Breaking the Alliance

## Prelude

> *Aurion: Did you not hear me? The enemy has won over a part of Dorne if you proceed you will be trapped between them and Haywin.*
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> *Ian: Your right but we cant fall back now, we wont get a chance to strike Haywin again, our best bet is to take advantage of your warning and try to repel the enemy while they think to get the jump on us.*
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After the defeat in Dorne, Aurion who had avoided the battle moved ahead on his own to warn Ian of the impending attack, the Dornish army would betray him and join with Haywin to kill him as a mans of ending the march to Bloodstone. Aurion knew Ian to be more cautious then that and would stop ahead of the meeting to plan there attack on Bloodstone, meeting him at the landing point he surprised his lord, and surprised him further with the news he brought. Aurion advised turning back until they got an idea of the situation in Dorne but Ian refused outright, thinking now was still the best chance to strike. He reasoned that Haywin was still trying to win over Braavos and if they joined there cause winning would only get harder, plus he wanted to strike while Haywins allies in the Stepstones were mostly out of commission as he knew the Myrish at least intended to return to the fighting, backed by the lords who had followed him this far he planned out a means of using this advantage to try and defeat the last obstacle on his way to Bloodstone.

In there path Ethan Lash was leading Stepstone men and group of Lys ships alongside Arthur Henning who was still leading the Dornish men who were using a fleet to meet with the Brightflame army to take it out from within when Ethan attacked. The sun was fully out when they saw the ships of Ian's army on the horizon which made them set there plan into motion and sailing out to meet them, Arthur let the other ships go and meet them first but it was them getting closer that made him realize that there were less ships for the army that Ian described having. Instead as the ships came into view they were instead surprised when some of the army instead came by land...and was clearly prepared for a fight. To make matters worse for the Dornish loyal to Haywin Lord Aurion Valyries who was absent from there attack was clearly among them and it became painfully clear that they had lost the element of surprise.

## The Battle

> *Zelos: I stayed out of Dorne's campaign lets see how well these traitors fight.*
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> *Jaime: We handle things here while the rest handle matters at sea.*
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Aurions timely arrival gave them the moment they needed to plan out an attack. Though the Stepstone ships were backed by Lyseni ones Ian had bolstered his own with the ships the Stormlands could spare to back him up, while the Sword of Mourning lead the assault at sea, suspecting that the Stepstone lords would go for him the land attack was lead by the combined effort of Jaime, Zelos, Aurion, and Aenar, while the rest assisted Ian at sea. The Dornish army to there credit quickly assembled for battle but they found themselves surprised by the experience of the generals at there feet. At sea things faired little better amongst the various fleets as Ian quickly captured one of the enemy fleets and his men engaged the rest. Ethan signaled out his plans to his troops as best he could and argued with Darron who wanted to strike at Ian himself thinking his death would demoralize the enemy, in his testimony Ethan didnt dispute that it was likely that it could work but he wisely argued that such an act would be too risky as Ian's ship was well protected and he was the Sword of Mourning for a reason. Before much could be made of the decision the opposing side was soon onset by another naval encounter.

Rhaegon Sunfyre who had been long delayed in the conflict finally arrived on the scene leading his forces to hit the enemy when they were focused on Ian's ships, the Lyseni ships were hit the hardest and quickly overwhelmed, and soon Ethan's forces would follow suit unless he acted. He and Darron tried there hardest and attacked the enemy with all they had but during a raid of one of Rheagons ships Darron was nearly killed by a crossbowmen who injured him and Ethan was barely able to save his life and drag him back to the ship, once they had won the skirmish he had to make a tactical retreat or risk losing the young prince. The losing battle at sea was imitated by the battle at land which seemed as equally hopeless. Soon Arthur Henning was forced to flee as well taking his ships and departing before the Brightflames could follow but the Wyl's and the Uller's were routed completely and there lords captured, assuring that they were unable to assist Haywin any further. Though Arthur Henning and his men escaped the Dornish army had been dealt with and in one fell swoop the Lyseni had been removed from the playing field as well.

## The Aftermath

> *Rheagon: So next is Bloodstone? You will have the full assistance I can bear on such a journey to make sure that this war is finally put to rest.*
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> *Ian: Good to hear. With your help we can strike at multiple angles and assure Haywin's defeat in a single siege without wasting resources hitting each and every island.*
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With there victory Haywin was for the moment out of allies, while Myr was dedicating more troops to the war, Lys, Qohor, and Volantis were weakened and had made no indication either way if they would assist the king any longer. There were even talks some of them were planning to discuss peace terms. Worse his diplomats in Braavos had made no ground getting them on his side, in fact they seemed content to wait out the coming battle to see if Haywin would win or not before they made any further decisions. Haywin had also learned of Tywin abandoning his post and fleeing to Essos, making sure that the Darkspear King was truly trapped. His vassals assembled around Bloodstone ready to defend him and Arthur had sailed to his land alongside Ethan and his remaining fleet. Darron was brought to the castle healer while Ethan helped set up a defense with the rest of the lords and knights in Haywin's employ. Haywin himself quickly readied himself for battle knowing that it was inevitable. And though he knew he was at a disadvantage he made it clear he wouldnt submit this time.

The Brightflame forces reunited where they could and took a brief moment to celebrate victory. The rest of the day was spent planning the attack at Bloodstone, Ian consulting with Darron Flameheart, Rheagon Sunfyre and his friend Tristifer Terrace as they had been fought at Bloodstone before during the Sunfyre Rebellion and knew that it would be a difficult battle for them no matter how much they outnumbered the enemy. Still it was the only way to get to Haywin and end the war, so if they had to take it in a prolonged siege or a bloody assault they would have to do it. Thankfully they were getting more assistance then they expected, From King's Landing Artos Starkwood and Kevar Greendawn were sailing with Rovos Reaver to help take the castle, and were also being backed by Robin Redwater, another veteran of the last rebellion backed with an army and ready to help as well. The stage was set for another bloody conflict.