Sunfyre Rebellion

Combatants| Kingdom of the Stepstones~* House Darkspear
* House Youngflower
* House Whent
* House Lightingfyre
* House Maloris
* House Warden
* House Starkwood
* House Griften
* House Redwater
* House Dayne
* House Terrace
* House Mallery
* House Flameheart
* House Greywinde
* House Pyne (defected)

Commanders| * King Haywin Darkspear
* Lord Daniel Youngflower
* Ser Arthur Whent
* Lord Martin Lightingfyre
* Lord Jaqheorus Maloris
* Ser Garahel Warden
* Lord Artos Starkwood
* Ser Robb Griften
* Ser Jory Redwater
* Lord Robin Redwater
* Ser Ian Dayne
* Marq Terrace
* Ser Marq Mallery
* Lord Darron Flameheart
* Ser Rickard Greywinde
* Ser Hollis Pyne (Defected)

## Prelude

> *Rheagon: House Sunfyre's victory here will be one remembered as the greatest of all the Seven Kingdoms when House Darkspear is crushed.*
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> *Haywin: Know this, there will be no terms of peace only unconditional surrender. This war ends with your life, one which you have squandered foolishly.*
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Rheagon Sunfyre had always projected himself as a man of the people and peace, but his actions spoke for themselves, he had made sure to covet a position in the future as someone who was amassed much power and his desire to take the Stepstones was just the first known instance of it. He attempted to go for the crown and take all he could, for various reasons, but most reports place it at greed and desire, confident with his marriage to one Sophia Redwater assuring his power was shared with the Redwater might, though he knew this would hinder the Dornish campaign he felt confident he could take the kingdoms quickly and prevent too much trouble. The reaction wasnt one he expected while he promised lands and titles to anyone willing it must have come as a surprise that men were not as willing to fight for him as they were Haywin. many in the realm felt Haywin's cause of taking care of pirates was just and he had done much good for the realm and the world by doing so, but Rheagon's motives were not steeped in any altruism and threatened trade routes, something the master of Laws made apparent in his blunt refusal and subtle suggestion to back off the rebellion. This fell on deaf ears as Rheagon continued anyway, while he did gain the Redwater influence he desired friends such as House Jadefyre didnt ally with him despite there friendship and Houses such as Starkwood outright refused and instead sided with Haywin.

Haywin himself of course was angered by this betrayal and called his banners making it clear that he would have Rheagon's head for this as an example of why one should never betray him. Unlike Rheagon he found near universal calls to action from his allies, though man of his friends in House Brightflame were busy with the war or other affairs the Starkwoods came to his aid and House Kalkuho and Wilder sent any supplies they could, lacking men or time to aid him directly at the time and all of his vassals started to rally there men, of Rheagon wanted the Stepstones they made it clear he would have a tougher fight then he expected to take it. Even still Rheagon wouldnt surrender and the Rebellion would begin in earnest

## Betrayal at Sunstone

> *Haywin: Rhaegon betrayed me. I should be the one to make sure he sees the error of such an action personally.*
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> *Garahel: Rhaegon is an insignificant traitor, not worth your time. Your a King now not a sellsword, dont give him the honor of your presence.*
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The war was on, Rhaegon's Redwater allies were coming to assist him but the Stepstone lords were closer and assembled for the most part, ready to siege the castle and put Rhaegon down immediately. Haywin was all too ready to lead the charge and make Rhaegon's head an ornament for his spear, but he was talked out of it by his vassals, Haywin as the Demon was not a stranger to the frontlines of a battlefield but Haywin now was a king, and his vassals rightfully valued protecting him at all costs. Instead Jaq Maloris was set to lead the Stepstones into the siege. They landed at Rheagon's lands and marched to his castle. To there surprise Rhaegon was out and marching to meet them, and they had hoped to end things in one decisive battle.

