Well, hello everyone. This is my second AAR, and the first one I will write with this style, which means that is basically my first one. I originally didn’t think about doing a new one, but reading Valyrian Steel: a Game of Thrones AAR from @Henry v. Keiper inspired me to both play again this fantastic mod and writing this new AAR.
At first I wanted to play in the Stepstones, but that was something I had already done in the past, and I wanted to try something new. So I looked around and decided to try in the Summer Isles. I hope you will like this.
Now, this doesn’t really have a defined target, it’s more of an adventure. I will try to play in character, and I guess expanding is in order, but we will see through time.
The starting year is 56 AL, so Jaehaerys I is on the Iron Throne. But that doesn’t matter because we are in the Summer Isle.
As for the DLC, we have The Old Gods, Sword of Islam, The Republic, Sons of Abraham, Rajahs of India and Legacy of Rome.
I hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading and let's see where the Red Ram brings us.
PROLOGUE: THE RAM OF THE ISLE OF BIRDS
42 AL
«The Black Dread is close, my son.» Said the old man, looking at the younger one. They looked similar enough that anyone could tell they were father and son. The man sighed and continued «It’s time for you to leave. Run away from this cursed land before it’s too late.»
The younger, at the verge of crying, grabbed his father’s hands «C-Come with me, f-father. We can still r-run away together. The king d-doesn’t want our lives. He w-wants the lives of the Poor Fellows.» He replied, cursing himself for his stuttering.
«Not anymore. We gave them food and refuge. That is enough for him to consider the whole city his enemy. This ship will be everything that survives of it after the attack of the Cruel. Go away Lucas. Now.»
Lucas Lychbury looked at the ship. The Longer Tide was a big merchant ship. His father had bought it years ago and had started to sell products from the Reach to Dorne and the Free Cities. He had become rich, enough that the city surrounding his store had grown to the point that he was granted a noble title. And now, that same boat would have left without his captain. On board were women, children and of course sailors.
«Take this with you.» His oldman said, interrupting his thoughts to hand him a bundle of cloth «The Lord of the Hightower gave it to me long ago, when I was granted the title of lord Lychbury of Lychbury Hall.»
Lucas felt again at the point of crying, opening it to reveal his family coat of arms: a red ram’s head with blue horns on a green back. He took it to the ship, and smiled to his father for the last time, then left. He couldn’t know it back then, but a few hours later king Maegor the Cruel completely burned the cities, turning it to ashes.
«Will we ever come back?» A soldier asked that night, while the ship was sailing south.
Lucas looked at the arms he had placed in his room, the captain room where his father had lived for so long, and waved his head «Never.» He replied.
55 AL
«It s-seems like yesterday.» Said Lucas, drinking his ale at the table a tavern near Myr «And n-now look at me. Fa-Father. Jaden is a r-really good boy, I think.»
«It’s the second time you tell me this today, Lucas.» replied Septon Gormon «I know what your son looks like, he was born six month ago. And you have a second one coming. In case you forgot, I have followed you thirteen years now. I was a bloody boy when you started this damned journey!»
Lucas nodded. After leaving the Reach they had sailed east. In Dorne they had left those that were not strong enough to survive the journey to Essos, or that simply preferred to test their luck in that realm of sand. From two hundreds, that had left Lucas with one hundred or so, mostly sailors or soldiers, but a few of them were women and kids or youngsters. There was also an old septon, and he was the one that had trained Gormon in order to have someone to take his place after his death. Lucas was half sure that becoming a Septon didn’t work like that, but had kept his mouth shut because Gormon was a good guy and because his soldiers considered having a Septon with them something positive.
After a dangerous journey through the Stepstones, were pirates had attacked multiple time the ship, sometimes even succeeding in the kidnapping of women and children, they had arrived to Tyrosh. Here almost every survivor left, except for the sailors, a few soldiers and of course Septon Gormon. Lucas’ first love, a beautiful young woman with long red hairs, remained as well.
