Post by The Smith on Apr 3, 2008 1:20:19 GMT -5
Blackwater Bay was rough and choppy, whitecaps everywhere. Fury rode the floodtide, her sail cracking and snapping at each shift of wind. Balerion and Lady Ellesandrasailed beside her no more than twenty yards between the hulls.
Avery could make out the Pride of Driftmark well to the south-east, her sails shimmering silver as they came down, the seahorse of Velaryon emblazoned on the canvas. He glanced up to where his own charge, the stag of Baratheon fluttered in the stiff breeze.
Across the sea the horns blew signaling their arrival to the Royal Fleet. Their deep throaty moans were repeated ship to ship.
“Bring down the sail,” Avery commanded. “Lower mast. Oarsmen to your oars. Ser Godry Farring relayed the commands. The deck of Fury churned as crewmen ran to their tasks, pushing through the soldiers who always seemed to be in the way no matter where they stood.
Avery had become very familiar with Fury after he had taken command of Dragonstone. Above her three hundred oars was a deck given over wholly to scorpions and topside she mounted catapults for and aft, large enough to fling barrels of burning pitch. Fury was a most formidable ship and very swift as well, although now she was packed from bow to stern with armored knights and men at arms, at some cost to her speed.
The horns sounded again. Commands drifted out from Fury to the other ships in the fleet, as the thirty warships, nominally under the command of Avery but in reality under the command of the seasoned Godry Farring of Driftmark neared the Royal Fleet.
They had not come unprepared. Their rendezvous with the Royal Fleet was expected. Over a week ago, Avery had sent Ser Godry Farring aboard his swiftest ship to the Royal Fleet and a meeting had been arranged. The Lord High Captain of the Royal Fleet was a Ser Vortimer Rivers, a Riverlander who had been appointed by Horas Blackwood.
Ser Vortimer had agreed to summon all his captains to meet with Prince Avery aboard the Fury, while the Fleet lay anchored. Ser Godry had reported back that the many of the Royal Fleet’s captains were apprehensive about their future, especially as it appeared Horas was losing the war and losing it quickly. To engender loyalty Horas Blackwood had appointed many of his Riverlanders as captains, but many Crownlanders also remained in command. Ser Vortimer had been intrigued about why a Prince of the Blood wished to meet with him and was interested to hear what he would say. Ser Vortimer had assured Ser Godry that many of the ship’s captains would be as well.
A gust of wind tugged at Avery’s gold cloak as he watched rowing boats wend in from the various ships, as the captains of the royal fleet assembled. Each captain was welcomed aboard by Ser Godry and his uncle Ameron Velaryon before being led to the Fury’s large ship’s mess hall, just under the foredeck, which was large enough to encompass 100 men.
When most of the captains had been assembled, Prince Avery entered the mess hall flanked by Ser Godry and his cousin Ameron Velaryon. The captains of the royal fleet knelt. Prince Avery had dressed for effect. Clad in gold doublet with a rampant black stag emblazoned on the front, as well as on his gold cloak and wearing a gold circlet which contrasted sharply with his jet black shoulder length hair, he looked every inch a prince of the royal house.
Avery raised his hands in acknowledgment.
“I welcome you here today Sers. Please rise.”
He paused as what he was about to say he found somewhat distasteful.
“The situation as I see it is dire. We have all supported Horas Blackwood when he assumed the regency. Some would say that Horas Blackwood was an usurper, but there were few others who could have ruled the realm effectively had he been allowed to, on behalf of my nephew.
However be that as it may, Horas Blackwood will not be regent for much longer. His enemies appear to have triumphed and they will assume power in the name of my much traveled nephew King Rickon. For the rest of us that have supported Horas Blackwod this may well mean disgrace and perhaps for some of us..”
Avery caught Ser Vortimer’s eye who looked away, “
…..imprisonment and death. They will be looking for vengeance and many of you Sers, especially those of you who are Riverlanders will be targeted. You will be replaced, you will lose your ships, and possibly your liberty and perhaps your life.”
“I wish to assure you all that I remain loyal to King Rickon and House Baratheon. The Royal House is in a very poor state at the moment. King Rickon and Prince Rodrick remain in the hands of power hungry men who wish to control the destiny of the Kingdom, through taking advantage of their minority. For the kingdom to prosper House Baratheon needs to once again control its own destiny and indeed who better to ensure that happens than the King’s own close relatives, including myself, the King's uncle.
