Battle of the Red Watch

Casualties| 3,621 Stormlanders | * Selwyn Grandison †
* Simon Toyne †

**The Battle of the Red Watch** was one of the opening battles in the 1st Blackfyre Rebellion in the Stormlands between House Targaryen and House Blackfyre. It was fought by the Stormlands Houses which determined the outcome of the Stormlands during the Rebellion.

## Background

At the start of the 1st Blackfyre Rebellion, major houses such as House Baratheon tried to consolidate their power. They did this by calling their banners and regrouping with the Stormlands Lord's at Storm's End. As the Baratheons have not decided who they would be siding with, this lead to a meeting of the lords. Resulting in a heated discussion and debate between the two sides who should the Stormlands side with.

Towards the end of the meeting, Steffon Baratheon made the decision to side with House Targaryen and accept the position of Hand of the King in the Small Council. Due to the lords being protected by guest right, if they did not follow their liege lord they had to leave in the morning. This resulted in almost half the Stormlands houses leaving. Therefore, Steffon Baratheon sent his sons. Tommen Baratheon and Borys Baratheon to chase down the rebelling houses and defeat them before they can do any harm to the Stormlands.

The Baratheon host caught the rebelling houses between Crow's Nest and Griffin's Roost in the lower Dornish Mountains. Leading to a stand off of the two forces, with the Blackfyre forces having no where to run, mountains to their rear and the Barartheons to their front.

## Engagement

The battle begun with House Baratheon making the first move, Tommen Baratheon ordered the archers to fire and so did the opposing side under Simon Toyne. Both archers shot volley after volley into each other. Both sides suffering casualties, the Baratheon side losing more. A tactic under Jack Dondarrion was to light fires intended to blind the rebel forces. However, this backfired and the wind blew back into the Baratheons faces. Resulting in the center of their line being blinded.

With the results of the fire, the Blackfyre forces moved the cavalry to their right flank, in preparation to charge. As this was going on, the Baratheon forces made the decision to put out the fires. Unfortunately, the smoked persisted for a while longer. The Baratheon sent their own cav in to try to hit the Blackfyre cavalry, however due to their poor position they were delayed. As this hectic scenario was going on, the archers continue to volley back and forth again. Doing large amount of damage to the Baratheons again.

The Blackfyres made the first move, they sent their cavalry to attack the Baratheon center. Resulting in the Baratheon cavalry attacking the Blackfyre cavalry. Leading to a large battle with the Baratheon center and the two cavalry detachments. As this was going on, the archers continue to volley back and forth again. Eventually the Blackfyre cavalry retreated,1/3 didnt make it back and were slaughtered. Freeing the Baratheon cavalry and sending it to the left flank.

Following the combat so far, Borys Baratheon brought the reserves it the center and right flank, to bolster the lines as the Blackfyre forces made an assault on the right flank. The Baratheon center wheeled to the right to aid their right flank. Allowing the rebels to seize the opportunity of the open line and move their center and left flank onto the Baratheon center. Resulting in the Baratheon cavalry moving to the center to hold the line.

The rebel forces engagement the Baratheon forces and lead to an all out bloodbath, hectic fighting took place and defensive lines fell apart as each side engaged with one another. As time went on the Blackfyre forces were losing, resulting in the surrender under Balon Swann of the Blackfyre supporters to Tommen Baratheon.

## Aftermath

Following the victory of the Battle of the Red Watch, Tommen Baratheon was free to roam in the Stormlands without much competition. Trapping the remaining Blackfyre supporters in Baratheon territory. The forces that fought against Tommen would bend the knee and join him. Send a hostage to Storm's End, a brother, cousin or even a son. Allowing him to replenish his forces. Selwyn Grandison and Simon Toyne were the ring leaders behind the rebellion in the Stormlands. They were given the options of the Wall or the block. Both chose the block.

Tommen called for reinforcements from his loyal houses, assembling an extra 3000 Stormlanders to join him. Once united, he marched to Cape Wrath to siege Weeing Town and Mistwood. Also to secure the loyalty of other neutral houses such as House Rogers.