Blood of Dragons

The 'A Song of Ice and Fire' MUSH

Logs

This log features roleplay that occurred before the change from Blood of Dragons 1.0 to Blood of Dragons 2.0 on 01-07-2013 in order to accommodate the new canon information from The World of Ice and Fire. Because of this, there may be details in this log that no longer apply to the current iteration of the game. For example, some characters may have been altered or even written out of the family trees and some events may have been changed. This message is displayed with all Blood of Dragons 1.0 logs and does not indicate that this particular log is certain to feature outdated details.
Land and Sea and Air Part I: The Eye of the Storm
IC Date: Day 1 of Month 6, 164 AC
RL Date: January 27, 2013.
Participants: Brynden Tully, Eon Hunter ( emitted by Ammon ), Jens ( emitted by Jan ), Leif ( emitted by Ammon ), Ranulf ( emitted by Humfrey ), Theonald Locke, Victor Reyne, Wex ( emitted by Jyana ).
Locations: Blackwater Bay, near the Rosby Lands
Comments: This scene was part of the third of three events pitting the Crackclaw and Kingswood Companies against each other. Due to the scope of the third event, it was split into two sub-events. One took place upon the land, as the Crackclaw and Kingswood forces fought for control of a cove. This scene begins concurrently with the other, but lasts about half as long. The victorious characters in this scene rejoin their comrades about halfway through the other scene. The related scene is named “Kingswood vs Crackclaw: Land and Sea and Air; Part II: Tales of Vengeance.“ Order of Battle: Crackclaw Company/Seawatch: Brynden Tully, Captain of the Eye of the Storm; Victor Reyne, his second; Theonald Lock, the overseer of the Cleaners of King’s Landing’s Harbor; Eon Hunter, officer, and notary, of the Crackclaw Company. Sailors of the Iron Fleet: Jens; Leif; Ranulf; Wex.

Summary: As the Sea Watch attempts to reinforce the Crackclaw Company fighting ashore, they are detained by sailors of the Iron Fleet.

There is a place along the coast north of King’s Landing, near to the Rosby lands though not quite within them, which is rough and rocky with swirling seas and high bluffs. There are many hidden coves here, the kind smugglers and pirates favor, with steep trails leading up the cliffs, and rocky shoals jutting out to sea. It is here, in one of these coves, that the Kingswood Company makes their last stand.

From the sea, the cliffs are foreboding—and yet the Eye of the Storm plows through the choppy waves and comes ever closer. Around a point of land, and a cove comes into view; from the top of the cliffs above that rocky shore, a thick column of smoke drifts lazily to the heavens.

The men of the Seawatch are likely used to rough seas, but for many of the Crackclaw men this is a new and unpleasant experience. More than a few lean as far over the side as they dare to empty their breakfasts into the swirling sea.

But not so, Ser Eon Hunter. He is steadfast upon his feet, standing near to the Captain of the ship. And when his eyes catch sight of that column of smoke, he says simply, “That is the signal, ser.”

Theonald stands closer to Brynden and the other Sea Watch men. Even if this seems to be an unpleasant situation for some, the Locke watches everything curiously as if trying to memorise every action taken by the Captain.

Brynden has for the most part left the running of the ship to his new second - Victor Reyne, just to give the young heir more experience with the ship and the men. He notes the column of smoke too, but nods as Eon speaks.

Brynden is dressed today in his colorful brigandine and oilskin cloak, ready to fight. “Is it? Very well.” He stands a step away to bellow orders - “Bring us in closer! Prepare the boats to go over the side! Strike the sail and go to oars!” And it has oars, eighteen sets. They are soon set to motion, dipping into the water to maneuver the ship into the cove.

Captain Tully’s bellowed orders are obeyed—and how! The crew of this mighty ship knows their business. And so many of the men make ready to board the longboats and head to shore. The Kingswood men will be engaged atop the bluffs, Seven willing, and the landing party’s job should be the easier for it.

But then there is a cry from the lookout, high above. “SAILS!” he shouts. “SAILS OFF THE PORT BOW!” And indeed there are.

Two ships slice through the choppy surface of Blackwater Bay with sails black as tar—save for a golden kraken emblazoned upon each of them. Oars pull in unison; every man aboard those ships knows his craft. Every man aboard knows the bloody business upon the sea. None better. For these are longships, come in defense of the cove.

The Ironborn are upon them, and they make ready to board.

Victor Reyne is relishing in his first taste of the maritime, putting into practice all he has learned- directing the men to do as they must to make ready for battle, as Brynden has entrusted him to do.

The man is dressed in a red-and-white striped brigandine and an oilskin cloak, his longsword plain. There is no question; he is caparisoned for war. He looks up as the lookout cries; then he draws his sword with careful precision and makes his way to where the captain and a good few of the men stand. He just nods to them, once.

A slight youth, but none the less hardened by a life of salt and sea, leans against the prow with a hand on one knee. It might be the look of cool repose, if not for young Wex’s sinister smile stretching his chapped lips wide. Ready to play the pirate, he, and that posture becomes the taut readiness of a serpent ready to uncoil and strike.

