War of spears and grapes

First **Targaryen Civil war** known amongst the common folk as wars of spears and grapes was a continent wide conflict that erupted with Rhaena Velaryon's attempt to crown Aegon III. after the death of Aenys II. and his heir. The war costed lives of many Targaryens and their dragons, destabilized the realm and enpowered Rhaena Velaryon even more.

## Prelude

### Aenys II.

Aenys was numb and often potrayed as a weak king, even though he succesfully won three wars. Part of this is also because of the fact that he never claimed a dragon. He had problems with heir from the start. His sister Aerea was his heir from beggining of his reign. In 65 AC when his rule was finally stable and he returned to the capital she was named princess of Dragonstone and moved there with her content sister. Aerea enjoyed the title until 66 AC when a sickly son named Rhaegel was born and became prince of Dragonstone for two moons before the office returned to Aerea after his death.

In 71 AC queen Anya Arryn died and the manipulative Rhaena Velaryon seized the opportunity and married Aegon. They had a son shortly after in 72 AC named Rhaenar and the boy seemed healthy, the position was stripped from Aerea, but she still remained living at Dragonstone with her family.

### Rhaena's treatchery

When the king died his heir was already dead and that made Rhaena his rightfull heir. Still Rhaena clinged to power and locked the city up so that she could make the preparations for a coronation. Some even went as far as to suggest that Rhaena should be crowned as queen, being Aenys' widow and also having some Targaryen blood from pre-conquest times. She would do so, if it weren't for the fact that her legitimacy as queen would be contested. Her new plan was to wed Aenys' oldest cousin and make him king. And so, Aegon III. was crowned in the Dragonpit just when the news reached Dragonstone.

## 73 AC

### Raven war

The start of this war was a very slow one with most of the first months being fought with words. Ravens were send to lord great and small from both sides and both sides employed entire regiments of men to shoot the animals. First lords to respond were the closest ones. Most of the Crownlands joined King's Landing, as they were situated too close to resist, with only the clawmen, Farrings, Stauntons, Darklyns, Wendwaters and Masseys joining Aerea. Aerea's own vassals weren't obedient neither. Rheana's brother, Jacaerys Velaryon ruled as the regent in the place of lord Daemond who was searching for Dark Sister and he joined Aegon, house Sunglass seemed to support Aerea at first, but when ser Lucamore Sunglass was killed in an attempt to murder Aerea it was revealed whom they supported.

Later all of the great lords joined in except for Lannisters and Greyjoys. Quent Lannister was a young indecisive man and chose not to fight the dragons while lord Baelor Greyjoy was raiding Lorath at the time. Baratheons joined Aegon and Tyrells followed their lead, because of their marriage pact to the stormlords. Houses Arryn, Stark and Tully decided to support Aerea, standing by there traditions of honor. The Riverlands and the Reach split immidetly with both sides having other lords as their supporters and the Vale eventually also broke into pieces when lord Otho Templeton declared for Aegon and took his host back home from the amassing army at Eyrie. There were also instances of stormlords breaking off but not that many. The Westerlands - although staying neutral for most of the time - did not escape the faith of being split to pieces soon after. Even in the North three houses decided to stay out of the war, house Karstark, Ryswell and Flint of Widow's Watch. What was surprising was the joining of few dornishmen, who wanted to support Aerea thanks to the dornish law of inheritance. These houses were Toland and Santagar with minor support from house Yronwood and Vaith.

### Scourging of Farring's Cross

When the Raven war ended almost ten thousand men from all over Crownlands were already amassed at King's Landing. Aegon and his dragon Caraxes, Aerys and Meleys and lastly lord commander of kingsguard Orton Rowan with two sworn swords, ser Gerris Grey and ser Timeon Wensington, acompanied by Valent and Valentine Velaryon with ser Urswyck Bourney at their side were in the command. Aegon was already eager to conquer and take his throne, so he embarked to the closest spot he could take, Farring's Cross.

When they arrived, three thousand men were already waiting for them. They were led by lord Prentys Farring, Dermond Footly and ser Derrick Leygood. First two men cowardly hid in the castle, but ser Derrick planned to die with honor. As Aegon's host charged his three thousand, Leygood took his best men to the left wing where prince Aerys was leading the men. It is unknown what really happened, but both ser Derrick and Aerys were later found dead. Derrick was torn appart by the dying Meleys, while Aerys had a hole in his forehead, made by a sword.