“I therefore make to you this offer. Bring your ships and your men to my service.
"Follow a legitimate Prince of House Baratheon Sers! Join my cause and that of House Baratheon. I will see that you each keep your ships and your crews, unlike your enemies who will seek to replace you with men that are loyal to them. Together we can still salvage something from the predicament we find ourselves in.”
Avery eyes met Ser Vortimer’s again.
This time Ser Vortimer did not turn away. In front of the captains he advanced towards Avery and knelt.
Avery drew his longsword. It was not the “Lightbringer” blade of legend, but it was made of a dark steel and would suffice for this moment.
He touched it to the shoulder of Ser Vortimer.
“Ser Vortimer Rivers,” the prince said” are you my true and honest liege man, now and forever?”
“I am, my Prince.”
“Then rise again Ser Vortimer Rivers, and rise as Grand High Admiral of the Royal Fleet sworn to the Prince of Dragonstone and King Rickon, the First of His Name.”
Avery turned to the captains of the Royal Fleet who had watched their commander’s display of swearimng allegiance with some surprise, judging by the looks on some of their faces.
Avery continued.
“Your commander Ser Vortimer has sworn himself to the service of the Prince of Dragonstone and to the service of House Baratheon, along with his ship.”
“I entreat you all to follow suit, in order that you may be spared the vengeance of the people you have all recently fought against. You may swear allegiance and then return to your own ships and follow us to Dragonstone.”
Avery raised his longsword.
“Long live my nephew King Rickon!”
In response, the captains roared their acclamation, as many of them began shouldering their way through the press of men to say their words and receive the tap of Avery’s longsword as they had seen their commander do.
Results"
20 ships of the 150 ships of Royal Fleet join Prince Avery’s service.
The commander of the Royal Fleet Ser Vortimer Rivers joins Prince Avery service and is made Lord High Admiral of the Royal Fleet that swear allegiance to Prince Avery, along with his ship.
20 ships of the Royal Fleet and Prince Avery’s 30 warships and 4,000 men return to Dragonstone.
4,000 men are added to Dragonstone’s garrison.
Prince Avery Baratheon increases his Persuasion skill to Novice level.
Prince Avery Baratheon gains beginner skill in Seamanship.
Prince Avery Baratheon increases his Oration skill to Novice level.
Avery could make out the Pride of Driftmark well to the south-east, her sails shimmering silver as they came down, the seahorse of Velaryon emblazoned on the canvas. He glanced up to where his own charge, the stag of Baratheon fluttered in the stiff breeze.
Across the sea the horns blew signaling their arrival to the Royal Fleet. Their deep throaty moans were repeated ship to ship.
“Bring down the sail,” Avery commanded. “Lower mast. Oarsmen to your oars. Ser Godry Farring relayed the commands. The deck of Fury churned as crewmen ran to their tasks, pushing through the soldiers who always seemed to be in the way no matter where they stood.
Avery had become very familiar with Fury after he had taken command of Dragonstone. Above her three hundred oars was a deck given over wholly to scorpions and topside she mounted catapults for and aft, large enough to fling barrels of burning pitch. Fury was a most formidable ship and very swift as well, although now she was packed from bow to stern with armored knights and men at arms, at some cost to her speed.
The horns sounded again. Commands drifted out from Fury to the other ships in the fleet, as the thirty warships, nominally under the command of Avery but in reality under the command of the seasoned Godry Farring of Driftmark neared the Royal Fleet.
They had not come unprepared. Their rendezvous with the Royal Fleet was expected. Over a week ago, Avery had sent Ser Godry Farring aboard his swiftest ship to the Royal Fleet and a meeting had been arranged. The Lord High Captain of the Royal Fleet was a Ser Vortimer Rivers, a Riverlander who had been appointed by Horas Blackwood.
Ser Vortimer had agreed to summon all his captains to meet with Prince Avery aboard the Fury, while the Fleet lay anchored. Ser Godry had reported back that the many of the Royal Fleet’s captains were apprehensive about their future, especially as it appeared Horas was losing the war and losing it quickly. To engender loyalty Horas Blackwood had appointed many of his Riverlanders as captains, but many Crownlanders also remained in command. Ser Vortimer had been intrigued about why a Prince of the Blood wished to meet with him and was interested to hear what he would say. Ser Vortimer had assured Ser Godry that many of the ship’s captains would be as well.