It was not too be. Of the lords ready to strike, Hollis Pyne was one of them but when the battle needed his most, he showed his true colors were to the redwater's backing them in defeating the Stepstone army, attacking them from behind and trapping the army between two fronts. A battle they were ill prepared for and eventually routed, many knights and lords captured and the Kingdom of the Stepstones more fractured then before. Haywin sent Kian out with his ships to try and prepare for the Redwater forces that would arrive and sent word out to the rest of his kingdom to prepare for the struggle that would follow.

## Push Through Red River

> *Daniel: Losing here secures the area for Rhaegon, it becomes a straight shot to Bloodstone. I have no intention of letting my King down.*
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> *Tris: There are no traitors to hinder us here. The enemy will break upon our shores.*
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Once the Redwater's landed on Sunstone they set out to send there's and the Sunfyre fleets to try and control the remaining lands and waters. The next step was also slowly setting up a stranglehold on the Islands themselves so they could attack Haywin in full force if he wouldnt surrender. To do this The Redwater's sent there main vassals the Mallery's, the Flamehearts, and the Greywinde's to try and bring the army down on Red River, the seat on the Skulls by Daniel Youngflower, one of Haywin's staunchest supporters rivaled only by the Warden's. His defeat would devastate the Stepstones and make a surrender from Haywin almost certain. Though it seemed Daniel was more trouble then he was worth, as when the forces made to land on the island they fond Daniel there to meet them, and he was backed by Arthur Whent and his army.

There was a known beef between Arthur and Daniel that they didnt expect Arthur to be so willing to help him knowing how Arthur tends to act from experience during his time as a knight in service to the Redwater's, this miscalculation on there part lead to a battle on the shores near Red River, unfortunately despite the valiant fight of the three noble houses, none of them could get past the defenses and they were losing more men then the enemy. Marq Mallery made the call and sounded the retreat, the last of his men being pushed out or killed off by the defiant Youngflower, eager to show the Redwaters there presence on his land wasnt wanted.

## Battle of the Bloody Bay

> *Kian: The battle on land has been stalled for now. Now we must win the battle at sea. Follow closely and you'll prove yourself well to your lords.*
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> *Darron: Its about time father stopped keeping me at bay, war is apart of our kingdom and I will help fight it to the bitter end.*
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There attempt to take the Skulls having failed, the Sunfyre/Redwater alliance needed to best the Darkspears at Sea and clear the way to Bloodstone, but to do this they had to tangle with the eager Sea Captain Kian Darkspear. Matching and holding them at every possible way, with the Battle being one of several navy encounters Darron and Kian fought, later aided by the arrival of the Starkwoods who had sided with the Stepstones over the rebel Sunfyre's.

Though these battles were impressive there true goal wasnt known until Darron Darkspear lead a small numbr of men onto the Sunfyre's island and snuck into the castle in the dead of night, freeing the Lords Rhaegon held captive while Kian bested the enemy at sea again, once again holding off the Sunfyre's and depriving him of valuable hostages. Slowly the tide had been lost and fallen back to the Kingdom of the Stepstones and the Rebels were losing momentum. A victory was needed.

## The Redwater Offense

> *Jory: If we fail here, the Lords will think us too ineffective to put down some common rabble. Its time we stopped treating Haywin's forces like there pirates and weaklings.*
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> *Hollis: Give the order and i'll follow suit. We will take down the Darkspears together.*
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After weeks of being stalled or defeated it was high time that the Redwaters remind the rest of the Realm and there enemies why they are one of the Crowns most powerful houses. More of there suitable navy ships showed up and aided with the Sunfyre's moved on to hunt down Kian Darkspear and the bulk of the navy he had been using, after a few days of hunting they finally met, Kian pulled many of his various tricks, using his smaller ships to maneuver past and pelt the enemy and trying to hit the enemy with his heavy artillery, but the redwaters were just as fearsome and skilled at sea, eventually destroying many of his ships, before long Kian realized an extended battle would get him killed and his fleet destroyed, so eventually Kian took the remaining ships not boarded or trapped and fled, giving the day to the Rebels.

