I do not own the World of Ice and Fire
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Volantis, Behind the Black Walls.
The council chamber in Triarch Horonno's Palace is in a jolly mood. The other two Triarchs, who were also loyal to Horonno were in the chamber as well, laughing at their new victory.
Aryanna Maegyr is in the chamber as well. She silently scoffed at the two as they had no part and effort in the victory. No, the credit belonged to her, and of course, Captain Grohan Ragan, the Sword and Spear of Triarch Horonno.
Aryanna observes Grohan Ragan, she doesn't know where Grohan originally came from, but he has the look of a Summer Islander mixed with a Dothraki. Grohan is a man in his fifties, although he only has an average height and size. But his tactical mind and speed in combat cannot be doubted.
But there is one obvious defect on him. He is a slave of Triarch Horonno.
Ragan has a tattoo of a spear and sword on his left cheek, signifying him to be a slave.
Although Grohan is made the Grand Captain of Volantis, he still wore the chains owned by Horonno.
Aryanna was brought out of her observations when Triarch Horonno, raised his cups and toasted "Now, to our victory over the rebellious Myr and Lys"!
Everyone raised their cups at that and cheered. All except for one, although Grohan Ragan was the one that predicted and formulated the strategies to crush the rebellion of Lys and Myr, he was skeptical of the wars to come.
Horonno noticed Grohan Ragan's concern, so he asked Grohan "Tell me, my champion. What is it that concerns you"?
Grohan hesitated for a moment before finally answering "Master, although the rebellion is crushed, we cannot say the same of our conquest of Tyrosh".
Horonno and the others barked out a laugh and Horonno said "Tell me then, who dares to stand against me."
But then Horonno narrowed his eyes on Grohan and questioned "Or, are you dissatisfied that I've sent your student, Lyorro to crush the Myrish rebellion instead of you"!
Grohan panicked and immediately replied "No, of course no master. It's just...".
Horonno is now both curious and irritated but nodded and allowed Grohan to continue.
Grohan gulped and continued "My Lord, Lyorro is still young and impulsive. He will put Myr to the torch, sowing more dissent among our colonies".
Horonno scoffed and replied "That is exactly why I sent him, dog"!
Grohan eyes widen and ask"But why, master"?
Horonno's face went red and yelled "Do Not think that I made you Grand Captain, allows you to question me SLAVE"!
The undefeated Grohan Ragan immediately kneeled and pleaded "I only wish for the best for you master. The people will heed you more if you show them mercy".
Horonno scoffed again and answered "Those ungrateful bastards can only be ruled through fear, FEAR AND BLOOD! Those rebels are funded by the Pentoshi and Tyroshi, we have to make an example of them."
Grohan Ragan wanted to argue, but decided against it.
Horonno then continues "Although you are the one who had taken Myr and Lys 30 years ago, I still need to prepare your replacements. And your student, Lyorro can be an excellent mad dog. But for now, you will think of the strategies, and he, the executioner".
Grohan Ragan sighed and replied "Of course, master".
Horonno then said "Myr will be our launching point for our invasion of Tyrosh, Lyorro will hold it until the army is assembled".
Horonno then lightly discussed a part of the plan "I will send 800,000 Honours to Myr, so that they can build a new fleet and make reparations".
Horonno then continued "Now, the rebellion cannot be crushed without Aryanna's information. Let us raise our cups for Aryanna".
Aryanna stepped forward and bowed before saying "It is a pleasure to provide assistance, Triarch".
But deep down, Aryanna did it for herself. She looked over to Grohan Ragan. She wanted to make Ragan an ally after all the humiliation Horonno did to him. But a chained dog he is. And chained dogs are of no use to her.
Grohan Ragan sighed once again, although he had predicted the rebellion of Lys and Myr, and formulated a plan to crush it, his master had given the glory of executing the plan to his student.
And his student Lyorro is truly a mad dog. He can only pray for the inhabitants of Myr.
At the same time, Myr
(Warning. Brace yourselves, it's quite brutal here)
Fire was burning brightly in the dark night as the former glorious city of Myr was put to the torch by Lyorro. The sound of crackling fire, yelling and crying rang loudly around the city.