Then Lucas had survived long years of fighting as a mercenary soldier in the Disputed Lands, together with his companions. He had formed a decently sized mercenary band, mostly of other exiled from Westeros, thanks to his ability in combat, probably a compensation from the Gods for his terrible stuttering. When Jaehaerys Targaryen raised to the throne some of his men left, to return to their old country. He did not. He was done with dealing with the dragon kings of the Iron Throne.
«What do you want to do, then?» Asked Gormon, interrupting his stream of thoughts «You want to waste all your life here in the Disputed Lands? Our contract with Lys is over, so we will have to sail again to Tyrosh or Myr if we want to find someone. Or do you prefer to try with Volantis? They are not at war right now, but at least we would not need to go through the Stepstones again. I don’t think the Longer Tide can hold for much longer. Or…»
Lucas slammed his fist on the table «I don’t know! Seven Hells, you know how to make someone angry! Yes, we have to find a place to live! Yes, the Longer Tide will probably hold for another journey at best! If it was for me I would…» He shouted, angered.
«I know what you would do! You want “A country where those that can’t leave anywhere else can come”! Yes, you told me of that blasted dream since I was boy! And what did come from that dream? Do I need to remind you of Torturer’s Deep?»
Lucas closed his fist. He had tried to attack the pirate island, but his failure had costed the life of fifty good men. It was something he still recalled, despite the seven years that had passed.
«The Stepstones are no good anyway. The Iron Tron and the Three Sisters have their eyes on them.»
«Then where? Essos is full of large countries, at least on the coast. You can’t of course declare war on them. The coast Beyond the Wall is too far and too cold for a Reachman, and anyway the Wildlings are…»
«Yes, I know. I was thinking of sailing to the Basilisk Islands. They are far off from both Essos and Westeros.»
«Too far! How do you hope to gain help from a mercenary when the pirate lords will attack you.»
«Then p-please, give me yo-your advice.» Replied Lucas, on the verge of getting angered once more. He was short tempered, he knew that, but it was nothing he could not bear with.
«First of all, as always you stop stuttering when you get angry. You should try to do it more often. Anyway, my suggestion is simple: give up your foolish dream and form a proper mercenary band. You could be the Commander of the Red Rams. That way you can keep your heritage alive and…»
«I won’t d-do that. I will rule a country, be it t-the last th-thing I do.»
Gormon was about to reply again, then he noticed two Summer Islanders closing to them. He pointed them to Lucas that turned to face the two.
«Hello, my dear friends.» Said the first one, his head completely bald «We couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. Probably like everyone else in the inn.»
«And what c-can we do for you?» Said the mercenary leader, smiling. Maybe it was for a new contract. He had never been to the Summer Isles, but if there was a war he could have at least gained some money.
«My name is Jalabhar, and I’m the Master of Blackfletcher. This man here is Makhan, Priest of the Temple of The Birds.» He said pointing his ebony finger to his companion, a bearded young man with a shrewd look in his eyes.
«And I am Lucas Lychbury, commander of the Longer Tide. What can I do for you, dear sirs?»
«Well, it’s not easy to explain. You know of the island known as the Isle of Birds, right?» The Priest said.
«Isn’t it one of the Summer Isles?»
«Yes. You see, we are… unhappy about our current ruler.» Replied the man, nodding.
«Indeed. And this is why we are looking for someone that could take his place. Unfortunately, we don’t trust each other enough to simply start a rebellion ourselves. And we don’t want to simply let the rulers of Koj or another island take over the throne. And finally…»
«We are looking for someone that the Free Cities would think twice before attacking. And unfortunately, they don’t fear Summer Islanders at all. In fact, they are becoming bolder every day. We have had three raids in the last year, and Volantis is preparing the fourth. If this continues, the Isle of Birds will soon become the Isle of Slaves.»
Lucas and Gormon examined the offer for a second, then Gormon spoke «Are you saying what I think you are saying?»
