(Third-person perspective)
As the days passed, Lord Grafton, stationed on Paps, began to feel uneasy. The anticipated arrival of the North army led by the Druid made him anxious, and the lack of communication only deepened the anxiety that enveloped the island.
Lord Grafton, unable to shake his growing sense of foreboding, took action. Crow was sent to find answers to the pressing questions hanging over the people of Paps. However, as the days passed, the familiar black wings still did not return from the sky with a message.
Frustration consumed Lord Grafton. In search of a more direct solution, he ordered the preparation of fast sailing ships, piloted by a small number of trusted sailors. Their mission was to cross the turbulent waters to reach the main legion, hoping to find answers about the Druid, or why there were no answers. They even sailed the ships to different locations on the island, far from any port or dock.
Days passed, then a week, and there was still no news from the sailors on this perilous voyage. Lord Grafton paced back and forth in his command tent; maps and strategic plans lay spread out before him; he was anxious. The Paps Islands were isolated from the world, surrounded by the sea, and the threat of the Druid Orcas was imminent, all of which intensified his feeling of being trapped on the edge of a cliff. He was certain that those ferocious beasts were still in those waters.
The lord yearns to lead his army back to the mainland and unravel the mystery of why the North forces cannot reach the island. However, duty compels him to remain at his post; he cannot abandon his post. He must protect the island while also worrying about the fate of his main force. The Druid could not possibly be so arrogant as to attack the mainland. They have an army of twenty thousand men, and no conscripts have been recruited, yet he still feels uneasy.
Aermir soared through the open sky, a solitary figure navigating the vast expanse of the Vale. He gave clear instructions to his generals to hold the strategically vital island firmly in their grasp, while he himself ventured deep into the heart of the Vale, a land now shrouded in his meticulously planned scheme.
Aermir's 10,000-strong army of Vale of Arryn is trapped on the Paps Islands and isolated by orcas. The first part of his plan has been successfully implemented.
Now, hovering over the fertile lands surrounding the Vale of Arryn, Aermir surveyed the verdant valleys and towering mountains below. These lands were the Vale's breadbasket, providing food for Vale people and serving as the region's economic center. Aermir's gaze was sharp and calculating, focused on the prize awaiting him—the key to creating chaos in the Vale.
When the Druid descended upon the mountains near the Vale of Arryn, the Vale of Arryn's decline and the rise of the First Men were already imminent, and he intended to plunge the land into chaos.
Aermir began his descent toward the Moon Brothers. As he prepared to launch the second phase of his plan, the Vale remained unprepared, unaware of the approaching storm. The arrival of the Druid, a harbinger of change, cast a shadow over the land, and the drama unfolding on the stage would reshape the fate of the Vale of Arryn.
Two years ago
Aermir's keen eyes swept across the rugged terrain, tracing the outline of Mountains of the Moon. In a secluded corner lay the village of Mountains of the Moon —the largest and most powerful Mountain Clans in the Vale. In this secret haven, their way of life unfolded amidst the harsh mountain scenery.
The Moon Brothers are a tribe of 4,000 people, holding a unique position among the Mountain Clans. However, their true fighting strength consists of only 2,000 people, 800 of whom are women. These tribes are scattered throughout the harsh terrain, each with its own distinct identity, Aermir realizes the need to build unity among them.
When the Druid approached the Moon Brothers village, he carried with him a vision—an alliance of Mountain Clans, not only because they shared common ancestors, but also because of a common goal. Uniting these independent tribes, accustomed to settling disputes with blades, was no small feat. Aermir chose the largest Moon Brothers as the key to this delicate alliance.
The history of the Mountain Clans is filled with internal and external conflicts. Their infighting often overshadows their conflicts with the Vale lords. Aermir knows that in order to fully utilize the strength of the Mountain Clans against their common enemy, he needs to mediate among these proud and stubborn people and achieve a fragile peace.
The Moon Brothers possess battle-hardened warriors and resilient women who wield considerable influence over the Moon Brothers. Aermir's approach requires balancing diplomacy with a show of force, as they will not heed his commands unless he demonstrates his strength. The Druid attempt to inspire them with a shared sense of destiny—a destiny intertwined with the revival of the First Men.
This task will be no easy feat. The Moon Brothers are accustomed to maintaining their rule through force, and they will not easily bow to outsiders, even powerful ones like the Druid. Since arriving here to build his army, Aermir has been proceeding with extreme caution. He cannot simply kill until they submit. He needs every available manpower. He needs to employ charm, respect their traditions, and subtly demonstrate his own strength.
Aermir landed in the center of the village and transformed into the shape of a man. The women and children began to scream. Some of the brave men and women charged at him with sticks and broken swords. Aermir created a powerful gust of wind and repelled them.
"Oh, children of the First Men, I, priest of the Old Gods, have come to give you strength and freedom against the pests called the Vale. The Old Gods have sent me to answer your prayers."
He stomped his foot hard on the ground, causing it to tremble violently, but the mountain people were an indomitable race. They would not yield to a few mere magical spells. He created a Fireball and hurled it at an unfortunate man charging towards him. The man was instantly enraged, and the mountain people paused briefly before roaring and charging at him again.
This time, he unleashed lightning at two people again. Aermir spread his arms and looked up at the sky.
"Oh, almighty Old Gods, oh, great god of nature, forgive those poor, lost children; they are ignorant. They do not know that they are raising their hands in rebellion against the Old Gods."
Seeing lightning strike people in the clear weather, they ceased their attack. Everyone began to observe the tree-man before them. Everyone was wondering the same thing: could it be that Old Gods sent it to help them fight the Vale people?