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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 18, 2009 7:22:28 GMT -5
298: King Robert Baratheon is slain by a boar. Lord Eddard Stark is tried and condemned for the murder. In response, Lord Robb Stark sends a host to the Riverlands to battle the twin armies of Tywin and Jaime Lannister. With a surprise alliance with house Frey and Mallister, Lord Robb wins a surprising victory at Riverrun.
His main host is smashed at the Green Fork by Tywin Lannister. Robb considers his options and hears the news of Lord Renly Baratheon proclaiming himself King of Westeros, backed by the Stormlands and the Reach. He plans initially to join his brother Stannis, but his bannerlords proclaim him king in the north. The battle in the Riverlands and west rages on for near a year, until King Stannis Baratheon slays his brother Renly with some dark magic and leads the Stormlands to King's Landing, in the name of R'hlorr, the Lord of Light.
Lord Tywin makes a marriage alliance with Lord Mace Tyrell and prepares to smash his host at King's Landing, when suddenly Lord Eddard Stark, thought dead, saved from the Black Cells by someone unknown, leads a Vale host along with Bronze Yohn Royce to Harrenhal, cutting off Tywin from the battle. Outmaneuvered, Lord Mace's army is driven off from their siege of the capital to the west, where they link up with Tywin's forces. Stannis is crowned king in the Landing, but his harsh decree of death to all who had betrayed his claim causes even Eddard to declare him no true king, and the north refuses to bend. Eddard for his "betrayal" is slain by the magic meant for Robb Stark. However, the North, even coupled with the Vale, cannot defeat both Stannis and the Tyrell/Lannister alliance, and when Lord Tywin plans the final push to destroy them, or at least force a final battle at Riverrun for the third time, he is stymied when the Iron Islands, finally worked into action by the north's gifting of Flint's Finger and promise of plunder, proceeds to attack Fair Isle and the Shield Islands, whilst Dorne, Prince Doran dying of poor health, is taken over by Arianne Martell, who gives her uncle Prince Oberyn the freedom to wage war he desires.
The Tyrells and Lannisters fall back to defend their borders, and after several inconclusive fights, the kingdoms settle into an uneasy peace. Lord Peyton Redwyne reconquers the Shields, but is driven off Fair Isle and slain in a massive battle, where he is ambushed by Victarian Greyjoy, the Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet. The Arbor fleet is bolstered by elements of the former royalist navy, however, and is spared further invasion.
310: The Treaty of Westeros is signed finally, upon Stannis Baratheons death. His heir, Harris, a boy born to Selyse in her thirty eighth year, is but four, and so the Hand, Davos Seaworth, signs for him. The Treaty divides the kingdom into five.
324: The First War of Succession emerges. A renewed Lannister invasion of the North is launched, but this time it is stopped by Lord Rickon Stark of Winterfell, who ambushes and slaughters thousands on the banks of the Red Fork. King Robb holds Riverrun whilst the war winds down.
329: Lord Rickon smashes an Ironborn invasion of the Neck, striking down King Theon Greyjoy at the Battle of Barrowton.
334: Dorne and the Stormlands, noting the weakness of the Reach lord Tyrell, launch a coordinated invasion that narly succeeds in conquering the kingdom before Lord Dickon Tarly slays Harris Baratheon at Highgarden. The invasion is repulsed, but the castle of Tumbleton is taken and held by the Baratheons.
341-43: Houses Tyrell and Lannister ally with the Baratheon king Garry in an attempt to take the Northern capital of Eddard's Rest, upon news that both King Robb and Lord Rickon, the God of War, are both ill. Robb is besieged for six months, and the Lord Royce is slain trying to relieve the siege. All is lost until King Greyjoy, sensing weakness and plunder, invades Lannisport in an event known to the survivors as the Culling. Lord Jonarth Lannister is taken captive, and the invasion is then smashed by the renewed might of Lord Rickon Stark. The event is known as the second war of succession, though no succession was ever called into play. Stupid bards.
367: A year long war between Dorne and the Stormlands is raged over King Garry Baratheon's supposed murder of his wife, Princess Faylynn Martell. Nightsong falls to the Dornish, but the threatened interference of House Tyrell dissuades them from pursuing their advantage.
