IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE LOCKDOWN WITH THE VOLANTESE AND THE DEATH OF LORD RASHID JORDAYNE
with the lockdown producing no answers to who was truly responsible for the death of lord rashid jordayne, prince ravi martell was forced to lift this, and command the volantene return home. he would not try innocent men, but they would not go unpunished either. after tense discussions, ravi declared trade would halt until those truly responsible were brought forth to trial.
the prince regent has informed his council, however, that the matter will not rest, despite what it may seem, without justice for a member of their court. he has tasked lord doran uller, the master of whispers, to plant spies in the households of the current elected triarchs, certain that the matter will soon unfold itself in the whispers in their own halls.
it is only a matter of time, and patience, that justice will ultimately be served. and it will not be long until house martell, and dorne, will have it’s justice.
it is worth noting, ravi’s desire for justice does not necessarily stem from the free cities slave practices, as he does not believe it is his duty to involve dorne in another realms practices. only that, a member of their court being murdered in another realm will absolutely be answered for. whether it is given or he takes it, is up to them.
ooc: characters can definitely be angered about trade being halted if it affects their interests! ultimately ravi is seeking other avenues, much closer to their borders, to make up for this, but it will take time.
a missive sent to queen @lencra from the queen of the west, personally:
your highness,
i must wish you my most enthusiastic congratulations on the birth of your sons. i can only imagine the joy you have brought to your kingdom, husband, and yourself at such a momentous occasion. i can only pray i accomplish the same feat when my own labors begin.
with that, i apologize that i may not visit for some time, but i was quite eager to send my well wishes and many prayers for continued health and prosperity upon yourself and your children. please accept the following gifts from myself, and their family here in casterly rock.
most kindly,
katherine
along with the letter is a wooden crate containing the following items: handknit blankets made of green, gold, and white velvet yarn, embroidered linens, engraved silver spoons, smoothed timber carved into dragon figurines, baby garments of fine green silk, and emerald encrusted pendants, one for each babe, and a matching necklace for their mother.
“in the month before the harvest festival, there is a holy month, called layat-al-ikhlas. it is known the holy month will start upon the sight of the full moon. people of the old way fast from sunrise to sunset for thirty days - this means no food, nor water. during this time one is supposed to focus on grounding themselves, becoming more godly and grateful, further develop self-discipline and giving alms to the poor. drinking is also prohibited at this time. the old, the sick, young children, pregnant women and women on their period are not expected to fast. it is a communal time of year, and giving to charity and the homeless is very important, especially during layat-al-ikhlas. your fast does not count if you are not giving to charity, feeding the poor and meeting your prayers. it is believed the angel that remains on your right shoulder will write more good deeds to present to the gods during this month, than any other time in the year.”
ooc: ramadan kareem! it doesn’t start until wednesday or thursday depending on when we see the moon, but i already know i’m gonna be exhausted/have no energy.
DURING THE TIME SKIP; Following the return of the northern fighting forces from the iron war. // @northernseer
Lord Brandon Karstark, the Sun of Winter and the Hand of the King was wed to Lady Meera Reed within the Godswood at Winterfell. It was a private, intimate event; if not interrupted by the Sea Wolf entering and standing at the back of the gathering in the Godswood, a strange phantom. It was followed by a night of feasting and revelery, where the Northern court and their guests took the chance to bask in winter’s sun once - for they had made it out of the other side, again.
QUEEN RAVELLA OF HOUSE ARRYN, FIRST OF HER NAME, OF THE KINGDOM OF THE VALE. RULER OF THE ANDALS AND THE FIRST MEN.
Upon the ascension of Queen Ravella Arryn to the Falcon throne, Princess Maddelena Arryn, firstborn daughter of the late King Rowan Arryn, was arranged as a ward of House Waynwood, eventually to marry the heir of Ironoaks once the girl came of age. Offers from the North Queen were refused, with Ravella citing the girl would be raised within the Vale.
Rhys Arryn's daughter, Maeve, had the title of Princess stripped from her entirely, instead given the title Lady. She was assigned to the household of Rhys Arryn crossing the Narrow Sea to Braavos for treatment.
