Battle of Bloodstone

## Prelude

> *Haywin: We've fought many battles...some for this land some for others. None will be like this, the Brightflames will come at us with everything that they have to break us. Send us into disarray and end the kingdom we worked so hard to obtain. We must not relent, we must not let them take this place. Our freedom our independence depends on it. I would never ask any of you to do what I wouldnt be willing to do, We fight together from here until the end.*
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The Battle of Bloodstone is aptly named, for the battles reputation was one far more bloody and traumatic. The stories and songs would turn it into a ballad of untold measures and certaintly it has a great deal of heroics among knights but the true tale is one of loss and devastation rarely matched in the many wars that came before and after. Haywin's men were assembled and ready for a fight and by the reports of the survivors though morale was low there dedication to Haywin was as strong as ever still, this was especially true for his hand Daniel who was apprehensive for the coming battle as he knew it meant his doom and yet by all accounts he was just as determined to hold the castle as any man despite this. The Islands defenses had been set up as much as possible and they spent many of the providing days before the invasion going over battle plans drills, in the preceding days before Ian's army was scheduled to arrive Haywin hosted a small feast for his top men as a means of keeping morale up, the men chatted and talked and japed as if the battle was a thing in the past, many of them knew that such a feast might be there last and so while it wasnt as plentiful as a proper one, for they had to save the food they could in case of a siege (Though Haywin supposedly expected that Ian would not attempt such a thing) they treated it like it was as great as any one they could.

Haywins predications for a siege were apt, he knew his lands well and knew that Ian had investigated as much, the master of whispers didnt need his spies to tell him such a thing would be a fools errand. The island was sufficently defendable and had an easy means of fishing for food while under attack. A siege would be costly and time consuming, so instead Ian was seeking to take the castle in a planned assault, which they had more or less organized from the early going of there invasion plans, they had spent days getting the idea together and Ian commanded the ships of all the generals to come together to go over it again before they would attack again. By the end Zelos was so irritated by Ian's insistence on remembering the plans that he was "Damn well dreaming of the plan in his head." Still no one could deny that such a thing was necessary given the importance of the task ahead of them, no army of this size could attempt to come at Bloodstone again for the foreseeable future, if they failed here Haywin wouldnt allow them a second try for some time, not unless the King dedicated his full attention to the matter, which was also impossible given his work in the North. Though Ian also knew they were getting help as he had heard word of the Redwater men and the League assisted forces coming his way, and with that knowledge he felt more confident in victory.

## The Stepstone Defenses

> *Kian: Any reason your putting the thief in charge of the artillery?*
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> *Ethan: Because he has the best damn eye of anyone in this castle.*
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One aspect of this battle that has helped us understand the gravity of it is the fact that its numbers are well documented. Assisted by the Henning troops as well as the forces his vassals could spare without leaving there own homes vastly undermanned Haywin had a host of 14,500 seasoned warriors and sellswords ready to defend his home. The Island was prepared for a naval invasion surrounded by spikes that would make beaching ships difficult and almost certaintly would lead to a loss of fleets, on top of that there were numerous defenses on the ground, more spikes and defenses to trap or hinder the Brightflames armies ability to form up. And beyond that the Calvary forces, composed mostly of Youngflowers and Lashes men were assembled and ready to march down on what did get through to further press there advantage, backed by the artillery on the castle walls and mounts. All of this just to get to the daunting task of pushing up the walls of the castle's first defenses before you could push into the keep in battle. Haywin's confidence they could hold despite there situation was needless to say, not delusional.

Ethan Lash put Ser Aerin Paxton of the Silvercloaks in charge of the artillery on the walls, the man having proven his skill as an archer but many knights, mainly fellow Silvercloak Kian were outspoken about there disapproval of this decision for while his skill couldnt be questioned his allegiance could as he was not from Haywin's kingdom like the rest. Still Ethan got his way, and from there the rest followed suit, Lord Martin Lightinfyre would assist Aerin on the walls. While Ser Garahel would assist, Tris Pyke, and Lucas Keith in handling the Calvary forces. Lord Jaqharous Maloris would help hold the castle itself alongside Daniel Youngflower while Ser Larrys Whent would be guarding Haywin's injured Prince and Princess, who he was ordered to help them escape if the battle turned against the Darkspears. The King himself would control everything from the castle, flanked by his bodyguards not assigned elsewhere, Ethan Lash, Mander Ryndhill, his brother Kian Darkspear, and Rickon Snow. Ser Arthur Henning was also expected to help defend the main walls hoping to bolster the defenses anyway he could, The Sellswords were set to be part of a sortie should the enemy get to the walls lead by there leader, and just as ready to lay down there lives as any other soldier.