Volantene soldiers were everywhere. Women, old and young were dragged out of houses and buildings by the soldiers. Men strong or weak, young or old were put to their spears by Volantene soldiers if they even came across their sight.
A boy, not even ten years of age ran from a group of Volantene soldiers, but it was all for nothing when a javelin punctured through his gut from behind...
An old man, armed with only a broom stick tries to defend his granddaughter from the evil grasp of Volantene soldiers. But he was soon disarmed and a spear forced its way into his chest. His last vision before his death was the image of his granddaughter raped by a dozen men...
When the Volantene soldiers couldn't find a way into a home, they put it to the torch, hundreds of buildings were put to the fires that night. And hundreds of families with it...
The door of a house was battered open, and Volantene soldiers flooded inside the house. The father managed to take a soldier down with his pickaxe. But he was soon outnumbered and they forced him to watch his wife and daughter raped while his son was impaled from his bottom to his mouth by a blunted wooden staff.
The city walls were in shambles. Large holes litter the walls. Signifying the chaos of the city.
Lyorro had ordered the walls to be damaged, even when he was already inside the city. It was a show of force, that signifies the fall of the city.
In a large building was Lyorro and the captured leader of Myr's rebellion, alongside his family.
The leader of the rebels struggled against his restraints as he was helpless when the Volantene soldiers groped his wife and 11 year old daughter.
Lyorro walks up to the rebel leader and asks him in the common tongue "Tell me scum, how much gold did the Tyroshi give you"?
The rebel leader looked at Lyorro defiantly before answering "I did not do it for gold, Volantene dog. I did it for the freedom of Myr".
The rebel leader received a kick to the chest from Lyorro in return.
Then Lyorro looked at the rebel leader's wife with a devilish grin.
Lyorro stalked towards her slowly, the rebel leader, knowing what was going to happen, pleaded "No, no, NO! PLEASE"!
Lyorro just turned around and gave him a wicked smirk. The rebel leader's wife who now also knows what will happen next yells and struggles against the guards that are holding her.
But Lyorro had already reached her, and he struck her down when the guards released her. The rebel leader is yelling for Lyorro to stop while their daughter cries and screams.
Lyorro then descended on the rebel leader's wife to take a closer look at the woman. He then said to the Rebel Leader "You sure have a pretty wife, hope you don't mind sharing".
The rebel leader yells and tries to break free of his restraints. Two guards went and beat him up to silence him.
Lyorro turned to the guards and said "Don't kill him, I want him to watch"!
The rebel leader's wife struggles and yells and cries while Lyorro rips her dress off of her body.
She struggles to keep him off of her while lying on her back. An irritated Lyorro slams her head against the floor. She is not dead, but dizzy on the impact.
Lyorro uses this moment to undo his breeches...
The rebel leader's wife no longer feels dizzy when a sharp pain enters her. A desperate cry of pain echoed across the building they were in as she was violated by Lyorro.
The wife desperately tries to shake Lyorro off of her, but it was all in vain. All she could do was scream and beg and endure the pain and shame.
Her cries, the laughs of the guards and Lyorro were like knives to the heart of the rebel leader. All he wanted was freedom, for his wife and daughter. But now...
The rebel leader let out a roar to try and break free of the restraints. But it was useless...
The wife struggles and slaps Lyorro in the process, Lyorro returns a harder slap and slams her head on the floor.
Moments later, her face was an emotionless pain.
Their daughter cries and panics as she watches what was happening in front of her.
After some painful time, Lyorro finsihed.
Lyorro stood up from the floor and put up his breeches, leaving a broken woman lying on the floor.
Lyorro gave a nod to one of the guards, the guard immediately got rid of his breeches giddily and mounted on top of the rebel's wife.
The rebel leader is now openly crying in pain.
Lyorro then said to the rebel leader "Perhaps she will have my child in a few months".
A loud roar echoed across the room as the guard also prematurely finished inside of the rebel's wife. She lies prone, still breathing, but broken.
Lyorro then adds with a wicked smirk "Perhaps children then".
