Blackwater

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During this period, power in the Blackwater was divided between several kings and clans. The Darklyn Kings of Duskendale were the most prosperous and powerful kingdom, followed by the Mooton kings Maidenpool. House Fisher, once the ruling dynasty of the ancient Riverlands, still clung to an impoverished kingship on Misty Isle. On Crackclaw Point - the Age of Heroes still continued unchanged, as clan warred against clan to prove strength, honour - and to extend their domains.

=== ~~Andal Invasions~~ ===

=== First Century A.I. ===

The shift into the Andal Invasions began on the Blackwater with the coming of two warlords; Armistead Vance, and Togarion Bar Emmon. These two men led hosts to the mouth of the Blackwater Rush, and made war on those they found there, burning the sacred groves, and driving the Children of the Forest from the region. Armistead and Togarion attempted to seize Duskendale in the name of the Andals, but were repelled by an alliance of [[Staun I Darklyn|Staun Darklyn]] and [[Florian Mooton|Florian the Brave]], the Mooton king of Maidenpool. Togarion retreated back into Blackwater Bay to regroup, whilst Armistead stubbornly continued westwards into the southron reaches of the Riverlands. Togarion Bar Emmon would later make another attempt to seize Duskendale, but broke himself against the Darklyn host, and was no more.

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Duskendale would continue to expand during the first century A.I. This was both in the literal sense, as increased trade and population made the town more prosperous, but also in terms of the power of the Dusk Kings, as they became the unrivalled power in the Blackwater by 90 A.I. This began in earnest in 63 A.I., when Aldhelm Darklyn marched on Maidenpool - claiming the Mooton's unworthy of kingship, being unable to protect Maidenpool from the raids of Clawmen, and general lawlessness and banditry in the region. In 84 A.I., the final King of Hogg Hall, Galbart Hogg - fell to the power of the Dusk Kings, being seized by House Darklyn before being handed to the Andal Bartheld's in return for their service. The Hoggs had ever been a troublesome dynasty of robbers and bandit kings, aiding or hindering their neighbours whenever it suited them, whilst taking their due from those they ruled. With the Coming of the Andals, and the rise of new realms - the age of such frontier kingdoms was reaching its end all over Westeros.

And yet the rise of Duskendale was not all smooth, or without consequence. During the reign of King Abel Darklyn, a new wave of Andals arrived in the ~~Blackwater~~. Amongst these were the Ormes, who landed at Nessingkeep, the Den Reeves, who made for the Bay of Crabs and seized the lands of House Fisher, and the Stricklands, who attempted to wrest the Hook from the Massey Kings. It was in those years that a terrible plague spread across the Blackwater, originating in the lands of House Fisher. It killed indiscriminately, particularly in Maidenpool and upon Driftmark. Many turned to superstition, and blamed the Andals for the disease. House Orme, who had been granted lands along the northern bank of the Blackwater Rush, and lordship over many minor houses in the area, called a gathering of Andal Lords, after learning of the death of King Abel Darklyn. Lord Orme wished to demand that the Darklyn kings accept their faith for his own. It was Lord Preston Toyne who instead pushed for the accession of his own nephew Gaston Darklyn, suggesting that the current king Thorren Darklyn despised Andals, and that Gaston would make a better king. It was for this that Preston would later earn the name 'King-Maker'. The Barthelds also pushed for Gaston's kingship.

=== Second Century A.I. ===

And yet the rise of Duskendale's dominance over the Blackwater was not all smooth, or without consequence. During the reign of King Abel Darklyn, a new wave of Andals arrived in the region. Amongst these were the Ormes, who landed at Nessingkeep, the Den Reeves, who made for the Bay of Crabs and seized the lands of House Fisher, and the Stricklands, who attempted to wrest the Hook from the Massey Kings. It was in those years that a terrible plague spread across the Blackwater, originating in the lands of House Fisher. It killed indiscriminately, particularly in Maidenpool and upon Driftmark. Many turned to superstition, and blamed the Andals for the disease. House Orme, who had been granted lands along the northern bank of the Blackwater Rush, and lordship over many minor houses in the area, called a gathering of Andal Lords, after learning of the death of King Abel Darklyn. Lord Orme wished to demand that the Darklyn kings accept their faith for his own. It was Lord Preston Toyne who instead pushed for the accession of his own nephew Gaston Darklyn, suggesting that the current king Thorren Darklyn despised Andals, and that Gaston would make a better king. It was for this that Preston would later earn the name 'King-Maker'. The Barthelds also pushed for Gaston's kingship.

What followed was war. In 102 A.I. the Orme and Toyne hosts gathered at Rosby, intending to march north to meet their fellow Andals. Little did they know, Garth Daelwell, an infamous Andal outlaw who had earned his name of 'Wolf-Slayer' by fighting in the far north, betrayed the plans of his fellow Andals to King Thorren, supposedly because the other houses refused to rise up a true Andal to the throne. Because of this, Thorren Darklyn marched his own host south to Rosby, catching the Andal rebels off-guard. Despite this, the Andal Cavalry thundered through the spear lines of House Darklyn, sending his host retreating back to Duskendale. The rebel forces marched north to meet their allies at Redbend, joining Houses Den Reeve and Bartheld. Through pillage and siege, the Andals drew out the Darklyn armies once again - resulting in another crippling defeat for the would-be king Thorren.