[h3][b][color=gold] The Adventures of Ser Aerion, Lady Lyvia, and company… [/color][/b][/h3]

Altogether, the voyage took two days to complete. The seas were unseasonably calm, the weather warm but pleasant, which perhaps to the unexperienced eye, would spell good fortune and weather to come. To the experienced, to those who had lived in the Stepstones or plied its waters, knew a harsher truth. This was the calm before the storm, the warm winds upwelling from the Summer Isles and Seas that would mingle with the cold frosty air of up North. Aerion sighed, knowing that it was best to enjoy the calm seas and clear skies before it would all go away for many weeks, if not months to come. Life in the Stepstones was both a blessing and a curse, one that he could never seem to escape it appeared.

As the hours progressed, Ser Aerion spent his time with his remaining companion and the new friends he had made thus far. He shared stories, cooked food, and even sang for them, showing a side that he rarely ever made apparent. Lady Lyvia laughed and clapped, enjoying herself more than she had in many months, seeing the pallor that had hung over Aerion seem to dissipate. Aerion himself made sure to devote his time to getting to know the new members of his circle of friends, speaking at length with ‘Lady’ Layali, even when she would tell him she was no lady, he did his best to show her that the world, while at times dark and unpleasant, it still held much brightness and joy in it. He laughed at he jokes, told his own, and even wrote down his recipe for clam chowder for her, should the day come when she wanted to cook it for herself, or if the Seven blessed her, a family of her own.

Serona Drennys was a person all her own. The two had shared a stint in the Company of the Cat, albeit many years ago. The two possibly had even seen one another without ever realizing it while carrying out their separate duties within the sellsword company. Strikingly beautiful, yes, but it was a piece of her person, the rising sunlight the shimmers atop a deep body of water, hiding the true nature below. She was cold only to those she did not like, yet below that thin veneer of ice atop a lake, smoldered a fiery volcano of personality. Aerion and Lyvia took an instant liking to Serona, seeing her as a kindred spirit, though perhaps a bit rougher about the edges. Aerion himself spent an entire evening enjoying the company of Serona, the two retelling old war stories, songs, and other appropriate things to enjoyably pass the time. 

On the last night before the small flotilla of ships was due to sail into the belly of their enemy, Ser Aerion cooked up a small feast for those select few to be invited. Among them were Lady Lyvia, Lady Layali, Captain Serona, Seran of Lys, along with an open invitation being sent out to Lady Visenya and Crown Prince Aemon. The food had been served steaming hot and fresh, freshly caught crab, fish, and even a few eels, somehow a fresh loaf of bread that baffled everyone there, bits of bacon, or at least what tasted like bacon, along with salt, pepper, and some other spices, lastly, was some garlic and lemon added to top it all off. Aerion himself at last, making sure everyone else had eaten their fill before ladling himself what remained in the pot. Last, if anyone did notice, was that Aerion did not partake in drinking with those gathered about him, only dining to have water to wash down his food and quench his thirst.

To Aerion, friends were far more valuable than anything in the world, and he surely hoped that he would be a trustworthy friend in their eyes as well. 

Yet, this lull before the true storm soon ended, and as the sun set on the third day, their ships sailed into the maw of the enemy, Blackguard Bay. Aerion himself had scarcely ever seen so many ships before, perhaps ever. This massive pirate fleet, cobbled together from ragtag fishing vessels, longships, war galleons, and anything else that could float, packed the bay tightly, riding the waves gently, sheltered from the turbulent ocean beyond. Aerion and Lyvia stood above deck, looking out over the dark water as their ships passed the enemy fleet at anchor. The two shared and unsettled look between them both, before returning their gaze to the tiny sparkling lights of torches and lanterns that illuminated both ship and shoreline. 

If anything went wrong, there would most likely be no escape from this hornet’s nest. It was quite literally a sink or swim situation. Aerion pulled himself away from the ship’s railing, and made his way to the center, where everyone of importance seemed to be gathering. As Aerion and Lyvia looked on and listened, the Crown Prince spoke quietly amongst select members of the loyalists, along with members of his family. He was readying a landing party, a small one that could make their way to the congregating place of the rebel officers and captains, to imbed themselves with the rebels, learn their plans, and hopefully, find a way to foil them. The Crown Prince spoke with those closest to him for a while, before orders were relayed to the rest of the crew.

