Recaps

After Sith injured Joffrey, Emre was placed under house arrest while Sith was locked in a Lannister cage and faced execution. Emre revealed his identity as the druid and persuaded Lord Stark to help him, swearing through an oath ritual not to harm King Robert or his blood relatives at court.

• Joffrey tried to mount Sith, and she struck him with her tail, breaking his nose.
• Emre explained to Sith why she had to obey human social rules, while the gathered lords and king arrived and Lord Stark ordered Emre under house arrest.
• Lord Stark told Emre that Sith had been locked in the Lannisters' lion cage and was unlikely to survive.
• Emre revealed that he planned to act as Emre the Druid, and Lord Stark agreed to help if Emre swore not to harm King Robert.
• Emre and Lord Stark performed an oath ritual, and Emre swore not to harm Robert or any of his blood relatives at the next day's court.

Robert Baratheon presided over a court hearing about Ser Drasil and his pet, but Emre the Druid interrupted to warn the king against offending the Old Gods. After Emre killed Mandon Moore with lightning and evaded the guards’ attacks, he stood his ground on a rooftop.

• Robert refused to punish Ser Drasil for defending his honor but prepared to punish his pet for injuring the crown prince.
• Emre the Druid arrived in the court and said he had come to prevent Robert from wronging the Old Gods.
• Emre challenged Robert over his faith and authority, then said he answered only to the Old Gods.
• Mandon Moore attacked Emre, who killed him with a bolt of lightning.
• Ser Selmy ordered the guards to protect Robert and attack Emre, but Emre transformed into an eagle and evaded their arrows and bolts.

Robert Baratheon confronted the Druid after the Druid restrained him for threatening Sith, Ser Drasil’s sacred beast. The Druid exposed Joffrey’s lie and frightened the gathered nobles with an earthquake and lightning before Robert ordered Sith released and the Druid offered to open the Ironborn castle gates.

• The Druid dragged Robert into the earth to stop his men from attacking, then explained that killing a sacred beast would insult the Old Gods.
• The Druid challenged Joffrey’s account, and Robert privately threatened his son until Joffrey admitted that he had tried to ride Sith.
• The Druid cast an earthquake and summoned lightning near Joffrey, while wondering why his spell had not been prevented from harming the prince.
• Joffrey said he had the right to ride Sith and insulted a northern knight, prompting the Northmen to chant that the North remembered.
• Robert ordered Sith released, and the Druid thanked him and promised to open the Ironborn castle gates before flying away with Bo and Erebus.

Robert confronted Joffrey over his insults and attack on a northern knight, while Tywin and Robert discussed how to deal with Aermir. Eddard described Aermir’s deeds and said he had promised to defend the North; the chapter ended with Aermir grabbing Joffrey by the throat.

• Robert threatened Joffrey and hurled a table at him, then blamed Cersei for raising him to be a coward.
• Robert ordered Tywin to execute the knight who attacked under guest right and forbade anyone from harming Aermir’s beast during the campaign.
• Tywin questioned whether Aermir was as powerful as rumored and suggested asking Eddard about him.
• Eddard told Robert and Tywin that Aermir had healed thousands, saved Bear Island, and promised to defend the North.
• A small black rat watched the discussion as Aermir rushed at Joffrey, shoved Cersei aside, and seized the boy by the throat.

Aermir and the Northmen fought the Ironborn at sea, where Aermir’s magic helped slow Victarion Greyjoy’s flagship, Iron Victory. The Ironborn fleet was reduced to five ships, and Aeron and Victarion prepared to face their pursuers.

• After defeating Euron Greyjoy, Stannis arrived at Lannisport, while the Northmen and Riverlands forces attacked from Seagard and left Pyke surrounded.
• Aermir prepared for the sea battle with Sith, Caygan, and Harrick, then used the Group Blessing Ritual as the Ironborn ships attacked.
• As their ship came under attack from both sides, Aermir rallied the Northmen and charged onto an Ironborn ship, helping them win the fight.
• Aermir recognized Victarion Greyjoy’s flagship, Iron Victory, and summoned a water elemental to slow it down.
• Aeron Greyjoy urged the surviving Ironborn to keep faith in the Drowned God as Iron Victory slowed and their pursuers closed in.
• Victarion decided he would fight to the last man as the Ironborn failed to escape their pursuers.

