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“Milord, the horses left for Hayford this morning. Rickon will be supervising. We estimate it won’t take much longer than a year and a half,” Gawen says. For an elder man he was surprisingly spry, keeping pace with you with ease.

“Good to hear Gawen, I remember when Rickon and I were children, playing with the horses. He’s a good lad, I’m sure he’ll do us proud,” you respond to the glowing smile of your Master-of-Horses, you continue, “What of our own horses?”

“No more than a year milord. Your Goldsong will be seeing a fair bit of use, and I might find use for those half-breeds you brought home from Essos yet,” he responds, flipping to another page in his leather bound book, “If I may say so milord. It is good to be back to my life’s work. My father and his father before him would be proud to see the bloodline continue.”

The great hall had begun to clear out again, Ser Victor and Ser Duncan were taking lunch with their squires and had just moved to leave, you nodded to them in recognition, “And I am proud to be again at work at it too Gawen. What sort of Malroy would I be if I let my sigil die out?” you laugh and Gawen chuckles alongside you. Continuing your journey through the great hall you look upon the many shields lining the walls, your mother’s catches your eye to the left, the arms of House Hayford displayed proudly. Your cousin, Ser Wesley stands before it, his head declined in silent prayer. Wesley had taken to Steadhold with happiness, but he often seemed sullen when in the presence of reminders of his House, or when he toured the Outer Ring. The Sack of Steadhold often tugged at your own heart, but you had learned to push it aside. Wesley still seemed dismayed by the state of things, though was often quick to offer advice, though young and inexperienced as it was. Your Uncle, Ser Dontos had suggested you ask him to your council meetings, so that he may learn and have his thoughts tempered by his elders.

Mason and Elionwy had beaten you as they usually did, Mason spoke to her in a hushed tone, her face a slight shade of red in response, she covered her mouth in a silent laugh before noticing your approach and incling her head in response. Mason stood and bowed to you, happy for your return, “No word today from our raider knight Brynden. Though we’ve moved on to insults of fornicating with horses to petty insults of incestous relations, I would spare your ears from those. I might need to send Sallo Rhod in soon if he doesn’t crack.”

“I would think not Mason,” you respond, nodding to his bow, Sallo was good when it came to aggressive negotiations, but you didn’t particularly feel the need to torture your prisoner to death, not yet at least. The days since your midnight hunt had left your lands quiet, exceedingly so, it was rare that banditry or outlaws crossed into your lands before, and with your silent execution you had left a burning reminder that the guard had not changed.

Dontos and Benjin had come in behind, Dontos’ heavy step announcing his presence and alerting Wesley who came to your side along with the rest, taking a seat by Gawen near the end of the table, the others in their usual spots. You sit and nod to Benjin and he breathes in deeply shifting his few papers here and there, “My Lord as you know this month saw our coffers fill significantly, and this new loan from the Bank of Bays has lift a great burden from the House. Lady Elionwy has taken this new information into account and has given our current funds to be within range of 800 gold dragons, after our payments, Gawen’s horses, and your friend Illiad.”

“I still disagree with giving the sellsword money nephew,” Dontos interrupts, “You don’t even know if he speaks true, for all we know he’s going to run off with 1400 dragons and we’ll never see him again.”

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awww yeah baby

“And as we spoke before Uncle, I can vouch for the man. As can Ser Mason. Table your worries, we shan’t speak of them again,” you respond with a strong glare. Your Uncle shifts into an uncomfortable position and stares at the map of the Crownlands that Benjin had laid out.

The Maester continues hoping to break tension, “Regardless my Lord. Though we had little left of our resources this month to use, with our current situation I would recommend we look to the future now and begin to plan our moves more wisely. The others and I have spoken of this prior and we have agreed there are matters of the lands and her population, our House’s power and wealth to speak of today.”

>Begin with matters of Lands and the Population
>Begin with matters of the House’s Power
>Begin with matters of the House’s Wealth

>>42703391
>Begin with matters of the House’s Power
Guess it's the most pressing, considering our enemies are mustering

>>42703391
>>Begin with matters of the House’s Power

Gotta get those other knights man.

>>42703391
>>Begin with matters of the House’s Wealth

>>42703391
>Begin with matters of Lands and the Population

We got wealth under control and land is coming along nicely by itself. We really got good with those 8 land when we screwed over the Langward

With the Food Agriculture coming into play in 2 months it might be wise to look into setting a mill and/or granary next.

>>42703391
>>Begin with matters of the House’s Power

Update in a moment guys. Internet randomly shit out on me.

So. How pissed do you think Lord Celtigar is at his son right now ?