## The Brightflame Offense

> *Ian: The three of you will lead the initial attack, we wont be able to launch an all out assault on the castle without removing most of there defenses..Its a difficult task I know but one I'm fully confident in your abilities to handle this mission.*
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> *Jaime:* *It is as you say, what comes next must be accomplished, difficult or no we will accomplish it.*
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While striking from one angle would be difficult hitting the enemy with divided forces might be much more disastrous. Instead Ian wanted the bulk of there forces attempting to strike from the front of the castle, and the Sunfyre forces who would trail them and then circle around the island would try and come from the rear once they thought the Stepstones would throw most of there artillery at them. The captains would lead them as close as they could get to the island in case the Stepstones attempted to meet them at sea first, but once they got on land Jaime Ryyker and Darron Flameheart, assisted by Aenar Blackfyre would lead the first wave into the islands defenses clearing a path for the main forces to strike, everyone knew this was probably the most difficult part of the landing and Ian chose his men as he could. Jaime he trusted to be a determined leader who wouldnt crack under the pressure, he trusted Darron just as much and Aenar pragmatically had little to lose should his life be taken in the name of Daeron Brightflame. Ian had to oversee the full attack alongside Will Littleknight, who was also too essential as a strategist to be on the front lines, Tristifer Terrace was likewise an experienced commander during his time in the flame best suited for moving in to take the walls then handling the initial attack, Lord Aurion and Ser Rolfe of the Knights of Dawn were apart of Ian's command and Lord Zelos Wilder was kept in reserve despite his protests and insistence he be on the front lines, most claimed Ian didnt trust Zelos not to get to reckless in that position given his history with Haywin. Ladders and siege equipment was set up for the attempts to take the castle but they had also planned out weapons t try and remove the spikes and make getting such equipment to the castle walls possible.

Rheagon was set to lead his own forces, having left his Calvary on the mainlands which he would normally command and of the other coming attackers Artos had his remaining men set up to assist as reserve forces knowing they were too small a host to do much else, even backed by Lord Kevar. On his own Robin Redwater would also fight with the second wave upon his arrival covering there left flank in the ensuing battle.

## Conflict at Sea

> *Will: Looks like they hope to bleed us out before we've even landed. We cant be stopped here.*
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> *Aurion: Not to worry, so long as we stop them we can get the transport fleets to the island and keep the invasion schedule.*
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The first encounter in the Battle was at sea, lead by a longstanding admiral of the Stepstone army, who had accompanied Kian on many of his famous battles at sea he lead the Darkspear ships into an attack to keep the Brightflame forces from landing. The invading forces had superior numbers but taking any part of the early stages of the attack would cost them and potentially end the battle before it could really get started. The Brightflame army had no intention of underestimating the Darkspears, Willfred from his ship the Bite orchestrated the early going using the galleys and longships to fend off the Darkspear ships, the fighting lasted half an hour with the ships maneuvering and firing at each other as the rest sailed down to try and land once the Darkspears were occupied but this started to leave them open to any defenses that Bloodstone was willing to throw down at them. And the fighting started to become concurrent with the storming of the beaches.

Part of the second invading force gave one of them plenty of leeway to attack, as the ships holding Zelos and Tristifer quickly neutralized one of the commanding Warships, the other warship fell to opposing fire before the rest were dispersed or neutralized, the last few ships were likewise boarded to ensure there surrender and clear the seas for there reinforcements and to secure the seas for the duration of the battle. Once they had gotten close the artillery fire of the ships was focused on aiding the invaders who were under attack by Bloodstone.

