CHAPTER 207

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CHAPTER 207

295 AC

POV THIRD PERSON

The Sistermen were known for their peculiar duality. To the outside world, they portrayed themselves as pious lords and ladies of the Seven, regal and noble in their manners. Their sophisticated attire, their adherence to the Faith of the Seven, and their courteous demeanor made them seem like the paragons of virtue. To an untrained eye, one might believe that these islands were home to an idyllic society ruled by righteous lords.

However, beneath this facade of nobility lurked a different truth. Almost every Sistermen lord was, in reality, a two-faced scoundrel. They wore their fine cloaks and jeweled ornaments like masks to conceal their true nature. For generations, they had perfected the art of deception.

Behind closed doors, hidden from the prying eyes of the mainlanders, these lords led double lives. They reveled in the dark and treacherous aspects of their culture. Their men, loyal and fierce, would embark on daring raids, attacking White Harbor ships and coastal settlements of the North as ruthless pirates. These maritime marauders left no evidence behind, no traces to trace back to their lords' grand halls.

The culture of the Sistermen had long thrived on this covert piracy, an open secret amongst themselves. It was a twisted source of pride and power, allowing them to maintain their luxurious lifestyles. The Sistermen lords were astute enough to know that the mighty House Stark, ruling from Winterfell, could never do anything about these clandestine activities as long as they were well-hidden and conducted with finesse. As long as they acted carefully, they were under the protection of the Vale Lords.

Yet, Aermir, the cunning Druid from the North, saw an opportunity within this culture of deceit. He recognized that the Sistermen's duplicity could be both their strength and their downfall. While they believed themselves to be invincible in their secret piracy, they had grown complacent, assured that their clandestine actions would forever go unpunished since they never left a witness.

Aermir resolved to use this culture against them. For a year he manipulated the web of lies and deceit, pulling at its threads until the entire fabric of Sistermen society unraveled. The very same lords who had reveled in their two-faced existence would find themselves ensnared in their own web of treachery as Aermir's instigations and provocations proved fruitful. He knew it was only a matter of time until those two-faced scoundrels would raid his ships. 

Aermir found himself in possession of 15 merchant ships, a necessary acquisition given Lord Manderley's reluctance to part with any of his own. To secure these valuable trade vessels, Aermir dispatched Torren Reed and Jory Flint on a lengthy voyage to Braavos, renowned for its maritime prowess.

The 15 ships he procured were of medium size, boasting a capacity of around 400 tons each. However, these vessels were better suited for shorter trading routes rather than enduring the rigors of long-distance open sea voyages. Their reach extended as far as Lys, limiting Aermir's trading ventures to relatively nearby ports. Of course, they could go longer distances by resupplying and following the coastline, but they were not big and fast enough to turn such long journeys as profitable as short ones.

The price for each of these ships amounted to a considerable sum—5,000 gold dragons. While they served their purpose, Aermir pondered the idea of acquiring larger, more robust ships capable of tackling extended ocean journeys. The cost for such vessels would be substantially higher, weighing in at a hefty 10,000 gold dragons apiece.

Aermir found himself in a financial conundrum. While he harbored ambitions of enhancing his fleet to facilitate broader trade, his current resources were stretched thin. The bulk of his finances had been allocated to initiatives aimed at bolstering agriculture and other production endeavors within his lands. Balancing these investments and managing his treasury would be paramount as he navigated the complexities of governance and economic growth.

...

The serene waters surrounding the Three Sisters concealed a brewing storm instigated by Aermir's cunning intervention. Over months, the Sistermen had observed trading ships departing from bustling Moondrift Port, laden with valuable cargo destined for distant shores. Their desires and frustrations had simmered beneath the surface, a yearning for wealth and prestige that had always eluded their grasp.

For months, Aermir embarked on a subtle campaign to sow discord and discontent among the Sistermen of the Three Sisters. Employing cunning tactics, he donned various disguises to manipulate their sentiments. 

At times, he masqueraded as shipwreck victims, spinning tales of woe and persecution. He painted a vivid picture of the Faithful of the North being unjustly oppressed by the enigmatic Druid. These whispered narratives aimed to evoke sympathy, stirring the hearts of those who listened and igniting a sense of righteous indignation.

On other occasions, Aermir assumed the role of minstrel, using the power of song to provoke anger and dissent towards the Druid. His verses were carefully crafted to convey a narrative that portrayed the Druid as a threat to the Sistermen's way of life, a usurper of their freedoms and traditions. But Aermir knew the biggest lure for hypocrites like Sistermen Lord was wealth. The lure of Moondrift Port, his and Manderlys' trade ships.

…

In the shadows, concealed from prying eyes, these influential figures convened secretly. They huddled in dimly lit chambers, their voices hushed as they discussed the audacious plot that had been brewing within their minds. Fueled by the allure of unimaginable riches, they believed they had found a way to change their fates and elevate their standing in the Three Sisters. Upstart lord of Moat Cailin was growing his fleet and wealth every passing day, and as the Sistermen, it was time they had to get a cut in this profit.

This was the first time they would be raiding someone so openly and so daringly. Their plan was bold, and they understood the risks involved. If caught, they needed a perfect cover, a justification for their actions. And so, they devised fake casus belli so they wouldn't lose the support of the Vale Lords. They would claim that they were raiding the ships belonging to Lord Drasil because of his supposed superior, Druid Emrys, since Lord Drasil was the commander of the Druid's templar forces. This cover story would serve as a shield, deflecting suspicion away from their true intentions and onto the oppressive Druid himself in the eyes of Vale Lords.

With this subterfuge in place, their resolve solidified. The promise of fortune and glory, coupled with their desire for vengeance against the perceived oppressor, made their determination unyielding. 

The combined Sistermen factions had pooled their resources and strength to form a formidable raiding force. This coalition consisted of 25 warships designed and armed for naval battles, along with approximately 100 smaller raiding vessels, pirate ships. Their numbers and determination were impressive, making them a significant threat.

House Manderly, the prominent maritime power in the region, possessed a larger fleet with around 150 ships at their disposal. However, the bulk of their fleet consisted of medium and small-sized trader ships, ill-suited for direct naval combat. Moreover, a substantial portion of their ships was currently engaged in trade routes throughout the Narrow Sea. In reality, they only had 20 warships.

Aermir, though lacking a naval force of his own, held a trump card that he had acquired specifically for this purpose. He had placed his complete trust in this enigmatic asset, believing it could tip the scales in his favor when the time was right, but he couldn't use this card until they raided his coasts. The stage was set for a pivotal clash.

One momentous morning, bathed in the sun's golden embrace, a fleet of ships departed from hidden coves and bays. These vessels carried determined Sistermen, their ambitions stoked by the promise of success as envisioned by their lords. As the first trading ship left Moondrift Port, blissfully unaware of the impending peril, at least that is what the Sistermen thought. But in reality, everything was going according to Aermir's plans. 

A year of planning was at last coming to fruition at last. In front of the watchful eyes of Erebus and his Murder, the fleet was on its way to Moondrift Port. Every part of Sistermen's plan was observed by Aermir, thanks to the Nin and Kilim. If the battle ended as Aermir envisioned, the fate of the Three Sisters stood at a crossroads, poised on the brink of chaos and destruction.