«Indeed. We will let you take the throne of the Isle if you promise to give us a few things.»
«And what are t-those few th-things?» Lucas asked, cursing his stuttering, something he was used to do despite all the years.
«First of all, we want the title of Castellan and Justiciar in your council.»
«I see you know ho-how the Seven Kin-Kingdoms are ruled. V-very well, they are yours. W-what next?»
«All your soldiers, of course.»
«That go-goes without saying. They will f-follow me to the isle. All o-of them.»
«Very well. Another thing.»
«What i-is it?» Asked Lucas.
«You shall promise to not force us to turn our back to the Gods of our islands.»
«Will you l-let my Septon here have a Septry? Your people will b-be free to change their G-Gods if they please, but I will not force them to. And my soldiers will need a place to pray.»
The two discussed for a second, then the Master of Blackfletcher nodded «Very well, you can open your… Septry for your soldiers and for anyone of our people that would choose the Seven instead of the true gods.» He replied.
Gormon got closer to Lucas and whispered in his ears «This sounds a bit fishy. It’s too easy.»
«I heard that in the S-Summer Islands you pray with your di-dick instead of your mouth, t-they probably think that not a single man would choose the la-latter instead of the former.» Lucas replied, then returned to the two men «S-Something else?»
«You shall not kill the Tomburu family that rules on the Isle of Birds now. That would be a cursed and foolish action.»
Lucas nodded. It would have make things a bit harder, but not impossible.
«Very well.» Said the lord of Blackfletcher «Sail to the Summer Isles. The Isle of Birds is in the middle of the Smiling Sea, south of Walano.»
«We’ll be waiting.» The Priest concluded, launching one last look at the Septon before leaving with the other.
«This is fishy Lucas. Don’t get carried awa…» Started Gormon, but the man was already smiling. And that was a clear sign for anyone that knew him. Gormon grabbed his ale and gulped it. Things were going to get bad.
A few hard months later, the Longer Tide was sailing near the northern coast of the Isle of Birds, until landing in the port of the City of Blackfletcher.
Lucas sent one last gaze at the ship. The journey had been long, and that was the end. The Longer Tide was barely holding together at that point. He smiled as his men started to disembark with every item they had on board. Then the lord of Blackfletcher arrived, smiling, followed by a handful of archers.
«Welcome, Lord Lucas. Please, come with me, and bring your army.»
Lucas followed him with his army through the island’s roads, until a castle of exotic structure. Well, exotic for him at least.
«This i-is it?»
«Yes, the guards have already been paid to let us through. All we have to do is reach the throne room and capture the lord and his family.»
«Ve-very well.» Said the lord. Then he and his men walked through the gate and marched through the corridors, reaching the throne room.
The man on the throne, with a crown of parrot feathers, shouted something in a language Lucas could not understand. He did not care and started shouting orders at his men. Thankfully, most of them came out without his cursed stuttering, making him look a lot more dangerous.
He himself walked to the throne and grabbed the wrist of the man.
«Your r-reign is over. Surrender now and you will be allowed t-to live on this isle.» He said, pointing his sword to the man.
«Is this a joke, Jalabhar?» The ebony man said, talking the language of Westeros probably to let even Lucas understand.
«If it was, I would have stopped it a long time ago. Tamboru’s rule is over. This is our new lord.»
«This stuttering fool is your new ruler? Are you insane? This is crazy.»
«Tell that to all our people you have sold to the Free Cities.»
«And you think this man will manage to defend you from them?» The demoted ruler asked.
«I will.» He said, feeling his anger and pride growing at every word of his predecessor «I am Lucas Lychbury. LORD Lucas Lychbury of the Isle of Birds, and I will protect this isle better then you have ever done.»
The Summer Islander clutched his fist, then raised his free hand «I swear I will take back what’s mine.»
«I can’t wait.» Lord Lucas replied. Then smiled. With a swift moment removed from above the throne the shield with the symbol of the Tamboru family. In his place, the lord placed his father banner.