## Storming the Beaches

> *Darron: Men to me! Today we take Bloodstone in the name of our King.*
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> *Aenar: Prepare yourselves, we're going to be fighting all the way to the castle!*
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As the Brightflame fleets came into view for the long and arduous ahead of them they would be met with the full might the Demon King had to bear. The moment they were within range they were hit with the long range artillery of the castles defenses, only able to fire back more as a means of cover rather then thinking they would actually hit anyone. The spikes blocking there path proved troublesome as well, with a few ships getting stuck against them and forcing the men inside to spend some time trying to find other ways to get to land, mostly consisting of taking the smaller boats and beaching themselves closer. But the majority of the army managed to get around this obstacle as well. Here the blood truly started to shed. On command Darron Flameheart and Jaime Ryyker departed from there ships with the men under there command landing on the beach and braving the early assaults as most of the bloodstone defenders attention turned to them, Aenar backed them as they formed shield walls and moved up braving the attack they were walking into. Pushing up as they attempted to break the defenses in different ways, Jaime maintained a shield wall, slowly moving past the spikes and breaking down the defenses as he came along them, Darron moved up ahead faster as his forces split off and moved around them as much as they could, though this also meant he was the first to confront the enemy in direct combat, Lord Darron himself clashing blades with a sortie of defenders with arrow fire around him and his boots still in the sea, the water would start to turn dark with blood and the land itself would follow suit the more he advanced. Some of his men came ahead of him but were trapped and trampled by the first wave of the Calvary strikes, by the time Darron himself got to the front he ordered his men to form up again expecting another attack which would come soon after.

Once Jaime had made enough progress clearing the way for the rest the men he had stay behind started coming to follow and bolster his remaining men and bringing the ladders they needed for there first attempts at the wall. Darron would do the same as he was leading from the front and seeking to cover Jaime's assault team as much as possible. Aenar Blackfyre moved with him and the two started to cut a bloody path through the first wave of enemies hoping to get as close to the castle as possible but the defenders weren't making it easy, forced to fight for every inch only made the battle harder and harder. The tides would soon start to better favor the Brightflames as soon from the rear exactly has they had hoped the Sunfyres had landed from a different angle and Rhaegon lead his men on towards the castle. Ser Aerin saw him eventually and was forced to redirect some of his artillery onto him instead which eased up the bombardment that plagued the main force in the early going. While Rhaegon handled one end the Redwaters/Greendawns and the Starkwood/Reavers moved in to help ease these up for the vanguard of Ian's forces, though neither had anything close to the numbers that Ian did, they made up for it with vigor, Robin was eager to avenge the losses they had suffered at the Darkspears hands and Artos was motivated to see this bloody conflict end, making up for his lack of numbers with his drive. Kevar sent his men out behind the Redwaters while Rovos Reaver stayed close to Artos, looking for his friend Daniel Youngflower who he hoped to get out of harms way, however foolishly that would be in these difficult times.

## King Haywin's Counter-Attack

> *Haywin: Men the time is now. Let us fight for what we have always fought for!*
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> *Daniel: For Gold and Glory! You heard him draw your blades and fight for your king!*
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The Castle was not idle as the battle grew more aggressive instead Haywin was slowly prepping himself for battle, despite Ethan's plea for the king to stay in the castle and make the Brightflames work for direct conflict Haywin refused, and Daniel claimed that his words were not to be ignored and on that day he reflected that Haywin looked "As much of a king as any id ever fought for. He only had to speak and he captured everyones attention, and for a moment we felt hope once again." Haywin took a chunk of his army and most of his Silver cloaks to battle, and followed by the lords Daniel and Arthur Henning try and push the enemy out while inspiring his men. Though his brother Kian gives a rather somber view of his brothers actions that day, claiming he was merely there to make sure no one but him killed Zelos Wilder and Ian Dayne. "If there was anyone he blamed more for his current predicament it was them, Zelos the random lord who refused to die and refused to stop foiling his plans and Ian the man who he was sure was blocking any attempt at the princess he desired and the main opposition to his success in the war. He wanted them dead, and more importantly he wanted it by his own spear." Kian insisted that such a drive made his brother reckless. And the results on that speak for itself.

When the gates opened and the King rushed out with his men, it was said the soldiers already on the battlefield raised a cheer that could be heard in Dorne, and the King ordered some of the injured back in to rest and recover while the fresh troops came into play. Rushing in Haywin first came into contact with Redwater soldiers alongside Ethan that he quickly took down. Daniel ordered his men to hold off the Starkwood troops and the rest to attack Jaime's forces while Arhurs men attacked Darron's forces. The Calvary fell back for the moment as well, though they were relatively unhurt there horses were tired and this gave them time to get new ones and prepare for a second charge that would be just as impactful as the first. The renewed attack turned the battle back in there favor. Jaime was slowly forced backwards, Robin Redwater took a wound by Kian trying to get to Haywin and Darron was unable to get to the castle. Rovos tried fighting his way to Daniel with little luck Artos lacked the men to turn the tides and Rheagon wasnt close enough to make much of a difference. Something had to change or they would lose there momentum.

