Death of the Butcher King

Shane
4 days ago
2 min read

The Tattered Prince was still. Chaos was his greatest weapon. The Butcher King was dead, allegedly. In his place reigned Cleon the Second, or maybe King Cutthroat, or Queen Whore. Whichever person claimed they ruled Astapor in truth ruled no one and nothing. The city was panicked, unruly, every person desperately fending for themselves. Now all the Commander of the Windblown had to do was wait.

Dick Straw moseyed up beside his commander. “It’s quite a name...”

The Tattered Prince’s eyes remained on the frenzied city.

“‘King Cutthroat,’ Dick continued. “After we take the city, you think the lads, maybe, could start calling me that? I mean, everyone has one of those names. A second name. Everyone.”

There was no response.

“Absolutely everyone does, saving me. We could start with just ‘Cutthroat,’ if you prefer. ‘King,’ or ‘Brother Cutthroat.’ Maybe ‘Cutter’…”

“Get back in formation or I’ll have you whipped,” ordered the Tattered Prince.

“Aye, aye.” Dick Straw shuffled back to the line.

The Story

"The armies of the Yunkai'i descend on Astapor. When Cleon commands the Astapori to march out against the Yunkai'i, the Butcher King is slain by his own soldiers. Another man declares himself Cleon the Second, but his throat is cut eight days later. That man's killer claims the crown, as does the first Cleon's concubine. The supporters of the rival monarchs fight within Astapor."

- A Wiki of Ice and Fire, Siege of Astapor

The Scenario

This scenario utilizes the Ghiscari Faction. This scenario is a mix of a few events, the fall back of Cleon's army to Astapor after the Battle at the Horns of Hazzat, and then the death of Cleon inside of Astapor and the ensuing siege. Instead of making a new commander like Cleon the Second or King Cutthroat (who only get one or two mentions in the book), I thought it would be better to keep Cleon the First, the Butcher King as commander as he is the character who these events revolve around.