Greyiron's War

Greyiron's War was a conflict that saw the rise and fall of a hedge knight who declared himself a Greyiron King. The celebrated knight and his followers would wage war across the RIverlands, in a desire to carve out a piece of Westeros for himself.

Background
Ser Andrik Iron, a hedge knight hailing from the Riverlands, found himself champion of both the melee and joust in one of the many tournaments thrown by King Monterys in 184 AC. Catching the King’s eye, Monterys invited him to his table, and they established a camaraderie of sorts - possibly more, depending on whom one asked. Over the next few moons the dashing and affable Andrik enjoyed the favor of the monarch, often dining with the King, and swapping boasts and tales. Eventually, such bravado led to a considerable wager by Monterys. If Andrik won the next tournament, the King would grant him land in the Riverlands.

The following tourney would prove to be a grand one, for all the realm had been invited to celebrate the Queen’s nameday, and a generous purse had been promised to the winner of the joust. Skilled and fearsome knights traveled from all reaches of Westeros to vie for the prize, assembling a daunting field for Andrik to navigate. Despite facing far stiffer competition than the previous tourney, the remarkably skilled hedge knight unhorsed all challengers, achieved victory, and eagerly awaited his new claim.

But the Small Council was quick to renege on Monterys’s promise, unwilling to upset the lords of the Riverlands. They informed the hedge knight that he should be more than satisfied with a purse full of gold. However the now renowned Andrik had gained a following of unlanded knights and sycophants during this moment of fame, and he and his followers were displeased with the promise of land being stolen from them. They uttered bold vows of retribution before storming out of King’s Landing.

Andrik and his fellow knights would spend the next eight years gathering followers in the Riverlands, and building up a sizable force. This alarming mustering of an army went largely unnoticed due to other conflicts, particularly the War of the Crossing, occupying the attention of the Riverlords. Finally in 192 AC, Andrik declared his claim as a descendant of King Rognar Greyiron, the last of the Greyiron kings. He fashioned himself a crown of black iron, claimed the Cape of Eagles, and installed himself in a newly fortified ruin once held by the Greyirons of old.

Greyiron's War Begins
Lord Mallister was the first to ride towards this upjumped enemy before he could solidify his position. Andrik was not merely a man of martial prowess, but also possessed the glib of tongue and cunning to cozen those around him. The claimant goaded the Riverlord into personal combat as opposed to a full battle, remarking on his inability to win 'any tourney, small or large, in the last two decades'. When the infuriated nobleman drew his blade, Andrik honoured his promise of a fair fight - and slew him effortlessly in the proceeding duel. Afterwards, he bade his associates to attack, and just as easily crushed the leaderless Mallister force at his doorstep, in the Battle of the Eagles. Those that were not slain surrendered and joined him instead, swelling the ranks of the knight.

Rather than wait for his momentum to die out, the Pretender fueled it further: exploiting the ancient Blackwood-Bracken rivalry, he manipulated Lord Blackwood into attacking his timeless adversary, noting how lightly the Brackens had been punished for burning Raventree Hall. It wasn't merely his words that engendered such an effect - like Lord Tarth before him, he had agents in many a household, ranging from lowly servants to sworn knights, all contributing to his propagation. Unlike the failed Lyonel, however, he'd planned this meticulously, owning merits beyond mere wealth. Although he, too, had hired a considerable quantity of sellswords, the backbone of his strength had been knights - certainly more reliable.

House Tully would not abide the impertinence of a mere hedge knight, gathering their first true host against the opportunism of Andrik, bolstered by a few vassals. Rather than await full reinforcements, they marched out to crush him, deeming hesitation a sign of weakness. Of course, this would prove a huge mistake - with the Battle of the Red Fork, the river's name gained another meaning, as the water was strewn with bodies and coloured crimson.

While the broken force retreated back to Riverrun, House Frey was slow to respond, still recovering from the effects of the last war, reluctant to shed more of their own blood. Andrik was quick to capitalise on his victories, pursuing his defeated enemy back to the seat of House Tully, where he proceeded to raid and burn the surrounding lands. Eventually, the Riverlords mobilised a second army to drive him off, and so the knight fell back with his soldiers, coalescing into the Whispering Wood. Pressing, the Rivermen threw their might against the forestry, but it was futile - one way or another, the Greyiron always turned out to assault their rear, knowing the area better than the back of his hand. The Skirmishes of the Whispering Wood was a hopeless attempt at dragging his vermin out of hiding, and though no breathtaking losses were inflicted on the Rivermen, time, energy and gold was wasted on the endeavour.

While the Whispering Wood remained surrounded, another force had descended on the Riverlords from the Cape of Eagles - mercenaries hired from Lannisport and White Harbor, paired with the few retainers Andrik had left behind at his fortification. They burned and pillaged through the lands, winning no battle, but forcing the withdrawal of the army assaulting Greyiron. It was quite the reprieve, for his party was beginning to run out of supplies, but now, they were once more free to manoeuvre as they pleased.

The struggle between Lords Bracken and Blackwood had not stopped, as they fought their own war amidst the chaos. In retaliation for the Burning of Raventree Hall during Staedmon's Folly, the Blackwoods applied the same treatment to the demesne of their adversary (Burning of Stone Hedge). It was clear now that, while defeating Andrik was no impossibility, it'd be a prolonged and bloody conflict without the expertise and reserves of King Maelor. So, House Tully sent its ravens to King's Landing, and the monarch rode off once more, to defend the interests of his vassals, Crownlords in tow, as was customary, at this point. With his personal involvement, the tide began to switch.

The rebel knights were turned back at the Battle of Fairmarket and the Battle of Wayfarer's Rest, though they regrouped quickly enough for these victories to be considered decisive. It was the Battle of Saltpans that changed the nature of the conflict in its entirety. The self-proclaimed Greyiron was a fierce warrior, felling enemies left and right, first with his lance, and then his blade, fighting like a demon, inspiring his allies and repelling his foes. It is a controversial subject, but some historians argue that this could have been Maelor's first (and only) loss of battle, had Lord Bigglestone not sought out Andrik, and ended him in personal combat. Whether the King would have lost without Bigglestone's courage, that is for debate, but it is a well-known fact that winning this engagement broke apart whatever other warbands the knight had had remaining.

Thus ended the ambitions and life of Andrik the Greyiron King. His defeat served as a good reminder for what would happen to those that tried rebellion as a means of advancing their station, highborn or not.