"Yes." He thought to himself "I'll make sure that the Red Ram goes down to history in this world, father."
At first I wanted to play in the Stepstones, but that was something I had already done in the past, and I wanted to try something new. So I looked around and decided to try in the Summer Isles. I hope you will like this.
Now, this doesn’t really have a defined target, it’s more of an adventure. I will try to play in character, and I guess expanding is in order, but we will see through time.
The starting year is 56 AL, so Jaehaerys I is on the Iron Throne. But that doesn’t matter because we are in the Summer Isle.
As for the DLC, we have The Old Gods, Sword of Islam, The Republic, Sons of Abraham, Rajahs of India and Legacy of Rome.
I hope you enjoy. Thanks for reading and let's see where the Red Ram brings us.
PROLOGUE: THE RAM OF THE ISLE OF BIRDS
42 AL
«The Black Dread is close, my son.» Said the old man, looking at the younger one. They looked similar enough that anyone could tell they were father and son. The man sighed and continued «It’s time for you to leave. Run away from this cursed land before it’s too late.»
The younger, at the verge of crying, grabbed his father’s hands «C-Come with me, f-father. We can still r-run away together. The king d-doesn’t want our lives. He w-wants the lives of the Poor Fellows.» He replied, cursing himself for his stuttering.
«Not anymore. We gave them food and refuge. That is enough for him to consider the whole city his enemy. This ship will be everything that survives of it after the attack of the Cruel. Go away Lucas. Now.»
Lucas Lychbury looked at the ship. The Longer Tide was a big merchant ship. His father had bought it years ago and had started to sell products from the Reach to Dorne and the Free Cities. He had become rich, enough that the city surrounding his store had grown to the point that he was granted a noble title. And now, that same boat would have left without his captain. On board were women, children and of course sailors.
«Take this with you.» His oldman said, interrupting his thoughts to hand him a bundle of cloth «The Lord of the Hightower gave it to me long ago, when I was granted the title of lord Lychbury of Lychbury Hall.»
Lucas felt again at the point of crying, opening it to reveal his family coat of arms: a red ram’s head with blue horns on a green back. He took it to the ship, and smiled to his father for the last time, then left. He couldn’t know it back then, but a few hours later king Maegor the Cruel completely burned the cities, turning it to ashes.
«Will we ever come back?» A soldier asked that night, while the ship was sailing south.
Lucas looked at the arms he had placed in his room, the captain room where his father had lived for so long, and waved his head «Never.» He replied.
55 AL
«It s-seems like yesterday.» Said Lucas, drinking his ale at the table a tavern near Myr «And n-now look at me. Fa-Father. Jaden is a r-really good boy, I think.»
«It’s the second time you tell me this today, Lucas.» replied Septon Gormon «I know what your son looks like, he was born six month ago. And you have a second one coming. In case you forgot, I have followed you thirteen years now. I was a bloody boy when you started this damned journey!»
Lucas nodded. After leaving the Reach they had sailed east. In Dorne they had left those that were not strong enough to survive the journey to Essos, or that simply preferred to test their luck in that realm of sand. From two hundreds, that had left Lucas with one hundred or so, mostly sailors or soldiers, but a few of them were women and kids or youngsters. There was also an old septon, and he was the one that had trained Gormon in order to have someone to take his place after his death. Lucas was half sure that becoming a Septon didn’t work like that, but had kept his mouth shut because Gormon was a good guy and because his soldiers considered having a Septon with them something positive.
After a dangerous journey through the Stepstones, were pirates had attacked multiple time the ship, sometimes even succeeding in the kidnapping of women and children, they had arrived to Tyrosh. Here almost every survivor left, except for the sailors, a few soldiers and of course Septon Gormon. Lucas’ first love, a beautiful young woman with long red hairs, remained as well.
