HOLY FUCK ITS GAME OF THRONES QUEST!All right you loo/tg/rabbing fatguys and catgirls, get the fuck in here.Head of House – Dustain Karban of SaltmouthBorn the second son to Lord and Lady Terrevan, your lord was raised with his older brother and sisters in the families rolling holdings along the Green Fork of the Trident in the Riverlands. Always clever and intelligent, you were trained to lead men into battle, being sent to squire in the Vale of Arryn for Ser Kervin Gallan at the age of eleven. There, you learned the ways of a knight, earning our spurs at the age of seventeen after acquitting yourself in an ambush by raiders from the Mountain Clans in the Mountains of the Moon where you slew four of the wildlings and saved the life of Ser Gallan’s brother, being wounded yourself.
>>19614941 ContinuedWhile you first imagined returning to the Riverlands to ably serve your brother and father, Ser Gallian mentioned your feats to Ser Gregory Redwyne, who tempted you away to serve in the Reach. Granted land on the northern coast of the Arbor, you pledging yourself to House Redwyne and House Tyrell. Taking the name Karban, you adopted a new coat of arms and the words “Like waves upon rock” for your house. The founding of this house was fortuitous, as a bumper harvest was magnified by your clever management and careful stewardship. Lord Redwyne gave you more land, which was promptly developed as well, which has led to further economic success. The true jewel of your small bit of lands is the prosperous town of Saltmouth, which straddles the mouth of a river called the Windingwater, which flows from deep in the interior of the Arbor. However, your inland fields are bountiful and covered in orange orchards, fields of grain and barley, pastures for sheep and goats, and numerous olive groves. Now, at the age of 24, you have only been managing your lands for two years, and have only been serving the Tyrell’s for five. However, your meteoric rise to fame, glory, and power continues…
Oh yes. Oh By the Seven, Yes!
>>19614952>>19614941 Continued.Defense – Castle Salt (small castle) that has five round towers at 45 feet tall, a curtain wall that is twelve feet thick and thirty five feet tall, a river-gate, and a relatively spacious yard around the central keep. It can survive for 3 months under siege, hold 4 units, and has plenty of space for our household.Influence – Currently, our name is the talk of the Arbor and even much of the Reach. We recently let drop that we are looking for a wife, so offers should be coming soon.Lands – A strip of fertile coastline, with the large town of Saltmouth straddling the mouth of the Windingwater. Along the western bank of the Windingwater, we also have fertile plains that grow foods.Law – Currently, crime is not much of a major issue. However, pirates, smugglers, and grifters are always a problem when a populous port like Saltmouth is involved.Population – The large town of Saltmouth has nearly 4300 souls within, and the farming thorps of Jonsroad, Fieldcross, and Quickford have around 50-100 each. The fishing outposts of Rigger’s Rest, Polewalk, and Laternbridge have around the same.Power – Currently, we have five war galleys: each a 60-oar ship with a veteran crew, with a unit of trained sailors to provide extra punch. A unit of well-trained Garrison watch over Castle Salt and the town of Saltmouth, and our personal guard, a veteran group of warriors, bravos and knights, is called the Steel Guard.Wealth – Currently, our coffers are nearly bare, as we have purchased the development of an iron mine along the banks of the Windingwater some leagues from the sea, an extensive set of docks and a bustling port, a well-stocked marketplace in the center of Saltmouth, and the services of our maester.
When last we left our intrepid hero, he had just completed a survey of his lands, holdings, and personnel after being away from the Arbor in Oldtown for several months. Now, however, we have been home for several days. Currently, we are doing mostly paper work and talking with Coyle (our steward), Ben (our maester), and Ser Cargill (our castellan). On a crisp morning, with a bit of fog blowing in off the sea, we have to get around to a pressing issue: there is a letter that mentions the possibility of our liege, the elder Lord Redwyne, coming to visit for several days as he examines the eastern coastline of his realm.>What to do today:Talk with out household and potentially get all our ducks in a row. Go hawking with Ser Cargill and Ser Rory Wallgrave, your capable Master-at-Arms.Talk to a few of the deepwater crabbers who have been petitioning the right to see you for about a week.Sit in a warm bath and get drunk, like a boss.
>Talk to a few of the deepwater crabbers who have been petitioning the right to see you for about a week.Can't ignore the smallfolk and all that.Also, I think someone last thread mentioned getting together our personal guard and investigating any incidents of banditry in our lands?
>>19615033Take care of business first, Meet with household then see what the crabbers want so they don't cause problems.
>>19614975>>19615033I would say we talk with the household, then the crabbers, then Hawking and a drinking match with our reflection in the hottub.
>>19615110I second. The small people are important but we have to watch over the home.
>>19615128crabbers and sons of crabbers can have good things to say.let's hear them out
House Karban Time? Fuck yeah.>>19615033>Talk to a few of the deepwater crabbers who have been petitioning the right to see you for about a week.gotta see how the smallfolk are doing.
>>19615085A good move, and yes, they did. Throwing on our good doublet, we head down to our great hall to break our fast before meeting with these petitioners. A meal of bacon, bread, beer and fresh butter should keep the Crone away. After that, we have a few serving girls clear away the dishes and have the crabbers summoned.They are men of common birth, around a half dozen or so, and well-worn by the sea. They nearly fall all over themselves talking to you, with more 'sers' and 'my lords' than they really need to, but it is clear they are just nervous. Apparently, they have been working the coastal banks near the western edge of your holding, looking for the large, aggressive blue crabs that the mainlanders like so much. While out there, every now and then they have seen several small skiffs, no more than fourteen oars by the count of an older man. They seem to be lurking near the Northwood Forests, a dense and ancient stand of trees in the holdings of House Portain, your neighboring lord to the west.
>>19615162Asking Coyle about this, he does confess his fears. "Lord, the Northwood is old, with many places a man may hide if he feels so inclined. House Portain is old and noble, but the woods would be impossible to watch entirely..." He slips you a small scrap of paper from two nights previous, when you, Ser Cargill, and he had stayed up late into the night, drinking Arbor Gold and discussing the bandit problem in between swapping old stories. Underlined is 'smuggler?'
By the seven, I've been waiting for this thread since I read the last one on sup/tg/.
>>19615195>>19615162Hmm, this is tricky. They are operating in the river and are using the ancient forests of a neighboring House to skirt the laws of both. Since House Portain is old and noble, they wouldn't be caught dead engaging with the smugglers, if they are what they are. We could organize a raid with House Portain. They know or have troops who know that forest pretty well, and can approach from the forest side, while we have a crewed and experienced navy which can approach from the river (we could also have our troops act like crab fishermen in fishing boats, in order to get close to them). We simply need to know when they appear, which the crabbers probably know of anyway.
>>19615195We should send word to the Lord of House Portain, and propose a joint mission to exterminate these... bandits. Our fleet can blockade the woods, and we can work with them to find and remove the scum.Before we do this though, let's talk with our household, get ducks in a row and whanot.
>>19615195Nice. We should approach the Lord of House Portain with a message informing them that we have a lead on the possibility of smugglers operating in his territory. We should take great pains to not sound accusatory or imply he has been negligent by allowing this to happen. Something along the lines of "As always, no matter how stalwartly us men of virtue stand watch over our beloved lands, men of ill repute will always find some hole dark enough to hide in and commit their unlawful deeds from."Maybe ask him if we could join him in bringing the lawbreakers to justice?Also, award the deepwater crabbers accordingly (I'm sure there was some sort of bounty for smugglers listed earlier) and promise a further boon if one of them shows us exactly where they are.
You thank the crabbers and send them on their way following several more questions, after having Coyle give them each a few silver stags for their information, which they heartily thank you for.Calling together your advisors, you meet in your solar, just off of your bedrooms in the keep. It is a moderately sized room, with multiple heavy tables and chairs, a heavily stocked bookshelf, numerous maps of the sea around your lands, and various other kit and baubles. Ser Cargill and Ser Wallgrave are present, as are Coyle and Maester Ben, who are followed in by the roguish form of Captain Jorge Caswell, the unknighted noble and rake who commands your ships.They all grab something to drink, and Ben unrolls a big map of the north-eastern coast of the Arbor. "Those men said that those suspicious ships use these deep river streams here and here (tapping the map) around dusk, probably with a few signals to help guide them in and stay clear of the sandbars and shallows... While we don't know what those men are doing, it is certainly interesting behavior."
>>19615297award the deepwater crabbers accordinglyAgree, but hold off the reward until after capturing the smugglers men with money usually talk to much for their own good. Tell them they will be awarded for this until the smugglers are deal with.
You lean back and let your advisers talk, content to think and ponder as they discuss. Caswell says that your galleys could easily patrol the area, but their draft is too deep to approach close to the shore without risk. Not to mention, the ner-do-wells could just flee further inland, abandoning the sea to loose the ships.Coyle knows that the Portain's are pretty upstanding folks, and the idea that these suspicious ships would be theirs doesn't seem likely. The Portain house builds ships for the Arbor and the mainland, turning the timber of the Northwood into rugged and tough galleys and cogs: smuggling would be pretty out of character.Ser Cargill knows several of the sworn knights of the house, and they have always seemed above board. Ben and Rory also suggest sending a raven to the head of the Portains, to ask for a meeting.
>>19615329How treacherous are these rivers to someone who does not know them? Does the shape of the river change with the seasons requiring up to date information to navigate them safely and accurately?Given where they're hiding I would suspect smuggling of some sort, it would be difficult to hide a ship capable of true piracy on those rivers and it would be far riskier. Could you tell us what we know about Jorge Caswell? We haven't interacted with him in the quest.
>>19615350Good idea.It should probably be pointed out that these men have been petitioning for an audience with us for a week now. They may have been eager to report this to us without even knowing about the reward. I'm still in favour of giving them their reward in due time, but this is a very positive indicator as to the loyalty of our subjects.
Hey, is there any Errata for the RPG? I noticed you had significantly more holdings than the version I have.
>>19615393Send the message, then we can sort out our household.
>>19615393We should set up a meeting with Portain, also we should get to know our neighbors better anyways. The basic plan I'm thinking of is that we have a joint group approach into the forest, with the men who are experienced acting as scouts and guides for the main force, the primary goal is to force them out into the sea where our ships can tear them apart and they have no place to hide. If we blockade them from the sea first they'll go further inland and disappear into the deep forest only to come back somewhere else, we might catch some of them but we won't take them apart.
>>19615394House Caswell is from the mainland of the Reach, along the southern coast. He is not knighted, and is rather...unconventional. He reminds you more of a braavo than a traditional noblemen, with a swagger and dangerous edge to him.That would normally make him a touch suspect in your eyes, but Coyle says that the man is like a diviner at the head of a ship, able to ferret our pirates and smugglers as if he could sense them in the breeze. Ser Wallgrave has also commented on his ferocious prosecution of such brigands, and how Jorge has been known to lead the boarding actions himself, twinned sabers flashing as he goes over the side.
>>19615439I like this guy, he is competent, devoted to his job and has style. If we don't ask him to perform diplomatic negotiations with other noble houses we should be fine, also I like having unconventional people about, it means you don't fall into the same patterns everyone else does, it sets your house apart.
Ben, fingering the black iron link of his chain, asks if you would like to compose a letter for him to send to House Portain.Ser Cargill also wants to know if you want to call up the Steel Guard and have them prepare to ride.Jorge Caswell wants to know if there is any more wine, since his glass is dry.
>>19615393>>19615438Cooperation with Portain seems like the best option we block the sea and he could from the forest, since its his land,and the smugglers end up having nowhere to go. At the same time we seek to improve relations with our neighbor. What else do we know about House Portain?
>>19615522Yes, yes, and yes. I'm not going to write the letter as I have no clue what standard pleasantries and etiquette I ought to use.For the letter we'll want to be polite, make note of the suspicious people but don't blame him or seem accusatory, talk about how no matter how secure and lawful a place that men such as these will find a dark corner to take root in. Suggest that together we can remove them from our lands, winning glory for our actions and ensuring safety for our people.
>>19615532Dirk Portain has been head of house for nearly two decades. He is an ambitious, driven man who sees his position inextricably linked to the seas and House Redwyne. He has a young boy of six, and his second wife just gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. By all accounts, he is a reasonably fair lord and seems to do his job well.The house has around thirty knights pledged to it, with nearly sixty ships. While they don't have any lands that produce wine, they do much of the work to make sure it gets to market: the make barrels, flasks, pottery, and the fat-bellied merchant cogs that carry the fruits of the Arbor away from your shores and return with vast sums of gold.
Watching. Taking notes on non-canon Westeros.
>>19615589(I don't want to try to write that text either. Medieval forms of etiquette aren't my strongest suit.)Ben drafts the letters (two copies) using the standard requests, titles, and pleasantries. It says, in essence, that you have heard reports of some shady dudes in the woods, and that they might be hiding out on the boundaries of your two houses, hoping to escape notice. It requests some form of consultation (be it through correspondence or in person) about how the two of you should handle this. It also asks how his wife is fairing, and to the health of his two beautiful new children, along with your congratulations for his newest heirs and your hopes for their great futures.
>>19615661Sounds like a good letter. We might also be able to use this as an opportunity to grow closer to the Portains, and we want to be friends with them considering how much we rely on them, they make the ships we sail, the barrels we need for wine and so much more. We want to be friends with them.
>>19615661I approve of this letter. It doesn't sound like Portain is the sort who would take offence to this sort of situation, unless you made an awful faux pas.
>>19615634I will try to make it worth reading, then. During character creation, I was really happy for us to roll up a spot that isn't covered at all in the books. Gives me a bit more flexibility, but also makes me nervous about fucking it up.>>19615691Coyle gives us his kind of tacit approval on this tactic, which is good. He is, after all, far more experienced when it comes to dealing with the nobles of the Arbor. After this little council, everyone goes back about their business and you stretch your legs for a short walk around your walls. Nearly forty feet high, you can see the sprawl of wooden and stone houses with their thatched roofs and smoking chimneys. The bustling docks are unloading two trade ships out of Lys, taking silks and chests of spices and scented woods off them before loading them up with casks of water and crates of salted fish and fruits as they make their final push towards Oldtown.
