Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, and all rights for characters, plots and settings belong to G.R.R. Martin and FromSoftware. I have no ownership.
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"War is a primarily a game of skill. It is a Contest of mind matched against mind; tactics matched against tactics. But there is also an element of chance that is more suited to games of cards or dice. A wise tactician studies those games, as well, and learns from them. The first lesson of card games is that the cards cannot be played in random order. Only when laid down properly can victory be achieved."
"There are times in every commander's life when he must yield the stick of authority to a subordinate. Sometimes the reason is one of expertise, when the subordinate has skills the commander lacks. Sometimes it is positional, when the subordinate is in the right place at the right and the commander is not.
Often it is anticipated there will be loss of direct communication, which means the subordinate may be given general instructions but must then carry them out on his own initiative as the situation flows around him.
No commander enjoys those moments. Most subordinates fear them, as well. Those who do no fear already betray the overconfidence that nearly always leads to disaster. But the moments must be faced. And all will learn from them, whether to satisfaction or to sorrow."
Grand Admiral Thrawn
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There is no ignorance; there is knowledge.
There is no fear; there is power.
I am the Heart of the Force.
I am the revealing fire of Light.
I am the mystery of Darkness
In balance with Chaos and Harmony,
Immortal in the Force
Je'daii Order Code
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Essos, Myr
Year 298 AC (After Aegon Conquest)
Raevan
Raevan flew among the mercenaries like an arrow shot from a bow, becoming a small hurricane. His Valyrian blade easily severed limbs and even cleaved flesh, while Force raged around him with even greater ferocity.
Bodies of soldiers were thrown like ragdolls or dragged straight under his sword's edge, while others ended up with broken necks, burst hearts, or even desiccated to a crisp as all life was drained from them.
Seeing what was happening to their comrades, both the mercenaries and the remnants of the city guard began to flee, and for him, the chaos was a signal to leave the rest to his men.
He had other prey to hunt, for he had no intention of letting them escape the city. He had to admit, he was disappointed with these two Sith, but on the other hand, he respected their common sense.
In their position, the logical course was to retreat, knowing they stood no chance against him. He drew even more Force, which filled his body even more, like a rushing river.
It took him no more than a minute to traverse the rest of the city, the buildings surrounding him a blur. Only then did he manage to reach the two Force users on the plain beyond the eastern ruins.
They could not hope to escape him now. With each passing second, he was getting closer. He could feel the fear emanating from them in the Force, but even he couldn't propel them enough to escape him.
When he was a few dozen meters away, he reached out with Force, extending his hand in front of him. The two Sith froze in their tracks, unable to take another step, trapped in invisible bonds.
Their terror within the Force grew to almost unimaginable proportions, for they must have realized what an extraordinary feat it was to use telekinesis in this way against other Force users.
It required not only great power but also absurd control, for anyone skilled in the use of the Force resisted it.
That's why it was so rare for the Jedi and Sith to use Force abilities against each other, for only a few were truly useful, most of which belonged to the Dark Side.
Raevan overtook them and landed in front of the two struggling humans. Holding them still with one hand, he examined their exposed faces, which were frozen in grimaces of determination.
Both were young men, several years his senior, but with Force users, appearances could be deceiving. Their sickly yellow eyes made it clear they had had their fair share of the Dark Side.
With a sigh, he released them from his telekinetic grip; he would rather not end the fight like that. His ever-increasing strength was slowly leading to the point where he would soon find no equal.
On a cosmic scale, at least, there was technology to watch out for, but here, on this primitive world, he felt almost like a god.
Both of them, surprised by their sudden freedom, fell to the ground but quickly got back up, faster than normal people could dream of.
"You see, escape is pointless," he said to them, placing his hands behind his back and looking at them with a bored expression. "But let them not say I'm not a kind man. I won't use external Force techniques, nor my sword. Show me what you're made of."
After these words, he fell silent, waiting for their reaction. If they had still chosen to flee, he would have killed them on the spot, but if they decided to fight, he would reveal the gulf between them, even in basic skills.