378: Present day. The first kingdom wide tourney is planned in almost fifty years, at a specially neutral ground agreed upon by all five kingdoms, a place called Three Kingdoms. It is on the crossing of the Gold Road with the Blackwater Rush. It's position amongst the Goldlands, Kinglands, and North is designed to ensure that all participants keep their faith and no betrayal is committed. The birth of King Derek Baratheon's heir Robert is to be celebrated. But, as has been shown through twelve thousand years of history, peace does not come to Westeros easily, and old hatreds are still abundant.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Feb 25, 2015 23:24:25 GMT -5
Late 380-381: Following the death of the notorious outlaw Cassadar at the hands of a disorganized yet powerful force of adventurers, ostensibly led by Prince Benjen Stark, the mysterious destruction of Eddard's Rest by a wave of massive force has led to chaos in Westeros. In the Goldlands, Lord Stafford Lannister, never having forgotten the death of his favored daughter Meghan, unleashed his armies into the Riverlands, led by the grim and silent giant Hollis Clegane.
In the Vale, Lord Richard Grafton seized power in the vacuum created by the thinning of loyal Vale lords' ranks in the great battles against the Mountains of the Moon. Assisted by a fleet of great black-hulled vessels carrying warriors speaking the tongues of a dozen nations, he has carved out a kingdom stretching from Gulltown to the Bloody Gate, and his seemingly inexorable advance has been stemmed only barely by the efforts of Lord Fillmore Corbray.
The North has its own problems. Lord Rickon Stark died in his sleep, and Ironborn raiders, smelling blood in the wind, have increasingly picked at the western shores of the vast realm, while Kingsland fleets, believed to be paid for by Lords Grafton and Lannisters' inexhaustible wealth, harry White Harbor and threaten to land an army powerful enough to sack the city.
Father south, the monarchs face their own difficulties. King Derek Baratheon's expensive war against the Faith Militant, begun with the massive bloodshed at Blackhaven, has metastasized into an insurgency throughout the Stormlands. Lord Entel the Defiant's pirate fleet, bolstered by early successes against the weaker Stepstone lords, sacked Estermont and nearly took Tarth before a massive counterattack led by Prince Aaron drove them back. The Dornish border remains a hotbed of intrigue, and a planned counterattack to reclaim Nightsong had to be abandoned in the aftermath of Ser Raymund Dondarrion's death at the hands of Ghaston the Grey, former leader of the Faith Militant.
The Reach alone seems unaffected by the issues plaguing the realm, but the summer has not been kind to the usually fertile pastures of the land, and starving smallfolk raise in revolts every week against their respective lords. Attempts to quash the rebellions have only galvanized the more desperate into a simmering insurgency, though the massive amount of armored knights Lord Tyrell can call upon have for the moment kept the peace.
In the West, a year of war has left the border castles in shambles, and the weary nobles seek an honorable end to hostilities. The death of King Kyle Lannister at the onset of fighting put his untested heir on the throne, and the new king lacks the strength of will to bend his powerful Lords Paramount to his will for the moment. The generals of the West are brave but largely inept at the art of full scale warfare, and the outnumbered northerners have been ably led, causing the lions to lose many men for every castle taken.
Finally, in Dorne, Princess Nalya's secure reign is increasingly disturbed by the dark lord of Starfall, Bryce Dayne. Violent encounters with the Reachmen across his borders has left thousands dead, and any messenger sent from Sunspear to the errant lord fails to return. It is said the lords of Dorne are massing an army to finally confront the impious lord, but the rumors surrounding Lord Bryce are as terrifying as they are difficult to believe.
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Post by The Forgotten God on May 13, 2015 14:16:49 GMT -5
The Kingdom of Dorne: Territorial Gains: None Territorial Losses: Ghaston Grey, Nightsong Current Prince: Arthur Martell Current Princess: Meera (Stark) Martell Advisers: Nina Martell, Lady of Yronwood, Isabel Uller, Lady of Hellholt, Nymos Qorgyle, Lord of Sandstone, Harryld the Amnesiac Swordsman Current Strength (estimate): 15,000 max, does not include the Vulture’s remaining men sworn to Ellaria Dayne
Dorne suffered more than any kingdom in the war, Bryce’s rebellion smashing and slaughtering thousands across the region. Hunting down the brigands infesting the isolated trade routes is of paramount priority.
The Dornish had started off promising enough, a few border squabbles, nothing more. The battle of Three Hills had hurt, but overall the war seemed to pass them by, until the day Bryce Dayne struck, kidnapping the Princess and her husband and their two daughters, killing the rulers, nearly killing Arthur Martell as well.
The Princess Meera was captured and paraded about the region as Bryce conquered castle after castle, Hellholt and Sandstone the final two holdouts. Hellholt fell when Frances Dayne slaughtered two of its populace’s towns and took the Lady Isabel hostage. Sandstone alone remained unconquered, fighting off two sieges and its isolation causing them to be spared Bryce’s personal visit.