It is nearly four days before we get a response from Lord Portain, but it appears he had been out hunting in the woods with some of his knights when our letter first arrived. A raven from Dawn Hall (the seat of his house) arrives slightly after breakfast, which is promptly brought to you by Ben. The letter says that the very idea of some scum attempting to hide in the shadows between your two houses is unacceptable, as they are endangering the trade that is the lifeblood of the Arbor, and therefore the greatness of House Redwyne and your two holdings.Apparently, he will be riding to Twiston, the biggest town of his lands, in the next two days, where he will expect to see us when we have time. He will be there overseeing the construction of several very large galleys meant for the fleet at Three Towers, and will be there for several weeks, so the speed of our departure is up to us. Consulting Ben's maps, it will take three days by sea and five by land to reach the docks at Twiston.>Crunch TimeWhen do you want to leave?Who are you bringing with and who are you leaving in charge behind?Anything special you plan to bring with you?
>>19615761Look at our beautiful city, it isn't the biggest but it's one of the nicest around, feel utter contentment. Everything is going smoothly, trade is going, we have plans to deal with probable smugglers, some day in the near future we have unwed noble ladies coming along along with a probable "Hot Dornish Wife", life is good.What else is on the agenda for today?
>>19615867We should be prompt so I'm in favour of leaving as soon as everything is ready, and bring with us our entire personal guard of course. Our warships should make ready, probably hang out of sight of the suspected smuggler site as we attack with Portain over land.
>>19615867Okay, we should probably go by sea and bring some fleet with us. I think the basic plan is to force them to sea from land and stomp them with our navy, or encircling them so they have no where to go. We'll want to leave much of the forest work to them as they know the land better. We'll want to bring sailors, warships and maybe a detachment of the Steel guard with. We should get on this quickly so leave as to arrive at about the same time as Portain or at most a day or two later. We'll obviously be going with Jorge Caswell. I could see taking Rory or Cargill along as well, but not both. What is Ser Cargill's official position?I can't see much benefit in taking Maester Ben or anyone else.
>>19615867We should probably leave immediately, and have the Castellan make preparations while we are away with Jorge Caswell to be ready to storm the river where the smuggler's are operating on a specific day when we return. Have Ser Wallgrave train the garrison and try to hunt as many bandit infestations on our lands as possible. Have Ser Coyle oversee trade with the merchants at our largest city, and see if he can acquire trade deals or learn of news from the mainland that might be of interest to us.Any information for a wife would probably be sent to the Castellan Cargill. Also, we should know when Lord Redwyne will deign to make his appearance known to us. After this bandit/smuggling ring is taken care of, we should be sure to invite Lord Portain and any other neighboring lords to a feast we will hold in the Lord's honor.As for gifts for Lord Redwyne, if he is a traditional sort I would think a book detailing his family history would be a nice present. If vain, then perhaps a statue or portrait of himself commissioned by a great artist at our expense.
>>19615947Officially, Ser Cargill is our castellan (he keeps our shit protected when we aren't around). However, he is the size of a small, upright car and is easily as experienced as one of the members of the Steel Guard. Either he or Ser Rory would make a fine choice of who to watch over everything while we are away.Coyle says that he will accompany you, but he clearly doesn't seem to keen on the idea. He is, after all, much better with coin and tax rates than direct diplomacy and combat. Caswell says that he could have three ships ready to sail by dawn tomorrow, with the whole fleet of five ready by mid-afternoon the next. The Steel Guard could be ready to ride in four hours or so.
So who is voting for leaving by sea, and who wants to ride along the coast road? We generally seem to be in agreement over the idea of leaving immediately, so unless anyone has any better ideas, that is what I am assuming.
>>19616006I don't see why we're taking Coyle. Take Rory and leave Cargill in charge.It's best to act on this quickly, word might somehow get back to the smugglers somehow. We should Caswell get into a position to blockade the smugglers as soon as we attack with Portain. There's no reason for us to stick around for that, so we should leave with the Steel Guard and organise things with Portain as soon as possible.
>>19616006We should probably have Ser Cargill stay here, manage the garrison and so on while Rory rides out with the Steel Guard. We'll go on a ship with Caswell.Why is Coyle coming along, he can come along if he wants, and to take a look at the construction and so on, but this doesn't seem like his sort of mission. Where in relation to the woods where the smugglers are is Twiston?
>>19616032Ride, Caswell needs time to ready the ships. He should be in position to swoop in on any fleeing smugglers by the time we attack with Portain/
>>19616032We should only take one ship and leave Jorge Caswell with the rest. He might need them to protect shipping and trade interests as well as keep a presence against continued banditry/piratry/smuggling.We could bring some members of the steel guard with us as a personal retinue. I think if we bring too many with us, it would be kind of insulting to Lord Portain, as it assumes that we don't trust him to adequately protect people in his lands.as for everyone else, >>19615972 what i said here.Maybe bring our maester along as well.
>>19616071Sail is either just as fast or faster, it's 5 days ride and 3 days sail for travel time, so if we do all 5 ships it's about the same time, if we take less ships it'll be shorter for us.
>>19616091It's unlikely that we're going to get our horses on board, so we'd be walking to the hideout while Portain rides. Besides, we want the ships in position to ensure the smugglers don't fly the coop.
We decide to leave with two ships, making sure that Jorge Caswell keeps an eye on the area where the shady folks have been seen, but to make sure that he is subtle about it. He nods, and rushes off to prepare the two galleys you wanted. The Steel Guard is preparing to board the ships, and praying to the Seven that smooth sailing is what they expect (otherwise it spooks the horses something fierce). Ser Cargill will stay behind to watch things, with Ben there as well to handle any ravens than come in, making sure we can call for backup if we need it. Ser Wallgrave will have the garrison on heightened alert, just in case they need to march out.
>>19616153You can get horses onto the galleys, but they take up a pile of room and have a tendency to shit everywhere if the weather turns bad.By the next morning, you and your Steel Guard are on board the war galleys as the drumbeat sounds and the oars pull deep into the water. You wave to Caswell as he is shouting at some sailors on a different ship, prepping the fleet to sail at a moments notice if you command it.>Gimme 3d6 for weather and speed.
rolled 3, 3, 3 = 9>>19616215Don't turn bad and fuck with our horses, please.
>>19616215Fine weather we're having.
>>19616220On second thoughts I am entirely content with this roll.
>>19616220The weather is calm, which is both good and bad (the horses and your crewmen are fine and calm, but the wind isn't really with you and it takes a bit longer to get to Twiston). Located further west from you and on the western edge of the Northwood, Twiston is roughly the size of Saltmouth, but with far more extensive dock facilities and a constant clatter of workmen assembling ships in some cleverly constructed dry dock facilities.You arrive on the evening of the second day out from Saltmouth, the harbormaster sending up a cry as your sails are seen and dockworks rush to toss lines and planks as your oarsmen pull in their oars and your ships coast towards the docks. The first guy you meet, a coastal watchmen, says that Lord Portain is currently supping in his hall just outside town, and that he is expecting you and your men. You have the Steel Guard assemble, make sure that your small gift (four casks of fine, sweet white flavored with citrus) is mounted onto two pack horses, and your group sets off.>What kind of arrival do we want to have? Flashy? Respectful?
>>19616307Respectful. A flashy display would be crass to a proud and noble house.
>>19616307Respectful, we're here for business and bandit/smuggler hunting. No reason to be overly ostentatious or loud about it.
>>19616343>>19616328I am in agreement with these two fellows, we should be repectful.
>>19616418Ditto.
We ride the short distance to Wave Hall, the fortified cluster of stone buildings and low walls clearly not intended to defend against a serious assault. Your men dismount, and spend a quick moment making themselves presentable before you have your presence announced. The hall is comfortable and well appointed, clearly meant for entertaining guests and dignitaries, with a raised main table and a half dozen lower tables. The room is about half full, and the herald announces you in a bold call: "Presenting Lord Karban, lord of Castle Salt and heir of the Arbor, sworn to Lord Redwyne and House Tyrell!" After you, he announces some of your knights (Sers Bushy, Crane, and Ser Benjemmen Cargill, the younger cousin of your castellan). Lord Portain stands, and looks you and your party over.
You bow low, asking him for his hospitality and thanking him for so eagerly accepting you and yours into his hall.He seems happy to have some respect shown (it is always good to be accepted by your peers, after all), and welcomes you to partake of his bread and salt. "The hospitality of my hall is yours, ser. Please, relax and eat with us tonight, and let us come to know one another better before we get to business tomorrow." Servants are bringing forward more benches, and serving girls are wheeling out more kegs of ale and wine.
>>19616497We should chat him up about the history of the docks, complement him on the scale and efficiency of it, be polite, don't skip right to business as that is rude.
>>19616497Enjoy the food, check out the serving girls and generally be companionable. Smuggler business can wait until we're rested and fed, we should make a good impression on Portain.
>>19616531This, offer him and his guests some of the wine you brought as well. Ask him about the health of his family.Shit, we should have brought some toys for his kids or something. Oh well.
>>19616544>>19616531Good plan.>Roll 3d6 to manage social hurdles and make a good impression.
>>19616547We should make a mental note of that in the future, but for a first-time meeting it may have been a bit familiar. If this smuggler business turns out well Portain could become a very stalwart ally, so there will be plenty of opportunities to present such a thoughtful gift.
rolled 2, 3, 1 = 6>>19616556Rolling
rolled 4, 2, 6 = 12>>19616556Lets see our swagger
rolled 5, 5, 5 = 15>>19616556Here goes.
rolled 4, 2, 1 = 7>>19616612Yes!
We handle the situation pretty damn well, all things considered. We sit at the high table, on the right hand of Lord Portain and the left hand of his Master-of-Horse Jeffrey Host. The meal is damn good: you missed the onion soup, but there are baked fish pies stuffed with watercress and onion, followed by a crab stew filled with chunks of fatty pork and vegetables served in a thick bread trencher, and boiled beef covered in honey and spicy Lysean pepper.You talk to Lord Portain with about the fine harvest the Arbor is expecting, the health of his new children (they are healthy and growing, it seems), and his new wife, who is happy to be in a place as idyllic as the Arbor's coast. You crack a few jokes (there is one about a Dornishman and a mule on a raft that nearly gives him a heart attack), and your men behave themselves mostly. Your wine is a big hit, as Twiston doesn't often see the higher quality wines and Lord Portain is a huge fan of the sweet wines. After staying up late until the fires are burning low, you and your men retire to a comfortable cottage just outside the hall's walls.
>>19616724 Cont.The following morning, you and your men break their fast in the hall with Lord Portain and his men. Afterwards, your men go to prepare the horses and their gear, as you and the Lord of Twiston retire to his small solar to talk about what to do. After explaining everything you have learned, he pauses to consider."So, ser.... What do you propose we do? The Northwood is vast and dense, and we must move quickly and decisively if we are to apprehend these purported brigands. If they have ships, they will try to flee to the sea, but if they are as small as you say they are, our bigger galleys should be able to catch them."
I'm off to bed.Night everyone, and keep the good quest going.
>>19616763Then it seems we are in agreement. I shall have my galleys on stand bye for when they attempt to flee, all we will need to do is flush them out like the vermin they are.
>>19616763Tell him we should force the smugglers to flee as we charge in from land, making them easy pickings for the swathe of warships we'll have waiting on the wings.Out of interest how many warships would Portain have to complement our five?
>>19616763organize a group of experienced men who know the land well who can approach unnoticed, have forward scouts investigate for a secret cove or cave they are using. Encircle and advance, either they will be slaughtered in the skirmish or flee to sea where our galleys will be waiting. We already have the garrison and fleets ready at a moments notice.
rolled 2, 1, 2 = 5>>19616808I also think we should mix some of our unit's together, have our men fighting side by side to help boost relationships between our armies.
>>19616807>>19616808He nods, as this seems to be a great idea in his mind. "I have twelve vessels here, which can sail as soon as their captains can ready them. Here in the city, the garrison will remain behind to watch the forest borders. However, I have a unit of lancers and a small band of experienced rangers who know the woods well, and can serve as guides and skirmishers, and they will be ready to ride with you." He stands, and walks towards the window, pointing towards the docks. "That there is the Green Rush, a 180-oar, two-deck galley that can catch anything short of the wind. If you were to bring your ships up from the east, they would have nowhere to run."Her turns to you. "I would be honored, ser, if we would both take the field to seek out these vagabonds and either put them to the sword or slap them into the stocks."
>>19616879"Ser, few things would honour me more than joining you in the field."Also, since the smugglers are technically on his lands he should probably be the one to decide the punishment.
>>19616879I would be honored to ride with you. We'll come from one direction on sea, he'll come from the other, we'll enclose them on land, he knows the land and provides many men and our Steel Guard forms the hammer that they flee only to meet the anvil that our ships will create. Let's do this, should we send a raven to get the rest of the ships quickly and show any smugglers or other vagabonds that they will not be tolerated, any who come here will be smashed into a fine paste.
>>19616909That would probably be the nice, conciliatory thing to do.Your men can be ready to ride in three hours, and Lord Portain's maester can have two ravens in the air by the afternoon, speeding east towards Castle Salt.>What We Have from Portain1x Units of Trained Light Cavalry1x Unit of Veteran Guerrilla Archers2x Units of Trained Warships1x Unit of Veteran Warships>What We HaveThe Steel Guard with us1x Unit of Veteran Warships and 1x Unit of Trained sailors heading west within eight to twelve hours to meet up with the Portain fleet.
>>19616939We should send word to mobilise as soon as Portains ships are ready.
>>19616994>>19616909I agree, this sounds like a good idea.Well then, let us punish some smugglers!
What are the words of our House?
