The Stepstones, Cutthroat Isle, Pirate Fortress
The Pirate Fortress of Cutthroat Isle was a strange, hybrid construct of timber and stone. During its assembly, slave laborers had been forced to seal the joints with a specialized fish-glue. When dried, this adhesive created an airtight bond, making the structure remarkably resilient against the salty, corrosive winds of the Narrow Sea.
However, because the glue's load-bearing capacity was limited and stone was a luxury on the isle, the fortress remained a squat, two-story affair. To compensate for the lack of height, the original builders had fashioned the base into a four-sided stone slope, mimicking the ancient, stepped pyramids of a distant world. Its only entrance sat atop a steep flight of stairs facing the docks, creating a formidable bottleneck for any attacker.
Jon knew he was lucky. If Garo and Narsas hadn't liberated the slaves from within during the initial raid, taking this pyramid by storm would have cost him half his men.
Now, the fortress served as his seat of power, though the island's poverty was becoming a constant headache. Cutthroat Isle was resource-poor; the sparse timber was barely enough for daily fuel, and the pirates had never bothered with the "lowly" art of farming. Everything—from grain to iron—had been secured through blood or trade.
But there was a silver lining. During his audit, Jon discovered that the logging slaves had secretly cultivated a resilient species of Tree Yam (Cassava) deep within the island's interior. These tubers were easy to grow, ignored by the pirates who considered them "peasant filth," and provided a high-calorie emergency food source that could be harvested year-round.
The Audit of Cutthroat Isle
With the last of the mutineers' charred remains hanging from the palisades as a silent warning, Jon reviewed the official ledgers with his new staff:
CategoryDataTerritory1 Main Island + 6 Resource Outposts (each approx. 1/4 the size of the main)Population386 souls (approx. 80% combat-ready males)Naval Strength5 Galleons, 3 Rowed War galleys, 3 Transport Cogs, various skiffsTreasury~10,000 Gold Dragons (primarily from the Bloodraven's hoard)Supplies6 months of grain/hardtack; 1 month of auxiliary goodsArmory100 sets of functional gear; remainder equipped with timber spears
Jon looked at the numbers and felt a dull ache in his chest. The purge of the mutineers had cost him nearly fifty able-bodied men—a heavy price for a fledgling power. He knew he couldn't afford a war of attrition. To survive, he needed to establish trade routes with the Free Cities. If a rival fleet were to blockade the archipelago, even the Tree Yams wouldn't save them from eventual starvation.
He thought of the "Sea Snake," Corlys Velaryon. Corlys had built a legendary fortune but failed to account for the vulnerability of an island stronghold, leading to the sacking of High Tide during the Dance of the Dragons.
The best defense is a relentless offense, Jon mused. He had to strike fear into his neighbors before they smelled his hunger.
The War Room
In the Great Hall of the fortress, a massive round table had been dragged to the center. Seated around it were Jon's core lieutenants: Garo, Narsas, Kapo, and the four knights of the "Ring Guard." Each—save for Kapo, who remained a raw recruit—had been enhanced by the System into a specialized warrior.
"Kapo," Jon said, leaning over the map. "You've spent your life in these waters. Tell us about the Pirate Kings and why 'Skullcap' Bill was so eager to serve."
Kapo's eyes lit up with a mix of pride and sheer terror. Being allowed in this inner sanctum confirmed his status, yet Jon's presence still felt like standing next to an open flame.
"Lord Jon! The pirates in the Stepstones are as thick as crabs on a beach, but the waters are truly ruled by the Five Pirate Kings: 'Mad' Jack, the 'Bloodwitch' Mary, Blackfox Lena, and 'The Bull' Jason. They hold the lion's share of the black market."
"And where does Salladhor Saan fit into this?" Jon asked casually.
Kapo froze. He stared at Jon as if the boy had just grown a second head. "By the Gods... you know of Saan? You truly came here knowing the web he's spun?"
Jon kept his face unreadable, inwardly sighing. Kapo's mind was "over-fitting" again. Ever since Jon had manifested Dark Sister and predicted the mutiny, Kapo had convinced himself that Jon was an omniscient skinchanger who could read the very ripples of the sea. Jon, currently a Dragon Lord without a single mana point, could only play along.
"Salladhor Saan is the rising star, My Lord," Kapo continued, his voice hushed. "He is an 'upstart' who has eclipsed many veterans. And I know for a fact his gold comes from Tyrosh—specifically, the Archduke Adolf Fillet."
"But isn't Saan Lysene?" Jon interjected, recalling his knowledge from his previous life.
Kapo's jaw nearly hit the table. His respect for Jon surged to a fever pitch. "Yes... yes, My Lord! He is a chameleon. Lysene by birth, but his heart belongs to Tyrosh. He's made a deal with the Archduke to monopolize the trade lanes."
"You know an impressive amount for a simple reaver, Kapo," Jon noted.
Kapo turned pale. He scrambled out of his chair and practically rolled under the table, prostrating himself. "Lord Jon! I swear my loyalty! I was a spy for the Myrish—that's the only reason I have these secrets! I swear by the Drowned God, if I betray you, may the Storm God drag me into the Sky-Hell to be struck by lightning for eternity!"
Jon looked down at the shivering man, who was now acting more like a circus clown than the "wise reaver" his men once feared. Jon realized his every word was hitting Kapo's deepest secrets with the accuracy of a sniper. The legends of Jon being a skinchanger had clearly done their work; Kapo believed he was being monitored at all times.
"Stand up, Kapo. I was merely making an observation," Jon said, his voice heavy with a gravitas he didn't quite feel. "Let's get back to the map. We have a lot of neighbors to 'greet'."