The Iron Fleet

[jacb547]

Lord Balon Greyjoy, Lordsport



Lord Balon's chest swelled with pride, as it always did when watching sliding into port. Dozens of ships had already arrived and dozens more arrived every hour from every island in the archipelago led by hardened reavers and grim captains flying various colors. Inside those ships and from other parts of Pyke Island were hardened warriors, in chain-mail, bearing swords and axes, some with iron helms and some with mean spears thousands already filled every inn and alehouse in Lordsport and thousands more were encamping outside the wall. Whores and camp followers walked the streets, men danced the finger dance and three had already died of knife wounds and a dozen more hanged for various crimes, mostly stabbing the previously mentioned men. On a rocky cliff overlooking the harbor where three years before he had watched the same phenomena Balon Greyjoy sent fast messengers searching for his captains, Victarion, Euron and his son Rodrik whom he would entrust with the war developments.

[Pericles of Athens]

Euron arrives at his elder brother's request, dressed more like a pirate than a warrior. Flanked by two of his mongrels, the one copper colored man with an eagle tattooed across his chest and another Summer Islander skin dark as pitch with a snake tattoo coiled about his neck.

[jacb547]

Lord Balon Greyjoy, Lordsport overlook



One by one his captains arrived. Euron, followed by his mute mongrel, Rodrik, eyes red from drinking and Victarion, dressed in plate and with his mighty axe slung across his back. Balon spoke to three of them in earnest "As you know I have gathered our fleets and armies to the support of my nephew-in-law Rors Martell." He gestured to the gathering fleet behind him and spoke again, this time more in particular to Victarion "I know some of you may not like the Dornishmen too much, but of this as an opportunity for a fight and to plunder more gold off the Greenlanders." Beckoning the men near he showed them a small wooden table with a map of Dorne on it "The rebelling Lords are from here, here, there and here." He showed them Yronwood, Starfall, Godsgrace and Hellhot "They rule the lands surrounding their keeps with the exception of Prince's Pass, Rors forces have beaten Yronwood back to his keep and are besieging Godsgrace of the others I have no reports. Victarion, you will around half of our armed men and a strong naval contingent and besiege Starfall, once it falls sack it and burn it to the ground then proceed to land the men on Godsgrace. Euron you will take ten thousand men and sail up Hellhot river, take the keep but do not sack it, it was promised to my grandson. Rodrik you will take a further three thousand men and lay waste to Salt Shore, spare no peasant and hut." Victarion nodded curtly and Rodrik grinned, doubtless thinking of his new Dornish Salt-Wife.

[Pericles of Athens]

Euron didn't like the idea of aiding Dornishmen, filthy creatures - though the women were exquisite specimens or so he'd heard.. and his collection was running sparse. Though he'd never returned a cent from his pillage sprees or a single salt-wife, it turns out women from the Reach weren't accustomed to tongue removal nor were they robust enough to handle it as most of them died before the year was up - hopfully the Dornish would prove thicker skinned.

He seemed pleased with his assigned task - take Hellhot, plain and simple - but his smiling eye turned to ice when Balon told him not to sack it. But something horrible twisted its way into Euron's and his eye returned to life, he chuckled. As you say brother. My sweet grandnephew's keep is as good as taken..

[jacb547]

Euron didn't like the idea of aiding Dornishmen, filthy creatures - though the women were exquisite specimens or so he'd heard.. and his collection was running sparse. Though he'd never returned a cent from his pillage sprees or a single salt-wife, it turns out women from the Reach weren't accustomed to tongue removal nor were they robust enough to handle it as most of them died before the year was up - hopfully the Dornish would prove thicker skinned.

He seemed pleased with his assigned task - take Hellhot, plain and simple - but his smiling eye turned to ice when Balon told him not to sack it. But something horrible twisted its way into Euron's and his eye returned to life, he chuckled. As you say brother. My sweet grandnephew's keep is as good as taken..

Lord Balon Greyjoy, Lordsport



Balon saw something unnatural twitch in Euron's eye, he knew his brother was bloodthirsty but he needed an intact Keep for his grandson not a smoldering ruin "You can however take any men and women and child in the Household as thralls or salt-wives or just kill them. I'll want none of these traitors in my grandson's employ. And sack the lands surrounding it too, burn everything you find and kill any in your way but the castle must be intact." Looking back to his ships he dismissed the captains "You will sail as soon as every ship is gathered."