All he had to do was to get Brynden on the damn boat and he fucked it up

Having heard much of your House’s need to expand her power and taking little solace in Lord Arryns advice to ignore your neighbours to the south you turn to your Uncle and regard him with a softened look, “I would hear of our House’s power.”

Dontos stiffens into a straightened look and places his finger over the Redward lands upon the map, “I am still ill at ease with the news your new Hedge Knight, Ser Duncan, gave us, nephew. That Royce is gathering power to him disconcerts me greatly.”

Mason nods alongside him, “I would find myself in rare agreeance with Ser Dontos, Brynden. I would think our priorities should shift to fill out our ranks. Though little as they are.”

“Your Ser Victor, and Duncan have both spoken to be at great lengths about our need for Knights nephew,” Dontos continues, “I would not disagree with them, if we should field a mounted company of them that would put us at our limit of 25.”

“Though the question remains,” Dontos draws his finger moving in a slow circle about the Crownlands, “How do we recruit them?”

“Merely send out a call,” Mason says with little fanfare, “Hedge Knights are always looking to service a Lord. No doubt we will find many with the Tourney in King’s Landing so close.”

“Hedge Knights are half the men that true Knights are Ser Mason,” Dontos interrupts staring daggers at your man, “We need to recruit wisely nephew, pull from the Noble Houses and those of renown.”

“And how would we do that Ser Dontos? The House isn’t exactly on standing to do so at present” Mason throws back meeting his glare.

You lean back and scratch at your hairless face nodding along to both of your men, Wesley looks like he wants to speak but is unsure of how to get a word in between the other two Knights,” Ser Wesley. Thoughts?” you call, the other two Knights stopping their bickering to look at your young cousin.

“Well… One, Brynden. You could… Hold a melee?” he offers, keeping his eyes upon you.

Benjin seizes upon the idea, “A Melee would be an excellent idea my Lord. The field that Gawen’s track encircles was once a grand Tournament Field. Should we invest the wealth into it again, no doubt it could be just as it once was.”

Wesley continues, more strength in his voice now, “We wouldn’t need to hold much of one. Just another for the Crownlands. A purse, offer of a horse and to be the captain of your Knights? No doubt they would come for that. We could even hold a Squire’s Melee… Or an Archery Contest as well.”

Though young and naive to a point your cousin did offer a degree of advice, it was more to is suiting to wish for a Tourney, indeed it was likely he intended to enter the lists himself. And such a thing held immediately after the King’s would draw a large crowd of Knights to pick from. Though at the same time, it would be cheaper and easier to simply call out for Hedge Knights as Roycehad, likely more discreet as well, if that was your intention. Benjin slides a piece of parchment towards you with the tallied costs. A Melee would most you 600 dragons with another two hundred for each side event, to restore the Field would cost 1000 dragons and require the restoration of the land. Not to mention you would need the power of your House to actually pull these men to your cause. You thought for a moment, while your advisers spoke to one another of the idea.

>Agree with Wesley, hold a Melee (Extra events?) 3 Wealth (+1 per side event) (-2 cost to Power)
>Agree with Wesley and Benjin, hold a Melee and rebuild the Tournament Field (As above, only +5 Wealth, +1 Lands to rebuild Tournament Field) (-3 Cost to Power)
>Agree with Dontos, merely use your House’s power to call in Noble Knights (12 power)
>Agree with Mason, put out a call for Hedge Knights (10 Power)
>Disagree entirely, instead focus your Power Resources elsewhere

Christ, sorry about that guys. Thunderstorm rolled in and my internet flipped out.

Also, no you aren't limited to these ideas. If you want to go another direction entirely, by all means.

>>42703985
>>Agree with Wesley and Benjin, hold a Melee and rebuild the Tournament Field (As above, only +5 Wealth, +1 Lands to rebuild Tournament Field) (-3 Cost to Power)
Best use of what we have. Holding any more tourneys later has a slight advantage as we would have done the hard parts now.

>>42703985
>Agree with Wesley and Benjin, hold a Melee and rebuild the Tournament Field (As above, only +5 Wealth, +1 Lands to rebuild Tournament Field) (-3 Cost to Power)


Know what. Lets go all out. It would be a good chance to show everyone we arent dead, get new talent and restore some of the land that is still ruined. Also it would be entertaining.

>>42703985
>Agree with Wesley and Benjin, hold a Melee and rebuild the Tournament Field (As above, only +5 Wealth, +1 Lands to rebuild Tournament Field) (-3 Cost to Power)

Go all out I say. All the events.

>>42703985
>Agree with Wesley and Benjin, hold a Melee and rebuild the Tournament Field (As above, only +5 Wealth, +1 Lands to rebuild Tournament Field) (-3 Cost to Power)

>>42703985
>Agree with Wesley and Benjin, hold a Melee and rebuild the Tournament Field
Tell Dontos and Mason that if we do well in the one in King's Landing we woudln't have to flex our muscles that much to make ourselves looks good.
It would happens after the King's Landing one right?