Prince Rhaegar would remain in command of the two larger war vessels, with most of the loyalists remaining with him. He was to guard the ships, and provide a means of reinforcement should things go south, and a yellow flare being spotted, with a worst case scenario of leaving behind any ashore should red flare be spotted. This was all said while the Crown Prince indicated to a mysterious hooded individual amid the crew. Aerion looked in the person’s direction, guessing whomever they were, they had to be a deadly fighter or perhaps some dark magic user, best to be left to their own devices. The briefing ended shortly thereafter, with command and authority being delegated over to Prince Rhaegar in the Crown Prince’s absence. Aerion sighed, looking to Lyvia, offering her a smile, knowing that the two would be separating for the duration of this mission.

[Color=gold] “Lyvia, I’ll see you when I get back. And, if the Seven should decree otherwise, well, I look forward to seeing you in the next life. You know what to do should I fall in battle, though I have a sinking suspicion that I will be owing you a few drinks once I return, and some new stories about what I see.” [/color] Aerion spoke lowly to Lyvia, smiling at his longtime friend and ally. The two shared an embrace, and then a clasping of necks with one another’s hands, as the two bowed one another’s heads together, letting their forehead’s touch as the two spoke a low and silent prayer together. Once finished, the two let go of one another, jostling their shoulders, before Aerion set off to report to the Crown Prince. 

Lyvia called out after Aerion, speaking in a joking tone, [color=yellow] “Does this mean I get to have your boots if you don’t make it back, they are rather nice, and I bet they will fit me nicely. Come back in one piece you blighter, so you can cook some more food for us and sing in your pretty voice. Seven bless you Aerion.” [/color] Lyvia waved her last goodbye, before walking off to find something to do.

Aerion reported in to the Crown Prince, stating his desire to join the shore party, in part to see for his own eyes the enemies he would be facing, no doubt some of them former allies in combat, and enemies as well. Second, was that he vouched for Captain Serona Drennys. Should she betray the Crown Prince, or in anyway go back on her word, Aerion knew it was his duty to bring her to justice, and then face punishment from the Crown should they all survive. Last, perhaps a bit selfishly, was that he wanted to fight for his own glory and fame, to earn a just reward when he returned to Westeros in triumph. Too long had he wandered the lands of Essos and the Stepstones, it was time to settle down and start having a family to continue on his line.

Aerion climbed down the rope ladder to the small skiff that awaited the shore party. He placed himself between Captain Serona and Black Visenya, nodding to both, before steeling himself for the worst, such as it was. The final words were said between the royals, and friends, before the skiff pushed off from the larger vessel, and began to make its way ashore. Aerion looked about, seeing the Crown Prince, Prince Aemon, Black Visenya, Captain Serona, a few Maiden’s Men, a few loyalists, and in tow, the shadowed outline of The Eel, the smuggler’s ship carrying the goods bound for the rebels. Hopefully, the Seven were on their side, if not, well, this would be a short night.


Aerion did as he was ordered, ensuring he kept an eye on Serona, not trying to get distracted with her beauty, mind you now, but rather, focusing on her movements, trying to spy any quirks that she perhaps was planning on a most vile betrayal of the loyalists. The skiff and the Eel were both beached and tied up, leaving only the long walk to the rebel’s assembly area, and to finally meet the leader of the rebels. Aerion fell in line with the rest of the shore party, sporting a cruel looking whaling spear, along with a rusty scimitar, having left behind his Valyrian Steel sword in the care of Lyvia. As the party progressed, Serona did the talking and bribing, speeding them past the rebel checkpoints and guards along the path to the real enemy, the rebel leaders.

The party had a few holdups, a key one being a pirate who knew Serona personally, and was giving her grief for being late. Aerion wondered since when did pirates care about punctuality. Yet, Serona was a silver-tongued speaker, and quickly got them through and an escort to boot. The best part was that this pirate captain they had run in to was a talker, and freely spoke of the disposition of the enemy forces, bragging almost, as though he had done it all himself, when the truth was no doubt far from that. The trouble was, this Bill character was revealing just how many pirates, rebels, sellsails, sellswords, and other vile criminal elements had gathered to oppose the Crown and its claim upon the Stepstones. Aerion couldn’t help but laugh mirthlessly inward, reminding of the war of the Nine-penny Kings. This was bad, and no doubt the Crown Prince was realizing it as well.