>>19616939Sounds like a plan, also mention that we're eager to learn from watching how he acquits himself in the field.
>>19616994The ravens are away as fast as the maester can write and you can sign the letters. Caswell will come west as fast as he can, bringing the hammer of our fleet down onto them in a pincer movement.As the ravens are taking flight, you and Portain are riding down the road, followed by nearly 150 fighting men and eight wagons of supplies and necessary sundries. >Roll 3d6 for speed and the stealth of our approach. Also, we might want to discuss our land-based strategy a bit when we bed down for the first night.
>>19617032"Like Waves Upon Rock(s?)"Appropriately badass in my opinion. Now let's do this!
>>19617032"As Waves Upon Rock"
rolled 4, 2, 2 = 8>>19617044
rolled 1, 2, 5 = 8>>19616956Let the stomping commence. So we're bringing up ships from the east, his ships are coming from the west to close off any chance of escape. When should we begin the assault on the forest to best drive them out into an unexpected fleet of death? We should aim for then.The Archers scout ahead, lead the troop and launch quick attacks against any small groups, the light cavalry moves around a lot, it chases and herds the enemy into where we want them. The Steel Guard is a inexorable hammer smashing their encampments and putting fear into them.>>19617044Rollan
rolled 5, 6, 5 = 16>>19617044
rolled 2, 2, 5 = 9>>19617059That sounds awesome. Maybe we can ask a drawfriend if he can make put our coat and words together in a nice picture. Maybe we can even request Castle Salt
rolled 3, 3, 4 = 10>>19617044Given that this is Portain's land he should probably dictate the approach, given his rangers know the lay of the land intimately.
Great, House Karban time. Did I miss a thread these past few days? I can only remember this thread: http://archive.foolz.us/tg/thread/19550420/
The going is slow and tedious, as the rangers oftentimes call stops as they scour the woods for watchers or bandits. While you are annoyed with your slow progress, the rangers are leading you stealthily down old wood trails, keeping an eye to the trees and scouting ahead, looking for sentinels.Luckily, none seem to be encounted, and within two days you are hiding just four hours ride from the suspected encampment. Your men are somber and quiet, careful to make too much noise or to stoke their fires too much and ruin the advantage of surprise. Lord Portain calls you to his pavilion, as his squire is checking the straps on his red enameled plate. "Our strategy, now, is to steal close to them in the wee hours of the morning. The rangers will fire upon their encampment, with several volleys striking home as my lancers ride around, heading further down the river to encircle these brigands and make sure none escape. Once the archers have fired, you and your riders will charge with my lancers and I, meeting in the middle as we crush their force utterly."
>>19617170Sounds good. These are only smugglers after all, there's no way they'll be standing their ground after being charged by armoured knights. This will become more like a hunt then a battle.
>>19617170That sounds like a plan, I think seeing the Steel Guard descend upon them ought to take the fight out of them really quick.
You nod, and retire for the night. You sleep well, confident in your men and the showing they will give tomorrow. One of Lord Portain's rangers wakes you into the darkness of the pre-dawn morning. You put your armor on in between bites of hard bread, boiled eggs and salted cod. On first goes a padded suit of linen. Over this goes a heavy jerkin of leather, reinforced with bands of steel. Following the leather, you put on a suit of mail that comes to mid-thigh, heavy greaves of steel, lobstered gauntlets, and a thick, heavy leather belt that holds a few small plates of brushed steel around your thighs, groin, and waist. Holding your intimidating helmet under your arm, you pick up your heavy shield of oak, checking the hidden dirk between the straps. After belting your castle-forged blade over your shoulder, you stuff a pair of short, heavy boarding axes into your belt, and walk out into the mutted bustle of the camp. Waiting before you are a score of some of the best fighters in the Arbor. The Steel Guard is wide awake and fully armed, their horses saddled and ready to ride. You can see Ser Crane with his bright coat of arms of red and white, Gray Thom the masterful archer from Oldtown, and Ser Anders Bushy, already astride his pale horse with lance in hand.>Wat Say?
>>19617305"Cheer up men, I'm getting grim just looking at you. We're hunting smugglers today, not facing down Dragons. There isn't an easier excuse for feasting and drinking out there than this."
>>19617305Men of the Steel Guard, today we have a beautiful chance to perform our duties. We are going to hunt down and wipe out the smugglers who have infested these woods. By the end of this all smugglers, bandits, and criminals shall know that they are not tolerated in these lands. The wine in on me once this is done.Like waves upon rock!
>>19617305"Today we let them know the meaning of "Like waves upon rocks". We are the rock, and we will annihilate them under the treads of our steads. To glory brothers, for Saltmouth and for Wine!
>>19617389Personally I think that's a little too formal. I second the bit about the wine and invoking our Words at the end though.
>>19617371They chuckle at that, and mount up at your order. Just on the other side of camp, you can see Lord Portain riding off with his lancers. He throws you a salute, as he and his men turn south to sneak along the river.You and the rangers advance forward, riding slowly and carefully as to avoid noise and stick to the shadows. Within around an hour, with streaks of pink staining the sky, you and the rangers are in a dense stand of trees, around three hundred yards from a clearing along the side of a deep, rushing stream. Just off-shore you can see two skiffs, with another beached just up the river. Around a score of small tents have been pitched, on both sides of the river, and three crude huts as well. You can see several men wandering the camp, but otherwise it all looks good.
>>19617420Before we charge... did we even bother to clarify if these guys were smugglers or just fishers? Just to save us the embarrassment of slaughtering the citizenry.
>>19617420Wait until Portain is in position with his Lancers, we should know about when he will be ready, then have the archers move into a good firing position to fill them with arrows and force them against the river so when the charge comes they have no where to retreat and we smash them to bits between the Lancers and the Steel Guard. Make sure none of them escape on boat with a priority for setting those aflame.
>>19617467Even if they are just fisher men if they are doing so without paying taxes they're still needing a beating.
>>19617467I agree, that wouldn't be a good signal for ther other citizens. We need to keep spirits high, at least until the Lord finishes his visit.
>>19617467Whelp I sincerely hope not, but I think it's s little too late now.
The rangers draw into groups, twenty men each, and prepare to fire at your word. The Steel Guard mounts their horses, forming up around you in a rough wedge shape with you at the head. A man named Rambling Ric approaches you, ducking between trees and blending in like he has been doing it his entire life... which he probably has been doing. "We are ready, lord. At your command, we will open up. Tall Tom saw the outline of sails on the horizon, and they are moving against the wind. Those should be the galleys, right enough." He stops to spit, and pauses to string his bow. "At your word, we will let those damned thieves down there have it.">Roll 3d6 for pre-battle positioning and luck.
>>19617499Seven guide my hand.
rolled 4, 2, 2 = 8>>19617499Let's smash these thieves.
rolled 6, 6, 5 = 17>>19617499
rolled 5, 4, 5 = 14>>19617499To Battle Men
You make a swift chopping motion with your hand, and the Steel Guard starts to move forward. The rangers dash forward, changing from a jog to a sprint before stopping cold at a call from Rambling Ric and letting fly with a volley of arrows. The sound is hauntingly beautiful, and is met with the cry of surprise and pain as three of the wandering figures goes down, and razor-tipped shafts punch through tents and lean-tos.With that, the Steel Guard changes from a walk to a canter, and then a run as the second volley strikes home. The hazy shapes transmute into men as you eat up the distance, a bunch of half-asleep and scared men grabbing spears, axes, and rough mauls, trying to organize. What they see is twenty huge, mounted shapes coming down on them at speed.
>>19617574>spears, axes, maulsWell at least we know they're not fishermen.
>>19617587indeed good sir, indeed. We'll have to make sure to keep one alive to interrogation after, make sure this isn't a larger operation.
Their rough line tries to form up to accept the charge, but it just.... Imagine a prize fighter punching someone who's face is made of porcelain. The few men brave or stupid enough to stand their ground had formed a rough line, and that line just disintegrates. The Steel Guard slams into it, and suddenly all hope for a coordinated defense is gone. Men as screaming and running, trying to escape to the river or the boats, those with any lick of sense trying to fight back instead of just be ridden down.>Roll 5d6 for our combat
rolled 6, 4, 5, 4, 4 = 23>>19617574Keep one or two alive if possible for interrogation, preferably the most leadery looking ones. The rest we'll cut down and if they live or die depends on if they surrender quickly enough.>>19617611Don't let them get away on the boats, that is a high priority, we can't let them warn any of their friends should they have any and we just don't want them to escape.
rolled 1, 3, 2, 4, 3 = 13>>19617605Good thinking. I also propose to hang the leader if they survive, that will show potential robbers what awaits them
rolled 3, 6, 3, 3, 5 = 20>>19617611CHAAAAAAAARRRGE!
rolled 4, 4, 6, 4, 5 = 23>>19617611Have at thee!
>>19617630after we finish interrogating him, and the hanging remains up to lord portain as it is his land.
>>19617639That much should be obvious
You ride hard, your horse covering the open ground in seconds before you are among them. Your longsword is in your hand, and immediately to your right, some fool in boiled leather stabs at you with a spear of pig iron. You hack down hard, severing the spear tip from the haft before thrusting into his sternum. The leather doesn't even offer resistance as castle-forge steel punches right through him. You wheel to the left, and take the head off a screaming man with a field ax, before rushing your horse forward and trampling someone who was trying to circle behind Brown Tim with a net and dagger. Immediately to your right, Ser Martin Crane is fending off two men before dispatching the first with a masterful upward rip of his blade, and the second with a quick swipe.Some distance away, you can see men trying to push the small beached sloop into the river, before they are hammered by a tight volley of arrows from the rangers behind you.>Roll d6
rolled 6 = 6>>19617686
>>19617694Good enough for me.
>>19617694That'll do, lad. That'll do.
With the bray of a horn, Lord Portain and his lancers come racing up the opposite side of the water, cutting down the dozen or so men who swam the stream and were making a break for the trees opposite. He looks every bit the lord, the slender spear he favors tearing through the paper-thin armor of your foes as he and his men cut off any chance for escape. In the small bay, you can see one of the small skiffs being readied, the sail being dropped as a handful of men on board try and escape to the sea. The rangers are rushing towards the beach, bypassing the scrum the Steel Guard are creating and preparing to launch off a volley or two before the vessel can get out of range. You take it all in at a glance, before charging back into the fray, dispatching another assailant as you ride by, your blade opening him from chest to neck.>Roll 2d6
rolled 6, 5 = 11>>19617734
rolled 2, 1 = 3>>19617734
>>19617746damn fine roll
>>19617746That'll also do.
rolled 6, 4 = 10>>19617746>>19617694Are we some kind of cambat genius?
Ahem...er, sorry guys.
>>19617770Don't worry, we shall get them regardless of our rolls. Dustain is just that good, it seems.
>>19617765Our fighting style is mostly based on technique, I think.Cunning style, wearing people down, and I forget the third one.
The arrows fall just short, but the escaping raiders success is short lived. In the distance, you can see the grey and yellow of House Portain-pledged ships, their sails picked out in the early sun. Cutting swiftly along the coast, you can make out your own vessels, Jorge Caswell running them fast as the black-painted oars of your ships rise and fall in a fast, smooth rhythm. To your immediate surroundings, the battle is nearly finished. No one remains in your immediate circle, and Ser Bushy is gathering a handful of the Steel Guard to go run down the last few fleeing survivors on your side of the stream. Opposite you, the lancers are circling a group of the raiders who have surrendered, rather than be cut down as they ran. Your blade is slick with blood, and you dismount his horse as it exhales heavily, following you as you walk towards the largest of the hovels, sidestepping a tent that collapsed on a small cook fire and is now blazing away merrily.
Ser Brandon Cordwayner rides up to you. "A rout, ser. 'Ol Nick has a scratch on his side from a spear and Gray Thom has hand that needs seeing to from a sloppy block, but the Guard is otherwise fine... You think anyone is still in there, ser?" He motions with his sword to the hovel. "I will go with you... What should the rest of the lads do?"
>>19617807Walk around and have an inspection of the camp, order your men to round up and bond any survivors, have the wounded tended to, discuss with Lord Portain possibly having the wounded loaded on the ships back to port, and perhaps the prisoners as well, easier to have them in a brig then on a march back home. Of course the prisoners will be taken to Twiston instead to await interrogation and the King's Justice.
>>19617834Ok, we should not open the door of the hovel like an idiot, there might be stuff in there but I'd rather not get hit by a surprise attack, if possible tear it open from the side or make another entrance in a similar fashion and check it out. After that we have some interrogations to see to, we want to know locations of any compatriots they have, what exactly they were doing and other such things.
>>19617834Also have them search the area for any hiding or stragglers, as well as the outside perimeter, we don't know if some slipped through or were away (gathering food, taking a piss). Search the immediate hovels etc.
>>19617855Second. Perhaps a warning to come out now or be cut down?
Let's find out how many smugglers there were, approximately. Was this a small operation or a large one? If it's small, does it seem unusually organized, as if they were part of a larger ring?
You walk the camp as your horse drinks from the stream. On the sea, you can see the skiff trying desperately to outrun Caswell, who looks content just to push them towards Portain's ships until they eventually tire of it and give in. Meanwhile, your men are checking the camp for dead and wounded. 'Ol Nick's 'scratch' is really a bit more serious than that - someone put a spear through his side and it must have glanced off his ribs, but he is being seen too and isn't dead yet, which means nothing vital was hit (or so you hope). It takes the better part of fifteen minutes, but you eventually get a report. Sixteen of the enemy dead, with an even number wounded and nine captured. You are loosing track of the skiff on the horizon, but you have faith in your vessels. Lord Portain comes to talk to you, pulling off his gloves as he picks his way between debris. "A small victory is still a victory, in my book. This may not be a great battle worthy of song, but your men fought well, and bravely. It was an honor to ride with you today, and it is good to remember what it is like to take the field.">Roll 1d100 for spoils. Also, wat say?Congratulate him and his guys?Ask him whatever could bring actual bandits and raiders to your shores?Investigate the camp with him a bit?Take a seat on a half-broken camp stove and just relax with him for five minutes.
rolled 93 = 93>>19617923
rolled 15 = 15>>19617923
>>19617923Investigate, find out where they came from
rolled 86 = 86>>19617923Grin and say "I must say you looked every bit the dashing hero as you charged into that mass."Perhaps voice some suspicions about whether they were working alone or if this was a bigger operation. Has that hovel been checked out yet?
rolled 17 = 17>>19617923Ask him about his opinion on the bandats: Their motives, history of bandit attacks on his land, etc.Also, congratulate him and his men while inviting him to investigate the camp with you.