>>42704062

Most definitely. The Tournament Field Holding takes 6 Months, so it would still be 4-6 months afterwards, likely many of the Knights that had come for the King's Landing events would still be milling about. You'd likely get a wider variety of people doing so as well, given the nature of the prior celebration.

Alright, so firm all in. However, do we want both of the side events as well? Squire's Melee and an Archery Contest. Note, I purposefully left the Joust out for this go around, thus the reduced cost for the event itself.

Beyond that, presently you have 5 Lands, and 4 Wealth, if you used the conversions of Resources to Wealth, you could start the Tournament Field this month, or wait until the next and hope for the best with the House Fortune roll.

So two more votes:

Melee events?
>Squire's Melee
>Archery Contest
>Both
>Neither

Convert Resources to Wealth at a 2:1 ratio?
>Yes (If so, which?)
>No, wait.

>>42704141
>Both

Would be good practice for our own archers aswell

>Yes

I think we can sacrifice a bit of land or law

>>42703940
Now that i think about it. Even though Helenea didnt even want to marry us she must still be quite insulted how we didnt even bother visitng.

But you know what.. Fuck Wilson and fuck his father and fuck her. Seeing them at the tourny will be interesting though.

>>42704141
Not to do with this but can Brynden actually be Knighted for reals? We might want to take a squire, some day.

>>42704141
>>Both
>>Yes
2 Law to 1 Wealth

>>42704141
>Both
>No

>>42704141
>>Both
>>Yes can we do Law as that's still high?

In return for sending Illias his brother we should also get him to buy a half dozen or so Dothraki stallions/mares while over in Essos(?)

Yay/nay?

>>42704204
I guess we could with a bribe. But i dont think it is that important for Brynden really. He is more a sellsword than a knight.

Reminds me a bit about Bronn actually.

>>42703940
Missed this earlier. Spoilers, yeah he's mad as fuck.

>>42704200
Well I did warn it was going to close off that route almost entirely. It was a very insulting way to react. But the Celtigars were being pricks.

>>42704204
Yes actually. Mostly likely in performance of a deed or prowess in battle or a Tourney.

>>42704243
I'll get to this in a later scene, but a thought.

>>42704212
>>42704227
Yes Law would likely be the best answer, mind, that extra 2 will put you to 42, drop below 40 and you'll have some bandit issues begin to crop up. Sound like a good idea?

>>42704141
>Both
>Yes, any is fine with me
>>42704243
Didn't our archer cav come with a few of 'em already?

>>42704269
As long as we stay above 40 I'm good with it. But others may have different ideas. Can we taste the salt from the Celtigars at Steadhold?

>>42704269
So long we stay above 40

>>42704305
>>42704351
We shall, at a strong 42 still.

Alright, spreadsheet updated. -2 Law for +1 Wealth. Tournament Field Holding paid for, -1 Lands, -5 Wealth.

You'll need the 5 Wealth for the Melee in the coming months, the Melee itself will be held one month after the completion of the Field, so 5 months after the Tourney in King's Landing. You will also need the 9 Power to make the unit by then. As an aside, Horse Husbandry gives you a -2 cost to Cavalry Units, and the -3 for the maximum event gives you a total of -5 to a unit that typically costs 14 Power. Damn son.

Alright looks like we're set with that then, since we're on the topic of wealth, let's continue with that. Writing now.

>>42704403
Oooohhh could we maybe use the event to send some business our uncle's way as well? Invite them and have 'em ride our coattails or something like that?

“Ser Wesley, Benjin,” you begin giving them looks in turn, “I find this idea agreeable. Wesley, you will begin work immediately upon setting up the events. The Knight’s Melee will of course take precedence. But a Squire’s Melee and an Archery Contest would also be of note. Why not go all out? Let the Redward bastard seethe at our family coming back with such strength yes?”

Wesley smiles broadly and nods his head along like a happy dog, his golden curls bouncing, “Of course cousin! We’ll need to set up the Field… And make the calls, the Tourney in King’s Landing would likely give us plenty of time to advertise as well…”

“Speaking of the field. Benjin, reallocate a few of our resources, I would like for the event to be as soon as possible. Gawen, we’ll be rebuilding the Tournament Field, have your stablehands clear the area inside the circuit. Maester I assume we’ll be able to find suitable workers?”

“Of course my Lord. No doubt the people of Steadhold would take to the work in earnest,” Benjin responds scribbling down a note, “It shall be done my Lord. A good thing your trip to King’s Landing bore such fruit.”