At long last, the small party reached their destination, and Aerion could do was pray to the Seven that Serona did not betray them, because if she did, they would be well and truly fraked. Renowned pirate captains, famed sellswords, vicious looking mercenaries, and at the center of them all, sat the self-proclaimed Scorpion King, looking meaner and crueler than all the rest put together. Returning his attention to those before him, and primarily Serona and the Crown Prince, Aerion listened on to the unfolding conversation.

The first real surprise was the arrival of a mermaid, and a royal princess of the once mythological creatures, up until now, yet to be honest, after the events at King’s Landing, anything was possible. She was pretty, the stories certainly didn’t lie, but Aerion knew to gaze at such a beautiful woman would invite unnecessary distraction from observing other unfolding events. The Scorpion King had allied himself with the very waters themselves, perhaps in marriage, to seal the deal. After a long moment of gawking, everyone’s attention was returned to the battleplan, which was put forth not by the Scorpion King, but by his right hand, a reviled pirate named Redbeard.

The attack boiled down into two parts. A small diversionary attack, a feint to draw away the bulk of the royal fleet, would commence upon Bloodstone, targeting the key port of Red Harbor. While this attack continued, hinging on whether it drew away the royal fleet, the main bulk of the rebel fleet and marine forces would land and assault Torturer’s Deep. The rebel military would assault the walls, forcing it to capitulate and take high value prisoners as a means of bartering a full withdrawal of all Crown sanctioned forces from the Stepstones. The attack itself would also be supplemented with auxiliary units provided by the Merling King. Aerion could not help but admire the bold audacity of the plan, yet feared that they were not being fully read into the full extent of the diversionary attack. A dark inkling of fear told Aerion that those in the false attack were to be considered expendable by the higher ups. 

This feeling was further confirmed to Aerion when the Crown Prince, disguised as Draxos, was assigned to the diversionary attack force. Perhaps it was cynical thinking, but Aerion had a feeling that ‘Draxos’ being assigned to the false attack fleet was not due to the pirates needing a competent leader among them, but because they didn’t trust ‘Draxos’. That was the hinderance of these rebels and pirates, a constant lack of trust amongst one another, and who could blame them, all the times sellsword company’s switched banners. Aerion rolled his eyes and remained silent, watching and taking in everything around him. Eventually, the time for talk was finally done, as the gathered captains and officers grew board of just speaking, of just moving their jaws rather than their sword arms.

The Scorpion King’s right hand nodded in agreement, and issued the order to begin departure and dispersal of the rebel/pirate fleet. Crown Prince Aemon would be taking the Silver Serpent with the diversionary forces, while Captain Serona would be among the main fleet bound to strike a devastating blow against the royal forces in the region. It became clear that they would be splitting up soon, and only the Seven knew what would happen next. Aerion looked at all those around him, from the Crown Prince and his kin, to the others in the group, taking time to remember their faces, should they never be seen again so that he might remember them alive and well. These rebels planned to fight to the bitter end, no matter the cost it would exact upon both sides.

As the gathered crews began to cluster and talk amongst themselves, preparing for their imminent departure, Aerion and the rest were rallied over to Crown Prince Aemon, who in a muffled voice relayed his orders to her and the rest of the party in attendance. Captain Serona was to do as ordered by the Scorpion King, along with having royalist members amongst her crew to keep not only an eye on the rebels, but a close eye on her. Black Visenya would oversee the royalists, while Aemon would do what he could to break away from the diversion forces, warn the royal forces, and then link back up with Serona either immediately before or during the attack on Torturer’s Deep. Aerion volunteered to be part of the royalist forces attached to the Maiden’s Men, feeling duty and honor bound to ensure Captain Serona’s loyalty. He passed word to one of the party heading back to the Silver Serpent to have his sword sent ashore for him, know that it would undoubtedly be needed in the coming days.

As Aerion turned back around, he was greeted with the sight of Serona locking lips with the Crown Prince himself, who couldn’t look more surprised by the sudden gesture. Rolling his eyes, Aerion didn’t bother to listen in to what the two spoke, instead heading back towards the beach and the skiff, to collect his gear and make ready for the coming storm, both above, and in the battles of men. Not to say Aerion was hurt by this gesture, but rather, found it disconcerting, but again, perhaps it was all part of a facade, a part played to lull the rebels into complacency. Aerion waited for the rest of the loyalists to catch up, relaying to them he was collect some gear, and would be remaining with the Maiden’s Men once done. He dutifully bowed before the Crown Prince, wishing him good luck and the blessings of the Seven, before being transferred back to the shoreline with the rest of those assigned to the Maiden’s Men.