Lyorro looks at the rebel leader's daughter, and a wicked grin appears on his face. Lyorro stalks towards the little girl...
The rebel leader cries and yells to Lyorro, to beg him to stop.
Another guard is mounted on top of the wife at that moment as Lyorro grabs the girl over...
The girl cries in fear. The wife suddenly yells and struggles against the soldier now on top of her, but the soldier was stronger, he closed his grips on her neck.
And a moment later. The wife was no more.
It was a dark night for Myr, as the fires of war ravaged their city...
Tyrosh
Archon Myrmello of Tyrosh is extremely worried about how things have turned out. The rebels he had funded in Myr and Lys have been crushed easily. By that slave Grohan Ragan!
But luckily, he had another card under his sleeve. He had purchased all the 15,000 Unsullied from Astapor for the defence of Tyrosh. Luckily they had come cheap as Slaver's bay fears the expansion of Volantis as well.
It is now up to him, Archon Myrmello to defend Tyrosh. His goal as Archon was never power, instead he had grown to fear the ambition of Volantis, or to be specific, Horonno. So his goal had always been defending Tyrosh from Volantis.
And now after what had happened to Myr...
He knew 15,000 unsullied won't be enough to protect Tyrosh, as reports had shown that as of now, about 90,000 Volantene soldiers had already gathered in Volon Therys.
He had heard reports about Volantis calling for every man aged 13 and above that can stand and hold a spike to answer the call. Every city, town, village sworn to Volantis has to answer the call.
Myrmello sighed, but he has another trick. He hopes that it will work, that they will answer his call...
The Stepstones, Bloodstone
Unlike Westeros where the climate is turning cold, Bloodstone is gods fucking hot.
Draeden wore a white, short sleeved tunic and a short breech. A gold and red sash hung from his left shoulders to his right hips. He wore a slipper, instead of his signature boots.
Vaella also wore white short sleeved tunic and short breeches and slippers. But she wore a red toga instead of a sash.
They are touring the streets of Bloodstone, along with the council. 80 city watchmen were in charge of their protection.
Draeden walked in front of the party, observing the condition of his city.
Every man and woman on the street is captivated by the beauty of both Draeden and Vaella, especially with the outfits that revealed more skin they are wearing.
Vaella looked like a Goddess while Draeden looked like a God in the eyes of the people.
As Draeden carefully observes the people and conditions of the streets, Tobas Hill is behind him to report the progress of his projects.
"My Lord, the crops from the terrace farms have yielded generously, although it won't feed the people the entire year, we now only need to purchase little food from the Reach." said Tobas Hill.
Draeden nodded and said "Very good, at least we will reduce some expenses, what of the merchant fleet"?
Tobas Hill smiled and answered "The ships are built and ready my lord, so are the merchants and sailors, I have already located good suppliers for goods to trade, all we need now is your signal to go ahead".
Draeden smiled and said "You have".
Tobas Hill bowed and stepped back.
Taelan Rexagon is the next to come up and say "The troops are ready for any combat my lord, they are sated. All they need is blood"!
Draeden nodded, Taelan Rexagon then continued "We are still lacking a Commander of the city watch for Bloodstone, my lord. What should we do"?
Draeden sighed and said "I have yet to have a choice of man as Commander for the Blood Cloaks for now, we will wait for now I guess".
Taelan nodded and bowed.
Draeden had taken to calling the citywatch of Bloodstone the Blood Cloaks due to their Blood-red cloaks on their left shoulders.
They continued to walk through the streets of Bloodstone as they discussed matters of administrating.
After a matter is settled, Draeden asks "And what of the faith? Have they responded to my supposed slight on them"?
Keeper Colliff answers this time "No my lord, there have been no actions taken so far. I believe they also fear the influence of the Fire god on Bloodstone, as the Fire God followers are many and powerful throughout the known world, but specifically Essos".
Draeden nodded, but he secretly made a decision to watch out for the faith.
A few ladies whispered and giggled as they watched Draeden walk pass, this reminded Zanda of something.
