**The Rise of House Redwyne: A Bannerlord's Conquest**
**Volume I: The Vineyard Prince**
**Chapter 6: Iron and Wine**
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### **The Kraken's Offer**
The storm rolled across the Sunset Sea like the Drowned God's wrath, turning the decks of the *Vine Serpent* into a treacherous dance of salt spray and groaning timbers. Aemon Redwyne, now fourteen and bearing the first scars of lordship, gripped the rail as the Ironborn longship *Black Tide* cut through the swells toward them. The vessel flew no banners—only a tattered sail painted with a kraken whose tentacles coiled around a grape cluster.
*"They've added our sigil to their blasphemies,"* muttered Harren Salt-Eye, his hand resting on his axe.
Aemon didn't flinch. **"That means they're here to talk."**
The two ships drew alongside, grappling hooks biting into the *Vine Serpent's* rails. The Ironborn boarding party was led by a towering figure in salt-crusted armor, his face hidden behind a kraken-helm. When he removed it, Aemon recognized the sharp, sea-weathered features of **Victarion Greyjoy**, the Iron Fleet's fiercest captain.
**"Lord Redwyne,"** Victarion rumbled. **"My brother sends greetings from Pyke. He proposes... an understanding."**
Aemon's fingers brushed the hilt of his sword. **"The last time Greyjoys and Redwynes 'understood' each other, my great-grandfather lost an eye and three ships."**
Victarion grinned, teeth yellow as old ivory. **"Aye. But today, we share an enemy."** He tossed a waterlogged Lannister helm onto the deck. **"The lions think the sea belongs to them."**
**[Quest Alert: The Kraken's Pact]**
*Objective: Negotiate alliance with House Greyjoy*
*Reward: 10 Ironborn longships, -30% Lannister naval power*
*Risk: Tyrell outrage, Faith Militant backlash*
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### **The Terms**
In the swaying lantern-light of the *Vine Serpent's* cabin, Victarion laid out Balon Greyjoy's offer:
1. **Redwyne ships** would ferry Ironborn raiders to Lannister-held coasts
2. **Greyjoy longships** would protect Redwyne trade routes
3. **Divided spoils**: 60% to the Ironborn, 40% to the Arbor
4. **A blood seal**: Aemon's bastard cousin to wed a Greyjoy cousin
Aemon studied the terms, then pushed the parchment back. **"Tell Lord Balon I want *three* things changed."**
Victarion's eyes darkened. **"Name them."**
**"First—70/30 split, not 60/40. My ships are faster and my men know the coasts."**
**"Second—no raids on Reach villages. Strike only Lannister targets."**
**"Third—"** Aemon leaned forward. **"I want a Greyjoy hostage. Your brother Aeron."**
The cabin fell silent. Victarion's hand twitched toward his axe.
Then—laughter.
**"By the Drowned God,"** Victarion choked out, **"you've got balls, grape lord."**
After three hours of negotiation, the pact was sealed in blood and salt.
**[Alliance Formed: Greyjoy-Redwyne Fleet]**
*Naval Strength: 15 Ships (5 Redwyne, 10 Ironborn)*
*New Objective: Raid Lannister supply lines*
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### **The Lion Awakes**
The first strike came at Kayce.
Under cover of fog, Aemon's fleet delivered two hundred Ironborn reavers to the Lannister port. By dawn, the warehouses were ash, the harbor chains sundered, and a golden lion banner floated in the bay—nailed to a Lannister captain's corpse.
When the news reached Casterly Rock, Tywin Lannister's response was swift.
Thirty Lannister warships set sail within the week.
And leading them?
**Ser Stafford Lannister**, with orders to burn the Arbor to the waterline.
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### **The Battle of Redwyne Straits**
Aemon's scouts spotted the Lannister fleet at dusk.
He stood on the deck of the *Vine Serpent*, watching the horizon darken with sails.
**"We can't take thirty ships head-on,"** Ser Jon warned.
Aemon smiled. **"Good thing we won't."**
His plan was simple:
1. **Lure the Lannisters into the Straits**, where the currents ran treacherous
2. **Spring the trap**: Hidden Ironborn longships would attack from the fog
3. **Kill the leader**: Without Stafford, the Lannister fleet would scatter
The battle began at dawn.
The *Vine Serpent* baited the Lannister vanguard into the narrows, then suddenly turned broadside.
**"Fire!"**
Wildfire bolts streaked across the water.
Two Lannister galleys erupted in green flame.
Then—**horns from the mist**.
The Ironborn came like demons from the deep, their longships slicing between the heavier Lannister vessels. Axes flashed. Men screamed.
Aemon boarded Stafford's flagship himself.
The fight was brutal.
Stafford, a bull of a man in gilded armor, swung a greatsword that could cleave a horse in two.
Aemon fought like a cornered wolf—dodging, weaving, using the ship's rigging to his advantage.
Then—**a lucky strike**.
His blade found the gap in Stafford's gorget.
The Lannister lord collapsed, choking on his own blood.
**[Battle Results]**
- **Lannister Fleet**: 18 ships sunk/captured
- **Redwyne-Ironborn Losses**: 4 ships
- **Loot Captured**: 15,000 gold dragons, 6 Lannister warships
**[Reputation Updated]**
- **Westerlands**: "The Red Kraken" (Lannister bounty: 50,000 gold dragons)
- **Iron Islands**: "Salt Grape" (Greyjoy respect +50%)
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### **The Aftermath**
In King's Landing, Tywin Lannister received the news in silence.
Then he summoned **Tyrion**.
**"You will go to the Arbor,"** Tywin said, his voice colder than winter. **"And you will remind this upstart what happens to those who bite the lion."**
Meanwhile, in Highgarden, Mace Tyrell stared at the reports, sweat beading on his brow.
**"Gods be good,"** he whispered. **"We've created a monster."**
Olenna Tyrell sipped her wine. **"No, dear. We didn't create him. We just didn't drown him when we had the chance."**
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### **Next Chapter Preview:**
- **Tyrion's Gambit** – The Imp arrives with an offer no sane man would refuse
- **The Tyrell Noose Tightens** – Margaery's betrothal comes due
- **A Storm from the East** – Rumors of Targaryen exiles gathering strength
*(Type* ***YES*** *to continue the epic saga!)*