Invasion of the Arbor

Invasion of the Arbor
Conflict	War of the Five Kings
Date	300 AC
Place	The Arbor and the surrounding islands, in the Reach
Result	Ironborn victory Ryamsport is sacked The towns of Vinetown and Starfish Harbor on the Arbor and the islands of Stonecrab Cay, the Isle of Pigs, and the Mermaid's Palace are occupied The islands of Horseshoe Rock and Bastard's Cradle are partially occupied
Combatants Iron Throne/ House Baratheon of King's Landing: The Reach, led by House Tyrell House Redwyne Kingdom of the Isles and the North/ House Greyjoy House Drumm House Goodbrother House Harlaw House Harlaw of Glimmering House Merlyn House Myre House Orkwood House Saltcliffe House Sharp House Sunderly House Volmark House Wynch Commanders Unknown Unknown Strength 12 war galleys Ironborn fleets, excluding the Iron Fleet Casualties All ships captured or sunken Unknown

The invasion of the Arbor takes place in 300 AC during the second phase of the War of the Five Kings, and is part of the ironborn campaign in the Reach. Following the taking of the Shields, Euron Greyjoy, the new King of the Iron Islands, sends his ships to raid up the Arbor as well as other parts of the Reach. With much of the Reach's armies and navies on campaign in the stormlands, crownlands, and riverlands, the Reach is poorly defended.

Prelude

Reports of the ironborn taking the Shield Islands reach King's Landing. The ironborn are said to have a thousand ships, although this is most likely an exaggeration. Queen Margaery Tyrell demands that the Redwyne fleet, which is besieging Storm’s End and Dragonstone, be allowed to leave the stormlands and the narrow sea in order to defend the Reach, but Queen Regent Cersei Lannister refuses, stating that the two castles remain a danger to King's Landing and King Tommen I Baratheon's rule as they remain loyal to a rival king, Stannis Baratheon. Margaery's brother, Ser Loras Tyrell, offers to lead a charge on the walls of Dragonstone in order to quickly end the siege, which Cersei accepts. A fortnight later it is reported that Loras has successfully taken the castle, being grievously wounded in the process, which allows for the Redwyne fleet to make for the Reach.

In the meantime Euron Greyjoy has ordered his fleet to carry out attacks on settlements of the Mander, the Arbor, and the Whispering Sound. King's Landing is informed of the presence of ironborn longships in the Redwyne Straits.

Invasion

With most of the Redwyne fleet away, the ironborn capture or sink the dozen warships remaining at the Arbor. The Arbor town of Ryamsport is sacked whilst Vinetown and Starfish Harbor are taken. The ironborn also capture the neighboring islands of Stonecrab Cay, the Isle of Pigs, and the Mermaid's Palace whilst the islands of Horseshoe Rock and Bastard's Cradle are partially occupied.

Aftermath

Samwell Tarly learns about the Arbor's fate from the captain of the Huntress.

Quotes

If King's Landing loses Oldtown and the Arbor, the whole realm will fall to pieces, he thought as he watched the Huntress and her sisters moving off.

—thoughts of Samwell Tarly