The Iron Born Way

Six merchant ship burned on the waters of the Summer Sea, the mast bearing the crest of House Maegyr, its cargo were slaves, silks, and other assortments of items. The reasons it was afire was because of the small fleet of ten ships that took it by surprise, longships with plated metal tips for piercing the middle of ships without getting much damage to itself.

On the flagship, Maidens Glory was an ax going into the head of her captain. The man doing it had a sickening smirk on his face and a twinkle in his cold blue eyes from the very blood spewing out of the head, screams of men and women were heard across as his men pillaged the fleet, he didn't need ten ships but he thought like being spontaneous for a day.

A Hour Earlier...

"Captain, we're coming up on the fuckers!"

A man heard his second say, the second is a tall Summer Islander by the name of Zolar Qoxa, he met the man after a retrieval on one of the isles.

As for the captain, he was tall and slender. Had the air of confidence and superiority on his person, and earned from the years he was put through. His eyes are blue and bore the same coldness and sick intensity he got from his father, his hair was shaggy and short, black as a raven or eclipsed sun. He was unshaven and had a short beard through his twenty four years of life

This man is the son of the infamous Euron Greyjoy, or Euron Crow's Eye by the people that are lucky enough to live from an encounter by him or his men, those that don't get no easy end.

He and his men are taking care of a shipping matter for the magisters of the island of Lys. House Maegyr had been besting them in the slave trade and silk trade the past several months, and so they hired him and his fleet to make sure every slave, every bit of coin, and every valuable gem goes right into her hands.

The fog gave them the best advantage and so did the wind after he prayed to the Drowned God for good luck. Either way he gets the best part of this 'expedition' and that is the thrill of taking several lives, he hasn't had a good kill in days and will enjoy it. He held the ropes he hooped around the ship and so did every other man on every other ship, they would hit them like a Kraken wrapping its tentacles to prey and take it all, We Do Not Sow he thought and grabbed his ax and turned to his men.

"Lets hit them hard!, Kill every man that moves!"

The ship hit the middle of the largest one and broke and cracked the wood, he levitated from the impact but once he was composed. He roared and darted, jumping onto the deck of the flagship and the first terrified soul found himself dead the moment he laid eyes on him smashing his ax down, the battle began or slaughter if you want to correct. The ships were caught by surprise and its men more so, falling by his or the others blades and weapons, it was a bloodbath and he enjoyed it. Many will be joining the Drowned God this day he thought maliciously.

And it was, it was a good day.

Flash Forward... 

He wiped the bloodied ax with a fine piece of silk the Maegyr Captain was holding and smiled at his work. He hacked the arms and head and hung it on the deck, the rest of the body he threw into the seas for the creatures that will feast upon the parts. He was sitting on the deck when his boys brought a woman forward and threw her to the ground.

"We found this one hiding below, almost drowned. She won't say anything." His men said and he rose and knelt to the woman and forcibly brought to see him.

"If you don't want to end up like the ole captain, I suggest telling me who you are." He said seriously with his eyes narrowed to show his sincerity to kill her if she doesn't comply.

"... Laena, Laena Maegyr." She said nervously and he began laughing and joined by his boys.

"Well, since that is done. Get the cargo off these ships!, They will be sinking soon and I have no intentions of being late!"

"Aye captain!"

They sailed off once everything was off the six Maegyr ships. He smiled as they sunk to the seas with the carcasses of their defenders. He ordered for all sails to head for Lys to finish the job and get their payment, while on this journey he enjoyed the Volanteen for a few hours and then gave her to the boys for a job well done, she actually began to enjoy it after four and a half days before they arrived at their destination.

A mercantile city, Lys is built on a fertile island considered a paradise. The sunny island is fertile with palm and fruit trees, and the surrounding blue-green waters are filled with fish. The women are a different story He thought as he remembered the scar on his cheek he got when one of his lovers found him in bed with her little sister, she almost got his throat if he wasn't quick enough. Its walls are tall and guarded by thousands of sellswords, if they were smart then they would recruit their own slaves instead.

The port was nervous at seeing ten Iron Born ships docking in, and it was well deserved with how his father liked sacking towns all across the Narrow, Sunset, Shivering, Summer and Jade seas. It is also a reason he has to change the scenery to avoid the man because you get a sunken fleet when facing two Iron Born captains together. He isn't afraid of his father, he just knows who the better commander at sea, with one being thirty and six and he twenty and four despite his several years at commanding a fleet.