>>19617923Let us sit for a few minutes before we inspect the camp, have a drink of water (or wine if someone has a skin), praise him for the sound battle tactic and it's execution, his archers were very processional, and his cavalry sweep was devastating, most impressive. Ponder with him what could bring bandits to his shores, and notify him the ships are chasing down a skiff as we speak. After you've caught your breath, inspect the camp and see how organized and equipped these chaps are, and what exactly they are smuggling.
>>19617923First congratulate everyone, it was not a great battle that will be remembered forever, but there was minimal loss on our side which is very important.We should investigate the camp, any wondering about what brought them here is speculation until we perform interrogations and see what they have with them, what is stored in the hovels. Do it carefully, hovel by hovel, we don't want any surprises.
We nod and voice our thanks, commending him and his men on the charge that cut the enemy off from escape and helped end the battle before the foe had a chance to rally. His rangers are busy examining the insides of tents, the hovels, and the beached skiff, looking for a little loot for themselves and anything important enough to bring to the attention of the knights. The lancers are on guard duty, as a few rangers are gathering fuel for a bonfire for the bodies of the dead and nearly dead.Portain smiles as he watches the aftermath. "It makes you feel like you actually deserve to be called lord, at times like these... We should trade stories, sometime. I heard you squired in the Vale, hmm? I am sure that was an experience." When we ask him about the bandits, his mood darkens. "This kind of group... It is unusual. Very unusual. In my time here, I have never seen anything quite like it. I mean, I have seen organized bandits and I have seen small groups, but this... It has the feeling of something organized, something different. I would say Ironborn, but just a glance rules that out."
>>19618007If we take a look at what they were smuggling that might give us a better idea.
>>19618007Perhaps the machinations of another Lord? But who would need an outpost out here? (also sorry where is saltmouth located on the map?)
>>19618007It is indeed a mysterious and foreboding event, hopefully we will get answers from what we find here and from the men who we question. I'm glad that we were able to nip it in the bud before it could grow and become worse and more difficult to root out.
>>19618007Can we make use of our good knowledge of history and heraldry? Surely that must be something that can give us a hint upon proper examination.
Investigating the camp, your men start to turn up some clues:The weapons and armor of these men is definitely of poor quality, but not terrible so. You know the weapons of deserters, rebels, and unruly peasants, like fishing spears, boarding hooks, slings, and wood axes. These are weapons made for war, but in a hurry and with little thought to the wielder. Their armor is much the same.A search of the hovels turns up strange shaped brands, awls and hammers, along with a small amount of coin that is being divided by the rangers.The skiff is of a kind native to the Reach, common to islands. The beached one was being re-tarred, and currently had no cargo. A few men have found a small rowboat, and are getting ready to examine the ship out in the bay.It takes them roughly fifteen minutes to tow the larger vessel back in, but you and your men are there to inspect it the moment it grinds against the sand. Looking into the rear cabin, you find their cargo: Eighteen small casks of Arbor Gold, each one worth nearly its weight in the metal it is named for.
>>19618060Cheezus. Your average smuggler doesn't peddle stuff of this worth.
>>19618060A great find, I suppose we should share the loot.Also, is there a possiblity to let this investigate by some of our...more shadier subjects, if we have some? Surely there are some sailor in our port or other petty smugglers who might know more if we give them a bit more time and money.
At this, Lord Portain is a strange combination of furious and completely confused. "These bastards were smuggling the most important thing in the Arbor through MY DAMN LANDS! Crone curse them all twice... But how? The wine country is inland, days away by horse and slower still with a cart to carry this. The fields and grapes are watched, each barrel leaving through Ryamsport under the very watch of the Redwyne family itself...."You leave him to his ruminations as you confer with your men. They offer you more or less what you have already surmised. The men are mostly ill-equipped, although some members of the Guard are searching the heaped piles of spoil the rangers are making for anything illuminating. A few of the men are looking for one of the prisoners who seems a little chatty, but that should take more than a minute.
>>19618060This is extremely odd, see if we can determine from which vineyard it came from, look at markings on it, and maybe have a taste. Also make copies of any symbols we see, take one of the strange brands, maybe our Maester will know more about it.
>>19618098How about we offer them the Wall instead of the snooze if and when they lay down all their information? I am sure they'd gladly accept such a condition, their lifes being more worth than their honor.
>>19618112>>19618117Both good ideas. we should also get some shady figures to talk, like>>19618093said.
>>19618098It must be a larger scheme, should we hold the Redwynnes above suspicion ourselves?
>>19618117We don't have the authority to make that decision, we could suggest it to Portain, but these are his lands we're on we can't offer clemency like that.
>>19618093That is an interesting train of thought, and one that definitely bears following up once you return to Saltmouth>>19618087You are right, which is what makes this find so strange. These men clearly aren't master thieves or intelligent villains... They look like toughs, hired muscle and desperate men. For them to somehow get their hands on such a find would either require the actions of another, or such a strike of luck that it defies belief. Your mind starts churning, trying to process data, but you keep getting the same answer. The wine barges and cellars are guarded, and routinely inspected. A number of casks missing wouldn't escape notice for long. The violent theft of such a thing is out of the question, and probably impossible to do successfully. Which leaves one possibility: someone gave these to them. Maybe to avoid taxes? Maybe fresh from the winery to avoid the count of Redwyne's auditors? Maybe a greedy vitner?
>>19618117We should suggest that to Portain, but ultimately the punishment dished out lies with him as this happened on his lands and is his call. Plus he seems pretty upset that they were doing it with something so valuable.
>>19618138Extortion perhaps?
>>19618134Portain looks at you for a minute, still fuming over the discovery. "We need... We need to find out how this happened. I don't know how, but we do. The prisoners must be questioned. And if they prove uncooperative, they should be questioned harder." At your mention of the Wall, he nods, seeming to cool a bit. "You are right... By threatening them with death and doom, we could lose them. But if we give them an out, a minor mercy, perhaps that will loosen their tongues."
>>19618138Is it possible to "hire" a smuggler for us, to have a spy among the smugglers? On the long term, this should give us a lot of information about secert operations, prominent outlaws and other things upon our lands. This would be a great help to keep up the law.
>>19618132Since he profits from the taxes levied on these kinds of things that would be, essentially, like stealing from himself.We should probably raise the point when Redwyne visits, discretely though. We might want to hold back a barrel of the Arbor Gold as proof.
>>19618161Makes sense to always have an ear to the ground
>>19618156Check the wine casks for any identifying marks, if we have someone who knows his Arbor Gold, to the point where with a taste they can identify the vineyard it comes from, we might want to have them take a taste and check. Later probably, if they were in the battle we don't want them to try to investigate this with the fire of battle still burning, it might inhibit their tasting of the wine.
The prisoners are grouped together, by one of the now-emptied huts. Ser Crane and Ser Bushy stand inside with you, as a handful of prisoners are shuffled in one at a time. Across the campt, Lord Portain and some of his men are repeating the scene, isolating and scaring the prisoners, hoping for information or confessions.>Roll 5d6 for our collective interrogation efforts. >Also, vote for how we are going to play this? Beat the truth out of them? Play the nice guy? Come straight out and offer a bit of leniency for honesty?>>19618161That options does appeal to you... But that leaves you little to start with. Perhaps Tensill or Caswell will be able to advise you on such a thing.
>>19618175So, our course of action:>hire a smuggler once we return to castle Salt>attend the questioning of the prisoners>make copies of any symbols/brands/etc.>keep one barrel as proof>find someone who can identify the exact vineyard
rolled 5, 3, 5, 1, 3 = 17>>19618198
rolled 6, 5, 2, 4, 2 = 19>>19618198Good Cop, Bad Cop. Tell them that we just want to find out what happened, and we're trying to convince Lord Portain to be merciful and send you to the Wall instead of hanging you, but we need something to work with, Lord Portain is the one with authority over you guys.
rolled 6, 3, 4, 5, 2 = 20>>19618198I'd say we're very strict at first and keep this long enough til they're nearly broken. Then, in a fit of generosity, we offer them the Wall instead of death.
>>19618198First see how they react, ask some questions, if they start answering some, offer them the Wall if they answer everything. If some are tight lipped no matter what, get a little rough, not torture, just hit them a bit. If they don't budge move on, it'll hurt more for them when we get back to them.
rolled 2, 5, 6, 3, 4 = 20>>19618198Certainly no Mr.Nice Guy.Softening them up with a beating at first making it very clear that death is looking like the outcome for them the, on those that seem suitably cowed, offer them the wall for information.
>>19618214Pretty much this
>>19618206Most of the men brought before you don't know much, but a few patterns start to emerge. Apparently, most of the men here are from the Arbor or its smaller sister islands, with only a few from the mainland. They were mainly fishermen, career criminals, or fieldhands, men with an understanding of violence, the sea and fieldcraft. The would oftentimes take these shipments of barrels out to waiting vessels in the sea, finding them at night through use of lanterns on specific nights told to them by the leaders of the gang. One of those leaders was skewered by Ser Bushy on the initial charge, and the other should be on the skiff currently being run down by your galleys. Where the wine came from, even the leaders 'supposedly' didn't know, but you will need to ask them about that.Reconvening with Lord Portain, you compare information and get a slightly clearer picture. As for the prisoners, three are being beheaded here for severe crimes, with 9 headed to the wall, and four going back to Twiston to hang.
>>19618264That seems acceptable, it's not like it's our place to object to that anyway. We'll want to question the remaining leader once we get the skiff.
>>19618264With the leader on the (soon-to-be) captured skiff we should torture him for information, no offer of the wall for him. No way are we being lenient on the ringleader of this little gang.
>>19618286Torture often gets unreliable information, we should probably not start by torturing him, start with questioning, have other people torture and act like the person who can get them to stop but needs to be told everything he knows to get them to do that, form a rapport with him and then use that to get the information. He'll probably be hung and we won't care but this makes information gathering easier.
Lord Portain has his men burn the bodies and the mess of the camp, after they load anything valuable into the wagons along with the prisoners. He asks you to remain behind, to take the ships to Twiston and meet him there. That means we will probably beat him, but he offers us his hall until he can meet us there... Anything that happens to the ringleader, as long as he is still alive, is considered a tragic accident is his eyes. Half of the Steel Guard will go with him, taking the horses of the other half who will ride the ships with you.Roughly two hours after the ground troops depart, you and your men board the skiffs and row out the one of the Portain ships that comes in close. Apparently, they caught the skiff and the crew surrendered after one of the raiders resisted and was shot in the face with a crossbow. Currently, they are still on the skiff, being toed behind one of Caswell's vessels with a constant watch on them.
I am about to request a more detailed coat of arms from a drawfriend and was planning on adding supporter and a motto to our CoA. The motto is obviously "As Waves Upon Rock", but what shall the supporter be?
>>19618323All is going well. We might want to bring the leader to our ship, away from his men, surrounded by very scary looking people with no one around for miles. Then question him.
You get back to Twiston a day before Portain, and spend it mostly in activity. Ravens are sent to Saltmouth, and most of your ships head back to the port, with orders to Caswell to have his sailors keeping an extra special eye on cargo or any stories about shady looking sloops. 'Ol Nick is seen to by the maester, his wounds cleaned with boiled wine and firemilk before being bandaged back together.>Roll 4d6 for information gathering.
>>19618357Portain's lands, he's his prisoner, we can't supersede him.
rolled 4, 5, 4, 5 = 18>>19618361Let's see..my the Seven guide the dices.
>>19618365Anything short of death is a tragic accident in Portain's eyes. That being said it was mainly for intimidation value.>>19618371That works.
>>19618380ah sorry thought portain had the ring leader not us.
>>19618371Nicely done.
We toss the leader, after a good bludgeoning, into an emptied out fruit cellar below Wave Hall. The remaining men get questioned again, and when they are discovered to be deserters from Redwyne vessels, we keep them locked away for the judgement of Portain.We relax with our men for two days, before Portain comes back. The hangings are done immediately, and that night we throw a small feast, to celebrate our victory and to honor the guys who fought. We even open up two of the casks (with Portain's promise to pay for them to whoever they actually belonged to) for everyone to have a toast. It is a real moment of celebration, with lords and smallfolk sharing a glass of the finest wine in the Seven Kingdoms to honor the bravery of the other.The following morning, Portain calls you to him, asking if you would like to handle the interrogation of the leader. If you would, he will continue to share the hospitality of his hall for us and our men. If not, he will be very careful, as he knows that this man might be our only lead, and we can return home.
>>19618446I think we can trust Portain to handle this. Let's head back home and manage things from there. Who knows? There might be some info on that Hot Dornish Wife that we've been seeking.If not we can always start looking at the other Lords who are sharing our borders. We've got to start making friends.
>>19618446We should feel honoured and gladly accept his proposal.
>>19618446Did anybody recognize the vintage and vineyard from tasting the wine, we ought to have some serious wine experts around given that we're in the Arbor. Let's do the interrogation of the leader, he ought to be somewhat compliant at this point. Give it another day or two here, deepen our friendship with Portain with a Good Lord, Bad Lord routine and then head back. I trust Portain, but it might go smoother with both of us dealing with it.
>>19618474This. In general I think we should start to look around for potential friends on the Arbor: We are a House with ambitions and there are other old & noble houses that might see us as a rival.