A gust of wind tugged at Avery’s gold cloak as he watched rowing boats wend in from the various ships, as the captains of the royal fleet assembled. Each captain was welcomed aboard by Ser Godry and his uncle Ameron Velaryon before being led to the Fury’s large ship’s mess hall, just under the foredeck, which was large enough to encompass 100 men.
When most of the captains had been assembled, Prince Avery entered the mess hall flanked by Ser Godry and his cousin Ameron Velaryon. The captains of the royal fleet knelt. Prince Avery had dressed for effect. Clad in gold doublet with a rampant black stag emblazoned on the front, as well as on his gold cloak and wearing a gold circlet which contrasted sharply with his jet black shoulder length hair, he looked every inch a prince of the royal house.
Avery raised his hands in acknowledgment.
“I welcome you here today Sers. Please rise.”
He paused as what he was about to say he found somewhat distasteful.
“The situation as I see it is dire. We have all supported Horas Blackwood when he assumed the regency. Some would say that Horas Blackwood was an usurper, but there were few others who could have ruled the realm effectively had he been allowed to, on behalf of my nephew.
However be that as it may, Horas Blackwood will not be regent for much longer. His enemies appear to have triumphed and they will assume power in the name of my much traveled nephew King Rickon. For the rest of us that have supported Horas Blackwod this may well mean disgrace and perhaps for some of us..”
Avery caught Ser Vortimer’s eye who looked away, “
…..imprisonment and death. They will be looking for vengeance and many of you Sers, especially those of you who are Riverlanders will be targeted. You will be replaced, you will lose your ships, and possibly your liberty and perhaps your life.”
“I wish to assure you all that I remain loyal to King Rickon and House Baratheon. The Royal House is in a very poor state at the moment. King Rickon and Prince Rodrick remain in the hands of power hungry men who wish to control the destiny of the Kingdom, through taking advantage of their minority. For the kingdom to prosper House Baratheon needs to once again control its own destiny and indeed who better to ensure that happens than the King’s own close relatives, including myself, the King's uncle.
“I therefore make to you this offer. Bring your ships and your men to my service.
"Follow a legitimate Prince of House Baratheon Sers! Join my cause and that of House Baratheon. I will see that you each keep your ships and your crews, unlike your enemies who will seek to replace you with men that are loyal to them. Together we can still salvage something from the predicament we find ourselves in.”
Avery eyes met Ser Vortimer’s again.
This time Ser Vortimer did not turn away. In front of the captains he advanced towards Avery and knelt.
Avery drew his longsword. It was not the “Lightbringer” blade of legend, but it was made of a dark steel and would suffice for this moment.
He touched it to the shoulder of Ser Vortimer.
“Ser Vortimer Rivers,” the prince said” are you my true and honest liege man, now and forever?”
“I am, my Prince.”
“Then rise again Ser Vortimer Rivers, and rise as Grand High Admiral of the Royal Fleet sworn to the Prince of Dragonstone and King Rickon, the First of His Name.”
Avery turned to the captains of the Royal Fleet who had watched their commander’s display of swearimng allegiance with some surprise, judging by the looks on some of their faces.
Avery continued.
“Your commander Ser Vortimer has sworn himself to the service of the Prince of Dragonstone and to the service of House Baratheon, along with his ship.”
“I entreat you all to follow suit, in order that you may be spared the vengeance of the people you have all recently fought against. You may swear allegiance and then return to your own ships and follow us to Dragonstone.”
Avery raised his longsword.
“Long live my nephew King Rickon!”
In response, the captains roared their acclamation, as many of them began shouldering their way through the press of men to say their words and receive the tap of Avery’s longsword as they had seen their commander do.
Results"
20 ships of the 150 ships of Royal Fleet join Prince Avery’s service.
The commander of the Royal Fleet Ser Vortimer Rivers joins Prince Avery service and is made Lord High Admiral of the Royal Fleet that swear allegiance to Prince Avery, along with his ship.
20 ships of the Royal Fleet and Prince Avery’s 30 warships and 4,000 men return to Dragonstone.
4,000 men are added to Dragonstone’s garrison.
Prince Avery Baratheon increases his Persuasion skill to Novice level.
Prince Avery Baratheon gains beginner skill in Seamanship.
Prince Avery Baratheon increases his Oration skill to Novice level.