The longships come into range—grappling hooks hiss through the air and latch onto the Eye of the Storm with expert aim, drawing the first ship to its side so that the spiked end of a boarding deck may be quickly slammed into place.

Just as quickly, the ironborn take to making their way aboard—some leaping the shallow distance to reach the deck, among these Wex, just behind Leif, who pulls himself over with easy grace… readying his weapon before his feet even find solid purchase.

A man leaps the gap between the ships. He is dressed in blackened mail and leather, and his hair and beared are freshly washed and groomed. There is a slight scent, beneath the smell of steel, leather, and sweat, of—something. Lavender, perhaps. For who would not bathe himself the night before battle?

He is rail thin, this Ironborn, more sinew than muscle. And his name, for those blessed enough to know it, is Leif Pyke, the son of a man named Erik. But, of course, none aboard the Eye of the Storm know him—though perhaps they will soon enough.

Leif rushes forward, curved blade raised high, looking for a man to fight.

A tall and reedy man with cold, flint-colored eyes, Jens removes his hands from the oars just as the longship nears its target. His slightly-rusted mail clatters as he leaps to his feet. After sizing up the Eye of the Storm and its crew, he tilts back his head and cackles. “Greenlanders, each one of ‘em. I swear I saw a few of ‘em spew over the side,” he rasps with the cracked and croaky voice of years of experience at sea. Adeptly, he leaps onto the adjacent ship and draws his weapon.

Upon the decks of the starboard longship stands a scarred and gaunt mariner. Ranulf, firstmate of the starboard vessel is well over six feet and all of it windburnt muscle in each hand he holds an iron battleaxe. The blades of both are dull and as the longships close with the eye of the Storm, the Ironman spares his faux axes a link of disgust. His ears are bedecked with no less than one-and-ten earrings each of these becked with precious stones. Round his neck an amulet of iron wrought in the shape of a rose. as the ships close he cracks his axes together and leaps onto the decks of the Eye of the Storm. One boy, an unfortunate youth, perchance a squire, new to war spares the Ironman a wide stare and a startled yelp. Ranulf slams the flat of his axe at the boy’s face.

“Bloody hells!” Brynden curses as the call comes, and he rushes aft to look. “Reyne! Ship the oars and arm the rowers, repel boarders!” There are a few marines - people with light duty as sailors but more used to fighting, they are already armed with practice weapons, this not a real battle, of course. They follow after their captain, ready to try to stem te tide of Ironborn as at least the aft starboard quarter.

These men were once sellswords, Sable Rams until they joined the Sea Watch to serve on ‘Eye of the Storm’, so they are at least ready for a fight. “As we practiced… the men will come up behind us as they can. Stay together and defeat them in detail.”

The eager expression in Theonald’s face quickly fades, revealing now a more attentive knight. The Locke moves closer to his companions, as Brynden ordered, unsheating his blunted sword as he tries to engage anyone who come closer to the crew.

At the shout of sails, and echoing the call of Brynden, Eon Hunter draws his blade and rallies the ( rather sickly ) Crackclaw men. “To me, men! To me! Repel boarders!” And he rushes forward, blunted sword raised high to catch the sun. Which of the onrushing Ironborn he meets, Hunter does not care—but the fates see fit to bring him Wex.

Eon attacks Wex with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!

On the other side of the ship, the men of the Iron Fleet are boarding in force. Some are engaged already, with sailors, Crackclaw men, ex-Sable Rams; some have yet to find a man to test their blades against. Leif, however, has found his mark—none other than the captain of this vessel! He charges towards Brynden, his war cry cutting through the clang of steel on steel.

The boy, young Darrian Snow, falls to the deck his lip split and his tongue bit. He spits a mouthful of blood upon the deckplates. Ranulf slams his axes together and slams the flat of his left-hand axe into the stomach of one of Ser Brynden’s Sable Rams—come watchmen. Another man of the seawatch crumples, the Ironman turns about looking for another foe then fixates his gray eyes upon the stricken squire Darrian and draws his foot back making as if to kick the boy.

Theonald gasps as he sights his squire falling to the deck. Immediatly, he rushes to help the boy by pushing Ranulf foward, “I will show what Northmen are made of!” He shouts, getting into an offensive stance.

Theonald attacks Ranulf with his sword…
...and has his blow intercepted by Ranulf’s shield.

Brynden had intended more to lead, but plans rarely survive contact with the enemy, and so this time as well. A young Ironman charges him. Brynden tries to deflect his initial blow with his shield then launch his own attack at the man’s shoulder.

Brynden attacks Leif with his sword…
...and strikes him with a swift blow!

Victor rushes off to do just that, his cloak flapping behind him in the sea wind, going to tend to the rowers himself while calling to another man to fetch weapons, and he reaches his target, felling an unwatchful Ironman with a blow to the head and spinning around another on the way. Rousing them and arming them, he heads back with the rowers - now armed- behind him, only to be impeded by a tall Ironman with the look of a veteran- Jens, his name was. “Hold,” He directs calmly, gesturing to his men to, “This fight is mine. Tend to the boarders.” The rowers-turned=fighters scatter off to do just that as Victor raises his sword and steps forward to strike at the Ironman’s shield arm, his sword sycthing through the salt air.