The magisters were waiting for him at the gates going into the city, all wearing smug faces and pompous finery, he wished he could sack the city but they pay good coin, the thought bringing a dry laugh and thought that his family would hang him for selling his blade for gold or taking it the Iron Born way, he takes random ships from time to time when he is bored but mainly for getting a new ship to his fleet.

"Thank goodness you arrived, was thinking you were dead." one of the magisters said and he wanted to cut his throat for insulting his skill. He nodded for his men to bring all the gold, items, and had all the slaves put beside the wall.

"Have I ever not been late?" He asked and once the product was exchanged with gold, he bowed mockingly to the Magisters "I and my men should be off, pleasure doing business." He added and as he and his boys were walking away, one of the magisters stepped forth and shouted.

"Where's the Maegyr bitch!" He heard and sighed, his fun was over and had Zolar go and fetch her. To the surprise of the nobles, they were shocked to see the sweaty mess before them, "You soiled her?!" The same annoying man asked and he smirked and turned to him, a hand ready to grab his ax if needed.

"No. I merely broke her in for ya, enjoy her lads. I know we did laughs." He and his men went back onto their ships to head back 'home'.

Home would be the larger island in the Stepstones. He took it three years ago and fought two Pirate Lords to hold it, but now he has enough ships and captured a hundred stonemasons to build himself a wall, he commands thirty ships, ten longships, fifteen war galleys and five merchant vessels. He also leads a small army of 6000 men, none are Iron Born but 300 and the rest recruits from the Free Cities, Summer Islands, Slavers Bay and even as far as Yi Ti and Asshai. It is also held with the help of Tyrosh and Lys, whom he's allied with.

Other troubles come from Salladhor Saan and other would be Pirates who want to run the Stepstones and take what he won. He also had one conflict during the first year with the two Pirate Lords allied and a great naval battle ensued with him coming up on top. After that, he set up and called the island the Isle of Iron for his blood and name and legacy. Next, he had a small keep built as he had accumulated the wealth and resources to make it, a small port soon came after that and now he fashioned himself as the Great Lord of the Steps.

He was tired and needed a rest so he had his boys take their half of what was promised and took his portion back to the 'vault', a cave in the mountain part of the island where he keeps a large set of gold, he worked hard for the wealth and power he has and thanks his father for giving him this chance when he abandoned him on Sothoryos, the diseased and danger riddled continent that the Valyrian and Ghiscari empire settled thousands of years ago but the same troubles caused all their colonies to be destroyed or abandoned.

"Daddy!" He heard a child's voice speak and saw a fair haired and blue eyed young girl of three come and he hoisted the child up. Alissa was her name and the child of his first Salt Wife, a woman called Doreah, sadly he took her away when she was born and left the old lover to be given to the pleasure houses of Lys, the word is she was given to noblewoman two years ago.

"She doesn't have anything from your bastard of a father, it's a good sign." He sighed and realized and turned to see a long time family member that he hadn't laid eyes on since he and his father were sent away after what his father did to his uncles Salt Wife.

"Victarion, its good to see you again." His uncle looked no worse for wear, tall and powerful with a beard and has a strong presence. As a child, he thought the sight was intimidating and fearful, and now he is just as his father described All brawn and no brains he thought as he set his 'Little Mermaid' down and set her with a servant to her lessons. "Ten years and no words from the family, why come to me now?" He inquired and the warrior removed his helm and put it on a table.

"Balon is dead, fell from his tower one night and is with the Drowned God." The news shocked him, Balon seemed too stubborn to die and more so from falling. Victarion pulled a letter from his person and handed it to him, "The Kingsmoot will be announced and all kin is expected to arrive, your father was the first... " His fists clenched at the mention of Crows-Eye.

"And what can I do, win the damned thing and leave me be." He snorted out, his attendance isn't needed, its the son of the last king who should be there.

"Theon is still missing and Euron will want a decision right away if he wins then this could be the end of all of us." Victarion stated and came close to put a hand on his shoulders, "But if you cast your vote to my own, I see you get your revenge." His uncle promised and it definitely got his attention, and he smiled at the thought of actually landing his ax into his fathers head, kin or not be damned.

"So when do you want to leave?"