Siege of Dragonstone

Commanders| King Haywin Darkspear Lord Ethan Lash Lord Daniel Youngflower Lord Tywin Lannister Nyessos Drahar  | * Ser Mark Storm

## Background

> *Haywin: The Brightflames care little for boundaries or borders, the only thing that gives them pause is strength and taking there precious home will be the first sign of mine.*
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> *Tywin: The soldiers of the castle have grown complacent, since Baelor took it nothing has come close to threatening it, that will change today, but they will find out far too late to retaliate.*
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The Darkspear Rebellion began in earnest after the Brightflames refused the offer of the council of Myr. Though Haywin was no fool, he knew the demands were too high for the Brightflames to take, and so he had already planned an attack before they knew it, his fleets ready for him to march off to the first battle as he had also picked a target, Dragonstone. When the war of Seven Kings broke out it was originally owned by Stannis and Baelor made him the first king to fall, until the Brightflames took King's Landing it was the home base of the Brightflames, much like it had been the Targaryeans before them. Haywin would take it in a mocking gesture to both, to clip there wings and show them that they were human, and not the dragons they styled themselves as, according to his journal. To that end he and Nyessos used the recently free Tywin Lannister to help aid them in coming up with the fastest way to strike down the enemy and claim the castle.

Tywin who had been imprisoned in the castle for many years now was more then happy to help in taking it and reclaiming the reputation he had lost in the years since but Haywin joined him as well with his newly formed King's Guard, for he wanted to be apart of the takeover to prove to his men that they could win this war, as many of them had not unfounded doubts about Haywin's deception though they also had some grievances with the mainland themselves and there loyalty to Haywin remained regardless.

## The Battle

> *Nyessos: The first of many victories is upon us!*
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> *Mark: You'll find no victory here only your death as you bash your hands against these walls!*
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The garrison was 500 strong but they had seen the ships coming soon enough to be prepared, but far too late to gain any aid. They were on there own against superior forces and many great leaders. But Ser Mark held his men firm and they raised there blades and readied themselves to defy the enemy no matter the cost. Haywin saw to it they lived to that promise. Leading his men a lot more closely then he had in awhile he and his vanguard rushed the walls while under constant artillery from the enemy, Tywin had made sure to send men all across to force the smaller enemy to spread its attack about, and Nyessos lead the other attack soon Dragonstone was surrounded and being assaulted anyway possible. Mark lead his men into the first physical encounters with the enemies and looked to be holding his own, until a Myrish crossbowmen put an abrubt end to his life, and without him the soldiers that remained could only try and fight as long as possible. A battle they were never going to win, the enemy was too numerous and too well organized and soon the Garirison was pushed back, further and further into the castle until the last holding taken and the last man slain, supposedly finished off by Hand of the King Daniel Youngflower.

## The Aftermath

> *Ethan: We wont be ignored now Your grace. For better or worse the point of no return has been reached.*
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> *Haywin: The point of no return was so far back I forgot we passed it. The Stepstones will be free, it doesnt matter how long I have to fight to make it so.*
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Though the garrison killed more men then they lost, they hadn't done anything to dent the momentum of the victory especially at the reward of the castle. It was a humiliation that the Brightflames would lose Dragonstone, and an even bigger boon that the many prisoners both political and not that soon took to the Stepstone cause. Haywin offered freedom for any man who fought for him, not even allegiance to him, just freedom after which they were allowed to do as they pleased. Many took this offer some even bent the knee to Haywin, and some like Randyl Tarly were given control in Haywin's ranks providing him with more experienced generals of warfare. Though surprisingly some like Stannis Baratheon refused to fight at all, and were kept in there cells.

As Haywin suspected the ripple of the loss went all the way to the Small council as many in the capital began to fear the man they had once overlooked. Ian went off immediately to gather troops, Lord Privat was said to start organizing letters to tell lords to bring there troops to the city to keep it safe, and the Hand of the King was working with Lord Shamus to gather the funds to hire sellswords, a difficult task on such short notice. The lord of Ships Durgeon Miraxes had other plans, while willing to admit he had underestimated Lord Darkspear (He had made a great deal to never address him as king) he still felt he was one bad loss away from spiraling out of control and he sought to cut the head off the snake soon by taking the Royal navy and securing a swift victory over his fleets, delaying any attempt at the capitol and removing the sting of fear he had set over the Realm. Gathering an impressive fleet he was off to confront The Darkspears in direct combat.

This was the only battle Tywin fought in directly in the war. Though he had many plans and still aided int he effort he spent the rest of his time in Dragonstone sending men off with instructions to attack certain areas, as part of the discussed battle to strike at King's Landing that he had set up with his allies. Given a force of 5000 Myrish to command he remained until sometime after the attack on the capital failed, during which Tywin took his Myrish troops and left the war altogether, by the time Dragonstone was retaken, Tywin was nowhere to be found. How Tywin managed to convince so many to follow him is another show of his leadership and ability, but alas he would be dealt with in time once Lord Ian followed him on his mission in The Wrath of Dawn.