So she speaks "My Lord, there is a tradition in Westeros where a Lord has... power over a newly wedded wife. It is called the right of the first night. It seems the women here, paired or not have taken a liking towards you".
Draeden has a look of disgust while Colliff added "The Targaryens of Dragonstone has practiced this tradition after they have arrived from Old Valyria, the small folk there worshipped them as gods as they have the inhuman appearance. They believe it to be a blessing to have a Valyrian Lord take the bride's first night".
Draeden scoffed and said "I am no Targaryen, and I will not bed someone's wife for my own pleasure".
Zanda and Colliff bowed and apologized.
Vaella was the next to speak, "My Lord, our banner and sigil is completed, after your inspection it can be sent for production".
Draeden wanted to add something, but was interrupted by Taelan Rexagon's nephew, Vidar Rexagon who rushed towards the party . "My Lord, there is a messenger from Tyrosh, he says that he has a message for the Lord of Stepstones".
Draeden looked towards Vidar curiously. He wonders what Tyrosh wants with him, 'Most likely about Volantis'. Thought Draeden.
Draeden nodded and sent for the Tyroshi messenger.
As Vidar Rexagon went to fetch the messenger, Taelan asks "What could Tyrosh possibly want from us"?
Zanda looked towards Draeden even though she answered Taelan "To request support of the Stepstones, be the Stepstone's coin or brawn, Tyrosh wants the Stepstone's support".
The council nodded at that.
Soon, the messenger arrived on the street they were in.
The Messenger bowed and greeted "Greetings, Lord of The Stepstones and his trusted advisors, I come on behalf of Archon Myrmello."
Draeden gave a slight bow of his head and returned the greeting. "Greetings to you too. Now what business do you have with us"?
The messenger looked around before answering "Please, not here my lord. Let us talk somewhere more private. As it is a delicate matter".
Draeden nodded in understanding and said "Then let us return to the castle".
The messenger shook his head and said "I must apologize, but we can't move such a long distance, it will take too long, it must be dealt swiftly".
Draeden looked towards a tavern on their left. Draeden then nodded to the captain of the city watch in the party.
The captain understood and yelled "The Three of you! On me!".
The three city watchmen obeyed the captain and went to follow the captain that is heading towards the entrance of the tavern.
Inside a tavern in Bloodstone, the customers enjoy their drinks with some hot pie. A whore bounces on a sailor at the corner of the tavern. The sound of moans echoes off of the room, but the other occupants gave no reaction to it.
The friends of the sailor took this opportunity to grope the whore, but the whore swatted their hands away.
But suddenly four City Watchmen barged into the tavern doors and commanded in the common tongue "Out!"
The sailor released prematurely into the whore at the shock caused by the Watchmen. Some occupants left the tavern, but most of them stayed. The leader of the city watchmen once again yelled "Scram or I'll lock all of you in cells"!
This time everyone left, the sailor hurriedly dressed himself and paid his partner before he left the premises.
The Blood Cloaks entered the tavern first to check if everyone has left the tavern.
After they were done, Draeden and the others entered the tavern.
Draeden and the messenger sat on the table in the middle of the room. The Blood Cloaks were careful, extremely careful. They were constantly ready to jump if anything were to happen.
Vidar Rexagon managed to find a corner in the tavern that won't make him obvious. The same corner the whore and the sailor just bounced on.
Draeden immediately went into business once they've settled. Draeden Questions "Tell me, what piece of message cannot wait, what message is so urgent, that we have to lower ourselves into a whore house".
The messenger had a grim look on his face when he answered slowly "Our ally cities, Lys and Myr, has fallen..."
Draeden isn't surprised, but he wants intel. So he asks "Grohan Ragan"?
Draeden had read about Grohan Ragan, the taker of Lys and Myr. And he had heard that Ragan is a renowned warrior and leader.
The messenger nodded his head and replied "Indeed, that slave has predicted and quelled the rebellion. We will need more assistance to stop the expansion of Volantis."
Before Draeden can even think about what to reply, Taelan Rexagon spoke "And why should my lord assist you!? My Lord rides the Flying Flame, Bright Flame and Scorch Flame, he is the last of the Dragonlords. He IS the legacy of Valy-"
"Enough! Taelan"! yelled Vaella.