Then Lucas had survived long years of fighting as a mercenary soldier in the Disputed Lands, together with his companions. He had formed a decently sized mercenary band, mostly of other exiled from Westeros, thanks to his ability in combat, probably a compensation from the Gods for his terrible stuttering. When Jaehaerys Targaryen raised to the throne some of his men left, to return to their old country. He did not. He was done with dealing with the dragon kings of the Iron Throne.
«What do you want to do, then?» Asked Gormon, interrupting his stream of thoughts «You want to waste all your life here in the Disputed Lands? Our contract with Lys is over, so we will have to sail again to Tyrosh or Myr if we want to find someone. Or do you prefer to try with Volantis? They are not at war right now, but at least we would not need to go through the Stepstones again. I don’t think the Longer Tide can hold for much longer. Or…»
Lucas slammed his fist on the table «I don’t know! Seven Hells, you know how to make someone angry! Yes, we have to find a place to live! Yes, the Longer Tide will probably hold for another journey at best! If it was for me I would…» He shouted, angered.
«I know what you would do! You want “A country where those that can’t leave anywhere else can come”! Yes, you told me of that blasted dream since I was boy! And what did come from that dream? Do I need to remind you of Torturer’s Deep?»
Lucas closed his fist. He had tried to attack the pirate island, but his failure had costed the life of fifty good men. It was something he still recalled, despite the seven years that had passed.
«The Stepstones are no good anyway. The Iron Tron and the Three Sisters have their eyes on them.»
«Then where? Essos is full of large countries, at least on the coast. You can’t of course declare war on them. The coast Beyond the Wall is too far and too cold for a Reachman, and anyway the Wildlings are…»
«Yes, I know. I was thinking of sailing to the Basilisk Islands. They are far off from both Essos and Westeros.»
«Too far! How do you hope to gain help from a mercenary when the pirate lords will attack you.»
«Then p-please, give me yo-your advice.» Replied Lucas, on the verge of getting angered once more. He was short tempered, he knew that, but it was nothing he could not bear with.
«First of all, as always you stop stuttering when you get angry. You should try to do it more often. Anyway, my suggestion is simple: give up your foolish dream and form a proper mercenary band. You could be the Commander of the Red Rams. That way you can keep your heritage alive and…»
«I won’t d-do that. I will rule a country, be it t-the last th-thing I do.»
Gormon was about to reply again, then he noticed two Summer Islanders closing to them. He pointed them to Lucas that turned to face the two.
«Hello, my dear friends.» Said the first one, his head completely bald «We couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. Probably like everyone else in the inn.»
«And what c-can we do for you?» Said the mercenary leader, smiling. Maybe it was for a new contract. He had never been to the Summer Isles, but if there was a war he could have at least gained some money.
«My name is Jalabhar, and I’m the Master of Blackfletcher. This man here is Makhan, Priest of the Temple of The Birds.» He said pointing his ebony finger to his companion, a bearded young man with a shrewd look in his eyes.
«And I am Lucas Lychbury, commander of the Longer Tide. What can I do for you, dear sirs?»
«Well, it’s not easy to explain. You know of the island known as the Isle of Birds, right?» The Priest said.
«Isn’t it one of the Summer Isles?»
«Yes. You see, we are… unhappy about our current ruler.» Replied the man, nodding.
«Indeed. And this is why we are looking for someone that could take his place. Unfortunately, we don’t trust each other enough to simply start a rebellion ourselves. And we don’t want to simply let the rulers of Koj or another island take over the throne. And finally…»
«We are looking for someone that the Free Cities would think twice before attacking. And unfortunately, they don’t fear Summer Islanders at all. In fact, they are becoming bolder every day. We have had three raids in the last year, and Volantis is preparing the fourth. If this continues, the Isle of Birds will soon become the Isle of Slaves.»
Lucas and Gormon examined the offer for a second, then Gormon spoke «Are you saying what I think you are saying?»
«Indeed. We will let you take the throne of the Isle if you promise to give us a few things.»
«And what are t-those few th-things?» Lucas asked, cursing his stuttering, something he was used to do despite all the years.