## The Sword of Mourning Strikes Back

> *Tristifer: Ian's getting ready to strike. Hope your men are ready.*
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> *Zelos: My men and I have been ready for a long time. Come on lets show these men we mean business.*
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Jaime started to push forward again and the battle soon looked to become a stalemate but in the process the way had been cleared for another charge. On Wilfred's advice Ian ordered his Unsullied troops to drop and begin to march, followed by the Knights of the Dawn lead by Ser Rolfe Colebourne. With his march meant Zelos and Tristifer were free to follow and both brought there men down ready to fight as well, with a thousand men fresh and ready for battle they quickly brought more weapons and ladders to the front before joining the field of battle as they each enforced one of the many units already on the field and slowly starting to push the Stepstone army back on there own turf. Though King Haywin was briefly overwhelmed he quickly gave a new command and the gates of Bloodstone opened once more with the Calvary returning to the field as well, and with them came the sellsword Valyria Remnant army, clearly he hoped to quell the rising momentum as fast as possible. Though the Calvary was still as fierce as before they made a mistake, rushing the Unsullied who quickly formed a shield wall that held despite the force they were struck with, as they circled back they were struck by Brightflame archers before they could try again and they were just as unsuccessful especially when they were backed by more and more soldiers to contend and push back. This allowed Jaime the moment he needed to get to the castle walls alongside Robin Redwater and Rhaegon Sunfyre this forced the Stepstone forces on the outside to choose what to do, but most of them chose to try and take out the attackers still moving towards the castle leaving the defenders of Bloodstone to handle them.

The first major casualty of the battle was a longtime companion Rickon Snow of Haywin's guard, a member of the Broken skulls of many years he was arguably the most loyal of Haywin's personal guard besides possibly his brother and he proved that loyalty in battle rushing through the enemy he personally slew many of the Unsullied in his path before he came into contact with Zelos Wilder, who he quickly attempted to take down as well. Though the two crossed blades evenly for a moment Rickon made a costly mistake in the early going that allowed Zelos to wound his hip, and that injury cost him the fight as Zelos exploited it for the rest of the battle until the soldier was killed with a slash to his throat. Around this time Aenar Blackfyre took a few arrows to the side but kept fighting on before battling with one of the Remants enforcers and Darron Flameheart soon met and clashed with Lord Ethan Lash as Ethan sought to keep him from advancing past there line. Ian Dayne cut through the remnants until he met there leader who likewise fought to stop him from getting further and too his credit he held his own well against the Sword of Mourning and held him off for the moment. Ser Garahel Warden attempted to push through with his own forces when his horse was taken out from under him by Trisitfer's Plowshare axe. This brought him to the ground where he was knocked out soon after presumably by the mob of men around him, and though he survived he was removed from the battle. Arthur Henning and his son Oberyn attempted to take the fight to Artos Starkwood but he was backed up by the surprise arrival of Edric Henning, Arthur's other son who opposed there decision to fight for the traitor and the two sides engaged in combat as well.

As the tide of battle seemed to be shifting once again, Bloodstone remained as difficult to beat as ever, Aerin and the defenders were still holding it firmly despite the efforts to get ladders up or bash down the gate, A sortie of Whent troops came out to try and push them away but was quickly repelled by the Sunfyre troops, as was an attempt by the Lightingfyre's though both attempts hampered there efforts to get up the walls. Finally Rovos found Daniel and hoped to make him stand down, but Daniel refused and after a short discussion the two refused to fight each other with Daniel going on to continue fighting for Haywin while Rovos left to go help take the castle, trying to scale the walls where he could. The fighting was gradually seeing the bodies pile up as men started to stumble over enemies and comrades alike, the fighting got more desperate as both sides knew they couldnt afford to keep losing men. The Brightflames especially feared an extended conflict would render them lacking the men to take the keep even if they could get past the walls and this meant they had to end the conflict soon but they seemed to be winning the open battle as more of the Darkspear troops were dropping then Brightflame ones.