Aermir fought Victarion during the assault on the Iron Victory, while Aeron and the Greyjoy brothers escaped. Robert Baratheon began an invasion of Saltcliffe and laid out his plan to subdue the Iron Islands.

• The Stark soldiers boarded the Iron Victory, but Victarion leapt onto Aermir's ship and knocked them back as the Ironborn charged.
• Aermir lured Victarion close, struck him in the groin, and wounded his arm with Red Rain.
• An Ironborn sacrificed himself to stop Aermir from killing Victarion, and Aeron ordered others to drag Victarion back to the Iron Victory.
• Aeron and the Greyjoy brothers escaped aboard another ship while the remaining Ironborn fought and died.
• Robert Baratheon landed at Saltcliffe and ordered an invasion of the Iron Islands, beginning with House Sunderly and House Saltcliffe.

Robert Baratheon’s army attacked House Sunderly after Emre the Druid’s giant raven smashed its gates, while the main character later disguised himself as the Druid to prepare an assault on House Volmark. The chapter left him launching a powerful Crimson Fireball at Volmark’s castle gates.

• A giant raven battered down House Sunderly’s gates, then bowed to Robert Baratheon before flying away.
• Robert ordered his men to charge and agreed with Ser Selmy that the Druid’s intervention was also a show of force.
• The main character explained that he kept Emre the Druid’s identity separate from Aermir’s and planned to attack House Volmark before the other Harlaw houses.
• He flew to Volmark’s castle, disguised himself as Emre the Druid, and summoned a Wildfire Spirit.
• He combined Fireball and Wind Ball into a Crimson Fireball and blasted apart House Volmark’s gates.

Aermir destroyed House Volmark’s gate with a fireball, then joined the assault with Sith as the Stark forces charged into the castle. The Starks captured the castle, while the surviving members of House Volmark retreated into the keep.

• Aermir destroyed House Volmark’s gate with a fireball, and the Stark commanders ordered their soldiers to charge.
• Aermir buffed Lord Stark, Harrick, and Caygan, then rode Sith toward the battle as an eagle before returning to human form.
• Aermir ordered Sith to leap over the Stark soldiers and crash through the gate, where he fought the Ironborn with his halberd while Sith crushed them.
• Eddard Stark reached the castle with 100 guards and joined the fight, moving through the Ironborn with the speed granted by Aermir’s buff.
• After half an hour, the Stark forces controlled the castle, and the remaining members of House Volmark withdrew into the keep.

Eddard Stark and Aermir discussed how to end the siege of House Volmark without needlessly losing lives, while Aermir refused to intervene in Robert's war beyond opening gates and healing Northern soldiers. The chapter ended with Aermir proposing terms for Volmark's surrender and promising plans to address the North's labor and food shortages.

• Eddard Stark offered Lord Volmark surrender, but Volmark refused to yield without guarantees that he and his family would survive.
• Aermir warned Eddard that sparing Volmark would let his men join another lord, while Volmark insisted his followers would fight for the Drowned God.
• Eddard summoned Aermir, who said he would open gates and heal the Northern army but would not fight because the war belonged to Robert.
• Aermir told Eddard he had sent a gate-destroying familiar to help the king and explained that he would criticize Robert only among people he trusted.
• Aermir proposed that Eddard protect Volmark, his family, and his lands in exchange for Volmark and his sons staying as guests until the war ended and releasing their thralls.
• Aermir said he had plans to improve the North's economy and food supply and predicted that the coming summer would be long.

Aermir warned Lord Stark that the unusually strong fire element meant summer would last for several years, while the Druid healed the Northern army’s wounded and refused to fight in the name of the Seven. The Northern army captured two castles and defeated House Harlaw’s forces, but House Myre’s resistance left Sith badly injured.

• Aermir told Lord Stark that the fire element was growing stronger and that summer would likely last several years.
• The Druid healed wounded soldiers, refused to fight for the Faith of the Seven, and told them he would help only by healing them and opening gates.
• The Northern army took House Volmark’s male descendants as guests and left nearly two thousand soldiers behind to guard against a rear attack.
• House Kenning surrendered after losing Lord Kenning and more than half its soldiers, while the Northern screening force routed House Harlaw’s nine hundred men.
• The army attacking House Myre won a costly battle, and a House Myre fighter broke three of Sith’s ribs before dying from his fall onto her head.