For a year or close enough Dorne bled, its nobility hostages or accomplices to the regime. Imports and exports fell by over half, and even after the lord of Starfall’s defeat the region is stricken with poverty. After the burning of King’s Landing, an alliance formed of all of mainland Westeros assembled and killed the rebel king at Skyreach in June of 382. The Lady Ellaria Dayne is busy trying to rebuild Starfall in the face of a continuing Ironborn stranglehold of the seas. After two and a half years, Lord Kalvin Stark returned the sword Dawn to its rightful place.
The Kingsland: Territorial Gains: Nightsong Losses: Dragonstone, Tarth, Estermont, the Stepstones Current King: Aaron Baratheon Current Queen: Vacant Advisers: Richard Footly, Hand to the King, Princess Naomi, currently ruling King’s Landing, Karla Storm, Warden of the Marches Current Strength: 25,000 max, with many needed to rebuild King’s Landing and the shattered castles of the Stormlands
The Kingsland suffered severe trauma. Emperor Vhagus took Dragonstone, forcing King Derek to surrender, then burning him, his wife, and their children alive with Drogon the black dragon. He absconded with the Princess Naomi, later returned in a mysterious deal with the North. Following a long-running religious war in the Stormlands between the Faith and the followers of Rh’lorr, Aaron Baratheon and Lord Baxter Morrigen were comprehensively defeated by the forces of Bryce Dayne, aided by treachery and Volantene mercenaries.
Forced to retreat to King’s Landing, the remaining men joined Prince Benjen Stark in fighting the Reach king Rycherd Tyrell. The next few months were spent licking their wounds at Duskendale, waiting for a counteroffensive. Bryce Dayne defied logic, though, and simply destroyed the old capital with wildfire. Pentos took advantage of the carnage to occupy all of the kingdom’s former island holdings in the Narrow Sea north of the Stepstones, which were effortlessly gobbled up by the Ironborn.
After a long and brutal campaign, including a third battle on the grounds of Blackhaven in two years, the Kingsland formed a fair part of the alliance which won the battle of Skyreach. Currently the new king and his sister seek to restore King’s Landing to some semblance of a city, as well as trying to find a way to reunite the disparate and disorganized stormlords into something approaching a proper kingdom.
The Reach: Territorial Gains: None Losses: The Arbor, the Shields, Goldengrove, Old Oak Current Ruler: Lady Arania Hightower Advisers: Essentially none Troops: 21,000
Lord Rycherd Tyrell claimed the throne of the Goldlands, and wed the king’s elder sister Jessica, in November of 381. The High Septon crowned him Champion of the Faith and he sent fifty thousand men to King’s Landing, where after a couple of skirmishes he met the northern host under Benjen Stark at the very gates to the city. Over fifteen thousand men died, and Rycherd, his army vanquished, retreated to first Summerhall, and then Oldtown, ambushing a Dornish force to relieve a siege, and his tired host then marched north to relieve the Western siege of Highgarden.
Despite slaying Lord Jaymes Lannister, the Reachmen fell, their armies utterly broken by Ser Tomas Serrett’s force, and the Tyrell name was attainted and the king’s own sister beheaded. The young Lord Arthur, a lad of fourteen, was allowed to keep Brightwater Keep, although both his mother and sister were sent north, to wed the old lord Marbrand and Bolton, respectively.
Highgarden is as yet unclaimed, and King Brynden, desperately short on competent and loyal bannerlords, struck a deal with Lord Kalvin Stark to allow his wife the Lady Arania to take over rulership of the powerful and essential region. While the reach lords grumbled at the thought of a woman ruling them in her own name, the former lady derisively called the Trapspringer has shown considerable ruthlessness in her new role, taking daughters and women from every house in the Reach and opening up the Citadel’s doors to them. Those few in Oldtown who have spoken against her rule have been found dead in the sea, if they are found at all. Whispers claim that she is not so distant from her former husband as laws and oaths would indicate. For certain, the bodyguards she has at the Hightower do not look like normal knights.
At the moment, an incipient rebellion against her rule is assailing the lady from both the conservative factions of the Citadel, as well as the more fanatical of the Faithful who have not yet decided that the Militant is dead and gone.
