(Third-person perspective)
Aermir realized that a new opportunity had arisen after the Battle of Moon drift port. Initially, he had considered borrowing ships from the House Manderly to launch an invasion of the Three Sisters. However, the situation had changed. In that fierce battle, they had successfully inflicted heavy casualties on the Three Sisters. Thanks to that massacre, they no longer needed to rent ships.
Therefore, approximately 25 small to medium-sized pirate ships remained anchored near the coast. In addition, he had 10 ships capable of carrying 500 men each. With this small fleet, they could transport more troops than initially planned, gaining an advantage in the upcoming battles.
Aermir's powerful army numbered 9,000, but it was divided into different units. The majority of his forces (approximately 5,000) were part of the Knights Templar army. Of these 5,000 soldiers, only 500 held the prestigious title of Paladin, highlighting their elite status. His core force comprised 4,000 men, consisting of 800 knights, who formed the backbone of his military power.
Within his knightly ranks were two distinct orders. The first, known as the Order of Drasil, enjoyed greater prestige. The second Moat Cailin Knight Order, was established for those who wished to serve but Order of Drasil of Drasil due to a lack of swearing-in quotas in Aermir. The Moat Cailin Knight Order typically undertook less complex tasks, such as patrolling trade routes and guarding outposts around the territory. Notably, the Knights of Moat Cailin did not receive their training at the forge, a distinction that distinguished them from the Drasil Knights.
Aermir selected some of his most trusted men from the Moat Cailin Knight Order to lead the guards stationed at the North outposts. These knights were primarily responsible for squads of ten soldiers each, and their role was more akin to traditional law enforcement compared to the elite professional forces of the Order of Drasil and the Rangers.
In contrast, the Drasil Knights served as the vanguard of the Aermir army. They worked closely with the paladins, leading their troops in battle. However, it should be noted that the Order of Drasil were not entirely composed of 500 knights. Their order employed a modern decimal military system, possessing a more comprehensive structure, including squires and infantry. This structure made the fighting force under the Aermir Lord Drasil more well-rounded.
Aermir had prepared for the impending invasion, leaving 2,000 soldiers behind for overall security and command. His main force, consisting of 7,000 well-trained soldiers, was ready to launch the attack. Given his role as Druid, he deemed the use of siege engines unnecessary for this particular campaign. Preparations for the attack on the Three Sisters were complete, and Aermir's strategy was in place, awaiting the signal to begin.
Lord Sunderland, Torrent, and Lord Borrell sat around a large wooden table, engaged in a heated discussion. Their predicament weighed heavily on their minds; they knew time was running out. It was a challenging situation, for so far only House Pryor had supported their cause, while the other families of the Vale awaited news from Jon Arryn.
Lord Pryor was the sole exception; he volunteered to gather a thousand men to join their ranks, demonstrating his resolve to confront the Druid and the Old Gods, a resolve further strengthened by the news he had heard of the converts in the North. A week later, he would arrive at the Three Sisters with ten small ships.
As they gathered in the meeting hall, a tense atmosphere filled the air, and the discussion grew increasingly heated as time passed. The Lord Sunderland, his voice tinged with fear, raised an idea to the other lords.
"Brothers, I fear fighting them on land. The Druid bastards and their followers of the Old Gods have proven to be a formidable adversary, and our forces may be outnumbered. However, we have a clear advantage at sea. What if we choose to confront them there?"
Lord Torrent nodded thoughtfully, agreeing with the idea. "Yes, naval warfare might be our best course of action. We have skilled sailors and a powerful navy. If we can lure them into the waters, perhaps we'll have an opportunity."
Lord Borrell, though less enthusiastic, recognized the wisdom in their words. "Very well, let's plan to deploy our men along the coast, boarding them as soon as they approach. We should establish a network of scout ships. This way, we can rendezvous with them on the high seas. This is our best chance to deliver a fatal blow."
The Three Sisters agreed to this strategy, recognizing it as the most viable option. Discussions continued, delving into the specific details of the plan and coordinating forces for the impending naval confrontation. Given the precarious fate of their region, they hoped their combined efforts would be sufficient to counter the Druid's army.
The lords of the Three Sisters, engrossed in their strategic discussions, were unaware that a small brown mouse was carefully observing them from a corner of the room. Its eyes were wide, its whiskers twitching, watching their every word and action. The presence of this little creature went unnoticed as the lords focused on the impending conflict with the Druid and their powerful followers. Once the discussion ended, the brown mouse vanished underground like water.
As Aermir meditated on the magic, he felt a familiar pull on his consciousness. It was the spiritual connection that bound him to Jilim. He paused his meditation, opened his heart to her, and prepared to receive any information or insights she might offer.
"Master, they have decided to fight you at sea." Jilim's voice echoed in his mind.
When Aermir heard the news, a wicked smile spread across his face. "Thank you, Jilim. Keep a close eye on them."
The idea of naval warfare pleased him. It meant he could minimize losses while inflicting a powerful blow on the enemy. He rose from his reverie and gazed out the window at the bustling streets of Moonflow City. Only a week had passed since the fierce battle, but life in the city had already returned to normal. People were busy with their own affairs, seemingly unaffected by the powerful army that loomed faintly outside the city gates.
The merchant ships docked at Moon drift port appeared anxious, still unsure whether another confrontation was imminent. However, a glimmer of confidence emerged among them, invigorated by previous warnings and their subsequent experience of evading pirate attacks.
In the dimly lit halls of Riverrun, Lord Hoster Tully and his councilors gathered to discuss the brewing situation in the North and the Vale. Tully, dignified and wise, fell into deep thought. Just then, his heir Edmure spoke.
"My lord, the North and the Vale are on the brink of a major conflict, and as neighboring nations, we have a responsibility to consider our role in this matter. Given our close neighborly relationship with the Vale of Arryn and the delicate politics involved, we cannot openly intervene. However, we can offer support in more covert ways, such as providing food when needed, or even secretly lending money."
Tully remained lost in thought, but did not speak, only nodding; his advisors and nobles took this as approval and began to offer more suggestions on how to help the North. One of Tully's advisors Xiani, expanded on Edmure's ideas and said...
"My lord, providing food and financial aid is indeed a prudent approach, especially considering the potential escalation of this conflict. However, we must also consider the necessity of caution when offering support. We can establish rear channels of communication with our counterparts in the North to ensure our aid is delivered discreetly and avoids further provoking the Vale."
At that moment, the Tully slammed his fist on the table and said angrily.
"Should we! Should we pretend to be loyal to the North and rush to their aid without asking? Especially when the conflict is between a rising power that has cost us all our food income and pirates who attacked our ships. Should we do this? Should we help him even more so that he does even more damage to the Riverlands! Are you serving House Tully or House Stark?"
Now that we know what their lord desires, Scholar Vyman said.
"Perhaps we could engage in some form of diplomatic communication. We could send diplomatic envoys to the North to express our concerns and intentions. This would demonstrate our support without openly interfering in their affairs. Since it would take weeks for the envoys to arrive, everything might be over before we take any action."