Victor attacks Jens with his sword…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!

Ranulf’s foot halts mere inches from the boy’s nose he turns and growls cracking both of his axes together then charges at the Northman, his axes a steel hurricane, weaving, cutting, and slashing at the Northman. “Come, bleed, little knight!”

Leif is quick, but not so quick as this lithe Tully. The Ironborn slips aside, but catches Brynden’s blade upon his lightly-armored shoulder. Not enough to injure, but the sailor grunts—and attacks himself! His blunted blade sails in an arc, descending towards Brynden’s forearm. A disarming blow, perhaps.

Leif attacks Brynden with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!

A grand descent and a strong effort from the Hunter knight sees Wex lose that smile in an instant—powerful, indeed, and it draws forth a short-breathed grunt from the ironborn youth as he takes the blunted blade against the back of his ribs. A deflection, if it must be, for he gathers the strength of his arm and swings his attack up and out at the greenlander man, borrowing more from inertia than his own might to send it aiming for Eon’s sword arm.

Wex attacks Eon with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!

Jens displays a hardened grin upon Victor’s brazen approach. He skirts the blow to his shield arm, knowing these decks well, but it nevertheless finds purchase. Still, the blow does little to deter his reply, his sword swinging low at the Reyne knight’s knees.

Jens attacks Victor with his mass weapon…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

A powerful blow from Hunter, but it leaves him open—his sword is trapped against Wex’s ribs for a moment. Just a moment—but it is long enough. Wex’s blade comes up, and over, and strikes true. Eon gasps in pain, grits his teeth—and lashes forward with the edge of his shield.

Surely that blunt force will do in a pinch.

Eon attacks Wex with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!

Theonald moves to attack, trying to evade the fury of Ranulf’s blow in process. “Let’s see who is the little knight when your face hits the ground.” He says in a taunting tone.

A blow caught by Victor’s shield thanks to quick movement on the Reyne’s part, sad to say for Jens. “Nice try,” He growls as he pushes with that shield, aiming to unbalance the Ironman as he aims a strike at the Ironman’s head.

Victor attacks Jens with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!

Jens is driven from the saddle!
Ranulf chortles as the Locke Knight’s blade skips off the edge of one of his axes, his reply is a wicked singing strike aimed at the the Northman’s stomach. His left-hand blade moves to parry Theonald’s next slash.

Ranulf attacks Theonald with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!

The edge of that shield connects marvelously, just in time to mar the return of Wex’s snake-like smile. That smile is made bloody, and a tooth goes skittering across the deck as the ironman spits a red glob out. It serves only to make him laugh, in a dry and manic way, before sudden silence precedes his next cut of the blade through air—slicing now for a kidney shot with the thin, if blunted, edge of his sword.

Wex attacks Eon with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!

Eon is driven from the saddle!

On the busy deck it is easy to be distracted. And so something catches Brynden’s eye, despite the fact that he is in the middle of a fight…. his opponent slips inside his guard, striking his arm viciously.

“Arrgh!”” Brynden bellows, his arm numb for a moment. He tries to slam the young foe with his shield instead.

Brynden attacks Leif with his sword…
...and strikes him with a swift blow!

Theonald feels the blow come easily on his guts. The Locke pants as he steps backwards, so he can attempt a slashing blow on Ranulf’s shoulder.

Theonald attacks Ranulf with his sword…
...and strikes him with a swift blow!

For all his years of experience, Jens never sees Victor’s sword coming - straight to the temple. In moments, the man crumples to the ground and drops his weapon, his eyes glazing over. The movement of the ship rolls his prone body until it comes to a stop at the very railing he’d just leapt to board.

The Ironman’s blow connect and pushes the breath from the Northman! “Hah, little knight, can’t even land a lovetap. My Nuncle ravaged your coasts and your women!” Ranulf slams his dull iron axes together, once more ans swings directly at the Locke’s neck—is she mad? Or is he trying to shear off the Locke’s head with a dull axe!

Ranulf attacks Theonald with his sword…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!

Theonald is driven from the saddle!

Perhaps it is the laugh which causes Eon pause, or perhaps he left himself too open. But that blade strikes squarely upon his kidney, and though the armor deflects some of the blow, it is not enough. He screams, and drops his sword, and crumples to the deck to writhe a moment in pain.

Leif presses the attack, confident in his movements—so confident he does never notices the out-thrust shield until the last moment. He backpeddles quickly, nearly loses his balance, but it is enough to take most of the force of the blow with it. But not all, for his nose is bloodied, and the blood runs into his teeth as he grins and comes on again.

Leif attacks Brynden with his sword…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!

Brynden is driven from the saddle!

Victor’s blow strikes hard and true, sending his foeman crashing to the deck. “Better luck next time,” he says to his opponent as he rolls ignobly away. He looks up, and glances about to see who looks to need help; Theonald looks to be in a bad away, and thus Victor moves for that section of the ship, coming upon Ranulf and the Hunter locked in fierce battle.

The blow comes hard and precise, making Theonald to crumble and fall to the ground, his mail rattling as he falls to the ground.

