[center][h2][color=ed1c24]King Tyget Crakehall - Pyke - Night[/color][/h2][/center] [center][h3]Collab between me and [@bluetommy2][/h3][/center] Qarl watched the sea, as he had usually done when he was bored and contemplative, or drunk, probably drunk. The moon rested high above the horizon, reflecting off the water and lighting the waters below. Qarl took a drink of his ale, wiping it off of his beard before stumbling to the edge of his ship and vomiting into the salty sea. Pulling himself back up, he noticed the horizon of the waters had changed shape, maybe a wave? No, it was too cubical to be a wave. He squinted as the object got bigger and bigger, a boat? But who would be sailing to Pyke alone? At this time of night? That would just be asking to be raided. Maybe whoever was on that ship wasn't afraid of being raided? He stumbled to his feet and wobbled below deck, awaking the captain of the boat with a jab to the ribs. "Captain, there's a' odd ship ou' there." The captain stretched, sitting up slowly and rubbing his head. "Wha' they want?" "They're too far, can't speak across the wat'rs." The captain snorted, before following Qarl up deck. The ship was much closer now, and Qarl could near make out the skeletal hand of House Drumm on the mast. "Drumms?" The captain shook his head. "Nah, Only Drumms's sittin' in 'arbor, those ain't Drumms." The ship's mast caught wind, and it picked up speed, parting the seas as it approached. Even in a drunken stupor, Qarl realized the problem with this. "*Hic* Why ain't they stoppin'?" The captain frowned, glaring at the ship with his one remaining eye. "Maybe they's asleep?" The ship didn't stop. "Shouldn't they's be turnin'?" "Aye, that's no good is it?" "No good at all." The ship slammed into the front of their boat, splinters flying across the sky, one of which had the anchor attached to it, the speed of the ship knocked that piece right into the air, and the wooden chunk smashed across the deck, chain digging through the relatively hard wood. Qarl looked around, groaning as he fell to the ground, he looked up at the moon, and a piece of wood was visible flying above, covered in some strange green slop. He moved to a sit, noticing that this green liquid was splattered all over his shirt, and then one of the wine barrels exploded, sending green flames and sparks every which way. Qarl frowned, though he wasn't sure what face he was making. "That... That's not goo-" An explosion rocked the hull, and the ship quickly sank below the waves. --- ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- --- Lorch pointed from the ship's deck at the galley rapidly crashing through long boats, "Your Grace, the ship is nearly at its destination.", Tyget nodded, and raised his arm, the master of the ship nodded, and shiuted to the archers on the ship, [b]"KNOCK ARROWS!"[/b], the archers knocked their flaming arrows, [b]"DRAW!"[/b], the mariners drew their bows taught, pointed high into the night sky to hit their target, and waited. Tyget watched, then, once the galley was near the middle of what he could tell of the massive fleet, he dropped his arm, and the shipmaster shouted the climactic order, [b]"LOOSE!"[/b], at least 50 flaming arrows flew through the night sky, away from Tyget's flagship. They flew towards the sleeping Ironborn, but not at them. It was hard to tell, if the first arrow lit the water or the ship, but the result was the same. Where once a great many ships sat, a massive coloumn of rapidly spreading green fire had appeared as if from nowhere. The Night sky lit up, blindingly bright, and all watching swiftly shielded their eyes... all but Tyget who simply squinted as the massive explosion caught the air and sea aflame. It exploded once, twice, three times before the galley was gone, its massive storage of Wildfire now depleted as it rained from the sky in flaming wood. It had worked, exactly as it was meant to, and as the light faded, still making the fleet fare brighter than it had been before, the screams could be heard. Hundreds, possibly thousands of men, killed instantly, and many more now burning, even in the water. Tyget smiled, and turned to the shipmaster, [color=a187be]"Sound the drums Captain, let the fleet know we move to take Pyke, and let the Ironborn know who is paying the Iron price for their home."