The men exchanged glances for a brief moment, then nodded.
"I am Morven," the man on the left, with a broken eagle nose, introduced himself, drawing a Valyrian blade from its sheath.
"And I am Vorhyn," he added a second time, doing the same. "With whom do we have the honor? We cannot believe that a young prince, still a boy, without a teacher, would be capable of such acts of power."
Raevan smiled wryly at these words. "Is your master listening to our conversation?" he asked ironically, but after a moment, he nodded slightly, adding, "So be it. Know by whose hand you died."
"I am Revan. Once a Jedi Master and Dark Lord of the Sith, now Grandmaster of the reborn Je'daii Order... Although I must admit, my order currently has only two members." I and my apprentice. Perhaps you know her? Her name is Shiera."
Both men were surprised by his answer. The one on the right, Vorhyn, frowning, asked, "We didn't know there were other Dark Lords, nor do we have any idea who the Jedi or Je'daii are, as I understand they are two organizations. However, we have no reason to doubt your words. Not after what we've experienced."
Raevan frowned, surprised by their behavior. Were they stalling for time, or had his strength truly impressed them so much?
A moment later, however, both were upon him, and if they had been dealing with a regular Jedi or even a Sith, they might have had a chance to surprise them, but to him, they might as well have been moving like a fly in tar, not to mention the fact that he automatically used Precognition.
Seeing their attacks a few seconds ahead, he didn't even need to be faster; he simply positioned himself better, preparing for the incoming Force-enhanced attacks.
His left hand caught one of them at the elbow, preventing him from striking, while the other struck the other's wrist, knocking the sword from his grasp.
Of course, he didn't continue the attack; instead, he took two steps back, giving them some space.
Both men launched another attack, but once again, it proved ineffective. Vorhyn was struck in the solar plexus, and Morven, kicked in the back of the knee, fell to the ground.
All of this happened in perhaps two seconds, faster than normal humans could keep up.
The Mandalorians were able to provide some challenge thanks to their technology, but in truth, any self-respecting Jedi or Sith with even a modicum of experience should have handled them with ease.
The fact that so many during the Mandalorian Wars were unable to do so spoke more ill of the Jedi than good of the Mandalorians.
The advantage the Force offered to those willing to understand and use it effectively was incredible.
Raevan blocked the next four attacks while his mind continued its course, then kicked Morven back several meters.
When Vorhyn tried to push him away with the Force, he simply ignored it, approaching him and striking him in the stomach with considerable force, lifting him off the ground and hurling him towards his fellow Sith.
He had to admit, they were no match for him; both had potential, potential he could exploit. Since he knew that trying to extract information from their minds would likely kill them, he decided to try a different approach.
He had never done this himself, but he knew the theory behind the technique; after all, it had been used against him before.
Approaching them, he lulled them back into stasis and, with telekinesis, levitated them towards him, where they hung in midair before him, their eyes wide with anger and fear.
Placing his hands on their heads, he closed his eyes and drew in practically pure Light Side, then redirected it to them, separating them from the Force with a wall of pure light.
Screams of terror and agony tore from their throats, something he understood perfectly, for there was nothing worse than being severed by the Force.
It was a truly blasphemous act, so horrific that many would have preferred to sever their lives a thousand times over. It was better to lose all their limbs than to be separated from it.
Raevan had already experienced this once, and he would sooner incinerate the galaxy than allow it to be done to him again. He couldn't imagine life without the Force ever again.
This was only further proof that the Dark and Light Sides couldn't be viewed in moral terms, for the fact that the Light Side was used to perform arguably the most horrific act a Force-sensitive being could experience spoke volumes.
Now that the two were separated from the Force and thus from their master and the dark Sith alchemy rituals he had performed on them, he could go a step further. Using Cleanse Mind, he carefully cleansed their minds of any remnants of what had been done to them.
Certain he had found everything, he slowly removed the Light Side wall separating them from the Force. Their screams died away, but their faces remained stretched in agony unrelated to physical pain.
Soon, however, their labored breathing began to slowly even out until they collapsed to the ground, exhausted.
