Aegon visits the west

[Lord Arrec Durrandon]

Aegon cursed under his breath as he noted the damage. While he was pleased to see Dragonstone - the island - did still exist, the state of Dragonmont was a disappointment. He wondered if the island was inhabited at all these days. The state of the castle suggested that if there were people and possibly some sort of garrison, they would be few.

He urged Balerion down towards the island, keeping an eye out for any sign of life and possibly a hostile reception.

[R'hllor, Lord of Light]

As Aegon nears the island, the naturally dreary look is only exemplified by the smashed remains of what was once the small fishing village built on it's shores, shattered planks of wood and the occasional hull of a boat clinging to the rocks. If there were any survivors left on the island, it was likely to be in the keep itself, or in the dungeons below, safe from the weather.

[Lord Arrec Durrandon]

Balerion let out a loud roar as they descended towards the Dragonmont, as if he remembered the place they had left twelve years ago. Aegon kept his eyes peeled for any sign of life.

[R'hllor, Lord of Light]

There are no signs of life on the island from above aside from a few clinging plants and probably a fish.

[Lord Arrec Durrandon]

Aegon landed Balerion on the top of the remains of the Stone Drum. He drew his sword and dismounted, looking around to ascertain the damage to his former stronghold from up close. The place appeared to be abandoned.

If it was, it would not be for much longer he vowed.

He suddenly raised his sword and his other arm to the sky.

"Before the old gods and the new...." he roared as loud as he could to it appeared no-one but the ruined stone gargoyles and dragons. "I re-claim my patrimony to hold it against all who would try and take it from me and mine."

As the echoes of his voice died away, he looked around to see if there was any stirrings of life. If there were any around he was sure they would have heard him.

[R'hllor, Lord of Light]

If there were any who had heard his decree, they weren't going to respond. A quick search of the island revealed the same findings as above; the keep appeared to be in a state of half-ruined abandonment, with damage to at least half of the towers and walls, as well as half a dozen skeletons scattered across the land. The only thing of note aside from the damage seemed to be that the great volcano was emitting a much greater amount of steam than he remembered.

[Lord Arrec Durrandon]

Aegon heard no response. Satisfied the castle appeared to be unoccupied, he and Balerion took to the skies, with the huge dragon setting a course westwards to the neighbouring island of Driftmark. From Driftmark the dragonlord would fly north to Crackclaw Point.

[R'hllor, Lord of Light]

As Balerion and Aegon fly over, it appears that Driftmark was left untouched by the harsh events of the Doom, leaving his flight to Crackclaw Point undisturbed unless he wished to look further.

[Lord Arrec Durrandon]

Aegon reflected that Driftmark could wait. It was enough to know that it had survived. He turned the dragon's course north towards Crackclaw Point, moving closer to the place where he knew the Second Doom had happened.

[R'hllor, Lord of Light]

Crackclaw Point comes into view before long, and it only takes a quick observation to reveal that it is now Crackclaw Island, the great mass of land to the west that once connected it to Westeros replaced by a swathe of water that stretches far into the distance. Although the damage caused by the Doom is apparent in the sundered earth, the island is practically a paradise compared to the two bleak twins to the south, several buildings still standing amidst the forest covering the island, and what appears to be an even larger town further off.

[Lord Arrec Durrandon]

Aegon drew in his breath at the sight - not so much the sight of the sea itself - but the destruction that had been wrought. To him it looked like much of the Riverlands had gone, including Maidenpool and Harrenhal. He turned Balerion's great reptile head and headed towards the town. Claw Island had been where one of his followers Crispian Celtigar had settled before the Cataclysm, just on the eve of Aegon's claiming of Westeros. He wondered if Celtigar was still there.

Balerion flew towards the town - keeping some distance between himself and the ground. The people that were in the town would most likely react with fear at the sight of the dragon Aegon reflected. Best to keep quite high at the moment.

[R'hllor, Lord of Light]

As Aegon and Balerion near the town, they can easily make out the hundreds of tents surrounding it and covering the nearby land, a motley array of colors and banners representing every lord between Oldtown and Winterfell that survived the Doom. Well over a thousand people are moving about below, and it doesn't take more than a few seconds for the first sign that he had been spotted to appear- a great commotion starts near the center of one of the camps, and within moments people are scurrying in every direction, two fires already spreading throughout the camps.

[Lord Arrec Durrandon]

Aegon gave a small smile at the sight. He dipped lower to take a better look, but he was sure to keep Balerion out of range of any possible arrow fire.

(Animal Handling: 6d (2b Ride), Fighting: 5d, Warfare: 7d)

[R'hllor, Lord of Light]

Aegon easily keeps his distance from the range of arrows as he descends, now able to make out the forms of at least three dozen archers already aiming at him- what he did not expect to stay out of range of was the giant eagle now flying towards him. Three others appear shortly after, all carrying men in their saddles bearing the colors of house Arryn.

[Lord Arrec Durrandon]

Aegon had not come to fight - merely to explore, but he was ready to defend himself if he was attacked. He drew his sword and urged Balerion higher in the air, away from the camp, making sure he was well out of range from the arrows from the ground. Balerion let out a roar - almost as a warning to stay away.