Lord Roboute Tyrell

- 261 AC -

The Aegis was a fast ship, built for combat in mind. Any damage it sustained during the months of war had been rebuilt outright. Roboute didn't believe that there was no perfection anywhere, meaning anything could be improved. However, the Aegis and the Diligence were no longer the only ships of the Reach army. And while they may have started off with 500 men, that was no longer the case either. Their numbers in manpower, weaponry and ships had grown exponentially. 

That was all part of Roboute's plan. 

Imagine the scenario. While the Westerosi forces fought tooth and nail to defeat the Band of Nine and suffered losses, Roboute didn't. If anyone knew simply how outrageously profitable the war was for him, he would be hunted down. The useless islands of rock which were part of the Stepstones were used to grow crops and create outposts, allowing them to stop nearby ships which wanted to pass by. Under the pretence of war, ships from Myr, Lys, Tyrosh, Volantis, and Slaver's Bay were stopped, controlled, and often either sunk or taken over. Especially those arriving or going to Slaver's Bay were lucrative. 

There had already been complaints arriving from the Free Cities of Volantis and Braavos, requesting that they not attack their ships. However, during a war such as this, tempers run high, and any movement from ships not belonging to either side could potentially conceal spies. Braavos could have taken action, as it possessed a powerful military and a sizable navy, but to do so, it would have had to choose a side in the conflict. Naturally, they wouldn't choose the Band of Nine, as they were known slavers and warmongers. So, they chose to stay out of it and create a very large path around the Stepstones. 

However, that posed another problem. 

Braavos had a seafaring trade culture. Much of the city's early wealth came from the brackish waters of the lagoon. These waters yielded oysters, eels, crabs, crawfish, clams, rays, and many sorts of fish. Braavosi merchant ships sail to many distant lands, bringing their trade and wealth back home. Braavos is one of the greatest ports of the world, where all but slavers are allowed to dock. Even ships from Qarth and the Summer Isles come to Braavos to trade. But the War of the Ninepenny Kings disrupted that trade considerably. 

So an alternative had to be found. 

And the solution came from the Stepstones themselves. Roboute Tyrell offered to help Braavosi merchants out, allowing them to dock at an island they controlled, as long as they allowed their vessels to be searched for spies and weaponry meant for Westeros' enemies. This wasn't accepted at first, naturally. Allowing the Reach forces to search Braavosi ships was like agreeing to enemy control over their goods; it was far too much authority. After a month, however, they reconsidered and accepted the request, provided it was done under the watchful eye of an official. 

It came to pass that two of the islands the Reach controlled in the Stepstones became trading stations, under their protection. Someone who didn't like that was, of course, Volantis and the cities of Slaver's Bay. And while the rest of Westeros was busy fighting, killing and dying, the Reach grew more prosperous and wealthy. Those among Roboute's own forces who questioned the logic in stalling the war and using resources to create military outposts and their own crop production sang his praises after the pieces fell into place. 

.

The Diligence moved parallel to the Achilles, but out of sight, her sails reefed tight, prow tipped blade-like. For days, the Ultramarines harassed Myrmidon supply lines, never fighting directly, always leaving just enough trail to invite a chase, but Achilles never took the bait. Roboute's strategy was simple: bleed them, starve them of control, and expose Achilles to the light and the battlefield. Achilles' presence not only gave Roboute military reason to stay in the Stepstones, but also moral high ground to continue what they were doing. 

And then the time came.

At dawn on the fifth day, Achilles finally had enough and took the bait. His ship, Troy's Wail, surged forward through the swirling mist, flanked by two cutters and the remainder of his ships.

"He's coming," Paxter whispered on the Diligence. "Just like you said."

Roboute simply nodded, hands behind his back. They had them where they wanted. Just off the coast of the Disputed Lands, the shoreline jutted into a crescent of broken rock and reef; a dead end for fools, but a perfect arena for tacticians and those who knew what they were doing.

Roboute had chosen this spot long ago, knowing full well that it would become useful eventually. He'd scouted the reefs himself, using his ever-growing powerful physique, noted the currents, positioned underwater netting, and quietly built shore signals for the off chance of retreat coordination. As Randyll noted, Roboute wasn't the kind of man who would shy away from hard work. 

As Achilles gave chase, Roboute signalled to the side. The Aegis sailing parallel to their position slowed down. The Myrmidons, on the other hand, surged forward. That was the moment, the trap closed.

The Diligence emerged from the swirling mist, cut behind the Myrmidon fleet, and sealed the exit. This was followed by dozens of other 'new' Reach ships, having been added to their supply. It was quite a sight from the Myrmidon ships, to see the imposing sails depicting the coat of arms of the Reach Houses and the ever-present Ultramarine sign. Two ships, tethered and unmanned, drifted into the cutters that had been prepared beforehand and ignited.

A third longboat, carrying some of the females among Roboute's forces, plus 30 hidden saboteurs, flanked from the eastern cliffs, having sabotaged Achilles' rear rudder. In those times, no one paid attention to females, and that was a mistake. One Roboute would use in the times to come. 

"He thinks he can run away," Roboute muttered as the Aegis turned hard into the bay. "Fool."

.

Achilles looked around him and saw the devastation of his ships. This was not what he had expected, despite feeling that he was being baited. To see all of his men die in flames or being presented on platters to the chasing Reach soldiers was not what he wanted. He wanted to fight and die in a glorious battle. He wanted his name to endure through the ages and for it to echo across time. He thought about the other members of the Band of Nine. He didn't like any of them. He saw their greed as useless and unbecoming of a man like him. 