During Princess Maddalena's journey to Ironoaks, all seemed well, until one morning it seemed as though the Princess had vanished whilst picking bluebells on the side of the road for Lady Waynwood. Widespread searches have been called for the Princess, and those in charge of escorting the Princess to Ironoaks have been placed within the Sky Cells to await judgement.
Still, upon hearing the news, none would know the look of pain that crossed the icy orbs of the Mad Falcon Queen had been entirely rehearsed** in the nights leading up to the news being uttered in the Queen's ear.
The Acts of Lord Arlo Redwyne. the late Lord of the Arbor, during the Dance of Dragons.
The Beginning:
+. Arlo arrives to King's Landing during the coronation of Aegon II Targaryen where he bends the knee.
+ During the battle between the Blackwoods and the Brackens, Redywyne men arrive to assist in the respone to raiding on Brack Lands. While Ser Amos Bracken led a strong force to Burning Mill where he was slain. Raylon Rivers led Green Survivors back to Bracken Territory.
+. In the capturing of Stone Hedge, Lord Humfrey, and Raylon yeilding to King Consort Daemon Targaryen, a good number of Redwyne men manage to escape. This loss seems to cause something within Arlo to stir.
The Sack of Duskendale:
+ Arlo allows 1000 men to join the Green King and his new hand Criston Cole in the Sacking of Duskendale.
+. Arlo leads his own men into this battle, because of his added strength to Aegon's 3,000 men then enter Duskendale 4,000 strong.
+. Taken by surprise and unprepared Duskendale fell
+. Arlo has the ships at the harbour set afire, beheaded Gunthor Darklyn, and made most of his household knights submit to Aegon II.
+. Aegon has taken note of Arlo and makes him Master of Ships to compete with the Blacks strength at sea.
The Battle of Rook's Rest:
+. Criston Cole moved forces and seiged Rook's Rest. Ordering the burning of fields, killing of smallfolk, and livestock.
+. Aegon becomes seriously injured, Arlo provides 200 men after 800 are burned. Aemond becomes regent and Lord Walys Mooton is killed attempting to kill Sunfyre.
+. The Battle Between Friends: Arlo Redwyne and Mehmet Rowan parlay. "Should I die, I'd rather it be a brother than an Andal. You'll take care of my family, yes?" "And you'll take care of mine." Arlo and Mehmet meet in single combat where Arlo deals a fatal blow with Mehmet dying in his arm. Because of the rules of war, these forces go their separate ways knowing that in the future they will meet again.
The Battle of the Gullet (The Bloodiest Sea Battle of the Dance)
+. Arlo and Lysene Admiral of the Triarchy Sharako Lohar take to the seas where Otto's dealings pay off.
+. Arlo captures legitimized bastard Targaryen Prince Valarr Waters and takes his ships along with a dragon's egg.
+. Scorpions are used and one of the Dragonseeds dragon dies.
+. Fire Ships are used to attack Spicetown and the town is sacked, the inhabitants butchered.
Over the next 4 years, Arlo serves as Master of Ships leading them to decisive sea victories. When Tyland Lannister returns to the Westerlands after the Sacking, Arlo Redwyne is made Hand of the King by Aemond Targaryen who is still serving as Regent. As Hand of the King, Arlo manages to bring in more houses of the Old Way to their cause because trust and community, still there were many who refused.
While many of the Houses of the Old Way understood the Rhoynish rules of single combat, there were still some who held grudges against the Lord who killed Mehmet Rowan for a Valyrian. While Aegon's health rises and falls, Aemond is being shaped and guided by Arlo who has began working with those around him on making it so Aemond is King should Aegon die. Arlo is the one who starts the work on arranging Jaehaerys' place in the Starry Sept.
Death of the The Hand:
+. In year 9 of the war, there is another great sea battle, Arlo taking the helm of his ship he went on to face the Blackbars and others who were stopping trade and attacking merchants.
+. Arlo rams Tirius' ship, unknowiningly, and the young Lord jumps on the deck. They come face to face. Tirius is young, full of rage, and fury. And the moment he sees Arlo tears stream down his face.
"You killed my father."
"And he would have slain me."
"One of us will die this day, my lord."
"Then let my life end in the hands of a brothers son."