After subduing House Myre, the protagonist prepared to attack House Harlaw at Ten Towers and arranged to duel Harras Harlaw to neutralize his Valyrian sword. He revealed new level 4 spells that could help him win the duel and support his forces.

• The protagonist described Ten Towers, House Harlaw's defenders, and Harras Harlaw, who wielded the Valyrian sword Nightfall.
• The protagonist asked Lord Stark not to order an attack when he destroyed the castle gate, so he could challenge Harras to a duel.
• The protagonist explained that Valyrian steel could break low-level spells and asked Lord Stark's permission to draw his sword and demonstrate Oak Shield.
• Lord Stark agreed that killing Harras could influence the battle, and the protagonist revealed he had mastered many level 4 spells.
• The protagonist described his new spells, including Bark Armor, Star Map, Starfire, Wind Blade, Life Burst, and Lion's Roar.

Aermir Ser Drasil challenged Harras Harlaw to a duel outside the ruined gates, taunting him until he finally emerged. As the fight was about to begin, Aermir prepared his spells and thanked Harras for bringing Nightfall.

• Aermir Ser Drasil circled back to the gates and challenged Harras Harlaw to a duel.
• Aermir mocked Harras and offered Red Rain as the victor’s prize, prompting laughter from the northern army.
• Aermir accused Harras of stalling and continued taunting him until Harras emerged through the ruined gates.
• Aermir cast his protective spells and placed Glome Agri nearby as a possible trap.
• Harras planted his banner, removed his helmet, and faced Aermir with Nightfall at his side; Aermir thanked him for bringing the sword.

The male lead defeated Harras Harlaw in a duel, using spells and a dagger after their weapons and armor clashed. He offered Harras's Valyrian sword to Emre the Druid, then challenged the Harlaw forces to send another fighter while he fought one-handed without a Valyrian sword.

• The male lead wounded Harras Harlaw's leg and arm, then trapped his sword and forced him to one knee.
• Harras Harlaw broke free by tackling the male lead, but the male lead used Entangle to stun him and stabbed him in the neck.
• The male lead pushed Harras's corpse aside and announced that he gave the Valyrian sword to Emre the Druid in thanks for his help.
• The Stark army cheered as the Harlaw side fell silent.
• The male lead challenged the Harlaw forces to send another fighter, promising to fight with one hand and without a Valyrian sword.

The protagonist defeated Boremund Harlaw, then used Sith to smash through Harlaw’s barricade and help the northern army capture the gate and surrounding strongpoints. Afterward he healed the wounded and received Nightfall from Lord Stark, while Jon Arryn worried about Robert’s campaign and the Crown’s growing debt.

• The protagonist taunted Harlaw’s defenders, and Boremund Harlaw accepted his challenge before the protagonist killed him in a duel.
• The protagonist challenged the Ironborn to face him with a dagger as Sith used Lion’s Roar to frighten the defenders.
• Sith charged the gate with the protagonist, broke through the barricade, and opened a way for the northern army to enter.
• The northern troops captured the gate and surrounding strongpoints, while Lord Stark offered mercy to those who surrendered.
• The protagonist took House Harlaw’s male members into custody, sent their slaves to the mainland, healed the wounded, and received Nightfall from Lord Stark.
• Jon Arryn read Lord Royce’s message about Robert attacking the other islands and worried over the Crown’s four-million debt.

Emre traveled to Pyke to join the siege and fulfill his promise to King Robert, after seeing the other armies devastate the Iron Islands. He arrived before the Northern and Westerlands armies and asked Robert whether to wait for them.

• House Stonetree surrendered after the armies of the Reach, Westerlands, and Riverlands continued their campaigns across the Iron Islands.
• Tywin's army burned Great Wyk and slaughtered its male nobles and villagers, while the Vale army besieged Pyke and the royal fleet blockaded it.
• Emre's throat healed after he used Lion's Roar twice, and he continued toward Pyke with Lord Stark's army.
• Lord Stark warned Emre not to insult or offend King Robert, and Emre promised to act with greater restraint.
• Emre arrived at Pyke, greeted King Robert, and offered to fulfill his promise to help with the siege.
• Emre told Robert that the Northern army and the Westerlands army were approaching, and Robert decided to wait for them.