[/color], the drums began to beat, and were joined by the drums of a further 219 ships, pirates, Slavers, Mercenaries, and loyal westermen all shouted into the night air as the drums beat and the ships moved. Sails unfurled, swords were drawn and arrows were again knocked as the fleet of Lannisport and its allies sailed toward the burning heap that was once the Kraken Fleet. Tyget was in armor appropriate for ship combat, as were all the men. Light breastplates over leather or padded coats, leather gloves and the distinctive Crakehall helmet. The Kingsguard wore a similar, albeit more ostentatious set of similar armor, their cloaks replaced with sashes worn about their waists. Tyget drew [i]Widow's Wail[/i] as his ship drew closer. Only two Ironborn Longships were left in the vanguard, the remainder of the surviving fleet unable to oppose the approaching Westermen. The Captain ordered an arrow volley, and the deck of the nearest was peppered in flaming hatred as Ironborn sailors fell, some alighting due to an ever so thin film of Wildfire clinging to them. As they passed the two pitiful ships, the rest of the Kraken fleet was attempting to pass the burning wrecks of their comrades, to stop Tyget from landing. They were not quick enough, and the [i]Boar's Fury[/i] struck the ground of Pyke, and its planks hit the ground shortly after. A small contingent of Ironborn rushed toward the ship, having been not on the ships. Tyget exhaled calmly, and cut his hand with a dagger, dropping the small blade after, and squeezing his blood onto [i]Widow's Wail[/i], saying the words as Gerald had taught him, and the blade grew alight with fearsome blue Wildfire. Tyget smiled, looked the the Ironborn below him, and charged, the Sword of a King before him, alight with his blood. The Ironborn stood, watching the king rush forth, a blade of blue flame in his hand, and a blue glow lighting up his face. They looked at eachother, attempting a shield wall, but the young raiders quickly turned to run, leaping into the sea and swimming for Pyke. Most of them would drown. The oldest captain gripped his axe tightly, looking down at his wood shield. "Not much use for that now is there?" He lifted it up, before throwing it back behind his head, lunging forth, and throwing the shield for Tyget's throat, rushing behind it with axe at the ready, his fellow warriors charging into the westermen soldiers. Tyget batted the shield away with ease with his own, Falwell and Lorch flanking him their own blades drawn, followed by the many Westermen marines behind them. The asymetrical contingents met, and one could hardly call it a fight. The first casualty was the first mate, Rushing Falwell, who simply parried his sword away and skewered the poor bastard throught neck, smiling gleefuly as he did. Tyget had a short clash with the captain who had thrown his shield, but it ended with Tyget's magical blade cutting through his axe and biting from his upper right shoulder to his navel. Skin and armor hardly slowed the blade at all, and Tyget removed it the parry another sailors swing away, and swiftly 'disarm' him. His arm, cut just above the elbow, smacked into the rocky earth still clutching his sword. The islander screamed shortly, before Tyget Brought the blade across the top of his head, cutting it in half at his eyes. This was exhilarating! The blade had never felt so gratifying to swing! Magic flame and Valyrian steel mixed quite well. Tyget looked around, seeing that the rest of the contingent was dead or running, pointed [i]Widow's Wail[/i] at castle Pyke, shouting to his men, [color=a187be]"Any man who can bring me the head of any Greyjoy in that damn castle will get 30 silver stags and a Knighthood!"[/color], the Marines cheered, and surged with their King, as more landed behind them, and the battle at sea raged. Boats smashed into eachother, arrows flying everywhich way, and the noise of blade against blade, and shield against skull filled the air. Bodies splashed into the water, heads rolled against wood. Screams of the wounded and dying echoing off of the cliffs of Pyke. Tyget saw a wounded marine bite an Ironborn's nose off and crush another's fingers, bleeding heavily from what remained of his arms, before a blade pierced his mouth, chopping the head off easily. No sword cut that well... Valyrian steel was the only answer. The man fell, and standing there, was a man in scale mail, a red sword in hand. He glared at Tyget for a second, before returning to combat, slicing through armor like butter. Lord Drumm then, Tyget was a boat away from him, but he could easily manage to climb over on one of the ropes. Tyget watched as the blade he knew as [i]Red Rain[/i] cut through his men, and decided then and their he was taking that sword. [color=a187be]"Falwell! With Me! Twenty men! Lorch, take the fight to Pyke! Kill every fucking Greyjoy you Find!"[/color], with that Tyget ran across the deck, Falwell and however many men behind him, as he got to the ropes and threw himself on to one. Having to use only one arm, holding the flaming [i]Widow's Wail[/i] in the other, Tyget made slow progress, several arrows nearly hitting him, before the archers were set upon by marines on their own ship. Tyget barely made it, pulling himself up and onto the deck, glancing around for Lord Drumm. A raider charged the King with his flaming blade, an axe in each hand. Tyget sidestepped him, dodging his blows until the screaming fool caught an axe in the bannister. Tyget impaled him through the chest, a flaming blade piercing his front, and flaming blade exiting his back. As Tyget drew back and Falwell and several marines joined him, he spotted the Lord Drumm. He had just cut a man in half, as he was a fair bit larger than Tyget. He met eyes with him, shouting to his men, [color=a187be]"Lord Drumm's mine! Haven't had a good fight in ages."