Granted, that was just the first of the many peculiar journeys at foreign lands to come.
For after building some trade relations in Braavos... the next trips went further and further.
With the Santa Ma-Rhea paving the way whilst the Bronze Cogs and Bronze Junks were following suit, in their own ways.
Retracing and filling the sea trails with constant activity.
A steady flow that funneled back into Runestone... with Braavosi trading partners just marveling at the uncanny efficiency.
Of course, as mentioned, Braavos was just part of it... the first part.
For not long after... the Young Bronze reworked the destination of his grand flagship to Lorath Bay... wherein the Order members realized that the Leviathan they saw might actually be a rare and prized one compared to what were in this whale-filled sea.
Nevertheless, they docked into Lorath itself.
With their maester-ly leader hoping to learn more about the mazemakers and the constructs of their maze...
Musing about the Blind God Boash and how awkward or fitting it was that such a god's extinct faith was in an island of many inexplicable turns and deadends.
A place that the Pattern religion should have occupied.
Then he rolled his eyes at the pronouns... but still intrigued at this abegnation that some Lorathi continue to practice. In their speech and culture.
Yet he also didn't forget to get to know the workings of the Three Princes... from the Harvest Prince, the Fisher Prince, and the Prince of the Streets.
But focused more on the truly influential Council of Magisters, wondering which one among them was open to making deals with the Bronze Order.
Long story short... a new Free City was locked in for bronze ships to come and go.
With a Norvos connection established as well through the northern ports. Ports that are used by that far inland theocratic city of bearded priests and bells.
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Then again, the Santa Ma-Rhea also made its way to the Axe...
An ax-shaped peninsula of gold and amber... disputed or mayhaps reluctantly agreed upon by Norvos and Ib to be shared between them.
While most of what was mined was flowing in the river Qhoyne or into Ibbenese whaling ships... there should still be some scraps to be had.
An overflow that the Runestone fleet could trade for.
Especially so when it is still a contested piece of land, with chaos ready to erupt when the balance breaks.
Accordingly, this could also be considered a historical place to step foot in... for this was said to be the original home of the Andals.
With their little lord japing about how funny it would be if they, as Bronze King and First Men descent, were to occupy this land for themselves.
Andalizing the Andals for the fun of it, he said.
And while some members chuckled to humor him... many wiped some sweat off their foreheads, for there may very well be some substance to whatever was jestingly said.
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Further east from the Axe are the cities at the mouth of the river Sarne.
With Morosh being an easy one to build trades with, especially as it's a colony of Lorath that they've already settled with.
The city of Saath was quite the unique find... for it housed Sarnori Tall Men... much more unique in their tallness compared to a Bronze Giant like Ser Gunthor Royce.
Its sister city, Sarys, was much more unwelcoming... and very much just a city of ruin. Or a city of filth. The Vaes Graddakh, as the victorious Dothraki called it.
Either of these ways served as an option for actual river products... with some smaller bronze ships eventually being a presence in said river after some while.
So, it was a success on that end... and to the next they ventured.
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Consequently, the Bronze fleet's reach reached further eastward... into the small Kingdom of Omber...
A regular tributary of the Dothraki so that they be spared from the assaulting raids.
Of course, aside from offering it to the horselords... barring their unfortunate girls... those grains and gems could be traded to bronze seafarers that want them as well.
So, all was good... for Omber was apparently used to it.
Not even asking anyone for help with their Dothraki problem lest they risk agitating the unhealthy but stable relationship they had cultivated.
Those horse worshippers were akin to unrelenting pests, after all.
Even the Bronze Order members were solemn at the thought of confronting such ferocities... so, they truly didn't know how to react when they noticed that their young leader was actually planning a sort of Dothraki eradication plan as some kind of sick joke.
But maybe not really.
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Of course, in a much more brazen plan of action... the Young Bronze sought to settle in Vaes Leisi.
Making it a checkpoint for their bronze ships... at perhaps the halfway point in these northern coasts of Essos.
For repairs, rests, and relaxations
In a literal City of Ghosts. Consisting of carved trees and haunted grottoes... that even experienced sailors of the region dared not set foot on for long.
Accordingly, the Santa Ma-Rhea had already found its way into the Port of Ibben, Ib Sar, New Ibbish, and even the old Ibbish that became Vaes Aresak...
But their little lord did not like the Ib's accommodations.
For the Port of Ibben was most controlling, Ib Sar was too criminal, New Ibbish was way too protective, and old Ibbish was just rubble...
They were either too restrictive or had too much downsides in his opinion...
And though he still established trade with the "dwarves" as he called them... he also felt it best to have an unrestricted place of their own.
So, the mostly unclaimed City of Ghosts it is.
Apparently... to build new ships with all the free untouched wood... capture ghosts and put them into tin... and maybe find some "woods walker" to learn their so-called "planting techniques".
For this abandoned settlement was in the Kingdom of the Iquefevron itself. And the Dothraki dared not pester anyone here.
Not minding the fact that the Iquefevron could very well be the culprit that made this place the ghost city that it was.
But Ronan clearly didn't mind, for he considered them Cousins of the Children of the Forest... and that they might very well be extinct already.
Nevertheless, it didn't diminish the fact that this young lord of theirs was truly quite crazy. More so now than ever.
But that kind of crazy could very well have been the spark that made him achieve all of this.
Growing Runestone's few fishing villages into an actual seafaring behemoth that is slowly and steadily encroaching upon the Shivering Sea.
Opportunely so when the Sea Snake and his fleet were in actual deadlock in the Stepstones.
So, the Order of the Bronze could only accept that it is what it is. Doing whatever he wants them to do.
Setting up camps... prop up a banner of Runestone to make it all official... and repair some damaged shipbuilding facilities... so that they can build away.
Building none other than another Santa Ma-Rhea... or maybe even two, with all the materials they've accrued all this while...
Perhaps to just exert even more dominance over everyone else...