You, Lord Portain, and Ser Benjemmen Cargill each take turns talking to the leader over the next few days. It is a slow, wearing down process, but you eventually find out a few things.Apparently, this leader lived on Horseshoe Rock, a tiny island off the coast. He was recruited there by the leader we killed on land, to "help move goods." Apparently, the rig they had running was that a man, someone they called the "Mad Maester" because he muttered to himself and wore a chain around his neck, would send word through cut-outs about wagons of stolen wine. The leaders never knew were the wine came from, but they would hide it in their camp, before trading it off to Free City tradesmen for fat sacks of coins.During the day, you and Lord Portain talk and drink, conversing about your time in the Vale, his adventurous days serving near the Shield Islands with his uncle, and other old stories. You meet his wife, who is a lovely girl of 18 with unusual golden hair and the green eyes of the Reach. Your knights and his tilt against each other twice, with Ser Bushy coming away champion one day and one of Portain's sword men, a man named Ser Gideon Flowers, coming away the victor on the second day.
>>19618547I like Dirk Pontain, he seems like a nice, fair and competent ruler. It's good to make friends with him. We do rely on each other an awful lot.Obviously be polite and charming towards his wife, if she likes us it'll be another point in our favor with Lord Portain, though we seem to be getting along well already, riding into battle together does that.We'll have to investigate this wine thing further, when we get back see if Maester Ben has any advice or insight.
The information gleaned by you, Ser Cargill, and Lord Portain is compiled by his maester, written down to be examined later. You constantly question, making him repeat names, dates, and other important events. It takes nearly ten days until you are sure nothing else can be learned from him, and after which Lord Portain orders him to be killed by drowning in a cage, while the deserters are simply hung.Reaffirming a promise of friendship and a visit to Saltmouth in the coming months, the two of you part as friends. You have a measure of the man, and while you may not be close, you find yourself thankful that he is your neighboring lord. You have plenty of information now, and you and your men enjoy the slow, easy ride back towards Saltmouth.
>>19618547So we know where the goods are going, it's only a matter of tracking this 'Mad Maester' down.
Returning to Saltmouth, you spend the next two days dealing with some minor administrative tasks and long nights talking to your advisers. Captain Jorge Caswell smiles when you request him to put an ear to the ground, and promises results if he can be given a small bag of golden dragons. You gladly give it to him, and have Tensill Hossler and his Levies agents keep a much, much closer eye to cargoes and ships coming in and out, in the off chance that some of the stolen wine is moving through your port.Ben and you spend several days going over theories, comparing potential possibilities and off-the-wall ideas against each other. As the two of you hammer out ideas, you start to notice several trends.>The wine was always marked with the Redwyne seal, but the brands you found are roughly similar to the traditional marking brands the Redwyne vitners use to mark their products.>Nearly all of the men involved were from the Arbor, but not the main island. They are from Horseshoe Rock, Stonecrab Qay, Mermaid's Palace, and Bastard's Cradle.>Someone with access to the wine must be good enough to sneak it past guards, Excise officials, and House Redwyne itself.
>>19618649It couldn't be a Maester in Redwyne's employ could it?Also, we need to get cracking on that gift for our leigelord.
>>19618649I like Caswell, he's a pretty cool guy.I doubt that all of the wine was taken from a single location, there would have been information pointing at that. They had the actual seal on them which means they can either replicate it easily or they got it after being sealed, when is the seal usually placed on the cask? So the recruitment it taking place nearby enough that it isn't that hard but not on the main island where people might recognize them or something like that. That's a good possibility.Have there been any reports of shipments being logged as sent out but not ever received, did any of the wine casks have brands on them that matched that of the brands we took from their camp? Does it look like brands may have been removed from the casks and replaced, the wood in one place being sanded or something like that?
>>19618668The idea of the man actually being a maester is disturbing and also a bit iffy... Ben expresses a lot of concern about this, since it could be a huge black spot on the order, but he also points out that there would be far easier ways for a maester to steal from his employer, but no way to steal so much.As for a gift, after talking with Coyle, you figure out that Lord Redwyne, now entering the latter years of his life, has grown fond of the fine shoes from the east. You dispatch Coyle to put the word out that any tradesmen in town or merchant who comes visiting that has a pair of the famous silk shoes of Lys or the impossibly soft leather sandals of Pentos would find a very generous buyer.Also, is anyone still in here? Checking for current thread population.
>>19618693The wine looked to be freshly sealed, not even marked with the sign of the individual winery yet, which means someone was stealing it right out of the storehouses (the winery's mark, along with the vintage info, is branded on as it is shipped out).As for missing shipments? You has Tensill send out multiple letters to other port officials, asking in very noncommittal and indirect language about missing wine shipments, but the return ravens could take weeks to arrive.
>>19618699Still here.I think we should let things lie for now. Either our informants will come back with some information or not. As a Lord I personally think we have better things to do like playing detective.Personally, I think a visit to the local Sept and a prayer of thanks to the Warrior is in order. Dustain is clearly blessed by the Heavens, and piety might be a good way of explaining it.
>>19618716Interesting, it's being taken right out of the storehouses before it is shipped, this almost certainly means they have someone on the inside of wherever they are taking it from. If nothing else to alter the books because discrepancies such as this would not go unnoticed for long unless the records were tampered with.See about finding a foremost connoisseur or wine who can at the very least narrow down the location that these ones came from if not pinpoint it exactly. There tend to be people who live in wine country and are rather obsessed about it who can pinpoint with a fair degree of accuracy where it came from. Also this will at the very least help us check if they're all from the same winery or different ones, I think it's multiple sources for the operation but I'd like to know if this particular shipment they had was all from one place.
>>19618746That sounds like a good reason for our dice.Anyways, lets keep this thread bumping. I will be back in ten hours or so, after work. If anyone wants to archive this, go right ahead. Otherwise, we will pick it up then.
>>19618746>>19618760Do we even have a Sept in our town - in the last thread I visited we hadn't? If not, then we should finally start building one.
>>19618774We don't have one yet, but before we can get it, we need to get some more cash into our treasury.Anyways guys, I will prepare some more material (maps/ect) for us on my break. Until I return, later.
I improved our coat a bit...
I know that this wine business is important, and feats of valor and improving our holdings and especially Saltmouth. But we must never lose sight of our true goal, Hot Dornish Wife.
>>19618760I'm heading off to bed soon, but I'll be here in the morning. I'm growing fond of our dear Dustain Karban. I don't know the first thing about archiving, so I'm dearly hoping someone else will do it.>>19618785Very nicely done.Any have any ideas for our Lord? I think sending a letter to our home in the Riverlands would be good, family is family after all.
>>19618844taking care of relatives is always a good idea.About archiving: ionly know of this thread here besides our current one: http://archive.foolz.us/tg/thread/19550420. But I agree that we need a rather quick overview on our lands, stats, subjects and some misc. information. Can somebody put it up on suptg/1d4chan?
>>19618864The last one is on suptg, under Game of Thrones Quest. If Princely wants he could put all of the basic information about our house and so on into a short pastebin which he links to at the beginning to make everything easier to keep track of.
>>19618873I can try to go through the last two threads and make a pastebin - but first I need to go to university. Once I compiled everything, I will make another thred or post it in the next quest thread.I want to include:>Basic & advanced stats & information>List of all named important NPC's>short chronology
>>19618894Sounds good.Perhaps include any clearly identified goals from earlier threads? For now this seems to entirely consist of:>Hot Dornish Wife>With a hint of breaking up the smuggling ring
>>19619000Keep Saltmouth running smoothly.Gain wealth, power, prestige and so on. Build up our fortunes and land both for ourselves and our descendants. Make friends with our neighbors and those who would be useful to us. Live through the coming clusterfuck war that IC we don't know about. Get to the bottom of this mystery.Keep on getting competent people on our side.Acquire a hot, intelligent, competent, feisty, licentious Dornish wife.
damn. this quest is not a one shot!Golly, and i missed it by doing RL stuff!Fast , lets read what awesomeness Lord Karban did and will do!
>>19619027Hmmm, a good point about the war. Who did the Tyrell's support? It might be best for us is the Redwynes stayed out of the whole messy affair.
>>19619068Well at first they supported Renly, then later they formed an alliance with the Lannisters and then they started to take more and more power in the alliance, they're doing pretty damn well in the books.The Redwyne twins got taken hostage by the Lannisters at the beginning of the war which tied their hands in terms of what to do. They didn't join up with Renly and help rout Stannis at King's Landing. They also have Olenna "Motherfucking" Redwyne, the Queen of Thorns. Who is really competent at politicking and scheming.
>>19619119I mean during Robert's Rebellion, given that this is taking place during the rule of Aegon II.
>>19619119You realize there's one whole war before that right?Aerys II is still on his throne.
>>19619157Whoops, Aerys not Aegon/
>>19619157>>19619155Sorry, got mixed up on where in the timeline we were. Tyrell stayed loyal to the Targaryens, they spent most of their time sieging Storm's End. They also fought Robert at Ashford, but the Tarly's did all the work. Redwyne didn't do anything special, they just hung out with Tyrell and blockaded Storm's End.
>>19619192Well, if we do decide to support the Targaryens here then we should have to make an impression upon Rhaegar at the Battle of the Trident. The fate of the rebellion was ultimately decided there.Though that is thinking way ahead of course.
>>19619230Hell, if we live long enough, we may change the entire course of the war.Or you know, alternatively, hang the Onion Knight.
>>19619387Storm's End is a bit of a dead end really. Even if we starved Stannis out the war was still won and lost at the Trident. If we really want to make a mark on history that's where we need to be.
>>19619387We could end up running into Davos, we might even get him before the war if he makes a run to Old Town or the Arbor. That could be funny. Or if we end up participating in the blockade we could end up catching him. That would seriously alter stuff.
bump!
>>19619424Fuck that!We should see somehow to get independence for our fair Island of Arbor and get a fleet large enough to ensure no one ever gets to us - not even the Ironborn.the trade between westeros and Essos plus the wines would be a constant income and the large fleets should allow us to rule the seas, and perhaps conquer all the other islands between essos and westeros and fortify them.We should re-enact Rule Britannia!once the Robert's Baratheons rebelions is done we could see to make a nice NAP or even Alliance, with the fleets of Arbor ensuring seaborne security on the coasts of westeros, and as a independent house affiliated with Baratheon perhaps - a good counterbalance to the houses in the kingdom and a counterweight to Casterly Rock finance rolling with our own.
>>19620967That's thinking really big, we should probably not tell anyone about those aspirations, as we don't own the Arbor. We own a city on the Arbor, the Redwynes who are extremely loyal to House Tyrell run this place, all we have is Saltmouth. We need a lot more power, influence and ships before we even consider that.Let's keep our goals reasonable for now, focus on Hot Dornish Wife and steady, consistent expansion and growth, like waves upon rock we will slowly and surely go about our goals.
Currently working my way through the first quest thread, what do you think of the "summary" so far?http://pastebin.com/4EgV3WCTI will work on it again in a few hours, just leave it this way.
>>19621184I like it, we could probably rephrase some of the goals, and we'll think of more stuff to add to it in due time.When you have time adding more details about our subjects, a little bit on their personality and our relation to them instead of a bare bones job description would be awesome. It'd make it much easier for new players to jump in.Also you're pretty cool for doing this.
Just got caught up, figured I'd bump.
You magnificent bastards, I love it.Anyways, I am here to answer questions and clarify for the next half hour, before the thread starts up in earnest again.So hit me with those questions
>>19622824is our latest friend a more prominent bannerman of our liege or something? just because he has like, what 6:1 ships on us? and equal or more troops....
>>19622824Are you planning any changes from canon aside from the butterfly/domino effect that comes from our actions?
>>19622824I am a bit confused about the sheer amount of troups our neighbor has. I mean, we rolled really good for troups and have a fraction of his military power. Is that the average? Is our military just understaffed, or is Portain an extremely influental lord=?(i thought i heard in another Game of Thrones thread that Stannis Baratheon managed to get 200 warships for some important battle, and then i was like wtf when it was stated our neighbor had 60. Alone)
>>19622860House Portain isn't any more important, rank wise, than us. However, they are much, much older and have had a lot of time to build up power, wealth, and prestige. They hold the extensive Northwood, which is basically the shipbuilding center of the northern coast, so they generally can sell their products to the other houses and merchant concerns on the Arbor.>>19622889Not as of yet. However, if we really start to change shit (like maybe kill Robert Baratheon by accident in a joust), then god knows what I am going to do. But don't take that as restrictions. I already have the rough outline of a campaign, with plenty of opportunities to change shit up.
>>19622917House Redwyne has the same sea power as the entirety of the Iron Islands. House Tyrell can put more ships in the water than anyone. It would take the combined power of the royal fleet and the Ironborn to equal the sea power of House Tyrell.Stannis never really had the power to back up his ambitious... Even with portions of House Tyrell's strength, he just didn't have the muscle. That is because the Redwyne's sat it out, keeping most of the Tyrell's warships out of it.
Hello guys, currently on my way through this thread to add missing stuff. Here's the current version of our GoT quest pastebin: http://pastebin.com/wTqQK30H>>19621262Currently on it. My goal for today is to complete the "villian", "friends" and "subject" section. I'll also try to include the opinion of our subjects as they're going to be relevant once shit starts to go down.Additionally, I think about making an imageshack folder or so for all the art concerning these threads (CoA, maps, etc.) - although this is probably covered by the archive anyway.I will also try to post the newest version of the pastebin in the currently running thread OR archive of the last thread, should no thread be available. However, I do not normally lurk /tg/ (Finding and participating was just a random idea, really), so should the pastebin be public, enabling other anons to search it?And now, before the quest starts againb, back to compiling...
>>19623053Damn, that's some serious sea power.Will we ever find true love, and by true love I mean Hot Dornish Wife?
>>19622824Whats the system of experience for our troops and ourselves and our holdings? Like can we improve our law by actually working on it instead of just spending wealth or influence or make the steel guard an elite unit base only on field experience?