The protagonist watched King Robert’s army prepare to assault Pyke Castle, then confronted Thoros of Myr over his claim that they served the same god. After testing Thoros with magic and sensing unfamiliar energy inside him, the protagonist remained wary of the red priest.

• The protagonist surveyed ruined Botley Castle and Lordsport as King Robert prepared to lead forty-five thousand men against Pyke Castle.
• Thoros of Myr approached the protagonist and claimed that his power came from R'hllor, prompting the protagonist to challenge him.
• The protagonist blasted Thoros with Wind Blast and threatened him with a Fireball, but Robert ordered them to stop fighting.
• The protagonist shielded his hand before shaking Thoros’s and secretly channeled mana into him.
• Thoros staggered and vomited, and the protagonist sensed an unfamiliar kind of energy within him.

Aermir helped the Northern army breach the first castle’s gates and fought to capture its gatehouse and towers. The Ironborn retreated toward the next fortress, and the battle ended for the day.

• Aermir’s Crimson Fireballs failed to break the rune-protected gates, so he sent Im beneath them to find a way through.
• Aermir passed under the gates, summoned and empowered his familiars, and Artio killed soldiers while he opened the gates and propped them up with stone pillars.
• After the Northern vanguard charged into the castle, Aermir buffed Lord Stark and his men, then climbed the enemy’s central tower and killed its defenders.
• Aermir replaced the Greyjoy banner with the Stark banner, rallying the Northern army as the Ironborn began to lose ground.
• The southern tower began collapsing, and the Greyjoy soldiers retreated toward the next fortress; after four hours, a horn ended the attack.

The narrator struggled to answer Artio’s questions while the siege of Pyke Castle remained stalled, until Erebus found a possible way into the castle. He proposed a risky plan to Lord Stark and revealed that a god had sent him to restore the world’s balance.

• Artio kept asking the narrator questions, and he directed her to ask Berus instead.
• At the war council, Lord Stark argued against wasting lives on a bridge attack, while the narrator sent Bo and Erebus to search for another entrance to Pyke Castle.
• After two weeks of stalled attacks, Erebus found a rubbish chute on the kitchen island, and the narrator conceived a plan to enter the castle and lower the bridge.
• The narrator told Lord Stark he would attempt the plan with Harrick and Caygan, explaining that ancient wards protected the castle gates.
• The narrator confessed that a god had granted him power and sent him to restore the world’s balance, and Lord Stark warned that he would oppose him if he threatened the North.

Ser Drasil persuaded King Robert to approve a three-man infiltration of the great castle, then climbed its sea cliff and entered through a garbage passage. He waited inside the kitchen for Harrick and Caygan to arrive so the next part of the plan could begin.

• Ser Drasil explained that he would climb the cliff, secure ropes for Harrick and Caygan, and infiltrate the castle rather than fight its defenders.
• King Robert overruled Lord Royce’s objections and approved the mission, and the group waited a week for ropes to be prepared.
• Ser Drasil climbed the cliff using magic, secured the ropes with hooks, and used a hammer to make his way through the protected castle wall.
• Ser Drasil discovered that the castle’s runes blocked detection from outside, crawled through a garbage passage, and found the kitchen empty.
• Ser Drasil tied the rope to a beam and sent Bo to signal Harrick and Caygan.

The protagonist and his companions used forged orders and the names of Simon Pyke and Head Cook Dogan to sneak water barrels through the castle gates. They reached the control room above the gate, where they prepared to seize the drawbridge and portcullis controls.

• The protagonist sent Wannian and Jilim to scout the castle and watched the kitchen workers to choose a convincing disguise.
• The protagonist and his companions persuaded the storehouse clerk to give them water barrels by claiming Simon Pyke had ordered them.
• The companions passed the first gate by invoking Simon Pyke and Head Cook Dogan, then got past a young guard when an older guard feared the head cook's retaliation.
• The protagonist refreshed the group's buffs before they entered the control room, where dozens of guards and three control handwheels were present.

Aermir and his companions opened Pyke’s gates for the invading armies, then fought their way toward the great hall. Robert and the others drove the Ironborn back to Balon Greyjoy, whom Robert confronted on the Seastone Chair.