Brynden is struck again in the shoulder of his sword arm, his weapon falling from suddenly nerveless fingers. He steps on the practice weapon as he tries to avoid a follow-up attack, so of course he slips and falls. Still, he can keep his shield where it can protect him while he recovers.

The lurching of the ship brings Jens back to his senses. He blinks and, as his eyes regain their focus, plasters a deep scowl across his face. Assuredly, he reaches for blunted sword and and hoists himself back to his feet on the railing. With a snarl, he stalks the docks for a chance to redeem himself.

Victor steps forward to take the fallen Locke’s place, his mouth set in a rictus grin beneath his helm. “This for the fallen,” He growls savagely as he steps forward into a strike at Ranulf’s helm, one more hard than aimed.

Victor attacks Ranulf with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

The deck is thick with Greenlanders, and their wailings. Woman-like, that. “You’ve a pretty look,” says the sweet-smelling Ironborn to the fallen Tully. “I’ll make you a saltwife, when we’re done here.” And with that, Leif is off! Across the deck, looking for another foe—and it is a green-looking Greenlander who is thrust aside as Leif continues in the direction of Victor.

And there, upon the deck, Eon has composed himself and has begun pulling himself to his feet. His pain-narrowed eyes scan the fighting.

Ranulf’s wicked waraxes hover over the head of the stricken Locke then he is blinded by the sight of sunlight glistening off the flamboyant armor of Lord Berrand’s heir! The Reyne’s sword whistles toward his helm and the Ironman narrowly parries it, hack, slash, parry retort—the Reyne parries his every reply—The Ironman, slashes low in an effort to srike the Westerland knight just above his groin!

Ranulf attacks Victor with his sword…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!

Jens’ eyes settle on the Hunter knight, and tall man eagerly takes a few wide steps in his direction. On his way, he takes out some of his frustration on a handful of greenland squires, bashing his blunted sword down on their head. “That’s the last time a greenland’r sends me to the deck,” he snarls as he nears Eon.

Theonald arm reaches his blunted sword, which he uses as support to recover himself. His brown eyes scans the deck to find most of his companions falling or suffering blows from the ironborn, this scene gives him a boost of energy, enough to put him into stance again.

An effort that is not wasted. Victor gasps, once, as the axe takes him above the groin- he was not quick enough, and his guard finally slips. He stpes back and to the left, seeking to take the Ironman from the side as he sends his sword in a blow at the head.

Victor attacks Ranulf with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

Brynden’s Ironborn foe makes a generous offer for the future, but the Tully knight rudely does not respond… too busy scrambling after his practice sword, which was kicked away in the chaos. He reaches it and rises to a crouch, flexing his wounded atm as if to test it. “Seven help us!”

The way this lad runs upon the deck, you would think it wasn’t slick from sea spray and drizzle, but such is what a life upon ship will get you. Leif closes with Victor quickly, while the heir to house Reyne has all his attention turned to Ranulf. The Ironman does not swing his sword with haste—no, he will savor this!

Unfortunately for him, Leif does not see Theonald rise to his feet just to his side.

In the meantime, Eon has collected himself; his eyes fall upon Jens just as the man snarls—and that was a mistake, perhaps. Hunter’s sword flashes out, dull this overcast day.

Eon attacks Jens with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!

A strike, a parry, a cut, a block - again and again, repeated to nauseaum. Then- it happens. Between a spin to the side and a planned cut, he has lost his opponent. He looks for him for a moment, but does not find him. He shrugs and looks for a new opponent- and finds it. Wex is his target. He rushes for the Ironman, growling a “Castamere!” as he goes.

The Ironman’s axe rises to meet the Reyne’s wicked slash—and Raynulf narrowly parries the blow, the haft of his axe bends and cracks with the force of the Reyne’s strike. Ranulf growls and spares Victor a smile full of black and yellow teeth. “I missed but next time, I’ll geld ye’!” His slash is aimed directly for the Reyne’s gorget, a wicked quick blow.

Ranulf attacks Victor with his sword…
...and has his blow intercepted by Victor’s shield.

His first foe felled, and so many others surrounding him, Wex moves with a duck and weave to manuever the chaos presently unscathed. He locks swords with a Sea Watch man, but the fall of another man tumbles Wex’s new opponent to the ground. A short hop sees him clear the tangle of greenlanders together—and puts him in the ready for the Reyne’s sudden rush.

Theonald sights Leif as he moves towards Victor. In a fierce move, the Locke knight moves his sword in a horizontal blow, trying to reach the ironborn upper back, “Leave the Reyne alone, you come down with me.” He says.

Theonald attacks Leif with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!

No mistake, this - Eon’s sword crashes into Jens, sending him stumbling backwards and crashing into the railing. He lets out a howl, a mix of pain and frustration, before feinting a blow to one side and coming around to the other side.

Jens attacks Eon with his mass weapon…
...and misses by a narrow margin!

Too quick and not wicked enough, sad to say for the Ironman; Victor glances over his shoulder just in time to see Ranulf coming for him and his shield flicks up to block he blow. He pushes with the shield, to buy time, and then turns again, continuing his charge and striking for Wex’s sword-arm, his sword spinning through the salt air.

