Clearing the Summer Sea

Combatants| House Darkspear* House Youngflower
* House Maloris
* House Whent
* House Warden
* House Lightingfyre

Commanders| * Prince Darron Darkspear
* Lord Daniel Youngflower
* Ser Arthur Whent
* Lord Martin Lightingfyre

Casualties| 3 Ships sunk* Minimal casualties otherwise

## Prelude

> *Darron: Father this is my chance, let me prove myself not just to you but the people I may one day rule.*
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> *Haywin: Pirates are no big deal..still it would be a challenge for you, one that can help you grow.*
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Haywin had slowly started to improve his reign and grow, around the months of his reign growing Haywin had started to maintain a strong relation with all the neighboring factions and started to consolidate power. A great boon had started with the sudden arrival of many people in his life his half brother Kian and bastard children, Darron and Elia, Haywin was well aware he had sired bastards but unlike most of them these two could prove there connections to him and when there mother passed Haywin took them in and legitimized them as his own, thus Haywin had secured a lineage for his potential dynasty and was setting about trying to gain some legitimacy by planning some marriages for himself and his people before he suddenly caught news of Pirates operating near his turf having apparently harassed the coast of Dorne, Haywins old home. Insulted by the pirates daring to act so close in his territory despite making it clear the area was off limits and likewise protective of Dorne still Haywin made there destruction his mission as a reminder that the Kingdom would not be ignored.

Darron, now Prince Darron Darkspear felt this was his chance to prove himself and sought to take down the last of the pirates, Haywin was hesitant but eventually persuaded to let him act, so long as Darron was willing to listen to Daniel who was more experienced. Darron accepted eager to prove himself but quickly tried to assert control of the situation when he and Daniel had set off with a small fleet to meet the pirates. Daniel was aware of the boy's desire to prove himself and though it partially annoyed him he was very tolerant but firm with Darron wanting to let the young Prince prove himself but making sure he didnt get himself killed in the process.

## Battle

> *Daniel: Were outnumbered, take this carefully as we need to be smarter then the enemy*
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> Darron: *Im aware of that, but we want to be done with this soon enough so we cant just let them decide the pace either.*
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Despite the occasional butting heads of the two men a plan was quickly decided on as the ship sallied out to meet the pirates, despite being outnumbered they were confident in there stronger control of ships. Though they also wanted to make sure that they cut the enemy off, the pirates confident in there numbers game started to try and rush them but the faster ships maneuvered past them and tried to hit there crew and fighters with arrows and other artillery, moving past them to try and escape. While some of the heavier ships attempted to smash into the side of the pirates to try and board them. on this end one of the Darkspear ships was list when it was rammed from both sides and it ended up piercing the ship enough it started to sink. Another fallen ship came when the biggest of the Pirate ships clashed with a Stepstone ship and both ended up starting to sink, though Darron's drive through the middle started to split off the numbers, opening up the rest for the attack of Daniel as he set his forces upon one of the split branches and quickly put down the rest of them by boarding and forcing a surrender.

The rest were picked off by Martin Lightningfyre, and the Wardens who chased and wore down the rest of the ships as they either boarded or bombarded the fleets to keep them from getting the chance to fully regroup, quickly tearing each apart one by one. The final ships were taken down by the Whents. Arthur Whent had surrounded it with his own and hit it from both sides until the pirates tried to surrender, Arthur was told under no circumstances were they to allow these pirates to survive and thus Arthur didnt hesitate to follow up the finish and trying to put a final end to the last of them.

## Aftermath

> *Haywin: So tell me..How did my son perform under pressure?*
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> *Daniel: Admirably Your Grace. There were some issues but he remained collected throughout the battle and our losses would have been worse without him. He's a fine commander.*
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A minor feast was held at Bloodstone for the victory where Daniel Youngflower made no secret of how well Darron had performed, the Young Prince was said to be proud of his victory and boasting the whole day to anyone who would hear him. And was even treated to his father the King's own vocal approval as he toasted to his sons's bravery. The mood and morale of the Kingdom was high overall and many recalled that the laughter in the halls of Bloodstone lasted for hours before dying down with the sun as many grew tired. Nevertheless it was a good day for the Darkspears as Darron had seemingly proven himself a worthy leader much like his father was and many had hoped would prove to make him a worthy prince when his time eventually came.

After this Haywin started to take teaching Darron fairly seriously, bringing him to his meetings and occasionally sending him to handle debates in villages so Darron would better understand administrative efforts. Kian had apparently been noted as having said Haywin emphasized he learn to rule more then he know how to fight. "many kings know how to fight, not all know how to act when they put there blade down. if I have my way you wont be one of them." Haywin and Daniel's friendship also grew stronger through this as it became clear to all that Haywin had sent Daniel there t watch Darron because he trusted his insight on evaluating the boy. There was little doubt after this point what house had the most influence in Darkspears court and the growing hierarchy continued to be apparent well into the following year.