Mason speaks up at this, Elionwy turning to go over the notes with the Maester, “A good thing indeed Brynden. Though, there are other notes of wealth I believe the House should begin looking into. The deal with your Uncle, Lord Hayford? It provides us with leather products beyond compare, but we have no man to work it. No doubt your bowmen, and future military would appreciate superior armor to use in the field. And with only a year and a half to use this trade until their horses are done, I would suggest we find someone quickly.”

“Ser Mason speaks true my Lord. Though finished product may also bring us extra coin to use, but only for how long? When the trade runs out, we will be left with inferior wares and a master leatherworker to pay for,” Benjin responds, “I would instead suggest we focus on our lands. The northern forest is still in need of a Timber operation, and with the Food Agriculture program coming to fruition soon we may also think of build Granaries or even Alcohol Distilleries.”

Food for thought all, but you still took note of issues even closer to home. Elionwy was a fine stewardess but if you were to give her the fullest of attentions she could become even better. Mason much the same as a Master-of-Arms, Solhas as the Master of the Hunt, even Wesley would make a fine Tournament Master with given training. There was much to invest in, but you worry of overextending your resources.
Food for thought all. Thank you, but for now, we will focus on our current plans, the Melee and the Tournament Field will both serve to occupy our funds for now,” you answer to a round of nods and approval, “Maester? Our lands and the population?”

“As I have spoken of, in great detail I might add, my Lord,” Benjin begins ruffling himself up at the repeated topic, “Strength of House will see her people return to the Outer Ring of Steadhold, a small Hamlet begins to regrow, but there is much work to be done still. However without the people of the former lands. it is a wasted effort. We need to begin work on recalling the people of the House’s domain, lest we build all for naught with no one to work.”

“Thank you Benjin. I will keep these thoughts in mind for the coming months. I promise,” you say to assure the man, “I do believe that was all, yes?”

“Yes my Lord, indeed it is, a council meeting of small worth this month,” Benjin says going to rise, “Ser Wesley, Gawen, if you would accompany me back to my chambers? We have much to plan.” The maester rises, and Ser Wesley goes to his side in escort, dressed in the finery of his House. It was a good thing to see the green and yellow of House Hayford alive in your halls. Gawen follows after bowing to you in turn. Dontos leaves off, his face a poor look of frustration. And Mason and Elionwy leave as one. The great hall turns to quiet barring the crackle of low fire in the hearths. You had no idle thoughts for now, they all turned to the Tourney, and you pulled yourself from your seat, intent upon practice of your marksmanship. Solhas, Barq Zos, and Mors all awaited you in the yard, as they often did after midday meal and you begun your practice.

-A week later-

A warm morning woke you, the sunlight shiny through the windows. A bath was drawn and you dressed, your day had little on its agenda, perhaps time to speak with those of your Household.

>Speak with Illiad and Victus, likely practicing Myrish, and giving him the money to free his brother
>Speak with Dontos, likely training in the yard with the other knights
>Meet with Mason, Elionwy and her new handmaiden, Lilly the woman you took in at Lord Arryns request, for brunch
>Custom?

>>42704465
Oh definitely. You could invite more than a few other Lords if you so wished. No doubt they would try to steal a way of the more promising Knights though. If you were to invite someone of particular note and they accepted, it would be held in their honor.

>>42704899
>Speak with Illiad and Victus, likely practicing Myrish, and giving him the money to free his brother

>>42704899
>Meet with Mason, Elionwy and her new handmaiden, Lilly the woman you took in at Lord Arryns request, for brunch

>>42704899
>Speak with Illiad and Victus, likely practicing Myrish, and giving him the money to free his brother

>>42704899
>>Speak with Illiad and Victus, likely practicing Myrish, and giving him the money to free his brother

>>42704899
>>Meet with Mason, Elionwy and her new handmaiden, Lilly the woman you took in at Lord Arryns request, for brunch
But all 3 should be taken really

>Speak with Illiad and Victus, likely practicing Myrish, and giving him the money to free his brother

Crossbows and Dothraki horses! Followed by

>Meet with Mason, Elionwy and her new handmaiden, Lilly the woman you took in at Lord Arryns request, for brunch

>>42704899
We probably couldn't invite Robert Baratheon right? Maybe a Martel or someone of minor importance

>>42705056
Dont count on it.

>>42705056
>yfw Bobby B enters the tourney as a Hedge Knight and wins

You grab a quick breakfast of toasted bread with jam, a fried egg with spice helped wake you further and you decided it was time to find your son and Myrish companion. Asking about the great hall you had come to learn that Illiad had taken to his breakfast upon the northernmost tower, the Dragon’s Roost. Climbing the otherwise unoccupied tower you spied upon the field, work had begun of the groundwork for the Tournament Field, men with spades and lumber was being pulled in. The previous field had been a burnt out husk for months since your return, but this one promised to be of equal glory to the last. Your step was that of a leisurely stroll, not too quick upon the stairs, upon your hip coins jingled, only a small portion of what you intended to give to Illiad.