## The Last Stand of the Demon

> *Haywin: You just couldnt stop could you? You couldnt let matters go. Now I must fix what Aegon failed to do and I will make sure to end you and the Brightflame expansion once and for all.*
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> *Zelos: After all ive been through I wont allow myself to be stopped here. Im ending this now Haywin and if you wont yield then this only ends one way.*
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As the castle started to find more opposition as men started to ascended the walls Haywin saw a conflict slowly turn against him., Edric Henning and Artos proved superior to Arthur and Oberyn as Edric tackled his father down and drove his blade into his head killing his own father, Oberyn was barely able to comprehend the loss before he was disarmed by Artos and then quickly for the sake of his sister he yielded to the man, Edric quickly tried to reign in his fathers men hoping they would listen to him and prevent more loss of life, with some success but many either refused to listen or couldnt hear him over the growing cries of battle. On the other end Ethan defeated Darron taking him off his feet and stealing his blade before knocking the exhausted Flameheart out and Aenar was likewise downed in another fight though he was dragged out of harms way. The Calvary was trapped between the Unsullied and the Knights of Dawn as Tristifer likewise was cutting through many of his own men, the castle was struggling to hold and his men were feeling tired from the determined fighters in front of them. Haywin's observation of the battle soon saw him lock eyes with Zelos Wilder, one of the two men whos death he sought above all, and the feeling was mutual as the two men made there way towards each other, staring each other down in a battlefield of blood, a short but tense conversation followed before the two men clashed for the first and final time. Haywin didnt have the reputation as a warrior that Lord Wilder had but he proved he was no slouch in combat keeping Zelos on his toes with the long range of his spear while Zelos tried to use his own speed to block and parry to try and close the distance, neither man was able to land a decisive hit and Haywins Silvercloaks couldnt get close.

Kian's attempts were stopped by Aurions troops, Ethan would do the same but was stopped by Jaime who engaged him in another duel. Mander attempted to get close and even killed a Brightflame commander on the way to the battle but was just as unlucky at making the trek as the others, taking a wound to the leg by Kevar followed by a crossbow to the chest by a Wilder soldier, by the time he got close he was stopped by Aurion Valeries himself who quickly took down the weakened Silvercloak though spared his life before he turned his attention to the fellow Darkspear soldiers who likewise tried to aid there king. Even Daniel Youngflower the hand was preoccupied with the enemy unable to close the gap to Zelos and Haywins fight which soon got bloodier as the men eventually nicked the other, before Haywin downed Zelos and tried to bash his head with his own helmet to no avail. Aegor of the Remnants was pushed back by Ian, not willing to engage the man any longer as he knew himself to be the inferior fighter and this allowed Ian to make his way towards the fight itself though he didnt come in time to help in anyway. Still it did not matter, Zelos Wilder overcame Haywin's offense and after the King was staggered Zelos wounded his leg before giving him a far more fatal wound to the chest with Symphony Red bringing the king to the ground as his crown smashed into the ground below.

King Haywin's fall was noticed by most of the ground troops and the reaction was a demoralizing one. The man they had spent so much time defending, had followed through impossible situation after impossible situation had been beaten and the wind had been taken out of there sails. Kian was brought down, as was Ethan in his fight with Jaime, Daniel moved to his father figures fallen body, and was relieved to find him still breathing but he knew from a glance that the wound he suffered was too deep to be salvaged, after some parting words Haywin pleaded for Ian to come to him and the Sword of Mourning did but what became of that conversation would be clear soon enough. Now would be a proper time to establish how the rest of the battle looked, by this time the Henning soldiers were either dead or surrendering on Edric's orders, the Calvary was likewise routed. The Valryia Remnants fought for a time but they also started to flee the battlefield altogether, with Haywins defeat they knew no payment would be coming there way. Most men were either dropping there weapons or falling back to the castle if they could, especially one man simply known as Robert at the time, a Darkspear soldier who had been fighting since the beginning, reports differ on how many men he killed that day, some say he took out an impressive 10, others say around 30, the most common one is the most likely in saying he killed 50 on the front lines. What isn't under dispute is that he did so without taking a single scratch in battle, he undoubtedly fought many men this day but none could hit him no matter how hard he tried, he was surrounded by arrow fire and none grazed him he avoided maces and axes and spears alike, it made no difference, of the darkspear forces he was the only one never touched, and when the call to retreat came he simply drew his blade and rushed the enemy telling his comrades to flee. He held them off for several minutes but by then it was clear fatigue was getting to him and shortly after the last of his allies was gone, the soldier called Robert collapsed, his act of bravery impressed the men he was trying to kill and one of the soldiers brought him back to the ships to be cared for.