Rest of the battle was concluded swiftly. The three thousand men were reduced to few knights captured for ransom, while the rest were slain or turned to ash. The real madness unleashed when Aegon learned of his brother's death. He flew to Farring's Cross and set the castle ablaze, killing Footly, Farring and most of Prentys' family. Only a bastard boy of Farring blood remained, only to be named lord of Farring's Cross and legitimized, yet for the rest of his life people would laugh and call Florian Farring Waters.

### Stormlands

While this fighting took place lord Dondarrion prepared his host at Blackhaven only to be attacked by Toyne - Swann - Peake army of six thousand men. The castle was sacked and lord Dondarrion killed, with the dornish now marching north to join up with the marcher lords. Lord Garlan Baratheon took the treath seriously and he and his men were already prepared for battle when learning the news. He went south and split his twelve thousand men to two parts, giving the latter part of his army to Ormund Penrose. He himself went to Summerfield keep while Ormund took a tactical defensive position in the lighting pass near Blackhaven, prohibiting Aerea's army pasage.

Summerfield fell within fortnight after it's walls were stormed. Garlan wanted to wait for the reachmen but when he heard that the dornish - marcher army was about to meet Ormund in a fight he immidiately set out to lighting pass. The battle had already begun when he came with Penrose dead and half the army in chaos, yet he still managed to save the day and harrassed the enemy past Blackhaven, liberating the castle.

### Battle of Sharp Point

Myr agreed to join the war on Aerea's behalf after they were promised the payment for the riots of 69 AC. The myrish galleys entered the gullet where princess Rhaella and her husband, Maldon Staedmon awaited with retinue of two thousand from Massey's hook, Dragonstone and Wendwater. Deal was finally struck there and they all set to Sharp Point with their army. What awaited them was unexpected. Prince Aeryn and men from Stokeworth and Rosby took Massey's hook by surprise and used Aeryn's dragon Redjaw to defeat their armies. Upon taking the castle they also conquered Sharp Point and awaited Rhaella.

As soon as the myrish landed a surprise attack came and the fleet was set afire. Rhealla took her husband on dragonback and escorted him to land, while she herself rode out to meet Redjaw with her own dragon, Dreamfyre. Their battle was fierce and Dreamfyre, older dragon managed to maim Redjaw to the point that the dragon fell onto the burning battlefield. When Dreamfyre went to finish him, Aeryn had put his last charge and crashed into Dreamfyre with dying Redjaw. Both dragons perished in agony, while Aeryn, not wanting to be named kinslayer captured Rhaella, managing to only cut off her left ear and most of her hair. When the wounded prince saw that the landed battle was over and he lost, he escaped from the battlefield.

Maldon Staedmon died at the hand of ser Rollam Rosby and Rollam himself was avanged by Maldon's squire from Myr, Yorko Sintarys. Yorko led the remaining men to victory over the spears and took command of the force, freeing Massey's hook, Wendwater, Sharp Point and taking Chyttering Brook soon after.

### Invasion of the Bloody Gate

Ser Qarl Corbray and his brother Marq amassed Aegon's supporters in the northern Vale just next to Snakewood of allied house Lynderly. Houses Strickland, Pryor, Borrell, Sunderly and Erenford from the Riverlands came and they counted around four thousand in numbers. While this army started marching on the Eyrie another one formed in the south. Mootons, Harroways, Craynes, Graftons and company of the cat led by Otho Templeton were also led on the Eyrie.

Otho and Corbray brothers met in secret when their armies approached the guarded roads to the Eyrie. They had new strategy, take bloody gate and starve the Eyrie out before the war was over, also sending some brave men up to take the castle from inside. While they approached the Bloody Gate their enemies were gathered too. Belmores in the north and Hunters, Waynwoods, Hardyngs, Shetts and Royces in the south, both sides counting around seven and a half thousand men in total.

On the dusk of the attack day, sixty scores of mountain wildling sneaked into camps of both armies and started looting and murdering the knights. Before they were eliminated both sides lost heavy amounts of soldiers, while bigger army of mountain clansman led by Chegg Maidensfear descended upon them with five thousand fearless warriors. This resulted in both armies collapsing and running for their lives, while ser Zachery of the Bloody Gate ordered the gates barred. Chegg took the Bloody Gate by dressing himself and few men into Belmore armor and entering the keep as broken soldiers. They slaughtered the garrison, killed ser Zachery and opened it, Chegg being crowned as king of Mountain and Vale on the spot.