His thoughts drifted to the war, and he realised that while he had been seeking a worthy adversary, he had kept taunting them and employed tactics he didn't enjoy as much. But to see the arrogant Westerosi being annoyed made it all worthwhile. Now, the time had changed, though and the opponent he had been hoping for secretly had arrived. The Ultramarines... he had grown interested in them, but hadn't yet met them in battle. The Reach soldiers weren't anything special, while they were better than the other Westerosi in their tactics. Those were the ones Roboute didn't train with in Macragge, so it was natural. 

With his escape cut and some ships burning, Achilles did what Roboute predicted: he ordered his remaining Myrmidons forces ashore. The noble-turned-sellsword wanted his final fight on land, in open view and for all to see. Should he go, he wanted it to be remembered and should he win, the same. The Disputed Lands lay in front of him, and that's as good a place to make his final stand as any, he thought. 

They beached themselves near a rocky strand littered with driftwood and skeletons of old towers. The Myrmidons fighting positions, shields locked and spears gleaming. Achilles stood at the front. His sword at his hip and his shield embedded in the sand. He waited for his adversary to arrive and look him in the eye. And he didn't have to wait for long. 

The Diligence beached as well, and Roboute stepped onto the shore. He moved with purpose and a clear goal in mind. Over the course of these months, Roboute seemed to have grown in the eyes of his men. Not physically, of course, but mentally and spiritually. The image he had in their mind was that of something greater than the eyes could see on their own. The sun was slowly rising, allowing everyone to see what was happening and who they were fighting. Behind Roboute, the Ultramarines descended the ship silently, efficiently, taking their designated formations. 

No words were necessary. No shouting or poetic speeches, nothing. Just silence, and the promise of death. 

The other of Roboute's ships arrived as well and joined the formation, bolstering the Reach numbers up to roughly 450 men. Of the Myrmidons' 20 ships, two had burned down fully, one almost and another few were caught in the nets, making their total number just over 800 men. The battle was ready, and the two opposing men were prepared for what was to come. But no one knew how it would turn out. 

Roboute's generals waited for his signal and the moment when they could begin. 

Then Achilles raised his sword and charged.

Steel crashed like waves.

The Myrmidons were a formidable group of soldiers, renowned for their spinning blades, flank attacks, and counter-charges. But they fought like heroes in songs: individual brilliance, but not unity. 

The Ultramarines, on he other hand, fought like a single living organism.

Paxter's vanguard baited and retreated slightly. Both armies initially formed roughly parallel lines. But Paxter's retreat turned the Ultramarines into a V-shape. Achilles pressed forward and wanted to use this chance to break through the middle. Although he didn't think about it at the moment, he only wanted to fight. And that was what Roboute counted on. By pressing forward and filling the space of the Ultramarines' V-shape, the Myrmidons overextended their positions, using far too simple tactics. 

Their mistake became glaringly obvious. 

Randyll Tarly's hammer, positioned at the right flank, moved forward, ignoring most of the Myrmidons positioned at the side and broke through. Now, he was positioned at the back of the Myrmidons and turned around, forcing them to break their charge and turn around. But that wasn't all that was going on. 

As the Myrmidons split up and faced Randyll Tarly's group, a new and unseen group arrived on the battlefield from the left. Mathis Rowan had arrived. He didn't beach in the same place as the rest of the army and used his 150 men to flank the Myrmidons. The charge hit the Myrmidons hard and unexpectedly. They tried to reposition themselves, forming a circle to defend themselves on all sides. However, it just wouldn't work. 

The Ultramarine's archer company had taken position on higher ground and were now sending out waves of arrows at the Myrmidons, who were moving closer and closer together. All of this was a basic manoeuvre. Roboute had taught the Ultramarines when they were studying at Macragge. 

He saw his men dwindle, despite fighting fiercely and knew that they would lose at this rate. He saw only one other option for them to survive. Achilles took off his helmet, threw it on the ground and then roared in anger. 

"Face me!"

Roboute stepped forward, with his blade drawn, saying nothing. The Ultramarines stopped fighting and made way for their Lord, eager to see him fight personally. Without saying anything, he stood in front of Achilles, ready for anything. 

"I challenge you, schemer. Fight me one on one and the winner takes all."

Roboute only nodded lightly, having expected this outcome from the start. Achilles raised his shield and spear and then attacked. His spear shot forward, but was caught by Roboute. He pulled the spear towards him and kicked Achilles' shield, making him fall to the ground. But he didn't stay there for long and used the momentum to roll off and stand back up again. 

Achilles fought like fury incarnate, spinning, slashing and kicking sand, but nothing worked. Roboute was like a mountain, allowing the child to rant, but not being bothered by it. Every blow Achilles delivered was deflected, with such ease, that Achilles might as well have been a no-named character. However, despite appearances, Achilles was the most skilled fighter Roboute had ever faced. It was his speed, strength and brilliant mind which deduced his fighting style, which allowed this to be a simple matter. 

When Achilles tried a lunge, Roboute trapped his elbow, rolled into a sweep, and slammed him into the ground. The grown man saw black for a second, but didn't pass out right away. He felt his bones crack and some blood vessels burst, but he was still alive. 

Roboute stood above Achilles and waited for the man to slowly stand up. But his brain had been rattled, forcing him to his knees. 

"Kill me..."

"There is no point in your death. You got that fight you have been looking for."

"So what?! I lost, kill me, but let my men go free."

"NO! Kill me, I will gladly die for my king," Achilles' second in command said and kneeled in front of Roboute. 

"Stop, Eudoros. This was my fight. You will not die today," Achilles says. 

"Please my Lord, I will--"

"This is unnecessary," Roboute interrupts. "All of you can survive the day, should you choose to. I offer you a chance. A chance to join something greater than your desire for personal glory."

"And what is that?"

"Join the Ultramarines."