Post by The Stranger on Jan 13, 2010 22:14:39 GMT -5
Rodrick swore violently when he saw the third ship of his fleet flounder and begin to sink. From the instant he joined battle, it was clear that the Braavosi held the advantage; their fleet was twice as large, and divided itself in half in order to swoop in on Rodrick's ships from two sides. The Stormland dromonds and war galleys were large than the Braavosi galleys, but they were faster than all but the swiftest of Rodrick's ships, and more maneuverable as well. Like a pack of wolves attacking larger beasts, they swept in in groups, crashing into the hulls of their target ships. The smaller warships splintered under the impact of several rams at once; the Sea Lion and Lady Aranya both sank in the initial attack, while Selwyn's Fury and King Rodrick's Hammer, named for Rodrick's royal uncle and grandfather respectively, were each boarded by scores of Braavosi sailors.
While Braavos was known for its legendary shipbuilders, the strongest of the Free Cities was not known to field fierce warriors, other than the few extraordinary Water Dancers who did not serve in the navy. Rodrick's sailors, on the other hand, were seasoned fighters, hardened from battle and more heavily armored. Rodrick wore his customary half-plate over chainmail wielding a massive flanged mace. The haft was long enough for him to grip and swing two-handed, though he wielded it skillfully with one, wearing a large round shield of oak banded with steel. The solid steel macehead weighed easily forty pounds, and even a glancing blow would shatter bones and armor alike.
Protected by his heavy steel armor, Rodrick moved almost leisurely across the deck, lashing out with his mace and his shield both, crushing skulls with the mace and shattering shoulders and throats with the edge of his shield. He felt the attacks of the thin braavosi swords as they darted forward to prick at him, and a few of the more skilled men were able to drive their points through the chain links under his breastplate and on his legs, but even slowed slightly by flowing blood the large knight was repaid all his attackers with death.
When the last man who boarded Fury fell dead, Rodrick looked up to see the battle still raging around him. A quick count of banners told him that five of his ships had been sunk, and nearly all of them were grappling with boarders. He began barking orders to his men, who quickly swept the corpses of the fallen Braavosi into the sea. Rodrick's flagship wheeled around and sped toward her sister ship whose fighters had not been so quick with their work.
The order to retreat went up among the fleet, and slowly the Stormlands warships began to pull away from the battle. A sixth ship was caught and sunk by a swarm of galleys raining fire arrows down on its deck and sails. As the main body of his fleet disengaged from the fighting, it became clear that another six ships were not moving obviously having been overwhelmed and captured by Braavosi boarders. All six were the newly constructed ships that he'd received from his brother not half a year past, and Rodrick cringed at the thought of facing Steffon with that news.
The total tally was a dozen ships lost, but the Braaovsi did not pursue as Rodrick's eighteen remaining ships fled southwest. "They're not paying me nearly enough for this shit," Rodrick said out loud to no one. Luckily, it seems the gods favored him, despite the humiliating loss, he was able to ride a strong wind which quickly took Rodrick's ships out of sight of the Braavosi fleets. "To Storm's End, men. We're going home," he announced to the crew, and a cheer immediately went up from the men. They were not true sellsails, but professional men in service to Lord Baratheon and Storm's End, and it had been a long while since they had seen their wives and families. They would follow Rodrick's orders as he gave them, but it was obvious that they were pleased to be heading home.
Ser Rodrick Baratheon improves toward Master Maces/Warhammers
Ser Rodrick Baratheon improves towards Grandmaster Sea Battle
Ser Rodrick Baratheon sails toward Storm's End with Eighteen remaining Warships
While Braavos was known for its legendary shipbuilders, the strongest of the Free Cities was not known to field fierce warriors, other than the few extraordinary Water Dancers who did not serve in the navy. Rodrick's sailors, on the other hand, were seasoned fighters, hardened from battle and more heavily armored. Rodrick wore his customary half-plate over chainmail wielding a massive flanged mace. The haft was long enough for him to grip and swing two-handed, though he wielded it skillfully with one, wearing a large round shield of oak banded with steel. The solid steel macehead weighed easily forty pounds, and even a glancing blow would shatter bones and armor alike.
Protected by his heavy steel armor, Rodrick moved almost leisurely across the deck, lashing out with his mace and his shield both, crushing skulls with the mace and shattering shoulders and throats with the edge of his shield. He felt the attacks of the thin braavosi swords as they darted forward to prick at him, and a few of the more skilled men were able to drive their points through the chain links under his breastplate and on his legs, but even slowed slightly by flowing blood the large knight was repaid all his attackers with death.
When the last man who boarded Fury fell dead, Rodrick looked up to see the battle still raging around him. A quick count of banners told him that five of his ships had been sunk, and nearly all of them were grappling with boarders. He began barking orders to his men, who quickly swept the corpses of the fallen Braavosi into the sea. Rodrick's flagship wheeled around and sped toward her sister ship whose fighters had not been so quick with their work.
The order to retreat went up among the fleet, and slowly the Stormlands warships began to pull away from the battle. A sixth ship was caught and sunk by a swarm of galleys raining fire arrows down on its deck and sails. As the main body of his fleet disengaged from the fighting, it became clear that another six ships were not moving obviously having been overwhelmed and captured by Braavosi boarders. All six were the newly constructed ships that he'd received from his brother not half a year past, and Rodrick cringed at the thought of facing Steffon with that news.
The total tally was a dozen ships lost, but the Braaovsi did not pursue as Rodrick's eighteen remaining ships fled southwest. "They're not paying me nearly enough for this shit," Rodrick said out loud to no one. Luckily, it seems the gods favored him, despite the humiliating loss, he was able to ride a strong wind which quickly took Rodrick's ships out of sight of the Braavosi fleets. "To Storm's End, men. We're going home," he announced to the crew, and a cheer immediately went up from the men. They were not true sellsails, but professional men in service to Lord Baratheon and Storm's End, and it had been a long while since they had seen their wives and families. They would follow Rodrick's orders as he gave them, but it was obvious that they were pleased to be heading home.
Ser Rodrick Baratheon improves toward Master Maces/Warhammers
Ser Rodrick Baratheon improves towards Grandmaster Sea Battle
Ser Rodrick Baratheon sails toward Storm's End with Eighteen remaining Warships
Hope you all are well and happy.