• Aermir sealed the guardroom doors while Caygan distracted the soldiers, and Harrick and Caygan killed the guards inside.
• After Bo signaled, Eddard Stark ordered the northern army to charge through the lowered drawbridge and raised portcullis.
• Aermir and the twins retrieved their armor and weapons beneath the guardroom, then joined the battle as the armies stormed Pyke.
• Aermir and Harrick pushed through the defenders on the spiral stairs while the Vale and Westerlands armies spread through the castle and Tywin’s men raided Pyke.
• Aermir strengthened Eddard with buffs, and the allied forces drove the Ironborn into the great hall.
• Robert and Harrick broke through the hall gates, and Robert threatened Balon Greyjoy as he sat on the Seastone Chair.

Balon surrendered Pyke after the Ironborn lost the main gate, and Robert spared him after Ned and Lord Royce argued against killing him. After the battle, Aermir healed the wounded and escaped the victory feast once Robert had celebrated him as a hero.

• Robert watched Aermir, Ser Selmy, and Jaime fight while he battled the Ironborn.
• Balon called on the Ironborn to stop fighting and surrender after the main gate fell.
• Robert urged Balon to take up a sword, but Balon knelt and begged for forgiveness.
• Ned and Lord Royce persuaded Robert to spare Balon and require him to swear fealty.
• Aermir returned as a Druid to heal the wounded, then left the feast after Robert made him drink eight more cups and declared him a hero.

After healing wounded soldiers, the protagonist sensed a dangerous force in the Iron Throne but recoiled before touching it. He then challenged the lords’ plans for Balon, arguing that their punishment would not end the Ironborn threat, and Robert asked him to propose another solution.

• The protagonist approached the Iron Throne, felt its unnatural power and his own unreadiness, and pulled back before touching it.
• The king and the lords divided the Iron Islands’ spoils, with Lord Stark receiving the island captives and eight hundred thousand gold dragons.
• The protagonist entered the council and asked how the lords intended to punish Balon.
• Lord Royce objected to the protagonist addressing a lord by name, and the protagonist rebuked him with a display of magic before Royce backed down.
• Robert said Balon’s son would be placed in Lord Stark’s custody and Balon’s treasury had been emptied.
• The protagonist argued that Balon’s son and lost wealth would not deter him or end the Ironborn threat, and Robert asked whether he had a better solution.

The narrator persuaded Robert to divide the Iron Islands’ rule between House Greyjoy and House Harlaw, then watched the plan spark conflict among the island houses. As the army withdrew, Robert announced a lavish tourney in Lannisport, where the narrator prepared to compete and Lord Frey arrived late.

• The narrator proposed making House Harlaw a rival power to House Greyjoy, and Ned supported the plan as a way to give Bear Island and the coastal towns years of peace.
• Robert proclaimed Rodrik Harlaw supreme ruler of the seas and rivers, granting him control over half the Iron Islands.
• Harlon Stonetree killed Balon Botley after Balon called Lord Harlaw a usurper.
• Robert announced a Lannisport victory tourney with large prizes, and the narrator looked forward to competing in archery and jousting.
• The tourney grounds were completed, and the narrator was matched against Lord Royce in the first joust while hoping to ride Sith.
• Lord Frey arrived on the eve of the competition, and Robert mockingly called him Lord Frey the Late.

The protagonist challenged Lord Royce to wager his bronze armor against Red Rain, arguing that the heirloom conflicted with Royce’s allegiance to the Seven. After defeating Royce in the joust, the protagonist claimed the armor and celebrated the victory, while Lord Stark looked displeased.

• The protagonist noticed faint traces of magic in Lord Royce’s bronze armor and proposed a wager, offering Red Rain for the armor.
• The protagonist questioned whether Royce could wear armor dedicated to the Old Gods while following the Seven, and a septon agreed that doing so bordered on blasphemy.
• Lord Royce accepted the wager after the protagonist challenged him to prove the Vale’s knights’ prowess.
• The protagonist repeatedly dodged Royce’s lance and struck his arm, wearing him down until Royce yielded after twelve clashes.
• The protagonist publicly demanded that Royce deliver the armor to his tent and celebrated for the North and the Old Gods as Lord Stark watched with a dark expression.