After fighting that seems to last forever Tirius deals the killing blow, regreting his actions as Arlo falls.
"Wait, wait."
+. Going through great lengths, his body is saved and Tirius travels to the Arbor to return his bones to Lucrezia Aicha, the new Lady of the Arbor, along with his sword and armor.
below the cut, you’ll find an account of what occurred during ravella arryn’s trip to gulltown, intending to sail to braavos in order to settle the matter of the traitor isembard arryn hiding there.
ooc note: from today, ravella is officially on hiatus as she is in braavos. i will be continuing and wrapping up any threads (via tumblr and discord) but will not be taking up any new threads as of now. thank you!!
departing upon her journey to braavos, ravella and her entourage left the eyrie, making their way down the giant’s lance heading toward the port of gulltown. there was some discussion as to which way would be safer, considering the tensions with the clans this moment. lord commander axell royce informed his second, in charge of ensuring the princess was delivered to gulltown safely, to ensure he went north via old anchor, where house melcom could ensure she was being hosted and where a boat from gulltown could be waiting. the road south, through redfort, remained too active with clanman activity.
and so that was the path they took, and all was seamless, until they found various clans had camped along the various rivers to the north of ironoaks. it seemed as though for the first time, many of them had chosen to unite and live together; the entire point of this journey was for it to be as seamless and non-confrontational as possible. and so, they turned around. the second in command kept the lord commander’s words in his head, and yet, decided to go south via redfort to gulltown. it was better to chance an encounter, rather than actively walk into one. sending forward a messenger to ensure the lord commander and the eyrie were kept up to date with any differences.
riding by the base of the giant’s lance, it was four days into the journey when the attack happened; ambushed from higher ground, the group were shocked at such looting happening so far from the high road. following the murder of the knights of the vale, who had also taken down a good amount of clansmen, ravella was able to stop herself being roughly handled by insisting she were a noble lady that knew axell. he had sent her, to ensure they knew he still had faith in the cause of the independence of their people, and he had even persuaded some nobles that the clans should not have to bow.
not all members believed her, and so she was taken hostage for ransom purposes; though she used this knowledge of axell’s presence to talk down some of her captives, noting how men and women were equal in this society she managed to persuade those who kept watch on her to be women only. it was revealed this clan were not the clan of the burned men axell once belonged to, but the milk snakes.
remembering that a message had been sent to the eyrie, she knew she needed to wait and bide her time; watch her tongue, try to hide the hate in her eyes. they knew she had gone south, and soon someone would notice something. it was on the third day feelings in the camp began to change; they grew less believing of her lies, the atmosphere grew more hostile and dangerous. she began to grow quieter, appear as though she was growing more afraid - she was not lying.
the third night was when she finally made her move: apparently a woman had gone into labour in the camp, meaning most of the women were attending. many of the camp had also travelled to meet with another clan, of an important matter. they left two burly, fierce women to look over ravella. sitting over a hearth, the camp was quiet, and one insisted she would be back in twenty minutes, wanting to check on her sister’s labouring progress.
ravella had taken hold of a large bark she had found upon a toilet trips, quietly insisting she were merely going to add it to the fire. as the woman bend forward to roast her meat upon the fire, ravella used the heavy piece of bark, almost as though it were a bat, to repeatedly hammer at the knee caps of her captor, before pushing her into the hearth itself. she struggled to hold her there, burning herself in the process.
she should have fled there, but not before she lit that heavy piece of bark and left it quietly behind a tent; before running deep into the forest, running as fast as she could over twigs; she only had twenty minutes, maximum, lest someone else notice their fallen member sooner than she intended. she had been running for what felt like hours when someone grabbed her mouth, pulling her behind a tree, she found herself staring at the lord commander himself, who knew these clan lands better than any other knight of the vale, along with some of his men.
she wished not to return to the eyrie, but to continue to gulltown, where she could recover and continue with what she was supposed to be doing. braavos. though they would ensure the king and council knew when he returned, princess ravella arryn showed up to the ports of gulltown, insisting that a mountain slide had blocked their way for some days, thus the delay, leaving the fate of the clan to her brother whom had been kept informed by axell royce. off over the narrow sea she went.