Victor attacks Wex with his sword…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!

Brynden rises more fully, spying Victor being mobbed and so he moves in that direction. “For the Seven!” and aims at the back of Ranulf’s right knee with his practice sword.

Brynden attacks Ranulf with his sword…
...and misses by a narrow margin!

And Theonald strikes true! The blow is hard and true, and Leif stumbles forward. He almost loses his feet—/almost/—but he does not fall, for all that his breath wheezes out in a rush. He turns slowly towards Theonald, stumbling, and manages a half-hearted thrust with his curved blade as he tries to recover.

Leif attacks Theonald with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!

But Eon has the upper hand on this Ironborn; he spins left, into Jen’s attack—but that is a feint, and so Eon finds himself where the sword blade is not. A step back to get his feet, and Eon’s blade arcs downward toward Jen’s exposed shoulder.

Eon attacks Jens with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

His fellow ironman comes from one side, Wex readies a strike on the other—but the Reyne knight handily dismisses the first, then nearly takes Wex out with his own strike.

There’s a shrill yelp of pain from the connection that greenlander’s sword makes with Wex’s arm, a jolt the man feels from fingertips to shoulder. He cradles that arm close, then moves to put shield between him and the other man—and with a mighty push, seeks to imbed it in the Reyne’s bright armor.

Wex attacks Victor with his sword…
...and strikes him with a swift blow!

Blows rain down upon the Ironman, the breath leaves him and he stumbles one axe falling from his wounded hand wherre the knight of Reyne struck him. Brynden’s slash misses by a narrow margin and the Ironman roars swinging wildly at both men.

Ranulf attacks Victor with his sword…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!

Theonald reveals to be a complete stranger to the curved blade as it touches his mail in a strong manner. The knight heavers and attempts a thrust on the ironborn belly.

Theonald attacks Leif with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!

Jens rolls his shoulders and evades the Hunter knight’s sword, just barely. Having no luck with his sword on the day, he tries a different tactic - he raises a long leg and places a boot into Eon’s chest, extending it out with great force and another snarl.

And Victor is, at long last, down; he is too busy fending off Wex’s shield-blow to even attempt to block Ranulf’s axe, and it sends him crumpling to the deck, sword dropping from limp fingers.

Leif’s blow strikes, and he smiles to feel the steel touch mail—but he smiles too long, for the northman’s blunted blade strikes him squarely in the gut. And Leif crumples, curved blade dropping to the ground, man dropping to one knee. He wheezes, eyes shut tight, tears streaming. And he lashes out with one hand, unaimed, somewhere toward’s the vicinity of Theonald’s crotch.

Leif attacks Theonald with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

Eon steps back as Jens moves—and his reaction at that kick is cat-quick. He catches it, holds it against his chest, and attempts to sweep Jens’ remaining leg from under him.

Eon attacks Jens with his sword…
...and strikes him with a swift blow!

His blow missing completely, Brynden moves to try to slam his shield into the axe-wielding man, sword trying to be brought under to jab at the Ironborn’s ribs. “Warrior!”

Brynden attacks Ranulf with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!

Theonald parries Leif blow on the last second, looks at him giving an ice cold stare as he moves to attempt a slash on the other man chest.

Theonald attacks Leif with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

Wex spares the briefest of bloody smiles for his compatriot’s neat work of felling the Reyne knight—then hastens on with another lithe twist through the muddled confusion of the shipboard melee. His sweep of the deck finds a former target back on his feet, and so the youth makes for the Hunter knight with a yell meant to alert his shipmate, Jens, that help draws nigh.

With a groan, Victor rolls over and stands up, hesitantly. He shakes his head, like a man rising from a bad dream, sees his sword lying a few feet away, runs for it, takes it up, and searches- there, his target. Ranulf. He waits for an opportune moment to enter the fray.

The Ironman roars as the Tully’s shield slams into his arm. Yet, amazingly he maintains a hold of his axe. a pained grunt rises from between his lips. He stares at the Tully and roars once more, before sniffing at the Captain of the Eye of the Storm. In response to his entreaty to the warrior he sniffs at the man once more and smiles “Saltwife’s Cunt!” And heatbutts the man, or tries to, with his wicked spiked helm.

Ranulf attacks Brynden with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

Jens curses, once when Eon grabs his foot, and again when the Hunter’s sword crashes into his other leg. He wrenches his foot away as one knee buckles, but the sound of incoming assistance motivates him to press on. He growls and launches a desperate attack, thrusting his head forward and butting it into Eon’s own.

Jens attacks Eon with his mass weapon…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!

Before Wex can make through the press of helmed, armored, and weapon-slinging bodies, he finds himself in a tangle with another Crackclaw man first—but again, their match is made brief as the force of another fighting pair knock them apart… Wex is left to find another route to his shipmate, Jens, which means he must backtrack in order to round the middlemost knot of fighting—bringing him again, uknowningly, into the Reyne knight’s range.