Draeden took this moment of confusion to ask the messenger "And what can Tyrosh offer me"!
The messenger then answers "Coins, many coins. And, a favour from us".
Draeden tilted his head.
But Draeden still has a question, so he asks "And who has answered so far, as I believe that your master has sent more messengers across the known world"?
The messenger then answers "For now, the Kingdom of the Stormlands, Slaver's bay and Dragonstone".
Draeden nodded and said "Hmmmm, I will need time to consider whether joining your side is wise or not."
Once the party has returned to the castle and the messenger is resting in a lodging, Taelan asks "My Lord, do you truly wish to assist Tyrosh"?
Draeden turned to look at Taelan, but he did not give a direct answer. Instead Draeden answered Taelan with another question "Tell me Taelan, why shouldn't I assist them"?
Taelan immediately replied while looking Draeden in the eye "Because they are rightfully yours to command! A servant should not demand help from its master. You have a claim to Valyria, YOU are the legacy of Valyria, you have a claim on The Daughters, You are their rightful ruler, my lord"!
Taelan then continued "If they were to request assistance, then they should bend the knee to House Draeterys"!
High Keeper Colliff then added "What Taelan says is true my lord, you have claim to the Daughters as you are the last of the great houses in Valyria"!
Zanda and Jaeron Saraenor's opinion were the same as Colliff and Taelan, they believe Draeden to have a claim over what is left of Valyria and more.
But Draeden just stood there, unmoving. Vaella knows what Draeden is troubled about.
After the meeting is concluded and the sun is setting, Draeden and Vaella go to the Blood red beaches of Bloodstone, The sky is beautiful, purple and pink litter the sky.
Vaella then asks Draeden "So, what do you wish to do"?
Draeden honestly said "I do not know".
Draeden sighed and continued "I know war, it is not what people believe it is. And not what other people perceive it is. It is more bloody, more horrifying, more unpredictable, more destructive one would imagine. Now that I have truly started to lead, I find myself unable bring my people to wage a war".
Vaella put her hand on Draeden's shoulder and said "Your position gives you hard decisions to make. But as leaders we must always make the decision we believe that would benefit the people".
Vaella looked towards the setting sun and quoted "To forge greatness, he must break the weakness ".
That night Draeden dreamed, once again he dreamed of 'Ice and Fire'. This time he was alone, and this time he can see the Night's King more clearly.
But the dream suddenly shifted, and Draeden dreamed of the origin of the Night's King.
He was once Brandon Stark, Brother of Brandon the Breaker. Then he became Lord Commander of the Night's watch.
And then he met a woman outside the wall. Her skin is as pale as the moon, hair as white as snow, eyes as beautiful as a blue star.
Lord Commander Brandon Stark followed her and made love to her. From there, Brandon Stark named himself the Night's King and named the woman his queen.
He made human sacrifices to the evil force of this world, so that he may become evil's champion.
But his brother, Brandon the Breaker learned of the truth, and together with King-beyond-the-wall, Joramun. Defeated the Night's King.
But he was not killed. As kin cannot kill Kin. But the Breaker managed to banish the Night's King to the land of always winter.
But before the Night's King left with his wife, he made a curse. 'The Day Winterfell has no Stark, will be the day Winter rises'.
So Brandon the Breaker, King of Winter gave an instruction to his children, 'There must always be a Stark in Winterfell'.
Draeden then learned the truth, The Night's King is only but a champion of the true evil. The Corpse Queen had only awaken his desires. And the day where men are consumed by their desires, and no Stark resides in Winterfell, will be the day Winter Comes.
But then Draeden dreamed of another dream. 'It is a sacred duty of house Draeterys, to fight the evil of men'. The dream whispers.
Draeden saw the true story of his ancestor and the Fourteen Flames. Long before dragons existed, the Ghiscari threatens the very existence of Valyrians. His ancestor went inside the Fourteen Flames and begged for power to protect his people.
And another force of this world answered. They granted his ancestor a dragon and magic to protect the weak.