## Bloodstone Crumbles

> *Robin: We take this castle, we end this war for good, fight on for your people men, so they might know peace!*
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> *Willfred:* *If there still fighting its because they have an alternative, Haywins son must be secured as well to make sure the fighting ends for good.*
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Will Littleknight who had stayed back for the moment made his presence known with Haywin's defeat sending in the last reserve of there men to go for the castle now that the fighting around it had started to calm down striking while the moment was clear the castle was onset by more and more men and were almost surrounded. While the men outside lost heart, the fighting was too intense for most of the men on the walls to notice the King's fall, Ser Aerin was loosing arrows into as many of the enemy as he could backed by Maloris and Whent soldiers while Lord Martin was trying to bring the ladders down. Rovos Reaver was able to make it up the walls as well and started to tear through the enemy but he was stopped by an arrow from Aerin injuring the Reaver Lord and forcing him to fall back before he could do more damage, thankfully the rest made there headway Robin, Jaime, and Artos followed and made it across the wall where more fighting followed, Martin saw the fight was lost first and fell back to the keep hoping to get inside before it fell as well, Aerin tried to fight his way through but was intercepted by Artos, though he killed a few more of his men he lost the rest of the small company he had left and was surrounded by Artos and 4 other Billman, realizing the unlikelihood of escaping such odds and making it to the keep Ser Aerin dropped his weapon and surrendered. This meant of the Silvercloaks only Larys Whent remained and no sight of him had been seen yet. The walls fell and the gate was open allowing the rest to come pouring in but the keep stayed strong and the Brightflame soldiers quickly started there work on the next step of there attack the army mostly being lead by Will and Robin by this point.

Still on the bloody stones outside the castle Haywin was surrounded by friends and foe alike as Ian Dayne came to him at his request, where Ian made a demand that showed another layer of his reasoning for being here....the location of Tywin Lannister. Haywin in response was said to demand the safety of his son and daughter Darron and Elia Darkspear, to which Ian agreed with no hesitation, they weren't anyone he wanted to harm anyway. With the knowledge that Ian would keep his word Haywin divulged Tywin's plans though the Lion had betrayed him as well they had discussed plans for the future once the war was over and Haywin was adamant that Tywin was seeing his plans through now, Tywin had made for Meereen where he hoped to take the city from Queen Daenerys Targaryean and kill her to appease the slavers where he hoped to start a slow rebuilding of his house and dynasty outside the sphere of the Brightflames who had humilated him. With this knowledge Ian thanked his dying enemy before the less caring Zelos moved in and granted the dying man a merciful death, but not before they likewise exchanged final words. As Symphony Red found its way to the mans heart the life and dynasty of Haywin Darkspear ended and though he died on a battlefield, his face was one of content. Though the fight had left Daniel and Ethan who were there to bear witness to the man's fall, Zelos, Jaime, and Ian stood up and returned to the battle that had left them behind looking to finally end the conflict for good. The battle wasnt over just yet and they still had a promise to keep.