## The Battle by Bloodstone

> *Arthur: On this day, the World will remember us as heroes.*
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> *Artos: If we win, otherwise we'll be known as bloody fools.*
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Finally, they landed on Haywin's island marching there armies to take Bloodstone and end the war. Kian had given Haywin's allies and forces time to assemble and prepare for the meeting and finally Haywin left the comforts of his castle, ready to take on Rhaegon directly. After peace talks fell through the next day both armies met, outside the castle with the enemy looking to break through the Loyalists shield wall. The fighting began in earnest and lasted for what felt like hours, at least according to everyone there. Both sides swapped out infantry to try and keep the troops fresh, the vanguard fought relentlessly, Valyrian Steel met Valyrian steel and various tactics were employed. Finally the breakthrough they needed came, Daniel Youngflower bested Jory after Prince Darron assisted him, nearly getting himself killed in the process. Artos lead the vanguard to victory over the enemy and was laying into the left Flank and Rhaegon attempting to get to Haywin took an arrow to the shoulder and barely avoided one that was destined for his face. Too many things went wrong and there army started to fall apart that Ian Daybe made the call, ordering his forces to retreat, a bloody battle and a victory for King Haywin later, but no joy could be found for the King even as his men celebrated the hard fought win. For he was conscious of the loss of life the war and the battle took. His son nearly being one of them.

After Haywin returned to the castle he informed everyone of his decision and then went to meet Lord Rhaegon, he would surrender the Stepstones to the Throne for the end of all hostilities and the promise his lords would be unpunished for there fight for him. Rhaegon who simply felt he needed something for all the work he had put into the deal agreed even if he didnt like honoring it and keeping the lords in such a favorable position, when he knew most of them didnt like him. The deal turned the Stepstones under the control House Brightflame, and made Rhaegon the first Lord Paramount of it, though he would not long hold the title.

## Aftermath

> *Haywin: Dont mistake my actions for ungratefulness, I will never forget the men who fought and died for me on this day and every day before this. Rhaegon is your lord now, and it would be best to make sure he doesnt find an excuse to renege on our deal.*
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> *Jaqhaeors: Whatever paper the Crown may give him and whatever fancy title the mummer's dragon army give himself, you are the only Lord I agreed to follow.*
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While his decision was hearbreaking for the Stepstone lords, there appreciation and loyalty to him only grew from that day. Which made there anger to the Redwaters and the Sunfyres who they only saw as an extension of the Redwaters desire to control everything, grow. Rhaegon would win the Paramouncy but he wouldn't long enjoy it, spending most of his time fighting just to keep it, first from Myr and Tyrosh, and Lys, then from his own vassals. It was ultimately too much to handle the Darkspear Coup eventually pushed him out and any Redwater occupancy from the Stepstones. Hollis Pyne would be elevated to the second most important vassal during this short time, and once the Coup happened Pyne was pushed out by the first decree of Haywins reign as a Paramount. Ultimately, the War tied to the Stepstones to Westeros but it bred a underline of bitterness towards it, bitterness that would lead to Haywin's later actions and wars.

The war also strengthened the bond of the Lords to there lands and tested there army in a way pirates alone simply couldnt. Its said when Daniel Youngflower returned to Red River after the war was over he was met with applause and adoration from his people, who knew that they were following a man who would risk his neck for them rather then let them suffer while he hid in his castle with the food they produced. Similar events were said to happen to the Warden's, the Ryndhills, and even the Whents but none were as loud or vocal then when Haywin returned to his seat where hundreds were there to greet him on the way to the castle. If any man could doubt the legitimacy of the Kingdom, however short it lived those doubts died that day, for a brief moment in time these lords made something real, something there people believed in, and while it was gone, the connection it bred was not.