And when the Sins and selfish Desires of the Valyrians were too strong, the same force that gave them dragons and magic wiped them out due to disappointment. When she wanted to destroy all of Essos, she felt the sacrifice of Aella and Marion.
And so Essos survived.
The Force Of Ice And Fire.
The ice represents the desires of men. While Fire represents the hope of men.
And it is House Draeterys' sacred duty to defend hope.
And After that, Draeden woke from his dream.
The Council Chamber is quiet despite all the Council Members having arrived. Except for Draeden. They are all wondering what their lord will do.
The opening of the door alerted them and they all looked towards the door.
And there he was. Tall and Strong, the man that won the Battle of Lazosh stood there.
Draeden wore leather. his hair was still long. His mismatched eyes burning with determination. He then commanded "Assemble the army, from this moment on, we are at war"...
Two hundred warships along with 10,000 Bloodstone Soldiers were gathered at the Grand Harbour of Bloodstone. Taelan Rexagon stood proudly at the head of the army.
Jaeron Saraenor is above the Sea Dragon. The Stepstone's newly built flagship. The Sea Dragon has 450 oars, armed with Scorpions and Catapults.
Zanda and her healers were doing a last check on their equipment to make sure they have enough equipment for the war to come.
Finally, Draeden came. Clad in his signature Dragon armour, his two Valyrian Steel swords at his hip. Draeden finally found a horse for himself a few days ago. A strong and aggressive black Destrier that no one was able to tame before Draeden had claimed it.
And now the unruly beast is ridden beneath the Dragonlord.
But there is a bigger change in the Stepstones. Draeden had cut his hair short above his ear to show his determination in this campaign.
It is both a beautiful and powerful sight. The Dragon clad in his black armour.
Vaella and the other council members that weren't going to the front lines were already there to see them off.
Draeden dismounted his horse when he neared Vaella, a few stable boys had to drag his black detrier aboard the ship.
Vaella walked towards Draeden and asked "Do you truly wish me here in Bloodstone"?
Draeden replies "I am sorry that I cannot take you, but our rule over the Stepstones is still in its infancy. I need your skills to secure our holdings. And you will be our last line of defense should we fail..."
Vaella chuckled and said "Truly? but I do recall that you're not quite familiar with failure in war."
Draeden smiles and says "I hope I still won't be familiar with failure".
Colliff and Tobas Hill will stay and assist Vaella in her rule. As Vaella shall rule in Draeden's stead.
Colliff, Tobas, Ermesande and Ser Eustace gave their wishes and farewells to Draeden, Jaeron and Taelan.
Draeden then walks up to Taelan and enquires "Taelan, are the men prepared"?
Taelan stands straight and answers "The men are prepared as you have ordered my lord! The 10,000 soldiers consist of 2,000 infantry, 3,000 archers and of course, 5,000 of our destructive cataphracts"!
Draeden nodded his head and scanned the army. Every soldier was clad in full black steel lamellar armour. Beneath the lamellar armour were chainmail and boiled leather.
The soldiers were well disciplined and possessed a power physique due to the training drills given by Draeden. And after these strong bodies were clad by the black lamellar armour, they are an intimidating sight.
After that, Draeden joined Jaeron on the Sea Dragon with Taelan. Without wasting any time, Draeden asks Jaeron "Is the fleet ready"?
Jaeron bowed to Draeden and answered "All the rations and cargo are placed, my lord. We only await your orders"!
Draeden nodded and looked upwards. A large flag of House Draeterys' new banners hung on the ship's mast.
The banner is a vertical Red and Gold Dragon spreading its wings horizontally in a black field.
The winds blew the banners towards north-east, and with it the fleet of the Dragon to Tyrosh.
And thus begins the 'Legacy War'.
Comments.
This chapter marks our 10th Chapter!!!!! Thank you guys for accompanying me on this journey, I hope I don't disappoint.
Grohan Ragan is an OC I've created for this story. In the originals, the rebellion of Lys and Myr succeeded, but Ragan is a capable commander and strategist.
I think you guys missed something important in this story.
How do you guys think the story will progress?
Let me know in the comments.