Your ears begin to pick up sound, Illiad’s voice in his quick Myrish, native tongue flowing easily from his mouth, and the much slower and precise response of your young son, Victus. The lad had stilled wished attention of you upon your return, so you attempted to find as much free time as possible to dedicate to him. He had begun to ask more questions as of late, where you were, what you were doing, what the ‘House’ was. Questions of youth, but tinged with fear of his father’s distance. Luckily Dontos, Benjin, and Illiad all kept him busy, but you still worried.

“No no, young one. You do not pronounce the ‘th’ as you do in common, try again,” Illiad coaches as you rear into view.

Victus tries his hand at the phrase again, and you realize it was one of rather profane nature, something along the lines of, ‘Where is my damn coin you son of a monkey fucking whore?’

You stand with arms crossed and Illiad spies you and laughs, “Mere words Lord. They teach the basics of speech. Not their meaning, harmless yes?”

“They would be so long as we don’t meet another Myrman that tries to con us out of half our payment,” you respond taking a seat next to Victus and tussling his hair.

“Not likely here Lord…” he trails off staring to the east, thoughts of Illion still upon his mind, you take the opportunity.

“But across, there?” you say pointing towards the Narrow Sea, “Where those of lesser worth hold your younger brother? There you may find need of it.”

Illiad quirks his head to the side and you pull the coin purse from your side and drop it before him, “Victus what is the Myrish word for coin?”

Your man’s eyes light up and he stares at the purse then to you, he whispers a word and Victus repeats it happily looking between the both of you. He meets your eyes again, for once speechless. All the languages in the world the man knew but for this moment, not a one of them did him any good. Tears welled in his eye as he attempted to speak, “Lord… I did not think… It was merely hope. Is this… Is this in truth?”

“Yes Illiad. More than truth, it is reality. You will travel to Myr and free your brother. I made you a promise Illiad, your family is as if mine. I would not have failed you in that,” you respond and place a hand on the shaken myrman’s shoulder. He clasps his own hand upon it and speaks in his native tongue, prayers perhaps? Or words of a promise once spoken to a brother filled with fear. You did not need to know, the words felt like happiness upon your ear.

“Lord, I would need to take ship immediately. Go to Myr, find him. I-I-I, please Lord, I beg of you,” Illiad’s voice rushes through the common tongue stumbling over words in his excitement, “Please Brynden.” He spoke your name, a thing so rarely done it almost felt queer upon your ears and odd from his lips.

“Of course Illiad, as soon as you want or need, we will find a ship heading east and you can begin.”

“Thank you Lord...” he says still unsure of the reality before him, “Perhaps… I could procure items from Essos? The Sons would ask of me to bring items of home. Yourself Lord?"

>Any suggestions for Illiad to purchase?

>>42705056
Not likely at all. Steadhold has only serviced one King, and it was long, long ago. I do have someone in mind that might agree though.

>>42705269
Damn it you found me out.

Anyway, unless the items get crazy, this won't cost anything extra in particular.

>>42705297
Wine!

>>42705297
Wine, some dothraki horses and a little something for Victus. We will let him decide what

>>42705297
You and your brother safe and sound is all I ask, anything else I'll accept of course. Maybe books and stuff for Victus?

>>42705379
>dothraki horses
Aren't our horses better? Would Dothraki even sell their horses?

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>>42705337
>yfw Bobby B enters the tourney as a Hedge Knight and wins.
>Damn it you found me out.

So on the topic of dothraki horses.

If you were to purchase some and bring them home, they would likely only intermingle with your coursers to a degree, not be of much use.

However, if you invested in another Horse Husbandry>War Horse Herd Holding, with a focus on Dothraki horses instead you would receive a whole new resource of Horse. Right now, everyone in your military uses Coursers. But a Dothraki horse would be more along the lines of a Sand Steed (Note I'd still need to custom them a bit), and would likely open up the route to another homebrew unit.

>>42705397
Foreign breeds are always valuable to prevent inbreeding in intensive bloodlines. Dothraki horses have to have good stanima, so they are a good match with our larger breeds.

>>42705434
Lets wait with the horses intill then.

>>42705434
Oh yeah while he is in Myr have him talk with our contact in the city about selling our leather to him

>>42705297
A half dozen Dothraki stallions and mares or enough to breed into our current stock of horses as well as a possible Dothraki handler if possible, also maybe a few neat trinkets and Items to woo the local lords and ladies with

Gotta keep up the exotic sellsword persona after all

>>42705500
This is possible right? If so then let's do this!