Somehow, Leif rolls aside. Perhaps he senses Theonald’s attack, perhaps he is lucky—but the strike misses, and Leif comes to his feet. He has no sword, it lies upon the deck. But he has his hands and feet. He aims a quick right hook at the side of Theonald’s helm.

Leif attacks Theonald with his sword…
...and strikes him with a swift blow!

Eon sees the head-but at the last moment, and ducks his head away.

*CLANG*

Steel strikes steel, and hard! Eon stumbles, shield coming up to guard against an attack. He shakes his head to clear it, and lashes out wildly at Jens.

Eon attacks Jens with his sword…
...and merely strikes a glancing blow!

An opportunity Victor is quick to take advantage of. Victor shoves a rower out of his way and steps right, then left, seeking the strongest angle of attack; then, he is found. He rushes forward towards Wex, aiming a flaying cut at the Ironman’s head.

Victor attacks Wex with his sword…
...and merely strikes a glancing blow!

Theonald tries to evade another blow, but it’s too slow. He is hitten on the helm, by the right fist of Leif. The Locke scowls and tries to put an end on this fight by striking the ironborn head with his blunted sword.

Theonald attacks Leif with his sword…
...and has his blow intercepted by Leif’s shield.

Brynden manages to block the spiked helm with his shield and he aims an attack with his weapon at Ranulf’s lowered head in return. “Put this in your cunt, Ironborn bastard!”

Brynden attacks Ranulf with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!

But Leif sees that blow coming, steps into it, catches Theonald’s arm with his forearms. He brings his fist down upon the bridge of Theonald’s nose.

Leif attacks Theonald with his sword…
...and strikes him with a swift blow!

The strike seen at just the last minute finds Wex ducking—and only a second too slow as the Reyne’s sword shimmies across his helm with a sickening sound of metal on metal. Perhaps the anger of his own oversight fuels the ironman’s attack, for he rounds on the Reyne with a furious energy, skewering his sword through the air to find a weak joint in the shoulder of the other man’s sword arm.

Wex attacks Victor with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

And down goes Ranulf the Reaver! His head ringing. He falls upon the gunwales of the Eye of the Storm snapping off a portion of the ship’s fair woodwork and lies upon the decks in a heap, groaning from the Tully’s wound.

The blow is wild, and Jens manages to duck it just in time. The tip of Eon’s sword only grazes him, and the Ironborn presses forward. “Fuck this thing. It’s doin’ me no good today anyways,” Jens rasps, and he flings the sword at Eon. But that’s not meant to strike, only to distract. An instant later, he steps forward and throws a punch at the Hunter’s stomach.

Jens attacks Eon with his mass weapon…
...and merely strikes a glancing blow!

As the sword battle quickly becomes a brawl, Theonald needs to use his agility better, otherwise he will be hitten on his noce more oftenly. The Locke knight attemtps to kick Leif on his groin, so his arm would be free again.

Theonald attacks Leif with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

A thrust that is parried, to Victor’s benefit and Wex’s certain sadness. Victor strikes at Wex, only to have his blow parried in turn. And so it goes, strike and block and counterstrike, until- Victor spins to the left and aims, again, a cut at Wex’s head, hoping to drive him down and end it.

Victor attacks Wex with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

The sword /does/ distract Eon—too well! He steps forward to catch it on his shield, and so the punch meant to catch him fully in the gut only grazes against the man. And in answer, Eon brings his sword’s pommel darting down towards the crown of Jens’ helm.

Eon attacks Jens with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!

Rage finds Wex making yet another mistake as his strike is sent off to a side, completely useless. He leans into that energy, using it to spin clear of the Reyne’s responding cut, then completes that circle with a lightning fast arc of sword through the air—an attempt to smack the flat edge with a numbing force against the side of Victor’s helm.

Wex attacks Victor with his sword…
...and has his blow intercepted by Victor’s shield.

But some movement of Theonalds alerts the Ironborn. He does not trap the arm, simply keeps one hand upon it to guide it where he will, and raises his leg to catch—and deflect—the thrown knee. And an uppercut toward’s Theonald’s chin, with all the power of his hips with it, should put the northron down for good.

Leif attacks Theonald with his sword…
...and strikes him with a swift blow!

Eon’s sword strikes Jens - and it strikes him /hard./ Jens stands there, stunned, for a moment; but he doesn’t move. Instead, a stupid smile moves across his face. “That work’d on me once before, greenland’r. Doesn’t hurt as much the second time around, though.” And Jens unleashes a combination of jabs at Eon’s helm.

Jens attacks Eon with his mass weapon…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

Theonald grumbles as he feels the blow on his chin, the brawling isn’t something he expected to face. In quick attempt, the Locke tries to offer a hook on the ironborn face.

Theonald attacks Leif with his sword…
...and has his blow intercepted by Leif’s shield.

Slowly, painfully, the bloodied Ironman rises liked a wounded beast, blood dripping from his mouth and his nostrils, he looks about for another foe while scooping up his axes.

His foe down, Brynden takes a moment to look about. “King’s men, to me! Rally!” he calls, then moves for Ser Theonald, looking to help the Locke man with his Ironborn foe… a jab to a kidney, he intends.

Brynden attacks Leif with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!