«First of all, we want the title of Castellan and Justiciar in your council.»
«I see you know ho-how the Seven Kin-Kingdoms are ruled. V-very well, they are yours. W-what next?»
«All your soldiers, of course.»
«That go-goes without saying. They will f-follow me to the isle. All o-of them.»
«Very well. Another thing.»
«What i-is it?» Asked Lucas.
«You shall promise to not force us to turn our back to the Gods of our islands.»
«Will you l-let my Septon here have a Septry? Your people will b-be free to change their G-Gods if they please, but I will not force them to. And my soldiers will need a place to pray.»
The two discussed for a second, then the Master of Blackfletcher nodded «Very well, you can open your… Septry for your soldiers and for anyone of our people that would choose the Seven instead of the true gods.» He replied.
Gormon got closer to Lucas and whispered in his ears «This sounds a bit fishy. It’s too easy.»
«I heard that in the S-Summer Islands you pray with your di-dick instead of your mouth, t-they probably think that not a single man would choose the la-latter instead of the former.» Lucas replied, then returned to the two men «S-Something else?»
«You shall not kill the Tomburu family that rules on the Isle of Birds now. That would be a cursed and foolish action.»
Lucas nodded. It would have make things a bit harder, but not impossible.
«Very well.» Said the lord of Blackfletcher «Sail to the Summer Isles. The Isle of Birds is in the middle of the Smiling Sea, south of Walano.»
«We’ll be waiting.» The Priest concluded, launching one last look at the Septon before leaving with the other.
«This is fishy Lucas. Don’t get carried awa…» Started Gormon, but the man was already smiling. And that was a clear sign for anyone that knew him. Gormon grabbed his ale and gulped it. Things were going to get bad.
A few hard months later, the Longer Tide was sailing near the northern coast of the Isle of Birds, until landing in the port of the City of Blackfletcher.
Lucas sent one last gaze at the ship. The journey had been long, and that was the end. The Longer Tide was barely holding together at that point. He smiled as his men started to disembark with every item they had on board. Then the lord of Blackfletcher arrived, smiling, followed by a handful of archers.
«Welcome, Lord Lucas. Please, come with me, and bring your army.»
Lucas followed him with his army through the island’s roads, until a castle of exotic structure. Well, exotic for him at least.
«This i-is it?»
«Yes, the guards have already been paid to let us through. All we have to do is reach the throne room and capture the lord and his family.»
«Ve-very well.» Said the lord. Then he and his men walked through the gate and marched through the corridors, reaching the throne room.
The man on the throne, with a crown of parrot feathers, shouted something in a language Lucas could not understand. He did not care and started shouting orders at his men. Thankfully, most of them came out without his cursed stuttering, making him look a lot more dangerous.
He himself walked to the throne and grabbed the wrist of the man.
«Your r-reign is over. Surrender now and you will be allowed t-to live on this isle.» He said, pointing his sword to the man.
«Is this a joke, Jalabhar?» The ebony man said, talking the language of Westeros probably to let even Lucas understand.
«If it was, I would have stopped it a long time ago. Tamboru’s rule is over. This is our new lord.»
«This stuttering fool is your new ruler? Are you insane? This is crazy.»
«Tell that to all our people you have sold to the Free Cities.»
«And you think this man will manage to defend you from them?» The demoted ruler asked.
«I will.» He said, feeling his anger and pride growing at every word of his predecessor «I am Lucas Lychbury. LORD Lucas Lychbury of the Isle of Birds, and I will protect this isle better then you have ever done.»
The Summer Islander clutched his fist, then raised his free hand «I swear I will take back what’s mine.»
«I can’t wait.» Lord Lucas replied. Then smiled. With a swift moment removed from above the throne the shield with the symbol of the Tamboru family. In his place, the lord placed his father banner.
"Yes." He thought to himself "I'll make sure that the Red Ram goes down to history in this world, father."