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Post by The Forgotten God on May 14, 2015 14:05:52 GMT -5
The Goldlands/West:
Monarch: King Brynden Lannister Queen: Delila Lannister (nee Stark) Mistress of Lannisport: Joanna Lannister Master of Lannisport: Lord Tomas Lannister (Serrett), Hand to the King Chief Advisers: Russ Hill, Master of Whispers, Orton Merryweather, Master of Finance, Maximum Military power: 27,000
Following the destruction of Lord Lefford’s host at Acorn Hall, an uneasy peace was signed between the West and North, sealed with a double marriage. The first, between Joanna Lannister and Ben Stark, did not go according to plan, but the second has been reasonably successful. Following a giant celebration at Riverrun, Lord Rycherd’s rebellion consumed the West’s attention. Even the bombardment of Lannisport, and a subsequent ground assault two months later, did nothing to take attention away from the Reach War.
King Brynden, Lord Jaymes Lannister, and Ser Tomas Serrett marched on Highgarden with the aid of Lord Rowan. A successful land battle led to a siege, where an Ironborn raid on their supply lines outside Old Oak forced them to divert troops to take that castle as well. Following Lord Rycherd’s crushing defeat at King’s Landing, he regrouped at Oldtown and assaulted north. In a huge battle Lord Rycherd slew Lord Jaymes, before dying himself. Highgarden was taken and Brynden’s judgment was brutal.
Afterwards, Joanna Lannister was installed as head of the West, and married her stepbrother Tomas to secure her claim. Like her neighbor in Oldtown, the lady lord has been using men of mysterious origin and massively violent methods to keep any complainants quiet. Rebuilding the port of the West is her primary concern, as well as fortifying it for the almost inevitable occasion of the return of the Ironborn.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 15, 2015 0:40:44 GMT -5
The North (Riverlands/Eddard’s Rest)
Monarch: King Terrence Stark Queen: Janelle Stark (Piper) Lord of Riverrun, Warden of the Trident: Old Lord Godric Tully Lady of Riverrun: Vacant Heir to Riverrun: Ser Mychel Tully Chief Advisers: Lord Quentyn Royce, Hand to the King (New), Lord Durand Coldwater, Master of War, Ryan Swiftriver, Captain of the Guard, Dacey Frey, Mistress of Spies Maximum military power: 14,000
The Riverlands, long the traditional battleground of Westeros, suffered yet morelosses in this latest war against the lions, and then the Tyrells, and then the Daynes. Thousands died in raids and battles, but ably led by Everett Blackwood and Benjen Stark, the Tully knights fought well and honorably and gave no reason for shame.
After the battle of King’s Landing, the North’s forces were forced to retreat by the arrival of Bryce Dayne’s host, and watched helplessly as the city was burned. At the Third Battle of Blackhaven, they were beaten by the Dornish lord, but not broken, and after a siege of the Vulture’s Roost proceeded to battle the Dornish mercenaries at Skyreach in a battle of the age.
Following the victory, the diminished region has been left to lick its wounds, its borders secure on all sides save the port of Seagard, always vulnerable to raids from the Ironborn, but its new Lord Dudley Mudd is expected to defend the coastlines ably and well. Achieving several more harvests in the fertile breadbasket of the North is its primary focus while Lord Tully also seeks a bride for his grandson, the brave and clever knight Mychel.
The North (Winterfell)
Lord of Winterfell: Kalvin Stark Lady of Winterfell: Vacant Chief Advisers: Lord Devan Manderly, Admiral of the Winds of Winter, Karyl Crowl, Master of the Neck, Wen Do, King of the Giants Maximum Military Strength: 27,000 (counts wildlings and giants), 19,000 regulars
The North spent much of the early days of the war fighting Ironborn raids to its west and Pentosi/mercenary fleets to their east. After the Riverlands began losing ground, Lord Kalvin assembled the most powerful force the North had ever seen to move to destroy the power of House Lannister. On his way, though, a truce was declared, and his forces went into winter awaiting the chance to crush either Lord Grafton, or the suddenly resurgent powers of House Dayne.
Ultimately, it was neither of those opponents whom the wrath of the northman first fell on. King Rycherd Tyrell and his Faith Militant host marched to destroy the Baratheons for good and all. Prince Benjen and Lord Kalvin’s men met them outside the city in a calamitous battle, where the grim lord slew all before him. Tens of thousands died, and the remainder fled before the arrival of Lord Bryce’s host.
After months more of raids and stalemate, the northmen played a crucial role in both the battles against Bryce Dayne, helping kill him and ending his hold over southern Westeros. As they were away, though, an Ironborn fleet sacked Karhold, slaying many. The damage to the keep was serious, but the rage it inspired in the lord of the wolves was amplified, coming as it did when the rest of the continent was destroying the rogue sorcerer.