And there goes the internet again.
Quick vote while I attempt to fix this.

Dothraki Horses?
Yay?
Neigh?

>>42705600
Sure. Why not, right?

>>42705600
Yay.
Saves mucking about for them later, also gives us time to breed a working stock from which to build upon.

>>42705600
Yay

>>42705600
Yay

>Neigh
You sonuva bitch...

Internet why do you fail me so.

Alright, shortlist then.

>Wine, enough to drown in looks like
>Trinkets and odds and ends, for impressing Lords with your worldliness
>An item of Victus' choosing
>And probably two dozen dothraki horses
>Talk with your contact in Myr to set him up with your Uncle, Lord Hayford

I'll remind that Illiad is the one with knowledge of the dothraki and their horses, so he'll be able to figure it out. Alright, I'm going to write it all up. Really sorry about the spottiness today guys, hadn't planned on a thunderstorm.

>>42705741
it's alright brah

“Wine,” you respond bluntly.

He gives you a flat look, but is unable to maintain it, “Always with the wine. Yes yes, I will bring drink of home, Lord.”

You laugh, as does Illiad, thinking on it you begin to construct a list of items of note, trinkets and odds and ends for appearances of course, a bolt of myrish silk to be used as lace later. Illiad writes these down in turn, thinking upon each and where he may find it, assuring you that cost will be no matter. Victus having grown bored of conversation he understood little of had taken to throwing what was left of his breakfast to a lone raven on the battlements, it cawed in happiness to his kindness before you called him back over.

“And of you my son? What do you wish of Essos?” you ask him, pulling the young lad into your lap to his great delight.

He ponders a moment and meets your eyes, the same green as your own, but with the nature of untempered steel, not knowing what purpose they could serve he reaches for a side pocket of yours, and pulls your Myrish Lens, “I would like one of these Illiad,” he says opening the device and spying far across the Violet Plains, “Please if you can.”

“Of course young one. I will find one of greater use than that old scrap your father use, this I promise,” he says to laughter from the child, “Anything else Lord?”

“One more thing Illiad. Do you remember the Dothraki you spoke to me of in our younger days?”

“Yes, Lord. Strong, fierce, proud men. Only they fought as you did upon a horse’s back. What of them?”

“I want some of their horses. Two dozen at least, enough to start a breeding stock I might think.”

Illiad’s mouth hangs ajar at the request, “Do you think I will merely make dothraki horse appear Lord? Or should I sail upon their Sea and slay the men astride them?”

“I trust you to do as you always have you,” you respond, laughing slightly, “If it is impossible I understand, but I see potential… Worth in them.”

“Of course, Lord,” he responds scribbling down the last note, just below mention of speaking with your contact for your Uncle. You speak a moment longer, allowing the day to pass to noon, he speaks of Myr, thoughts of home. Tells story of his youth with his two brothers. Of Illion’s cleverness. Victus listens intently, happy to be a part of the conversation now. Though soon Illiad begs off leave, wishing to begin contacting people that may have ship, perhaps Captain Thros. With a rushed final thank you he bounds off, a truer step of happiness never being seen. This leaves you and Victus alone, though the latter complains of want of food and you cannot deny that you too are hungry.

>Bring Victus along to meet with Mason, Elionwy and Lilly
>Bring Victus along to meet with Dontos for lunch

>>42706021
Bring Victus to both of 'em

>>42706021
>>Bring Victus along to meet with Mason, Elionwy and Lilly

>>42706021
>Bring Victus along to meet with Mason, Elionwy and Lilly

>>42706021
>>Bring Victus along to meet with Dontos for lunch

>>42706021
>>Bring Victus along to meet with Mason, Elionwy and Lilly

Having remembered of a promise to share lunch with Ser Mason and Elionwy you decide it would do little harm to bring Victus along. He did enjoy Mason’s company, as he was almost that of a second father to him, and Eliowny had continued her quiet kindness with him, often walking the walls of Steadhold to his idle chat and Mason’s escort. In fact, upon further thought, it seemed odd that your Knight and silent stewardess spent so much time together, and to invite you to lunch together. And to have both wanted to stay behind when you left for King’s Landing. Your mind finally puts the clues together and for a moment you stand on a step in a dumbfounded realization, not of surprise, but of your own lack of wits to see it earlier. Mason never took to whoring, in that he was a knight, chivalry was his charm, kind word and offered gift. It was merely his nature, you knew from which it stemmed, but did not see fit to prod the man over it. That he had found someone worth his attentions was good in your eyes, despite where her loyalties may truly lie.