As the pirates drank and reveled, Aerion kept to himself, a small fire burning before him as he looked out over the dark waves, smelling the salty ocean air. Across his lap lay Poison, the Valyrian steel sword he had plundered from its previous owner many a year ago. He silently sharpened it, eyeing the burning flames and embers of his campfire. Deep down inside a fierce hunger burned, a desire to bring justice and order to the world around him. He chuckled softly, knowing such a notion was beyond even the wildest delusions of the most devout Sparrow, but still, it was something to work towards, to hope to achieve, even if it were only in a small corner of the world at a time. The sounds of merriment and general tom foolery could be heard off to Aerion’s shoulder, back towards the main encampment.

Yet for Aerion, it was another sound that drew him in, that filled his ears. The stifled tones and voices of sailors, the whispers of drunken man and clever wench, the sigh of forgotten times, all these floated around, but above them all, was the gentle lapping of the water, the splash of waves upon rocks and sand. Out there, Aerion looked on with studious curiosity, swam beings of legend and myth, of family sigils and sculptures, not flesh and blood. The mermaid princess, in all her regal glory, and other attributes, sang a darker tune, a sad tragic melody that warned others of the coming folly. Aerion shook his head, trying to push to unease away from him, focusing back on his fire and sword that he sharpened. These sea creatures could be killed, but that was on land… how much more of an advantage did they have atop the waves, let alone beneath them.

Aerion’s thoughts began to wander again, this time to something entirely different than usual. He thought of the future, not in some vague manner, but in a solid and comprehendible manner. He ran his mind from three people, three ladies, all of whom were different in their own ways, special, unique, yet similar in an intangible way. Lady Amber Redwyne of the Arbor, so young, so innocent, so pure. Hair of auburn and eyes of golden green. Nobility as old as time its self. She was the fourth born child of Lord Redwyne, owner of one of the strongest fleets in Westeros, not to mention a great vintner as well. Such a match would perhaps be very suitable and likely, should Aerion succeed. Then, there was Black Visenya, royal bastard of both House Baratheon and Targaryen. She was rough about the edges, strong, charismatic, a renowned fighter and leader of royal forces. Her dark hair and purple eyes, striking, dramatic, as though from an old painting. She was ever as wild though as her father’s lineage. Proud as well. Aerion laughed at the idea of her holding a babe, being a mother, but shook his head. 

Last, was Captain Serona Drennys, a bastard as he, like Visenya, but not of nobility nor of Westeros. She was different, in her own ways, not just her striking blonde hair or blue eyes, no it was more than that. She had a personality of ice atop a lake, when one ventures almost too far out, and the ice cracks and spiderwebs beneath your feet. That feeling of danger, at being on the edge of calamity, and still being alive. She had something deep within, a woman she once knew and was, that had to be hidden away to survive in the chaos that was and still is, the Stepstones. But would she, like Visenya make a good mother, make a good wife? That was when Aerion laughed aloud in purest amusement, a rogue thought popping into his head like a startled pheasant. ‘Why not marry all three, in the fashion of old Valyria. I am the blood of the Dragon, of Valyria, surely it could be done.’ His mind asked aloud, though Aerion, smiling, shook his head and bent back down to his work. 

[color=gold] “Such things could probably never happen again. The Faith of the Seven forbids such things, and who am I to be such a fool to grasp for the unreachable. A trodden down sellsword like me will be damned lucky to even earn a stout wooden home with a warm fireplace and good land to farm, let alone those three lovely thoughts.” *Sigh* “The old ways are long since forgotten, lest I risk the wrath of not only the faith, but the gods themselves. Maybe I’m doomed to walk the lands alone, or perhaps fly across them… listen to me, talking aloud like some crazy old coot.” *Sigh* “Well, I guess it could be worse, I am no fool to believe I will be allowed an honor and privilege such as that.” [/color] Aerion had spoken aloud to himself, in a pleasant, if almost amused tone. The stray though had such a derailing effect that he had spoken loud enough for any curious onlookers, or a happenstance passerby to overhear his inner musings and perhaps confront Aerion on what he had spoken about.