NIP #505 - Chapter 237 Dorne's Dilemma
#505 - Chapter 237 Dorne's Dilemma
In the year 307 of the Conquest Era, over fifty thousand Dothraki riders, under the guise of mercenaries, surged into Dorne like a tumultuous tide.
These nomadic warriors, hardened by harsh environments, were every bit as formidable as the Dornish fighters. Moreover, the Dothraki cavalry had minimal logistical needs; they could drink the same water as their horses, and when food and water were scarce, they sustained themselves on mare's milk and dried meat.
The Dothraki warhorses were no slower than the Sand Steeds, and once they engaged an enemy, the Dothraki riders would latch on like a pack of wolves. The outnumbered Dornish warriors found it difficult to resist such relentless pressure. Furthermore, the Dothraki's bloodlust and belligerent nature made them even more courageous and fearless in battle, showing no mercy to those who resisted.
As large numbers of Dothraki riders began to sweep across the plains outside the towns, the small settlements hidden in the Dornish desert were discovered and destroyed one by one. Each attack was like a merciless storm, leaving behind only scorched earth and ruins.
According to Dothraki custom, they would only spare underage children and women, with the young and beautiful women being taken as slaves. In just three months, Dornish casualties exceeded eighty thousand. Before the War of the Five Kings, the total population of Dorne was just over a million.
Although the Dornish were brave, their valor could not withstand the Dothraki's curved blades and swift horses. Countless Dornishmen fell in pools of blood with each charge. The captured women and children became the spoils of the Dothraki, facing an unknown fate.
Even the hottest blood could not withstand the cold steel. When passion faded, survival became the top priority. With overseas trade disrupted by sea storms and a lack of external support, Dorne's food reserves quickly dwindled. The grain-producing areas of the Greenblood River valley also fell into the hands of the allied lord armies. Residents fled, cities became desolate, and the streets were empty. However, to ensure the warriors had enough strength to fight, civilian rations were reduced again and again. Many elderly people were callously abandoned, left to die of thirst in the desert.
The war brought not only death and hunger, but also endless fear and despair. The people of Dorne began to question the meaning of the war, wondering how much longer they could endure. Some chose to flee, hoping to find a safe place. But most remained in their homeland, believing that they could overcome the enemy if they persevered.
As time passed, the cruelty of the war became increasingly apparent, and the people of Dorne lived in dire straits. Each day was a test of life and death, and every moment was filled with fear and despair. More and more fleeing people began to return to the cities, but unfortunately, the ruthless Dothraki showed no mercy, and many fell on the way back, becoming wandering souls by the roadside. Over time, the population in the major towns gradually rebounded.
In the Shadow City (the outer district of Sunspear without walls), a group of people were secretly plotting a rebellion, organizing themselves to launch a desperate fight to retake Sunspear. Among them were elderly people, women, and underage teenagers, who, under the organization of infiltrating warriors, were determined to challenge the occupying forces' rule.
On a quiet night, under the dim moonlight, the rebels launched a surprise attack. They took full advantage of their familiarity with the terrain, surging out of the Shadow City like a raging tide. Their goal was to retake Sunspear, seize the valuable supplies of the Imperial army within the castle, and for some, simply to avenge their loved ones.
However, they were met with a rain of arrows and a dense formation of long spears. Arrows streaked through the night sky, carrying the threat of death towards the rebels. At the same time, teams of heavily armored warriors emerged from the Sandship Fortress, armed and ready.
At this moment, Bran Stark, temporarily serving as the Guardian of the Sands, and Garlan Tyrell, the acting castellan of Sunspear, appeared together on the city walls. They looked down at the rebels below, without a trace of fear in their eyes.
Bran stood high above, overlooking the scene below the city walls, shaking his head and sighing, "The Dornish, they are always like this, first surrendering, and then betraying. Do you really think we nobles don't read? I know all about the famous 'Sunspear Window Incident'."
Garlan Tyrell continued, "I've felt that something was wrong with this city for a long time, I didn't expect these people to really rebel."
Just then, a sudden force of armored cavalry appeared on the battlefield, dealing a heavy blow to the rebels. The battle below the Sandship Fortress was extremely fierce, with both sides doing their best, fighting for freedom and faith. However, despite the rebels' valiant efforts, the difference in strength could not be easily overcome.
In cold weapon warfare, weapons are also consumables, and Dorne lacks iron resources. After months of war, even the regular army's weapons could not be guaranteed, and most of these rebels could only fight with sticks and farm tools.
Soon after, the rebels were defeated and dispersed, and the Imperial army began a search operation. Since the Shadow City had no walls, the defeated rebels fled into the wilderness. At the same time, the Dothraki outside the city also noticed the rebels' actions, riding their warhorses and roaring past, leaving behind a trail of severed limbs.
The Imperial army began searching house to house, not letting go of any place that might harbor rebels. Fear hung over Sunspear like a dark cloud, and people closed their doors, praying not to be caught up in the turmoil. The streets of the city were deserted, shops and markets were closed, as if the end of the world had come.
In the wilderness, a few lucky rebels managed to escape the pursuit, but they did not escape the Dothraki's tracking. When they finally returned to their hiding place, a large number of Dothraki warriors followed closely behind, like wolves chasing prey. They quickly annihilated the rebel camp here, leaving no room for escape. The Dothraki were excellent hunters, skilled at tracking, and these were all carefully arranged bait.
As time passed, the living environment of the Dornish people became increasingly harsh, and the Empire's purge became unimaginably cruel. The Dornish began to feel despair, they could no longer hold on, and did not know how to cope with this endless suffering.
The oases, which originally symbolized life and hope in the desert, had now become death traps for the Dornish. The Dothraki would set up ambushes in the oases, waiting for the Dornish to take the bait. The Dornish were like moths drawn to a flame, because they had no choice. These oases may have been the only water source in the area, and they had to either bravely face the enemy or die of thirst in the desert. Every adventure was accompanied by great risk, but they had to risk it all, for survival, for family, for the future.