Victus had stopped alongside you and was staring out the window towards the yard, “I see Goldsong, father. He’s with another horse… Are they fighting?”

Your son’s innocent question pulls you back to reality and you pull your son to your side again, “No Victus. They are… Training. Yes, training.”

Seeming satisfied by the answer you continue on, through the great hall where Illiad is raising a great commotion with Ser Victor, Barq Zos and Sallo Rhod. And into a private room on the western wing. Eliowny sits alongside Mason, and a young lady, that with more food in her belly look considerably happier, healthier and more attractive.

“My Lord,” she asks, “Will you be eating with us?”

“Yes, as will Victus,” you respond, “And of yourself dear lady?”

She quiets a moment and looks to Elionwy that gestures for her to answer on her own, “If… You would not mind my presence, nor that of Robb’s, my Lord.”

“Of course not. Send a servant to bring food, and sit with us, lady..?” your voice comes off smooth, innocent in its attempts to soothe her.

“Lilly, Brynden,” Mason answers for her, “And her son? Robb, Waters. Surprisingly recognized, but not of reason for his father it would seem.”

Elionwy bats at his arm and he draws to silence, the young lady looks horrified and stands in place for a moment before you regard her again, “Lady Lilly? Of House?”

“He said you would not ask questions, my Lord,” she responds in a whisper, holding her arms to her body, “Lord Arryn promised me I’d be safe here. Me and Robb both.”

Silence fills the room, and you look perplexed at the young girl, she wears grey, likely clothing of older use and the only ornament is that of a wolf’s head but not the Stark symbol, it differed greatly from that.
>How do you respond?

DAMN YOU THUNDERSTORMS

>>42706470
We promised no question would be asked so no question will be asked.

>>42706470
I really don't know what to say. Just tell her we're only making a bit of polite conversation, but we won't ask anything if she's uncomfortable

>>42706566
>>42706604

We'll just go with leaving it then.

So when is it we bring Elionwy to our chamber and give her a good tumble ?

>>42706680
We can't now, otherwise we'd be cucking Mason.

>>42706761
>implying she isnt just using him

Fine. We just take Lilly then.

>>42706780
>Robert's remains

>>42706470
>she wears grey, likely clothing of older use and the only ornament is that of a wolf’s head but not the Stark symbol
I can't find a house with such symbol...OC?

Apologize, we didn't mean to press and spoke without thinking.

File: House_Cassel.png (86 KB, 571x629)

86 KB PNG

>>42706826
She is a Cassel
>>42706821
If she is good enough for a king she is good enough for us

>>42706851
Well shit, thanks for the save anon.
The son of Martyn Cassel huh...

A servant comes into the room breaking the silence and he hustles by Lilly, placing plates of food upon the table, the room fills with smell of poultry and lemongrass. To your left sits Mason and Elionwy, the former receiving a death glare your uncle you would envy to your right, Victus quiet and watching the adults with curious eye. Sighing deeply you gesture for her to sit, and she moves off for a moment, to a cradle you hadn’t noticed before, and picks up a child, with fat cheeks and dark hair. He looks to his mother with happiness, and she looks to Elionwy again for approval, to another gesture of response, and she takes a breast to feed him. During this you’ve taken your view to Mason, waiting for her to sit.

Your Knight clears his throat and Elionwy relents in her starring, turning attention to her handmaiden again in quiet regard, “I am sorry Lady Lilly. I spoke out of turn. We had not meant to break promise to you.”

The young lady regards him with a face still tinged with fear, “It is… Okay Ser Mason. You did not mean harm. I am simply… Worried.”

You bite your tongue a moment, almost asking of what, a fact she notices and turns red in embarrassment, “Not of you my Lord. Of these lands. The North is my home, but there I am not welcome. I know little here, thought I would die, until Lord Arryn placed me in your care. I only worry that it will not last.”

“A worry you need not carry, Lilly,” Mason responds in your stead, “Brynden is a good sort. Not one to break promises made.”

“Brynden? They had not told me your name before, and Lady Elionwy… Well not that she speaks much,” Lilly responds, attempting to turn conversation to you, “Did your parents name you for Lord Brynden Rivers?”

You had heard the comparison before, the great bastard and yourself shared many qualities but in truth you did not know if that is where your name had come, Donold and Pastorn did not seem tribute, why would yours be? “I do not know my Lady,” you start cautiously, “Tribute was rare in my family, but I would only take it as an honor to be so named. Could the same be said of Robb?”

She cautious you again with eyes of fear, but relents a moment knowing the question harmless, “Y-yes, my Lord. Named for a great man I once met. Told me I was ten wolves to the one he had lost...” her voice quiets and you turn attention away from her. Giving her the space she desired.