Another mistake for Wex- too slow. Victor’s shield dances upwards to block and turn aside the blow.
Victor spins to the right, feints a blow, then steps left and aims a shivering cut at Wex’s helm.

Victor attacks Wex with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

And each jab is parried, deftly. Eon gives ground—until he does not! He surges forward, dull sword singing in its descent upon Jen’s shoulder. With luck, this will put the Ironborn down.

Eon attacks Jens with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!

The northron is tiring, MUST be tiring—but Leif is bursting with energy. Blow for blow they go, and each as ineffectual as the other. But there is another chance for Leif, and he takes it. He drops his hip. preparing to bring all of his power to a point on Theonald’s chin just /there/—

—when Brynden’s blow takes him in the kidney. And Leif crumples in pain.

They seem fit to miss each other with every match of blows, and young Wex’s frustration sounds with a gurgling growl from deep in his throat. He sidesteps the Reyne’s next cut and brings the butt of his blade around in an attempt to loose teeth, break a nose, bruise an eye—anything, anything at all will do.

Wex attacks Victor with his sword…
...and sees his blow go wild!

And so, Theonald is freed from Leif. The Locke knight offers Brynden a nod, before scanning the deck for a new foe or instructions.

Sad for Wex, ‘nothing’ is what the blow accomplishes instead- aside from presenting Victor an opportunity. He steps forward, aiming to press the advantage while Wex has overswung, and thrusts for the chest.

Victor attacks Wex with his sword…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!

Through luck, or perhaps his own ineptitude, Jens shoulder is struck by Hunter, and struck hard. He crumples to the deck for the second time, cursing and clutching his shoulder. He tries to get back up, but, placing his hand on the deck for support, curses again when he places any weight on it. “Yield, damn it.”

The Reaver leaps toward the knight of Reyne, once more, his axes cutting through the stale salty air, swingign toward the Reyne knight’s cuirass

His own blow misses entirely, but the Reyne’s next connects with good enough force that Wex crumbles to the deck. Wex lays there a moment, wind knocked completely out of him, and just barely manages to stay out from underfoot as he tries to regain sense and ability all together.

Ranulf attacks Victor with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

Too wild a blow, to the Reaver’s detriment; Victor catches the axe on his sword and turns it aside, stepping to the left in order to effect a strike at the Ironman’s head. “This for recompense,” He growls as he strikes out.

Victor attacks Ranulf with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!

Brynden smiles grimly. “We may yet turn the tide, the oarsmen should be here soon…” but then he notes Ranulf leap for Victor. “Damn! That one is up again. I’m heading over there.” he says to those nearby, and he does move towards towards his new second. “The Seven!”

The fight is a dead heat. In places, the Sea Watch and Crackclaw men have been pushed back and afforded the reavers a beach-head of sorts; in others, the Ironborn have been pushed back over the gunwales and into their longships.

And upon the deck, Leif rises to his feet, still gasping for breath.

Eon, meanwhile, scans the deck. Even now, those champions of the Iron Isles are rising. Brynden darts to aid Victor, but Eon turns to where Wex has begun to stir.

The Ironman gapes and spits a mouthful of blood onto the deck of Ser Brynden’s war galley, sweat and seaspray roll down his scarred arms and legs. He lurches forward and swings at the Reyne—the backpedals in hopes of avoiding his reply stroke.

And Leif is up, and has found a mark. The captain again, with back turned and moving to assist the man who faces Ranult. A bellow, and a charge, with a pause to scoop his curved blade from the slick deck.

Victor exults in his hard blow- a poor move on his hard part. He takes the full force of the Ironman’s blow, no shield dancing up to block it; thankfully for him, his armor takes the better part of the blow, but it is still painful. “Stop running, coward!” He growls as he jumps forward, aiming a thrust at the Ironman’s chest.

Victor attacks Ranulf with his sword…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!

The heir’s strike takes the Ironman full in the gut mail and muscle yields and the Ironman actually collapses and hacks and spits up—something that looks unsettling and rather lumpy. He struggles to his feet and launches into a mad pull rush at the Reyne knight’s gut, intent on slamming his spiked helm into the man’s stomach!

Ranulf attacks Victor with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

With a groan, the young ironman pushes himself back to his feet—regrips his sword with a flex of his fingers. Wex rolls the shoulder of his other arm with a wince, but soon enough he finds himself the spirit to fight anew. He sidesteps the rush of one man, ducks the wild swing of another, and finds himself back to back with a fellow member of the Iron Fleet while he scans for another likely foe.

Theonald finds a rising Wex not far a way from him and starts to move on his direction, sighting Eon moving for the man as well. “Come on, Hunter! Let’s take this one down quickly, so we can help the others with that beast over there.” He says.

Brynden has intended to attack the axeman, but he finds himself intercepted by the Ironborn with the slim sword. He stops and turns. “Coward?!” and so he swings his sword at the new foe, the man’s knee.

Brynden attacks Leif with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

A desperate move and poorly done. Victor simply steps aside at the last moment and slams the pommel of his sword into the Ironman’s head as it passes, laughing all the while.

Victor attacks Ranulf with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!