## 74 AC

### Reach

Most of the fighting was fought by others and almost no dragon riders met in real combat at the time. Aegon is said to have said that he will drink dragon blood at the end of the fight and that he would lock Aerea up as his prisoner and concubine. While Farrings collapsed, Ambroses and Footlys still resisted and he had to put them down. In a short manner, both houses were dealt with in the battle of Torrentpeak and had to kneel before Aegon.

The same did not go around in the Northmarch. Lord Philipe Osgrey and his allies were amassing at Standfast when they were attacked overnight and the castle fell to Risley, Crane, Oakheart and Weber soldiers. The news spread quickly and Longleaf also surrendered, whole Northmarch was taken by the grapes in matter of two weeks.

Down south the Grimms were also defeated, the only supporters of Aerea in the Shield islands. Houses Oldflowers, Roxton and Hunt managed to hang on untill lord Leslyn Tyrell finally came with more men and defeated house Tarly and Hightower respectively. Meanwhile Redwynes, Florents and other Honeywiners were preparing for another battle in Oldtown.

### Riverlands and burning of Lannisport

While the main branch of house Lannister remained neutral the Lannisters of Lannisport remained loyal to Aerea. Their army laid siege to Maunhill and even sent ultimatums to Casterly Rock, demanding they swear fealty. What they didn't know was that Volmarks, Harlaws, Kennings of Kayce and Farmans landed nearby the city and approached it. When trying to sue for peace lord Lannister spat in their faces, resulting in the storming of the city. It was second big city burned by Targaryens in this century.

The Riverlands were split and many smaller and bigger battles happened there over the year 74 AC. The greatest one was battle of Deddington, where Aenys Deddings himself killed four members of house Tully and defeated an army three times larger then his one. Another great battle was the Drowning at the Trident. Houses Strong, Mandrake and Peage tried to stop invading Mallister - Frey force at the river, but they were unable to do so and even paid with their seats being destroyed. House Haigh in the north was taken by Crannogmen while Rivermen eagerly waited for lord Rymon Stark to come south.

### Storming of King's Landing

Aerea herself was never able to tame a dragon. She had just recently lost Rhaella and Maldon Staedmon, though it also helped her a bit. Steffarion Staedmon, Rhaella's oldest son, rider of Darkwing wanted blood and she allowed him to take it. The boy was six and ten when he led thousand men to take Driftmark, succesfully and then he was joined up by Darklyns, Stauntons and Clawmen in taking of Stokeworth and Rosby. He was merciless and soon, when autumn began he approached King's Landing.

The city was held by commander of city watch, ser Kyle Bracken, queen Rhaena and grandmaester Jaehaerys at the time, all of whom fought for their interests. Kyle started sending money to Riverlands and enpowering the city watch. Rhaena fought with intrigue and seduction while Jaehaerys was the only one who wanted the best for the realm. Grandmaester tried to make peace with his great nephew and offered to surrender the city, but Steffarion called him traitor and a coward.

Next day Aerea's men stormed the walls while Steffarion took flight against the Red Keep. Up in the skies two figures on dragonbacks apperead. Maester Jaehaerys rode Vermithor while queen Rheana managed to tame the dragon Quicksilver that belonged to Aegon II. and they fought against Steffarion. The fight was uneven, with Vermithor and Quicksilver both being around fifty years old while Darkwing was a young dragon as old as Steffarion. When the battle down was concluded with ser Kyle dead and Steffarion's forces defeated Steffarion and his dragon also fell down dead. Jaehaerys at least had the decency to burry him at a family tomb built by Aenys II.

## 75 AC

### Crownlands and Jaehaerys' triumph

Aerea's armies were crushed in many areas, but she insisted on taking the city, even though it already almost ended the line of Staedmon - Targaryens. Now that she failed, grandmaester Jaehearys hoped to bring peace to Westeros again. He named Galladon Tarth new commander of city watch, even though Tarths were on Aerea's side and went to Duskendale and Rook's Rest, both places agreed to withdraw from the war, soon followed by Clawmen, Mootons, Rootes and more houses.

### Tribesmen let loose

Otho Templeton retreated with the rest of his men to Heart's home and he could only watch as the clansmen plundered the Vale.

### Battle of Wyl

Garlan Baratheon swayed the Peakes in later moons and their army together started harassing the remaining lords of Stormlands around. Redwatch was taken in a short siege while Lonmouth was stormed. House Staedmon surrendered and the dornish - marcher army reamassed at Wyl. Seeing this as a change to hurt the Wyls, with whom house Baratheon held bitter rivalry, Garlan attacked the dornish castle with all his men. What he did not expect was the sheer strenght with which the rebels would fight. He himself was killed in the fighting, but the battle was won by the spears.