>>19623145Most likely, just because the players want it so damn bad.ANYWAYS, HERE WE GO!When we left last time, we had just returned to our lands and were plotting for the message from our liege that he would indeed be visiting. Also, we had our folks looking into this smuggling conspiracy while the rest of us were doing more lordly things.
Pastebin anon here, a few questions:Are Rambling Ric, Tall Tom, 'Ol Nick and Brown Tim all members of the Steel Guard? At least Brown Tim and 'Ol Nick seems to be.
>>19623242Great. Can we now hire a smuggler spy and prpare for Lord Redwyne's visit?
>>19623286Sounds like a plan. Also, we should look into someone who whould be able to lend us money if shit got real. We have put so much of our liquidity into our city that i fear we may not able to house Lord Redwyne like his standing deserves.
>>19623242All is going smoothly, make sure preparations for Lord Redwyne are going smoothly, that we're getting proper gifts and have everything we need for the requisite pomp and ceremony.
>>19623286Rambling Ric was a ranger for Lord Portain, and so was Tall Tom. But otherwise, you are right.>>19623275We have our castle staff getting ready to accept visitors, in expectation for a visit. Meanwhile, Caswell was working the docks with a bag of coins, checking for any kinds of information and leads. He would be the obvious choice for that kind of work.
>>19623242also now that we saw that house Portain has 60 fucking warships, we want that too.... somehow...Perhaps by expanding our lands (another city ) and dropping another port and some Shipyard too...that would get us the income and the necesity to have some serious seapower. 100 ships or so, yes?
>>19623367That will take a while. One step at a time, we have no liquidity when it comes to our wealth, like waves upon rock, don't be in a huge hurry, just slowly wear down the problem until we reach our goal. We'll just continue to make smart and stable investments.>>19623356I think we can trust Caswell to get the smuggler spy thing dealt with, we would be far too loud a public presence to do it ourself so we delegate.
>>19623367Building up our ships is something we are going to be working on, I think. And as our power grows, we can call on our bannermen to add their strength to ours.>>19623339The empty apartments are being cleaned out, scrubbed and turned over. Servants are preparing bedding and wall hangings, and getting all things in order. While we may not be able to host a grand tourney or something lavish like that, we can do our best. We have plenty of wines, and the sea can provide for us a bounty for any feast.
>>19623485of course. but as a goal to work towards. because if we waste our deliberate efforts in all direction they ammount to nothing.if you want the slow and steady approach you have to plan ten turns ahead and weather it through to that goal, and only redirect in case of major crisis situations, and as soon as they are dealth with return to the goal at hand.This is the mentality you are suggesting i hope- in which case we must set some goals and follow them through the course of multiple sessions relentless until completion.
>>19623516Goal, build up money and power and with that expand our fleet and get more land. We can get influence through this visit, the best way for us to get money is to let our docks and trade do what they do best.>>19623502Check through what we know of Lord Redwyne both personally and through rumor and so on, is there anything in particular we should be aware of, topics not to bring up, any foods that he would be overjoyed to see at his reception?
>>19623502I think we can try to invite Lord Portain to our feast. Lord redwyne will surely love to sit amongst hist most successful subjects. This way, we'll also improve our relationship to Portain.Anyway, here's version 4 of the pastebin. If you have any ideas, additions, etc. feel free to edit the pastebin and post the link here (I'll try to do it myself, though). http://pastebin.com/tC8Ls9pj
Have we inspected the rest of the city and our fields or the mine?
>>19623601i think it was agreed for Lord Redwynne's visit we'd invite all the local lords, but definitely Portain should be on the guest list.
>>19623573Roughly seven days after returning home to Castle Salt, we get a raven from Ryamsport, the biggest city of the Arbor. Lord Redwyne will be making a small tour of the eastern and northern coasts, visiting his banners and making himself available to these lords. Traveling with him will be his grown son, Paxter, his daughter, Dalyna, and several of his knights.We could expect him, after his visit to the Cargills, to be in our waters in roughly twelve to eighteen days. Ben sends a raven to Lord Portain, while Colye volunteers to ride with us and some of the Steal Guard to check out our holdings around the Windingwater, examining our fields and the iron mine we have opened up.
>>19623683Shit perhaps we should have gifts ready for the son/daughter as well? Find out the age, if old enough, perhaps a fine dagger for the son, a dress or lute/book of poems for the daughter?
>>19623707how about two pairs of matching sabres - one sharp and quite usable as a weapon, yet quite fashionable , while another pair, still as fashionable yet blunted to the point it can be used only as a training sword - or made out of wood and fashioned to look like a metal sword.
>>19623707First, we need to take car of Possi and the business part of our present. We should invite him and seal the deal.After that, we should announce at the market that whoever offers the most valuable gift to the Lord shall receive an invitation to the feast (or a better position at the table should he already be invited). That should secure some unique goods.Unfortunately, we can't build a Sept within 2 weeks, but this still sounds like a good idea to me. Otherwise, we should probably get his son Paxter some weapons.
>>19623741sounds perfect to me
>>19623741>two pairs of sabresOf course quite distinguishable at a glance one pair from another so that they dont make the accident of play with a real sword and a training one, but indistinguishable from their sister sword...
Gifts are important... The idea of some kind of weapon forged for Paxter would make sense, and you ask Coyle about that as you ride. Lord Paxter is a lot like you, it seems. He is twenty seven, with a quick mind. He has been married for six years to Mina Tyrell, and has two infant sons. By all accounts, he will make a fine heir for his aging father. His sister, Dalyna, is just turning sixteen and is rumored to be beautiful beyond compare. Her father, you are sure, is probably shopping around for a suitable suitor for her.While riding, you discuss the situation with Coyle. He likes the idea of having merchants compete for a seat at the feast, as it will make sure that Lord Redwyne has an interesting collection of gifts. As for the sabers? You could have Castle Salt's blacksmith start on them as soon as you return.
>>19623843Excellent, any other orders of business that need attending to?
>>19623880Personally I understand Hot Dornish Wife syndrome, but I don't think that gains us very useful allies, marrying into House Redwynne will help our immediate interests of expanding and control, and make us a big player in the Arbor. Dornish wife should wait until we have a suitable heir to wed them to imo.
>>19623843>>19623843Jesus Christos, we could become brother's in-law with the upcoming Lord Redwyne. Besides, don't the Redwyne's and men of the Arbor have a thing against the Dornish?
Sorry about that.>>19623880Reposting:Is a Hot Dornish Wife still our main priority? Because Dalyna might be an interesting candidate as well. Additionally, we would quickly rise in the hierarchy of the Arbor.But right now, I want to get to know our blacksmith. We haven't heard about him and Dustain should go in person for such an important task.
Agreed, this sword must be the finest craft to impress Lord Redwynne and Paxtor, we want Paxtor to like us if we're a potential brother in law.
So just to see what the consensus is, do most of us agree marrying Dalyna might be the best course of action?
>>19623948Yes. However, we shouldn't be too optimistic. There are sure to be other suitors as well and maybe she is not our kind of woman (although we shouldn't care that much - this is a political decision after all).
>>19623948First we should met her, and the others Redwynnes, then we should wait a little, just to see what other potions arise. Yes, we can easily rise our position in the arbor, but we might do that even without marriage
>>19623978Oh i know, it's not for sure, and for all we know Redwynne may be saving her for a bigger political marriage as well.
>>19623914Besides, don't the Redwyne's and men of the Arbor have a thing against the Dornish?Yeah, like all everyone of the reach their is a strong dislike for Dorne, but if you consider that that his strong ties to the Tyrells and the fact that his Tyrell cousin a cripple thanks to the brother of the prince of Dorne their is a strong chance the Redwynes really dislike Dorne.
We spend the next week or so preparing to accept our visitors. We visit our blacksmith, a man named Rym, in his forge near the curtain wall. He is a big man, muscled and scorched from the heat of the fires he tends. After describing the saber we want made, he nods. "I can have the blade ready within a few days, m'lord. I have stains for the steel that can give it a fine, pale-red finish. The handle should be steel covered in silver, since gold is too soft for that kind of use... I have nothing for inset, but if we were to acquire some stones from the merchants in the port, I could easily set them into the pommel."As for the daughter, you think much and more about what her gift should be. Finally, you settle on something special: a small ivory box filled with fine cogs and tiny copper hammers that play a small tune when it is twisted. It is a Lysean music box, and you have never heard of anything like it before. You feel that impressing her might be a good idea, as she sounds like she could be a fine potential wife.
>>19623987True, lets meet her and act as charming bannermen, she may be out of our reach but we should try to be like by our liege and his familly.
>>19624034>>19624034I was wondering, when do our current finance, law, defense stats, etc., get upgraded? I would like to see some monies so we can vastly improve our estates.
>>19624034That all sounds very good to me. The finest jewelry for the sword may also be worth a seat at the feast, once we announce such a thing. Can we meet Possi now?
>>19624086As far as I know this is done quarterly. And we only spent a month or so as Lord Karban. But we shouldn't fear, our infrastructure gives us some good boni on Fortune rolls.
>>19624086We can roll for the state of our House either right before, or right after, Lord Redwyne is set to visit. I will open that up to the vote now.>>19624094We invite Possi to come and visit us in our solar. He shuffles in, panting slightly from the stairs, but nearly glittering in pale gold rings, a bright silk cloak of scarlet, and a hat of shadowcat fur that is lined with polished garnets. After we each take some drinks (a sweeter red), we sit, ready to discuss business. His Common is heavily accented with the tones of fluid vowels of Pentos, but you understand him well enough. "My most gracious lord, what could bring a lowly merchant of my station to this, your most revered home?"
>>19624146After. Better to show our confirmed strong face to our lord then to risk him coming just to see us having a failing harvest or something.
>>19624146Right after the visit. Better to get all the consequences thrown at us at once, I want to see how we can manage all that.
>>19624146We should do it after. Are we inviting Possi to the dinner, then holding a tournament amongst the merchants to acquire the best gift for Lord Redwyne to sit at the feast with him?
>>19624226Possi should be invited both to the feast and a few night before to finalize the new merchant contracts. We may hold a very small tourney, pitting some of our and portains men against his knights? Ser Bushy is pretty good at that, as well as portain's Ser Flowers.About the gifts...we can do the auction before or during the visit, but when the gifts are a disppointment we might emberass ourselves. It's better to hold the auction beforehand, except when we know the gifts will be of satisfying quality.
We mention that Lord Redwyne will be visiting, and that perhaps merchants who would like to attend the feast should make a... small gift, so as to show the proper respect to the Lord of the Arbor.At this, Possi nods thoughtfully. "A wise move, my lordly knight... Of course, Possi will provide a gift that is worthy of such a man, for my holds always have something interesting in them, no? Now, as to our previous discussion... I am a greedy man, and I love gold. There is, in my opinion, no finer way to make the gold I love than by selling the good things in this world. In this way, I please the gods and please their subjects here on this world. It would be to the greatest glory of the gods of trade and gold were I to sell the delicious wines of your land to cities far and wide."
>>19624317We know our fair share about economics, but I'd love to have our Maester, Coyle and Tensill by our side. Possi will surely try to sneak in some paragraphs that could damage us.
>>19624395Agreed. We have to make sure that we have enough leeway in the contracts so that we can find out if he is trying to screw us, and to also to maneuver out of them if he is doing so.
>>19624395We have a serving girl bring in more wine and writing supplies, along with having her send for Maester Ben, Coyle, and Tensill.With their arrival, we dive into the intricacies of the contract. Possi is clearly in his element here, and we are happy to have Coyle and Ben checking up over our shoulder, giving subtle nods and drawing our attention to key bits of the contract.>Roll 6d6 for our efforts to understand and influence the contract, and then another 6d6 to work for our profit margin.
rolled 6, 5, 4, 1, 4, 2 = 22>>19624450Lets pray for a good roll
rolled 2, 2, 1, 6, 4, 3 = 18>>19624450profit here we go
rolled 3, 5, 6, 3, 5, 1 = 23>>19624450dicean
rolled 2, 5, 5, 6, 3, 2 = 23>>19624450profit
rolled 4, 3, 3, 6, 6, 4 = 26Effort
rolled 3, 2, 5, 4, 1, 3 = 18>>19624488Profit
as usual we get great rolls...
holy shit those rolls
>>19624493>>19624467until someone has to roll twice and bring in their mediocrity...
With Coyle there to help us, and with Tensill making sure that the contract leaves proper room for us to be able to respond if Possi goes all dick on us. While we don't really need to make a contract (since we are a damn lord), it does a lot for other merchants, knowing that we are a man who is willing to put his word to paper, basically saying 'My promises are so good, I am willing to let everyone else see me making one.'However, the negotiations over the profits is a bit tougher. Possi bargains like a master, and he is incredibly tough to fight down. He competes with us for each dragon and stag, but finally, we come to an agreeable situation where we get a rather sizable chunk of gold, on top of Possi paying the taxes.
Lord Karban, Bastard of the Luck Goddess, strikes again!
rolled 5, 5, 1, 2, 2, 6 = 21>>19624528>>19624528
Sealing our new agreement with the opening of one of our select casks from the cellar (a fine, sweet white that is flavored with blackberries and cherries from the mainland), Possi waddles out the door, probably off to go masturbate to the huge amount of money he is about to make over the next few years.Once he is gone, you and Coyle slump into chairs by the fire, worn out by doing the mental equivalent of seventeen thousand jumping jacks. Luckily, you feel pretty damn confident that everything should be going fine. Nearly half of the wines heading downstream on the barges of the Windingwater are now going to the holds of Possi's ships, and in return you are getting a pretty generous cut of the profits, along with a very, very steady triangle of trade between Pentos and Lys.
>>19624574Will there be any backlash for making a deal with Pentos/shortage of supply for the rest of Westeros with half of hte current batch heading to Pentos?