Eon is already moving when Theonald shouts, but he allows Wex to rise and ready himself. The tide of battle is turning, one can almost feel it—and Eon will have his part. He closes with the Ironman, shield before him to ward off any blows, and strikes quickly, vigorously, renewed of energy.

Eon attacks Wex with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!

Leif’s charge is uninterrupted, and when Brynden’s sword arcs for his knee, he leaps!

....and Leif sails through the air at his foe, attempting to bring the captain of the ‘Eye of the Storm’ to the deck with his own body.
Leif attacks Brynden with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!

Victor grins to see his opponent fall, but wastes not a single wasted moment in exultation; he looks for his next foe. Dismay clouds his features as Brynden falls; and Victor breaks into a run, rushing to engage the Tully’s feller.

Victor’s pommel comes down upon the head of the Ironman with a sharp discordant CRACK! A pained groan slips past the Ironman’s lips and he crumples in a heap. . . blood pours out from under his mail coif and the slits of his helm. The steel backplate of his helm looks to be dented to an unsettling depth…

The young Wex is risen, and yet not quite as ready as he thinks—for the Hunter knight’s quick blow connects with devastating force. It deadens the boy’s shield arm, nearly sends that shield clattering to the deck, but Wex manages to maintain the semblance of a grip and uses the back of his fellow ironman behind him to push off and swing his blunted blade for a hard smack against the greenlander’s helm.

Wex attacks Eon with his sword…
...with no result as the two warriors battle!

Brynden is surprised when his opponent leaps rather than blocks. The Ironborn lands atop Brynden’s shield, the Tully knight’s knees buckle and they go down in a heap, Brynden’s head strikes the deck… and he is still.

That feeling of renewed vigour seems to reach Theonald as well, after the tiring fight with Leif, the Locke knight now faces Wex, trying to reach him with his sword as Eon is carried apart from the fight.

Theonald attacks Wex with his sword…
...and merely strikes a glancing blow!

Brynden goes down, and Leif with him—but while the Riverlander lands heavily upon his head, the Ironman turns his fall into a roll and gracefully reaches his feet—to see the heir of Reyne in his charge! Leif braces himself, raising his blade into a guard.

Eon strikes true, and presses it—and when the Ironman’s blade swipes at him, he ducks. The blade catches his helm, chips it, but is turned aside by hard steel. They are close here, shield to shield, and Eon uses his blade to cut at the back of Wex’s legs.

Eon attacks Wex with his sword…
...and has his blow intercepted by Wex’s shield.

Target reached; Victor wastes no time with battle-cries or taunts. He steps to the left, feints, then quickly steps right again and aims a stike at the Ironman’s sword arm.

Victor attacks Leif with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!

Two on one, and with the way Wex performed against Reyne knight, it’s a wonder he fares as well as he does against these. He sidesteps the first blow, merely taking some of its heat, while managing to place his shield between Eon’s aim and his legs. This leaves him the space, and just enough time, to square his stance for a sharp swing—straight at Theonald’s helm.

Wex attacks Theonald with his sword…
...and sees his blow go wild!

Theonald escapes the blow with a fast movement, he tries to make use of his opponent’s blow running wild to try a strike on his knee.

Theonald attacks Wex with his sword…
...and strikes him with a powerful blow!

Victor strikes hard and true! Leif falls for the feint, puts all his thought into blocking—and fails to protect his left! The sword clatters to the ground from numbed fingers, and Leif finds himself disarmed.

But he has been in this position before, hasn’t he? And recently! He surges forward, bodily, in an attempt to pull Victor to the ground. And all the while, shouting curses. Unimaginable curses for gentle ears!

Leif attacks Victor with his sword…
...and sees his blow go wild!

And as for Eon? A respite from combat for a moment, as Theonald takes Wex’s attention—but he wastes no time. His blade cuts downward in an attempt to sneak past the Ironborn’s defenses.

Eon attacks Wex with his sword…
...and strikes him with a shattering blow!

Leif’s attempted tackle of Victor goes about as well for him as did Ranulf’s bullrush; not well. Yet again, he spins to the side, and brings his pommel down on the Ironman’s head as he flies past.

Victor attacks Leif with his sword…
...and strikes him with a hard blow!

As the back of Leif’s head goes, so to goes the Ironborn defense. For the rowers have come up, and more of the Crackclaw men, and steadily the tide is turned. First the krakens are beaten back to the rail, and over the rail, and those that are able, on their longships, begin to disengage and row away. There are not a few black looks, and shouted curses—but also not a few looks of respect.

For the wounded, like Leif, stretchers below decks. This was not a true battle, but injuries occur still. And for the victors? Rest? Respite? Wine, and feasting, and women? No, none of that. For a sound carries upon the breeze.

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

A horn’s clarion call, pure and clear in the morning sky. And again:

BAAAAAAAAAAAAAROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Those sounds bring Ser Eon’s head around to stare at the bluffs. There is movement there. Perhaps it is a trick of sound, but the faint sounds of steel upon steel can be heard. The Crackclaw Company is hard pressed, and the horns call the assembly.

“BOATS!” shouts the Hunter knight, and he makes an example of it, leading the way.

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