"Well, whether they agreed or not, I have two more students," he muttered to himself with a sigh. "I guess it's time to make sure the city falls smoothly into my hands."
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Westeros, King's Landing
Year 298 AC (After Aegon Conquest)
Shiera Seastar
Shiera had just left the chamber where, at Raevan's request, she had been teaching the twins the basics of using the Force, though for now they were limited to simply sensing it and reaching for it.
Aegon, Daenerys, and Rhaenys often accompanied them, being force-sensitive themselves, and she believed it was never too late to learn.
Although she herself had used the Force from a young age, without knowing what it was, she began her truly formal training in her forties.
And with the impending conflict in mind, it would be best to have as many Force-users as possible on their side; moreover, this way, members of their House would be able to defend themselves.
Meanwhile, Raevan was spreading terror across Essos, destroying the Faceless Men, forcing Braavos to side with them, and then conquering Pentos and Myr within days.
Yet, speaking with him through their still-fresh Force Bond, she couldn't help but feel torn. On the one hand, she feared a potential confrontation with the Council members or Darth Andeddu himself, but on the other, she wanted to be there with Raevan on the front lines and be of some use.
She felt her abilities were being wasted while he himself had to face dozens of Sith who belonged to the Order.
Though hearing his stories of what he had accomplished using the Force, first in Pentos and then in Myr, perhaps she shouldn't have worried about him at all.
She had seen several astonishing and terrifying things her former master had accomplished, but none of them could compare to the insane things the young prince was doing.
She hadn't even realized the Force could be used on such a scale and in such a manner. His words about gaining two new apprentices from among the former Sith, for example, filled her with chills and revulsion.
She hadn't realized it was possible to cut someone off from the Force. The very thought terrified her. For her, the Force was life and strength, something she wouldn't give up at any cost. They might as well have robbed her of her ability to breathe.
"Shiera. Wait a moment." She turned at the sound of Rhaenys's voice behind her.
The princess quickly approached her, then, taking her arm, began leading her down the corridor. Shiera didn't resist, instead raising a slight eyebrow, wondering what she wanted to talk about, something she hadn't been able to say in front of her siblings before.
"What can I help you with, Rhaenys? Are you talking about the Force? Or is it something else entirely?" she asked, but she hadn't expected the question that followed. She paused, surprised for a moment.
"What are your plans for my brother?" The princess didn't bite her tongue, and though her face was serious, Shiera couldn't detect any malice in her voice.
Glancing at her from the corner of her eye, Shiera replied, "Why the question?"
Rhaenys looked down at the floor for a moment, silent, her lips pursed. After a moment, however, she looked at her with a mixture of emotions on her face.
"Before you arrived with Daenerys, we were certain that one of us would marry Raev, perhaps even both. Now we're not so sure."
Shiera looked at her with a smile. "Do you think there's something between me and your brother? I admit he's handsome, but he's still a boy."
Rhaenys frowned at her. "We both know that's not true. He's a young man, and he looks it. Besides, he said himself that his soul is older than all the living members of our family combined. He's practically an old man."
Shiera sighed, looking away, but Rhaenys continued. "Not to mention that in the last few weeks before he left, he spent most of his time, when he wasn't preparing, with you. What more do I know about my brother? I can recognize the signs when he looks at a woman with something more than friendship."
"What do you want me to say? That I love your brother? That I want to be his wife? I've only known him for a few weeks, but yes, it would be hard to find a man like him after meeting him."
Rhaenys smiled weakly. "He's impressive, isn't he?"
Shiera looked at her more closely, disappointed in herself for only now realizing it. "You love him, don't you? I mean Raevan."
Rhaenys let go of her hand, wrapping her arms around herself. "Yes, no... I don't know," she replied quietly. "I love him, but... where does a sister's love for a brother end and a woman's love for a man begin? But I feel lust for him... is it a curse of our House? Does it run in our blood?"
Shiera didn't know what to say. Now that they had started talking about it, she had to admit that, although she hadn't thought about it before, she was indeed attracted to Raevan.
