Cersei's dromonds

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King's Landing Dromon. © FFG

Cersei's dromonds are a fleet of new warships approved by Queen Regent Cersei Lannister to begin the rebuilding of the royal fleet of House Baratheon of King's Landing.

Recent Events

A Feast for Crows

Acting as regent for King Tommen I Baratheon, Queen Cersei Lannister hears and accepts the suggestion from Grand Admiral Aurane Waters to build a fleet of war dromonds to reestablish King's Landing's sea power, after the severe losses from the Battle of the Blackwater left less than a dozen warships remaining.[1] Without dromonds of her own, Cersei knows she relies mainly on the strength of the Redwyne fleet from the Arbor as her power at sea. The Redwyne fleet, under the control of House Redwyne, is only available to her by way of her alliance with House Tyrell.[2] When Aurane suggests constructing ten new dromonds as a start, Cersei decides to seize the Iron Throne's payments to the Iron Bank of Braavos to finance their building, after Lord Treasurer Gyles Rosby reveals that the crown has no coin available for the ships, despite the incomes of the crown having never been higher. The objection of Grand Maester Pycelle, who is worried about the reaction of the Iron Bank, is ignored.[1] Later during that council session, Aurane suggests that thieves and poachers be made oarsmen of the new dromonds instead of being sent to the Night's Watch, in objection to the elevation of Jon Snow as the new Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.[1]

The ten ships[1] are later named:[2]

Lord Tywin is named by Aurane, while King Tommen I names the latter five ships.[2]

Aurane suggests that the captains of the dromonds are chosen among the younger candidates. The objections of Grand Maester Pycelle, who favors veterans of the Battle of the Blackwater, who are experienced men of established loyalty, are ignored by Queen Regent Cersei Lannister.[4]

While Lord Mace Tyrell besieges Storm's End, Aurane reports to Queen Regent Cersei that three of the ships are nearing completion and requests more gold as to finish them "in the splendor they deserved".[4] When the small council learns that the ironborn have taken the Shields, Ser Harys Swyft inquires after the dromonds and Aurane reports that the new ships are not fully fitted or manned yet, although Sweet Cersei is fit for sea. As such, this ship is chosen to transport Ser Loras Tyrell and his forces to take Dragonstone from the skeleton forces left by Stannis Baratheon.[3]

Aurane eventually convinces Cersei to leave the dromonds at sea as a display of strength for House Lannister as the commotion from the accusations against Margaery Tyrell grows. During her imprisonment by the Faith of the Seven, Cersei is visited by Qyburn, who tells her that Aurane has fled King's Landing with the new ships after her arrest.[5]

The Winds of Winter

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Warning
This information has thus far been released in a sample chapter for The Winds of Winter, and might therefore not be in finalized form. Keep in mind that the content as described below is still subject to change.

According to Valena Toland, a new pirate king with three-decked warships has set up on Torturer's Deep, styling himself the Lord of the Waters.[6] Some readers have theorized this to be Aurane Waters with Cersei's dromonds, with the title Lord of the Waters being a play on "Waters", the surname for noble bastards from the crownlands such as Aurane himself, and the traditional title for the head of House Velaryon, "Lord of the Tides".

References