned to the field.
"I end my turn. Go on and finish me." Doran announced.
"It's over." Ned said.
"Mayhaps not. He still has a facedown card. This could be a trap." Ser Barristan said.
"Then he would have used it last turn." Ned countered.
"Unless he needed Necrovalley on the field to use it." Barristan pointed out.
"Then he would have used the Owl's ability." Ned brought up.
"Very well then." Robert said as he drew.
He let out a little chuckle himself.
"I summon Gate Blocker, in attack mode."
A stone slab with an eye appeared on the field. Suddenly the sand faded once again.
"If only I had gotten it at the start of the duel. He nullifies your field spell while keeping it on the field." Robert said.
"That's weird. Why summon another monster, besides gloating?" Ned asked, confused.
"Now then, Beast King Barbaros, Attack Prince Doran directly."
The Beast King ran forward and poked Doran with the lance. It was enough to draw blood, but was not the skewering anyone besides Robert was expecting.
R:6900 D:1350
"Enraged Battle Ox, finish him off." Robert said.
The Ox ran forward and cut into Doran's flesh, but when it lost itself to its battlelust, and went in for a second swing, Gate Blocker shielded the Prince of Dorne.
R: Victory D: Defeat.
Doran collapsed to his knees.
"Even when I make a move, all I do is fail." He muttered just loud enough for Robert to hear.
Robert turned to the guards. "Bring him to a guest chamber for now. Have Pycelle look him over. If he dies, so does Pycelle."
As the men lifted the Prince, who had lost his extra Life Point boost to his health, Robert walked over to Ned, Baristan, and Joffrey.
He brushed aside his friend and guard and walked to his heir.
Joffrey had a huge grin on his face. "Father that was amazing. You showed that Trai-"
Robert lifted Joffrey up by his collar.
"This is on you. You are to blame for putting my life and your own in danger." He threw Joffrey onto the floor.
"Ser Barristan, escort the Prince to his chambers. No one is to see him except for whoever brings him his meals until I say otherwise."
Ser Barristan nodded, leading the young price to his room, not listening to the boy try to defend himself.
"Robert, Your disk." Ned said, seeing a message on it. Robert looked at it.
LEADER DEFEATED. WAR MODE DISENGAGED. VICTOR: ROYAL FORCES
"Well then, It appears I won the war." Robert jested, but his heart was barely in it. He was tired. He needed to rest.
Two days later, He sat on the Iron Throne and made official announcements.
Prince Doran would be sent back to Sunspear to aid in getting Dorne back into shape for half a year. He would then be escorted by the Royal Fleet to the Night's Watch, as punishment for trying to kill the King.
Several lords or second sons who had fought bravely were to be elevated or given keeps or knighthoods.
Finally, for his foolishness, Prince Joffrey would be banished from Westeros for three years, or until Winter came, whichever came first. He would still have a retinue of men to protect him, but he would not be welcome in the Seven Kingdoms until it was over. Should Robert die while Joffrey was exiled, then Tommen would become King.
It would be another few days before they learned of what happened at Sunspear.
TRYSTANE
SUNSPEAR-UNDERGROUND PASSAGE
Trystane stood completely still, hoping the ghoul did not notice him and cut him to pieces like it did to his guards.
The Wall Shadow had been waiting for them in the tunnel. It had torn apart one guard after another. Trystane could do nothing but watch.
Eventually, Trystane was found by a soldier with a wolf sewn onto his tunic. It was obvious the man was sweating profusely, unused to the heat of the desert. He picked Trystane up and brought him back upstairs.
When they reached his father's Solar, Trystane noticed a man sitting where the Prince or Princess of Dorne was meant to sit. Trystane recognized the man. Daemon Uller. The most despised Dornishman alive. Who had escaped Ghaston Grey during the war.
"What you got there Cassel?" The disgraced Uller asked, getting up.
"I believe he is the little lord of this place." the man who brought him up said.
"You are correct." A third voice said from the side.
Trystane turned to see a large man with blonde hair.
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Kill the babe and-"
"We are doing no such thing." Cassel spoke up.
"Listen here runt. I don't know how you handle war in WinterHell but-"
"Enough." The blonde man spoke up. "We shall send a raven to the capital and await their orders. Until then the boy is not to be harmed."
"Hey now, I didn't tell you how to attack the Keep for nothing. I want what I am owed."
"The only reason you still breathe is because Doran wanted you to suffer. Remember, Jory and I were put in charge of the forces here while Lord Estermont secures Ghost Hill. You were just a man who had more use alive than dead." The Blonde man said as a threat. Eventually Daemon relented, leaving with a dark look in his eyes.
"Thank you for the help Ser Kevan." Jory said. Trystane recognized the name. Kevan Lannister, younger brother of Tywin. And now in command of Sunspear.
"It was nothing. Keeping the boy alive is better than the alternative. Find the Maester and send a raven to the capital saying the surprise attack was a success." Kevan said.
And it was not a moment too soon. Seconds later, an announcement appeared on all of their Duel Disks, and what monsters remained summoned faded.
ROBERT
KING'S LANDING-SMALL COUNCIL CHAMBER
The room had been repaired from all the damages from Doran and Robert's duel. Now sitting at the table was the entire council, along with Ned and Tywin and several other significant lords.
Robert stood at the center, not taking a seat. He held up a scroll.
"A raven from Sunspear. Ser Kevan wrote to tell us the attack on Sunspear was a success, and that Trystane Martell had been captured. Funny. I do not remember ordering or approving of an attack on Sunspear."
He slammed the note down. "Who is responsible for this?!" He asked.
No one took any credit or blame. Eventually, Stannis spoke up. "Pycelle, do you have any knowledge about this message? Whoever sent it would have had to use you."
Pycelle looked up. "No one has sent any raven to the fleet. We were sending them to Greenstone and House Estermont. And the Raven for House Estermont has remained here since before Doran began his trip here."
"So then, whoever sent that message did so from Greenstone." Baelish summarized.
"What is to be done with the men then?" Ned asked. "As far as they knew, they were following a proper order."
"Aye. Kevan would not fall for a mere trick. If he attacked Ghost Hill and Sunspear, he read a message that looked like it was one of our hands." Tywin said.
"Nothing to do for now. We must await their return, and hear what they have to say for this tragedy." Robert said.
AN: And thus the Dornish war comes to a close. But questions remain.
Who ordered the Sacking of Sunspear?
How will Jory and Kevan react to learning they were manipulated?
How will Dorne recover?
What will become of Joffrey in his exile?
Where will the next threat occur?
As for the last question- the next arc is the FAITH MILITANT ARC. But first, a chapter or two of cooldown.