>>19624639we are a fly on the ass of the Arbor right now. Any trade deal we made with Possi would probably only bring about a minor change in the price for the rest of Westeros. We are talking maybe the equivalent of a .05 cent difference.We are a small lordship as of right now. If Lord Redwyne conducted the deal, then yes, it would be a massive change. But for a local lord not so much.
The next several days have a rough pattern to them. In the morning, you supervise the running of the castle, watching servants and cooks prepare to receive your lord by bringing up wine, preparing ingredients and dishes to be stored in the cool vaults underneath the river along your western wall. Rooms are prepared, and the castle is generally busier than it has been in years. Later in the day, you receive merchants and tradesmen, looking over gifts and other offerings. Some are quite good (like the rubies that a man named Lhazarro Lhazar offers that end up in the pommel of the saber for Paxter) while others are rather poor (a disreputable merchant captain offers several suits of silk, but they had been painted, and you turn them away after having him imprisoned for attempting to sell false goods). A real winner is from a small merchant from Three Towers, who brings a pair of incredibly soft shoes of silk and leather that you believe Lord Redwyne would truly enjoy.It will be another two days until your Lord arrives. Got anything pressing to do?
>>19624714Lord Redwyne we should check on our town to see that everything is running on order. We don't want to suffer an embarrassment while our liege lord is visiting.
>>19624714Perhaps we should send a letter to our family back in the riverlands.
>>19624666This guy has it right. Nearly 70% of the wines of the Arbor are directly under the control of House Redwyne, and leave through Ryamsport. Much of the rest goes through House Merrywind, with only a small fraction of it under the control of the western branch of House Cargill, which travels down the Windingwater to our port. Once the wine arrives in our city, it is usually bought by merchants directly from House Cargill merchants. A fair amount, however, is bought by our Excise officers under the command of Tensill, and then resold to other merchants at a slight mark up, with our house taking the cut. However, we tax the wine that comes through our port anyways, so that we always profit whenever wine crosses off the Windingwater and onto the trade ships.
>>19624747>Lord RedwyneIgnore that, it shouldn't be there...
>>19624714Organize a small performance for Lord Redwyne (either a joust or dance along with the feast), and make sure you have your ledgers and account books ready for Lord Redwyne to look over should he need to. Be sure to go over fiscal projections, the best and worst case scenario, current and projected military force for the quarter, local lawless and lawfulness, etc.Prepare a detailed report about the recent conquest of the smugglers (which should put a small damper on smuggling through your parts including the river), the efforts of Portain, and your theories on how they are doing so. Inform him that you are currently investigating and should have more details about it at a future time.
>>19624747The garrison is out in force during the week, making it clear that people are going to behave themselves, or wind up in the dank cells underneath Castle Salt. Short of a sudden bit of ridiculousness, everything should go smoothly.If everyone is ready, we can move on to the visit.
>>19624767Sounds good, do as >>19624765 said, even if i dont think the lord will be interested in our acountings himself. He might bring a maester or something, and it does not hurt to have plans at hand anyways.
>>19624767Let's just move to the visit.
>>19624751We should make the effort to make our own wine later own.
>>19624767I think we can move on.
>>19624765This is a good idea
You have your galleys out on the sea, watching for his vessels. One morning, you hear horns from the harbor, and rush to the battlements.On the horizon, you can see the bright red sails of House Redwyne ships contrasting the black of your own, five great galleys escorted by three of yours. They are still some leagues out, and you rush to bathe, before putting on your nicest doublet and pants of linen and black leather. You fasten your best cloak, a deep blue velvet lined with black sable and patterns along with the edge with green silk and thread-of-gold, around your neck, and belt your sword about your waist. Looking into the polished silver mirror, you feel that you look every bit of the man Lord Redwyne would expect.>Do we meet him at see, or at the docks?>Do we meet him alone, with just our closest advisers, or do we want an honor guard for him?
>>19624874We bring our advisers and some of the Steel Guard to meet him at the docks
>>19624874Let's go all out. We meet at the docks, escort him with our complete honor guard (I suppose this is the Steel Guard?) to our castle, while showing the fruits of our labour. After that, we can chat in private or with our advisors before dining at the feast in the evening.Is everyone ok with this?
>>19624874At the docks, with the honor guard ready for him.Getting into a ship and meeting him at sea would be awkward.>>19624897Sounds good.
We clear an entire quay at the docks, the Steel Guard mounted behind us in their best clothes and armor, steel and bronze shining under the afternoon sun. You, dismounted and standing off with Coyle, Ser Cargill, and Maester Ben, are hoping to cut an impressive figure.The galleys of House Redwyne drop oars and coast towards the docks, dockworkers tossing lines to men on the deck. The five galleys of your liege are the standard 90-oar double-deckers, the sleek style that is the standard for the warships of the Arbor. The gangplank is dropped, and you see a small party descend from the most richly appointed one, directly in front of you.An elderly man, with a mane of graying hair and a cloak of burnt scarlet and a small crown of golden vines on his brow descends after a pair of men in full plate, bearing the colors of House Redwyne on their shields. Behind the man walks a vigorous looking man in the Redwyne colors, with a long sword on his belt. Immediately behind him is a young woman, with flowing blonde hair and a small circle of septons and other maidens in white, red, and bright yellow.>Wat say?
>>19624979OC: I thought our war galleys were a 60-oar ship each?
>>19625008Oh shit... Well, I guess we have a couple lighter, faster galleys then. I fucked that up, sorry guys. Don't want to go back and retconn it though. It gives us a bit of character.
>>19624979Hello there Lord Redwyne and family. I trust the trip went well? I have accomodations prepared at the castle for you and yours should you wish to go there immediately, or we can take a tour of the town and our current progress.
You bow low, and welcome your liege with as much hospitality and generosity as Castle Salt can provide. Lord Redwyne inclines his head. "I am grateful for your hospitality, and I hope that this visit will be as pleasant should." He holds out his left hand, and the young man behind him brings forward a small scroll, sealed in bright red wax. "This is for you, Ser Karban. We will discuss its contents at a later time... Oh, I forget myself. This is my son, Paxter. The stunning lass behind me, hiding no doubt, is my dearest daughter Dalyna." Paxter steps forward, and grips your hand in a strong, firm handshake. Dalyna just smiles, hiding within her small gaggle of ladies and servants.You and your new guests mount horses brought from the castle, with the Steel Guard riding as an escort. Riding through the town, Lord Redwyne comments on how busy the town seems to be, with the marketplace bustling even with an entire quay shut down to recieve him. Paxter also notes that, asking about how it has been to manage a busy little town like Saltmouth.
>>19625028Pastebin anon here, we have five galleys and two cogs. As mentioned before these are 60-oar ships. And in your last post we only had three ships guarding Lord Redwyne. We can either say those 5 ships belong to the Lord, or we can retcon as fuck. Here the passage from the pastebin: >We have 5 war galleys: each a 60-oar ship with a veteran crew, with a unit of 100 trained sailors to provide extra punch. Known names of our fleet: “Flatfish”, “Arborrunner”. We also own two small cogs.
>>19625052"No trouble my lord. I have made several investment into it to increase trade and tax collection as well implementing an active policy against smuggling and piracy. If it pleases my lord."
Your liege nods, content to take in most of the sights in silence, chuckling when Paxter and Maester Ben trade a few japes on the road. However, you see him always looking, examining every building and stall, inspecting the bridges over the river, and the sight of your castle.The castle is in a frenzied state of activity as you and your guests arrive, passing through the main gate as it flies the big official banners of your house and House Redwyne. Nearly a score of your garrison stands at attention inside, their helms and spears polished bright while a trio of trumpeters announce your arrival. Ser Rory Wallgrave meets you there, telling you that everything is prepared and that the castle is secure.Coyle has the horses taken back to the stable, and leads your guests to their rooms for refreshments and a chance to freshen up. You tell Lord Redwyne that your solar is open for him as soon as he would be prepared to use it, and that anything he could want is just a call away, for the servants are ready to attend to him and his family.
>>19625118Make an offhand mention about some trade deals you set up as well. Greater details would be given upon request at the castle.
>>19625134 Continued.Once your guests are away, Coyle meets back up with you. Everything is in order for the visit. The first night (tonight) will be primarily a feast, with musicians from the town and a small traveling troupe of Braavosi tumblers. The second night will be primarily you showing your guests around your lands, with a night dining in the hall with your knights and the cities biggest merchants in a slightly more relaxed setting. The final and third day will feature the arrival of Lord Portain and his knights, a small tourney outside of the town, and then another massive feast for both visiting lords. Then, Lord Redwyne will ride to Dawn Hall with Lord Portain, continuing his tour.
>>19625148Should we take a moment to read the letter?
>>19625167We'll read it after the feasting. There isn't really a good time to do it with a visiting Lord, his retinue, and his family all in the castle. When they are all asleep it would be better.
>>19625167Sounds like a good idea.Also, I want to get a report on the needs and requests of Lord Redwyne.
It is around half an hour before a servant fetches you from your hall, telling you that Lord Redwyne has summoned you to your solar. You enter your solar, finding Lord Redwyne sipping a small glass of red wine and standing over one of your desks, inspecting one of your Excise office books and noting the taxes leveraged on docking ships and Arbor wines.He turns to you, before walking slowly to take a chair. "You know, my boy, it is marvelous to see something good happening in my lands... Many of my lords are content to horde coins, filling their treasuries as the fruits of our land go out over the seas, bringing us wealth beyond our dreams. But you... You seem to be interested in building something. In building something more than what you have."
>>19625194Explain to him that we only want to serve to the best of our abilities, mentioning the contract with Possi in passing as we lay down our plans to increase the power of Lord Redwyne through economics.
>>19625194I could be lax on my duty if I didn't endeavor to take care and improve the lands my lord has graciously entrusted me.
>>19625194What man is a man who does not make the world a better place?
Briefly mentioning the deal, Lord Redwyne smiles. "Money is power, my boy, and power is everything. In the Arbor, our wines are power. Our ships our power. A man who realizes the value of ships, the value of casks of wine and nets of fish, is someone who will rule well. A sword is a fine weapon, but it is just as strong as a bag of golden dragons or a few secrets... I hope you continue to be skilled with both." You talk more about the deals and the current economic fortunes of the Arbor. Apparently, there has been a great harvest in the vineyards, and soon fine wines will be spilling south towards the ports of Starfish Harbor and Ryamsport, and north to Saltmouth.
The talk continues for another hour, then two. Below, from your yard, you can hear the sounds of musicians preparing their instruments and men laughing as barrels are opened and massive cookfires are lit. Lord Redwyne looks at the setting sun, just visible our your western windows between shutters of salt-stained wood and copper."You know, I was once a man like you. Vigorous. Alive... Now, I am getting older. My son has done his best to hide it, but I have tremors these days. Terrible shaking fits that send my heart to spasms and make it impossible to get out of bed. Some days are good days, others are less so. I fear that my time for this world is drawing to an end and, Father be praised, I hope I have left a mark worthy of being remembered." For a brief moment, he looks very much like an old, tired man, rather than one of the greatest lords in the Reach."But I am not dead yet, and I intend to make sure my son understands everything that he must do to keep the Arbor strong, and House Redwyne with it. He has two sons, both of them just now walking, and I intend them to learn the same lessons from their father. Which is what brings me here, visiting the halls of my bannermen. Tell me, Karban... What have you done with my lands? Do you see the potential in them, as I see potential in you?"
>>19625295"If I may bring it to my lord attention, there is a matter of a smugglers transporting unmarked Arbor's gold, Lord Portain and I put an end to it but I fear a greater operation at work."
>>19625364"Sire, these lands are a gift of the seven. Optimal position, a lot of ressources, full of possibilities. As long as times stay peaceful and law and order are kept i see only a steadily ascending tide""And if there are should be problems, well, it is only in challenges that a man can prove his worth. I am eager to show that all that i've done here isn't just the result of luck, but also of planning and a careful mind."
>>19625364I'd answer that we do see enormous potential as the lands are not only blessed with fruits, but also with great men such as Lord Portain, good connections to the continent of Essos and a young generation that, just like all strong seeds, will grow up to be a tree with strong roots to depend on. We should compliment his son a bit, as Dustain and Paxter share some traits. Also, we shall reasuure him that he - despite his illness - is still one of the most powerful and liveliest Lords in all of Westeros.
>>19625370He scowls at this. "This is... This is something that cannot happen. We must get to the bottom of this, now. Our wines bring in more wealth than everything else in the Arbor combined, and then nearly doubled. Lord Portain is a wise man, and you seem to have an eye for this sort of thing. Can I entrust this to you?"He finishes off his glace, before taking a moment to stand. I will leave Geoffry here with you for a time, because his knowledge might prove useful in this matter."
>>19625364My lord, I could hunt down ever last pirate and smuggler from your fair island. I could see that no captain south of kings landing could fail to visit the Arbor ports. I could make that not one copper is lost to corruption.
>>19625453"I already took several precautions, Mylord. My men are currently doubling their even under normal circumstances great efforts to gather information from all directions. I will personally see through that every smuggler will be hanged or sent to the Wall. Even though they're pityful subjects, they may prove their worth again while defending us against the Wildlings."
"You are right, you know. These are fine lands for a man such as you. Watch the seas, Ser Karban. Catch these thieves and whatever fool has too small a mind and too big a pair of balls that is leading them, and send me their heads." The anger seems to pass as he tastes the last of his wine. "This here is our wealth. Let the Lannisters have their mines... They will run out some day. But the living earth? She is, to me, the greatest proof that the Mother cares for us. She feeds us and nurtures us. And she will make us all wealthier than we could imagine. "He turns to us. "I think it is time for that feast you promised me. I have no need to worry about some brigands... You are clearly able to handle this, and I expect news of your success soon. Let us instead relax, and take some satisfaction on a table heavy with food and a glass filled with our wines."
>>19625533"I will continue to endeavor so that your trust on me is never misplace, my lord."