He was strong and confident and damn smart. He could be ruthless when necessary but also kind. And like her, he was force-sensitive. And above all, she felt truly safe with him for the first time in decades.
But what could she say to this young woman who looked at her with such vulnerability? What advice? What suggestion?
Finally, she took her arm and led her away, "Come on, let's have a drink. And then we'll talk."
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Essos, Lys
Year 298 AC (After Aegon Conquest)
Randyll Tarly
Their fleet had already cut off Lys the previous evening, sinking or capturing ships in the surrounding waters. Furthermore, part of the Redwayne fleet was carefully patrolling the entire nearby coast of Essos, ensuring they weren't surprised by ships from Tyrosh or Volantis.
Every ship, including merchant ships, was being stopped and escorted to the Stepstones, which their armada and army had been clearing for the past few days.
Fifty thousand men and three hundred ships, and he was still certain that many pirates remained buried in the nooks and crannies and tiny islands of which the Stepstones were plentiful.
Most importantly, however, was the fact that the Free City of Lys could count on no support, and considering that at the moment the bulk of their army was slowly landing and deploying in front of the city walls, building fortifications and siege engines only sealed the city's fate.
Receiving the news yesterday that, after winning Braavos over, Prince Raevan had captured Pentos and Myr, the army's morale was incredibly boosted, and the soldiers toasted their prince's victories.
No one expected such swift victories. Both lords and soldiers were certain that a long war awaited them.
Randyll was certain they were right, not because of the difficulty of the conflict, but because of the scale of Prince Raevan's ambitions. Only a few people outside the royal family knew of his plans, and Randyll was fortunate enough to be among them, given his position.
Raevan not only wanted but also had everything he needed to create his own empire on the eastern continent. A new Valyria, only better in every way. Randyll was certain of that.
"It's better fortified than I expected," said Stannis Baratheon, standing next to him, who had also been silently watching their troops deploy.
Randyll nodded. "Me too. I always imagined this city as one giant brothel... Well, constant wars with neighboring free cities forced the city to be fortified."
"Which doesn't change the fact that inside it probably looks like a whole bunch of interconnected luxury brothels. It's truly the most disgusting of cities," Stannis admitted with a grim face, clearly disgusted by the place.
Both also agreed with the orders of Prince Raevan and the king: the city is to be sacked and then burned, and all slave masters and brothel guests killed. The walls are to remain, and the place is to be transformed into a fortress.
"How long can four thousand mercenaries and guards defend this city?" Stannis muttered, adding after a moment, "With the prince's new trebuchets, even these walls shouldn't hold for long."
"They shouldn't; those colossi hurl stones the size of bulls. Transporting them is the only challenge," the Blackfish interjected, approaching them from the left.
"That doesn't change the fact that the siege will last at least several days. The question is how long Prince Raevan will take the city in that time, leaving us far behind," the grizzled knight added, stopping beside them.
Randyll shook his head slightly. "We don't have to worry about running out of fights. Especially since Prince Tyrosh is leaving us behind as well."
Brynden Tully looked at him, one eyebrow raised, clearly surprised by this information. Well, most of their men probably expected their victorious conqueror to follow suit.
Raevan Targaryen, however, had greater ambitions and a goal with greater potential. If he truly succeeded in cleansing the once-powerful Rhoynar cities of the curses and other filth that permeated them, it would be an incredible achievement.
Those lands surpassed even Raech in wealth and fertility. They were lands with enormous strategic potential for the future.
All the more reason, then, to ensure the prince could focus on his goals while they took the southern coast, and the Starks, along with the armies of the Vale and Weserlands under Ned Stark, began conquering the northern Free Cities.
"I didn't expect that we would be participating in what was likely the greatest war since the Valyrian-Rhoynar war," Stannis said after a moment, and though his voice was calm, there was a note of enthusiasm in it.
Radnyll nodded, feeling the same way, though if Prince Raevan's plans came to fruition, it would be the greatest war the world had ever known. They had to make sure their names were written down in history, and the conquest of Lys was the first step towards this.