[/color], and stalked toward his opponent. Drumm looked at Tyget approaching, his lip curled into a frown, and his mail coated with blood, his own and others. "Come then! King boy!" He rotated his arms, swinging the blood from his sword. "Show me your Red God's power, and I'll show you mine." He crouched, screamed, and ran forth, sword pointed towards Tyget's chest. As he approached, he stopped, spun on his heels, and swung the blade through the air towards Tyget's left shoulder. Tyget barely got his shield up in time, but even still the blade bit deep, nearly hitting his shield arm through the shield, Tyget rushed forward, slamming the trapped balde away and bringing his own forward in a thrust aimed for Drumm's chest. Drumm took a few steps back, before swinging the blade in a manner that appeared wild, but managed to deflect the flaming sword enough to make it miss his heart, he stopped on his left foot, and followed with a thrust of his own, stretching his body behind it. Tyget had no choice but to bring in his shield again, battering the thrust aside just in time, he was lucky that the aged Lord Drumm was even slower than he, and brought his blade back to guard, waiting for the aggressive Lord to strike again. Drumm fell back, pointing the sword at Tyget's throat, every once in a while prodding forth against his shield, circling slowly, never advancing far enough to be hit. He feinted a backhand swing, only to bring the sword back and thrusted for Tyget's throat. Tyget had misinterpreted Drumm's move and his blade not there to parry the thrust. In desperation, he brought the shield up again, for the thrust to impale his shield, and the arm behind it. Red Rain slid through the shield and Tyget's arm easily, nearly reaching Tyget's adam's apple. Drumm pushed his shoulder against the King's shield, before backing away and pulling at the blade, which remained in the ironwood, stuck in Tyget's forearm. The pain was incredible, though adrenaline flowed through his vains, the embedded Valyrian steel felt as if it was on fire in his arm. The tugging of Lord Drumm did not help the matter, and Tyget's face twisted into a scowl of pain... though now he had an opening. Drumm was too far off to cut, but his hand and arm were not. Pulling his shield arm to his left, inflaming the pain as he did, he brought the flaming [i]Widow's Wail[/i] into the middle of Drumm's forearm, seperating it from the rest of his arm, though it still hed the blade in his shield and arm. Drumm groaned in agony, but didn't let up, gripping the blade with his other hand, he again threw his body against it, forcing it further into the shield, poking against Tyget's throat. He then let go, drew a dagger from his belt, and stabbed it into Tyget's foot. Drumm backed away, leaving Tyget pinned to the floor. His face crunched into a grimacing frown, before starting to run, and slamming his body into Tyget's. [color=a187be]"AH! Ironborn fucker!"[/color], as Drumm impaled Tyget's foot and backed off, before slamming into the King. He narrowly avoided the blade in his arm as it plunged toward his chest, and he landed on his side with the blade clanging against ther deck, the hand attached to it flying off. Tyget rolled back trying to get to his feet, but threw a blind swing with [i]Widow's Wail[/i] behind him, trying to catch Drumm on the ground and unable to defend himself. Drumm flipped over Tyget, landing hard on his back, Tyget's swing passed over his nose, and Drumm rolled to Tyget's left, climbing to a crawl, before groaning as the wound continued to bleed. He crawled over to his sword, grabbing at it like a rat does food. Tyget groaned again, as Drumm pulled at [i]Red Rain[/i], and decided enough was enough. He rushed Drumm, surging forward against his shield fighting through the intense pain of the sword further impaling his arm, and brought his blade down at Drumm's neck. The sword connected, sticking itself in Drumm's neck, Drumm choked on blood rushing down his throat, his eyes widening in shock and horror, before his brow furrowed, and he yanked at the sword one last time, pulling it loose, and then driving it into Tyget's abdomen, and then he lurched over, expiring upon the deck, his blood surrounding him. Tyget felt the cold steel run through his, his blade growing dim and smoldering in Drumm's neck, and [i]Red Rain[/i] in his guts. He coughed up blood, falling back, the red blade grasped in his hands. Falwell was with him almost immediately, shouting words Tyget could not hear. It started fading, all of it... blurring into one great color... so cold... so final... and all was now nothing... ... before a light... no, not a light... a fire, a great blaze filled his mind after what felt like eternity in the dark... warmth, heat... anger, vengeance. Tyget's eyes shot open, and Falwell jumped back as he sat up, [i]Red Rain[/i] laying at his side where Falwell