When do you think would be the best time to present him our gifts?Anyway, I'm off. I hope I can read pleasent stories about this visit once I wake up.
Let's go to the feast then. We should try and talk to his son a bit, get a feel for the guy who will be our new liege lord pretty soon. Might get introduced to the daughter, since you're not supposed to just walk up I think.
The feast is one of the better ones in your memory. A soup of chopped vegetables cooked with spices from Dorne starts the meal, followed by baked cod served with mashed turnips and pies of pork, onion, carrot, and peas. Ribs of lamb follow these, with a sauce of beer and honey. Paired with each course is a wine from your deep cellars, matched perfectly. The main course is a roasted boar, covered in herbs, honey, and imported pepper. Everyone is laughing and enjoying themselves. Lord Paxter is deep in conversation with Ben and Tensill, talking about the kinds of ships the Arbor fields and if they can outrun the famous longships of the Iron Islands. Immediately on your right hand, Lord Redwyne is enjoying the story told by Coyle about a certain Braavosi captain who once got his manhood "caught" in a girl from Oldtown, which led to him needing oil and a crowbar. Your knights and advisers mix below with merchants and important townsfolk, wine flowing constantly.
We should present the gifts after the feast. That way they can enjoy them in their own personal quarters and not risk getting food and grease all over them.Better yet, have them as a gift in their respective quarters. Doing it out in the open might mean we are trying to show how awesome we are to everybody present.Giving the gifts as a surprise when they return to their quarters signals a small degree of humility and humbleness, which can do well for us. Though it might be a bit too personal for the daughter.
>>19625693I agree with this anon. Perhaps when you meet with them in the solar after the feast? Then we read the letter.
As the feast winds down, you retire to the wall with Lord Paxter and several of the Steel Guard who stole a cask from the kitchens despite the watchfulness of your head cook. You have Coyle send servants to the rooms of your guests, to give them their gifts in a more private and less 'official' setting.Meanwhile, we are sitting on the crenelations while Ser Martin is shouting down to a serving girl about how she should be 'serving him' and Ser Bushy is talking to Paxter about his love of the joust, explaining the difference between leaning in the saddle and standing in it. After a while, you remember the sealed scroll in the inside pocket of your doublet, pulling it out to examine it. Lord Paxter turns to you. "Ahh, so my father has some sort of secret for you, eh? Go on, Ser Karban. Read it.">wat say to our future liege? Read it now?
>>19625777Yes, read it now. Keep a goddamn stone face while reading it though. These men might be on the up and up, but there are daggers in men's smiles.
>>19625777Dicey. I highly doubt the secret is about Paxter, but it was entrusted to us and us alone. We are surrounded by our loyal knights and future liege, so I figure it's safe enough to read it here. Let's do it.
>>19625777Read it, make sure no one is looking over my shoulder, keep our face completely blank and impassive, then roll it back up, consider burning it afterwards. It doesn't even have to be important, it'll make everyone think it is.
We summon up a blank face that reveals nothing, reading the short letter by torchlight. Much of it is what we had learned earlier, like Lord Redwyne's failing health. However, there is a key portion near the end. It reads:'Soon, my son will inherit my lands and all my titles, becoming the leader of the greatest banner of House Tyrell. He will have to work hard to win loyalty from some of my banners, as many of my knights are much older than him and will see him as but a child, despite his qualifications and my blood. He will have to grant lands and titles to win their loyalty, which in itself is no sin. However, the fallow plains near the western headwaters of the Windingwater must not be pledged to one of his knights, for upon my death, I grant it to you, Ser Dustain Karban, and name you Watch-Lord of the Windingwater. May these lands belong to your son's sons, and my the Seven smile upon your house."
>>19625898AAAWWWWW YEEEEAHHHHH.But this comes with some risk. We could run afoul of a lot of Lords with our rise to power. Most notably, the Lords who had much to gain from the territory or even the previous lord who held those lands might be pissed.
>>19625898Lord Redwyne, you clever devil. Got our loyalty even before the change happens. This isn't TRULY a secret, but definitely not something that should get out with an aging lord about to die. Might make other lords very jealous. If Lord Paxter asks what it said, tell him, but not in front of anyone else. They might be your knights, but they might still talk.
You fold the letter back together, and slip it into your inner pocket again. This will be something that must be secreted, and protected. >Talk with Paxter at all, or head to bed?
>>19625898Ok, that's pretty awesome. Where is that in relation to Saltmouth?I like these Redwynes, I am contemplating giving up Hot Dornish Wife if marriage into their family is an option, and I'm pretty sure both Lord Redwyne and Lord Paxter both like us and we haven't interacted enough with Dalyna to get much aside from her shyness.
>>19625935BTW, this could come with some promise. If Lord Paxter doesn't know about this yet, he could try to buy our loyalty with additional lands. We could get out of this with a mint if we play our cards right.I can see it happening. >Lord Paxter wishes us to support himSure thing lord Paxter, but can you give us some additional lands along the coastline to the south? We could really use the help.>Sure thing, he makes his declaration.Also, we were named Watch Lord of the Windingwater, and given lands near the Western headwaters.
>>19625959It abuts our inland holdings, so southwest as the raven flys, but a weird half 'S' shape if you follow the river. It would increase our inland holdings by a fair bit, and potentially give us access to the vineyards of Arbor wine country that makes up much of the interior of the island.
>>19625958Talk with Paxter, this is quite a gift he will be giving us and we ought to honor this by being friendly with his son and if necessary guiding and aiding him wherever we can. Make conversation, first some small talk, some of our impressive deeds, the hunting of the smugglers a few weeks ago, that sort of thing. Swap stories for a bit, then start inquiring into his father's health, how long before he is going to get the throne, how he has our support should he wish it.
>>19625958Let's talk with Paxter, we still don't really know this guy that well yet.
We grab a glass of the stolen wine (a dry white, perfect for hanging out) and offer another to Paxter, who takes it. "This is a fine castle, ser. Not many of my father's bannermen have such a seat. I believe it was my father who said that 'our galleys are our walls,' but having stone between you and the world certainly adds a sense of security.We talk about the Arbor for a while, his knowledge of the lands he is to inherit are impressive. He can speak at length about the capacity of the warehouses in Ryamsport, the number of vineyards on the lands of House Merrywind, and the number of casks produced annually by the wine country, down to the specific flavor. For our part, he takes a lot of interest in learning about our battlefield exploits, as he has little martial experience. Our tales about the Vale really interest him.
We talk late into the night, discussing everything from the state of the Seven Kingdoms to the difference between the ships of the Riverlands and the Reach.>Anything specific to talk about?
>>19626143>>19626143so, about your sister......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lFxGBB4UGUstarted playing as soon as i thought of it.
>>19626091Nice. We might get set up as the Marshal, who knows? I think it's time to go to the next day now, unless we are giving them their gifts in person.
>>19626143His future role as Lord Redwyne, a bit of politics, see if he has any clever ideas about the Mad Maester problem. Ask about his sister see if we can learn more about her other than "very shy", don't make any references to marriage and the like and don't stay on topic for too long, she's a good choice but we should check our options before we commit ourself to one.
We retire for the night, collapsing into bed and happy to clear our mind of everything we have learned today.The next day, we break our fast with eggs, fried bread, and oranges. Lord Redwyne is feeling tired from the voyage and festivities from the previous day, so Lord Paxter will ride with us to see our lands, taking a half dozen of his knights to accompany us. The initial plan is to ride with Coyle and several of the Steel Guard, up the length of the Windingwater until we find Fauster's Mine, stopping to rest there, before swinging through the grain fields and olive orchards on the way home. If we ride hard, we should get back in time to attend the back half of the smaller feast planned for tonight.>Potential Moves: Ask for Dalyna to accompany us.>Bring Paxter's two falcons with to go hawking during the ride.>Bring extra wine, and progressively get hammered with our future liege.
>>19626298Yes to the first and the third, I don't care if we take the second one or not.
>>19626320>>19626298I would say yes to all three. You can have Daylna go out into the fields to pick fruit and have a merry time with her entourage while you hawk it up wit your bro. Give her/him a lot of fun things to do during the trip and the time will pass well.
>Roll 4d6 to be charming and convince Dalyna to come riding with us.
Rollan then.
rolled 5, 1, 3, 6 = 15>>19626386
rolled 3, 3, 2, 6 = 14>>19626411Woops, I was off by one field. Let's do that right this time.
rolled 2, 6, 1, 4 = 13Oh Daylna
rolled 4, 3, 5, 1 = 13>>19626411Rolling for charm, we can do this we just heroically defeated some smugglers.
rolled 3, 1, 4, 6 = 14If she comes along, teach her how to whistle.Bitches love how to whistle, especially with a long blade of grass.
rolled 3, 2, 5, 6 = 16>>19626386
We see her in the hall, and ask her is perhaps she would like to accompany us on our ride. She blushes furiously, and whispers something about staying with her maidens. The girls around her dissolve into giggles as you walk away, making you feel confused as to if they are laughing at you or her. You ride out in the morning with your small party, dressed for a day on the road rather than as a lord. You ride slowly along the river, pointing out the slow moving wine barges, the heavy ore barges, and the small boats of fishermen looking for prawns, freshwater clams and mussels. As we ride further inland, we point out the small herds of goats and sheep being watched by shepards who bow as we pass, and the fields of barley and wheat that will feed the workers of the Arbor, or be converted into beer for the smallfolk. At the mines, you break for lunch and to give the horses an extended rest. You drink more wine, talking and joking as you munch on salted pork, bread from the mornings oven, olives and oranges. By the time you mount again, some of the guards and knights are singing bawdy songs, and most of the party is in high spirits.
As you ride on, the scenery changes from the green soil and pale fields to the slightly sandier color of the coast, the fields of grain becoming stands of orange or olive trees. Lord Paxter plucks several of the ripe fruit of a tree, paying the farmer there a silver stag for each (the equivalent for paying for each chicken nugget with a five dollar bill) before you ride on. You pass through the fishing village of Lanternbridge, west of Saltmouth, and ride along a track that parallels the sea.By the time you return to Saltmouth, the sun has just set and the castle is alight with torches, the sounds of revelry and singing coming from the main hall as you stable your horses. That nights feast is rather more simple than the previous nights, but no one seems to complain or notice.
>We can fast forward to the following day (arguably the busiest one).>Talk more with Paxter and his knights.>Try and talk with Dalyna
>>19626614>>19626614Bro it up with his knights, try to get the measure of Lord Paxter as well. See if he is willing to go drink for drink with his honor guard.Ask Daylna if she liked her gift and some small banter. Then, when you are walking away, whistle the tune.Maximum swag initiate.
>>19626643I like the cut of this fellows jib.
>>19626643Yes, it is time for the Swag Throne to rise
>>19626643>>19626722>>19626656If we wait, surely the DM will come through.
Fucking AT+T. They hate me, and I hate them. Except they can drop my internet access, and I can only... hate them. Our knights and the members of Paxter's retinue are basically trying to see which one is more awesome. Currently, Ser Bushy is saying that he can pick up a bench with one of the serving girls still on it, and then lift it above his head. People are taking bets."We, meanwhile, slide over to the corner of the hall where Dalyna is sitting with her ladies, and quietly ask if she enjoyed her gift. At this, she turns a brighter shade of red than before, and mumbles a yes. One of her ladies, a brown-haired lass of maybe sixteen, says that it is the most beautiful then she has ever seen, which just makes that red color on Dalyna's cheeks shade even darker.
>>19627474Charmingly talk to her as you make up an adventure you went through to get her that gift, while speaking of how you tried to grab one that would do justice to her rumoured (and confirmed to be greater than implied) beauty.
>>19627474It's cool, we understand. Fucking AT&T.Tell her that it was not a big deal, much passes through Saltmouth and you can find the most beautiful things by simply opening your eyes and looking. Say this while looking right at Dalyna.
>>19627603You smooth motherfuckers, you.>Roll 6d6 to flirt with our bosses daughter.
>>19627592We're young, but I would think that we aren't some horny teenager trying to get her to put out. Besides, We had it made for her specifically, that's not bad itself.
>>19627474This chick is beginning to make me feel like a pedo or something with the shyness. Smile and walk away, I guess. It wouldn't be her that we'd need to impress to marry her, anyway.We could do something badass to show the knights we are the best.
rolled 6, 2, 2, 6, 5, 2 = 23>>19627651Rolling, also you're about to fall off of 4chan.
rolled 1, 4, 3, 6, 6, 1 = 21>>19627651rollan'
rolled 1, 1, 6, 2, 6, 4 = 20>>19627651Get our swag on
rolled 5, 5, 6, 3, 6, 4 = 29let's do this
rolled 5, 2, 1, 2, 5, 5 = 20>>19627651I'm still in favour of Hot Dornish Wife, that was our goal from the get go after all. But rollan anyway.
rolled 6, 6, 2, 3, 3, 5 = 25>>19627651Let's see if the Old Gods help
>>19627793Hot dornish wife is cool and all, but it doesn't nearly have as much of a chance to up our status and position as our bosses daughter.
>>19627792Geez, even *I* can roll well with this guy
That one actually gets her to laugh, a bit. "You certainly know how to make me laugh, ser. Persistent, aren't you?" She stands, and one of her maids follows. "I would greatly like to see this town of yours from the walls. Would you do your humble guest the honor of showing her the way?"We take her hand to help her off the bench, and then escort her up the stairs to the wall, crossing through the keep. We pause around the River tower, showing off the little patch of noise and twinkling lights below. "This is a fine place for a man such as you, ser." She turns and half dances across the battlements, calling her maid over to peer over the edge and into the river. Turning back. "Why do you insist on making me blush so, my lord?"
>>19627861Because it makes you almost as beautiful as when you smile.
>>19627861"I have been charmed by your looks, milady. I simply cannot help trying to get that stunning face of yours to redden."
>>19627883this
>>19627861We're on page 15, this thread is archived, I would suggest that we start another thread as this one is about to die.
New thread just executed. Jump ship guys