## End of the Darkspears

> *Larys: If this truly is the end for the Darkspears I will find solace in my cell with your death Lord Robin!*
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> *Rheagon: You'll find no comfort here. Just a fools end!*
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Of Haywin's generals only Lord Martin, Lord Jaq, and Ser Larys remained, and the two lords tried to set up a final defense in the castle as the walls of the keep were slowly battered down. Ser Larys was assigned to watch the door and Lord Maloris ordered him to take the King's kin and flee to Red Skull for Lord Youngflowers castle as it was one of the strongest besides Bloodstone, unaware that Haywin was dead and Lord Daniel had already surrendered, but regardless Larys didnt listen when he heard that the Redwaters were here his pride and spite took hold of him and he instead left his post to bide his time to find and kill there lord. When the Brightflames burst through they were met by an opposition on its last legs, still capable but nothing compared to the resistance they had already met. Lord Martin fought valiantly but was pushed back until Ian eventually bested him himself, and Lord Maloris held out even longer but as his men were starting to fall from the onset of knights and Lords pounding away at him he eventually found himself disarmed by the combined efforts of Ser Kevar and Lord Robin. Tristifer and Zelos made there way towards Haywins chambers while Jaime, Kevar and Will moved around the castle to make sure that no one could escape, though they had no desire to kill everyone they still didnt want to risk any future conflicts if they could avoid it. Ian and Robin made there way to the throne room looking for Haywin's kin unaware that Darron was too injured to lead, instead Robin was attacked on his way there by Ser Larys, with what remained of the soldiers till willing to fight, hoping to spill Redwater blood in the name of the tired feud between there families Larys nearly killed the Lord with his ferocity and Robin's exhaustion not even Ian's timely arrival was enough to secure Robin's safety, what did was Lord Rheagon's who quickly cut down 5 men and then wounded Larys himself, Larys had enough strength to fall back and flee into a room leading to the princes chambers and after the trio subdued the last of the men he left behind they followed him, only to find the last of the Silver cloaks leaning against a wall having bled out before he could make it to them. Though to there shock the room of the Prince and Princess was empty, the two had managed to flee despite there best efforts. Though the castle had finally fallen there was an air of uncertainty to the situation ahead of them but they were confident the worst was behind them.

## Aftermath

> *Rolfe: Lord Ian, I do not doubt the wisdom of this idea, Tywin must be stopped...but so soon? Surely The Queen in the East can hold off Tywin for a time while we recuperate.*
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> *Ian: Were not marching our armies through Essos, were just gonna help her with a small group, and the longer we let Tywin linger the stronger he is likely to get. Its tough but we can do this, and I know exactly who I want for this task.*
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Bloodstone was never more appropriate a name then this day, the land was soaked with the blood of both sides and the castle walls were stained as well, with lumps of bodies to show the devastation Haywin's war brought. Darron recalled reliving Storming the beaches in his head "for weeks on end, each time was worse then the last as the memories became more clear, the bloodshed was unending...and some of the men I cut down looked half my age." Jaime was little better battered and tired, the usual jovial knight was unable to raise the spirits of his friends, instead heling the injured Aenar recover as much as he could. Artos Starkwood was especially shaken by the battle especially when he called his men to him and was given the depressing sight that only 5 of them of the 231 he brought with him were alive, and none of them left without wounds. "For the first time I felt truly helpless, This wasnt a victory to celebrate, this was survival and most of us weren't lucky." Though his mood brightened with the arrival of his friends Shamus Blackwolf and Wolf greendawn who had come a few days after the battle. Rheagon and Robin despite the losses they suffered were far more optimistic noting that they had prevented an untold amount of death by stopping Haywin before he could come up with another scheme, and while none could deny that it was hard to find such comfort so close to the deaths the battle had caused. Worse still Zelos and Tristifer had found in Haywin's letters that the Myrish under Nyessos were coming with another fleet big enough to cause them trouble, though they had also found his journal which confessed to the way he, and not the Brightflames had raided the Free Cities and framed others and even told them where he kept the tools to help with his deception assuring that they had a way to get Haywin's allies to see they had been duped.

Zelos however argued that Nyessos wouldnt care, his experience with the Myrish told him the man would attack out of wounded pride for his failure at King's Landing, and Ethan and Daniel from there brief time working with the man as well agreed with him claiming that if he was leading that fleet, another fight was inevitable. No one was ready for another fight mentally but Ethan broached the idea of fighting the battle for them, both as a test of there loyalty and as a means of deceiving the enemy as they wouldnt suspect that they were back with the Brightflames. When he got the approval he needed Ethan and Daniel left with there men looking to gather the necessary ships for there plan. The last loose end was the matter of Tywin Lannister, who Ian was determined to chase after and put an end to before he ever set foot back on Westeros. Despite everyone in attendance having there fill of bloodshed and more no one opposed him, as they all understood the threat Tywin was, though Ian picked his allies carefully. With him he chose Ser Jaime Rykker, Ser Aenar Blackfyre, His Knights of Dawn commander Rolfe Colebourne, longtime friend Tristifer Terrace, Vassal Lord Aurion Valeries, League allies Wolf Greedawn, Shamus Blackfwolf and Artos Starkwood, Darron Flameheart, Will Littleknight, and Zelos Wilder to join him in his mission to Essos.