had put it after removing it from the Kings guts. Tyget slowly looked down, no blood came from the hole in the breastplate, and looked at his left arm, pulling away his glove, it too was free of blood, or the hole where the blade had been, only a harsh scar from a burn, as if it was closed with fire. He exhaled slowly, and stood, taking [i]Red Rain[/i] in his hand, and turning to the Marines and Falwell, transfixed on their King. Over the fury of the battle, over the sound of the waves, Tyget heard it, a voice, he could not tell what it said but it rang in his ears like a great bell. "Rise, son of Azor Ahai, and burn all who dare challenge you." Thousands of voices at once, talking over eachother, Tyget could barely understand, but he somehow knew without fully hearing the words. Tyget looked to the assembled soldiers, and a smile broke across his face, [color=a187be]"Men! You've seen it! The Lord of Light has restored me! Now, we will break the Servants of the Drowned God! For they know not our Light!"[/color], he looked up to Pyke, before throwing away his shield and taking up [i]Widow's Wail[/i] in his left hand, he looked to falwell, [color=a187be]"Your dagger Falwell."[/color], he nodded, walked to his King, and drew the blade across his hand. Tyget again squeezed his blood from his hand, onto both blades. He took them up, [i]Red Rain[/i] in the right and [i]Widow's Wail[/i] in his left, saying the words of a God he could no longer doubt. The blades burst again into flames, and he pointed Rain to Pyke, [color=a187be]"With me! Break down the doors of Pyke! For the Lord of Light!"[/color], the men cheered as the boat crashed into the bank, the planks were dropped, and for the second time a warrior with a flaming sword lead the breach of Pyke. --- ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- ------ ---- --- Smoke rose from the Castles of Pyke, the bay stll smoldering from the night before. Blackened husks of over 400 ships were spread throughout the bay, the smoldering wrecks of the once proud Kraken fleet. Less than a hundred ships had escaped, and as far as Tyget was concerned the Kraken fleet was gone, it would not recover for at least a hundred years. He looked around, Ironborn prisoners, what few there were. He heard them approaching, Lorch and Falwell, and then threw the Lord Valorion Greyjoy at his feet. Tyget looked down at the Greyjoy, he was bleeding from several wounds about his person, [color=a187be]"Lord Greyjoy, a pleasure to finally meet you."[/color] Valorion glared daggers at Tyget, before lurching over and coughing up a bucket of blood, being pulled brutally back up into a kneel. "Kill me then, If you're as worthless as you greenlanders are, than I'd rather die than be your hostage! I will never be a part of your worthless culture of indulgence and lust!" Tyget laughed at Valorion, the proud Kraken on his knees and spitting insults at his betters. He leered at the man, a cruel smile parting his lips, [color=a187be]"Hostage? Is that why you think I torched your fleet and crushed your army? To bring the Greyjoy's to heel? You have quite the opinion of yourself, or perhaps you think too little of me. I had no intention of letting you live from the moment I decided to sail against you. I'm not here to break your family Valorion, I'm here to end it."[/color], he let Valorion think on what had just been said before continuing, [color=a187be]"I will kill you, your Saltwives, your Rock wife, your brothers, your nephews and niece, your bastards every single Islander with a claim to your name will die. Do you now understand why I have come?"[/color] Valorion chuckled, but it rang hollow, a broken thing, pointless and defeated. "Good, let your 'honor' die from your actions, become what you greenlanders struggle so hard to avoid." He smiled up at Tyget, as if he had won a battle or a hard-faught battle. "Let your precious knighthood die with me, and bring ruin to your family name." He looked at the ground, closing himself off from anything that Tyget had to say. Tyget shook his head, [color=a187be]"Idle threats that mean nothing, from the mouth of a whipped dog. There is no honor to be lost in pulling out weeds."[/color], He looked at Falwell now, done with Valorion Greyjoy, [color=a187be]"Falwell, have the men build a pyre. Once it is done, cut of his manhood, and burn it and him. It is time the Iron Islander's learned what it truly means to 'pay the iron price', wouldn't you agree?"[/color], Falwell smiled wickedly, yanking Greyjoy to his feet, but before he pulled him away Tyget looked the man in the eyes, [color=a187be]"I wonder Greyjoy, if I burn your body, will your soul go to your drowned God? No, R'hllor will devour your soul, I will make you his."[/color], with this last decree, Greyjoy was taken, his fate sealed. Tyget turned away, looking out over the bay filled with the great burnt skeletons of ships still smouldering. There would be no more Salt Kings, this was the end of an era for the Ironborn, Tyget would make sure of it.