The arrival of the wildlings, and reclaiming the Neck from the Ironborn, has also changed the calculus of the region. The giants and their ilk have given the north a fearsome new weapon to deploy, and led by the mad cannibal Karyl Crowl, no sane man wishes to face them in battle. With low gold requirements and a fierce reputation, the western coasts of the North have never been safer.
In the wake of the war and the subsequent return of some form of peace, Kalvin Stark has been slowly building up a fleet, using the remnants of his old White Harbor force and the former Dragonstone fleet to create some sort of armada capable of paying his most hated enemies back in their own coin. As keels are laid and the great silver port of the north expands, however, questions have risen how exactly the normally cash-poor lands of the region have been supporting armies and navies of such expense.
The North (Vale)
Lord of the Vale, Master of the Eyrie: Walter Arryn Lady of the Vale: Vacant Maximum military power: 13,000
No region save the Reach was damaged as badly as the Vale over the last few years. From clansmen revolts to a full our rebellion by Lord Grafton, the Vale has suffered tens of thousands of dead, including almost all its original lords.
Assisted by Nicholas Snow and Robyn Stark, the new lord Walter climbed the mountain the Eyrie was located on, storming it and liberating the castle. He has since tried his best to rebuild the region, his city of Gulltown a primary concern. When healthy, it has the economic power to drive prosperity, but addled by crime and damage, it is going slow.
Since the end of the war, the Arryns are building rapport with the mountains of the moon, the Pentoshi who have frozen trade, and even the pirate Harlan who seized the Three Sisters in the darkest days of the conflict.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jul 15, 2015 1:01:31 GMT -5
The Iron Islands (Sunset Sea)
Monarch: King Euric Greyjoy Queen: Heir: Prince Killion and Princess Tristessa Chief Advisers: Steffon Harlaw, Sarai Greyjoy Maximum Military Power: 17,000
The Iron Islands are at the apex of their power, having conquered all the islands of the Sunset Sea save Bear Island, and taken the Stepstones, Tyrosh, and more. Their fleets are feared worldwide, but as they smashed the mercenary ships of Volantis, it is possible they angered a foe that they cannot control.
King Euric has scaled back raiding in response to political protests from Braavos and beyond, relying on the lucrative tariffs to sustain their coffers. However, this is unpopular as it increases royal authority at the expense of the individual raiders, leading many to go rogue and strike ships and shores on their own. In response, the five of the Free Cities have formed a powerful coalition known as the League to halt the expansion of the Ironborn.
With a truce declared between the Emperor Vhagus, the Meereen Targaryens, the Ghiscari, and Westeros, the Ironborn are long on borders and short on manpower. And there are many in Westeros and beyond who have not forgotten their activities.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Jan 26, 2016 15:57:06 GMT -5
Arc 4:
The war against Oriax and his otherworldly allies has cost Westeros and its kingdoms greatly. Thousands died in the slaughters across the North and the Iron Islands, and the massing of men nearly bankrupted the kingdoms of the western continent. A newfound respect for each other, as well as marriages and an uneasy balance of power, have led to four years of relative peace, as the populations of theand rebuild and the economies recover from their utter devastation.
Unsurprisingly, however, elsewhere the balance of power has shifted in a titanic fashion. In the east, the Dothraki rebelled against their Valyrian emperor Vhagus, and to much surprise around the world, the sorcerer largely ignored the development, focusing more and more on his seemingly fruitless excavation of the ruins of old Valyria. The rump of his empire clings to the cities along the coasts east of Volantis, their inattentive ruler only occasionally stopping by on one of his massive dragons to ensure loyalty and security.
In the Free Cities, Volantis continues its massive armies and lack of a rival to continue its conquest north along the Rhoyne, seeking to bring the inland cities of Norvos and Qohor under its wing. Pentos sits, ruled by a small council of rebel leaders, its lands diminished by the hiring of the Ironborn armies. Lys continues its policy of neutrality, save towards the Myrish kingdom of Frances Dayne, whose armies are fought whenever possible.
Braavos has underwent the most significant changes, as the merchant lord Denys has claimed power in a shocking series of brutal assassinations. Without the skill of the powerful admiral Faol, it is unclear how he intends on keeping his city, but for now his unmatched wealth has spread unrest and terrorism throughout any opponent who dares speak against his reign.
On the continent itself, little has changed, while the kingdoms rebuild and rearm. Two short winters and two long summers and a fresh spring have led to bountiful harvests. The Goldland Kingsland skirmishes ended as every side decided to wait a cold winter out, and no one at the moment has had the desire to spend the men or money required to rekindle a conflict.
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