Your lunch was peaceful otherwise, you managed to get it out of Mason that he was ‘seeing’ Elionwy, and not to mention it to Illiad lest he fall over himself speaking to the wonders of Myrish women. He spoke of his time in Steadhold while you were away, the Household Guard were fine enough, but your lack of arms and armor worried him, even more so your lack of iron trade as well. With nothing but inferior materials the few smiths of your domain had nothing to work with for any of your military. Mason also spoke for Elionwy, her taking over the financial aspects of the Household entirely from Maester Benjin, and how Gawen often came to her for sums and figures for the month. It had surprised you how much she was willing to help, her connections to Varys still left you with a healthy leeriness, but still an appreciation.

Victus soon turned attention to Lilly and her babe, asking to hold the infant child, a request to which she relented and finally ate with the rest of you. He spoke in hushed tone to the child, a bastard to another a strange sight in truth. And when lunch was finished you asked if he wish leave, he responded with a desire to stay for the evening, which Lilly allows.

Leaving your son to Mason, Elionwy, and Lilly. You decide to seek out your Uncle, Dontos. He had wished to speak to you at length for quite some time and you had continued to put him off, a fact that only escalated his brooding in the evening. The Guard had complained of him running them ragged, your Knights of bruises, and Victus only saw him for their bi-weekly prayers and training now. You worried for him, and though knew this would only result in a fight, went to him.

A knock open a half lidded door gives you entrance to your Uncle’s room, he sat in a corner over his table, a book by a candlestick, perhaps in silent prayer. The room itself was organized, cleaned, the bed made. Dontos never liked clutter, the only pieces of worth being a sword his sponsor has given to him in youth, and the shield of the first man he had ever unhorsed in a joust, the arms of House Velaryion upon it.

“Uncle? You wish speak to me?” you call out, ill at ease to disturb his prayers,

He stirs and mumbles, before closing the book and turning to you, though he looked healthier, his eyes spoke of tired, and his manner of worry, “Yes nephew…” he draws in a quiet tone, “Please sit. No wine. We need to talk. Of many things.”

You take a seat near your uncle, the chair backwards to him, and he continues in silence for a moment, “Brynden. Tell me something. Why did you deny the Celtigars? Why did you look for a loan from some Essossi? Why pick swornswords, why take trade with your mother’s house? Why do everything you had done in King’s Landing!” his voice raises sharply and you sit straight surprised.

“Why do this without asking me? Without so much as a letter of your intention to stay. I would have come, brought your bas- Victus, without second thought,” he quiets again and looks to you, “But no, I was left in the dark. Why?

>Response?

>>42706851

To be fair I did spoil it in the history GDoc,

>>42707092
Because we are the lord of the house and we can do our own business without him interfering at every turn. If he really dislike it so much we can just return to Esoss and he can take over. But that ofcourse would mean he could no longer be a pillow-biter.

>>42707092
"When I traveled the lands of Essos, there were no knights, no noble airs and definitely no code of conduct or honor you would be familiar with. In that land i joined up with and met the swornswords and through the struggles we shared we became as brothers. This is why i trust them, because if it was misplaced i would already be dead a long time ago. They are as loyal as any retinue a man could ask for. When i met them it was as an equal, man to man, not a lord to a knight or soldier. If i questioned your choice of brothers-in-arms you would be just as snappish as I, a trait we share uncle."

Generally along this theme. I know my dialogue skills are a little lack luster.

>>42707172
>>42707092
Oh yeah. Forgot to mention how the Celtigars tried to fuck us over without any lube.

>>42707092
"I'm sorry uncle, I never intended to leave you put of so much. I just couldn't stand the celtigars at that moment, but I didn't want to waste the trip to Kings landing and resolved to see about an essosi loan, and then one of uncle <mom's family>'s knights was there asking after me and I thought 'if there is anyone we can trust as a friend it will be them!' If a fire sprung up in the keep while I was away would you have waited until you had sent me a raven and I had replied before trying to put it out?"

>>42707077
Fucking hell Bobby, everything has to go back to Lyanna.
I'd die dying if GRRM would make a short story where Rhaegar tells him that she's a dead fuck for all that hotness she seems to exude.

>And that's why I smashed the cunt with my warhammer, Ned. I could have make him yield but when he said that it was all over for him.

Man I hope we get a decent excuse to get the IC idea to track down mya stone as a bride for victus, its the only kid there's any evidence of Robert actually being fatherly towards there's got to be SOME value in that.

And it would SUPER piss off cersei which is always great.

>>42707092
"The Celitgars were going to use us in their plot to take over Crackclaw Point, Celtigar is strong but Baratheon is stronger" then we can just dismiss the other stuff as minor, if he gets upset get angry and point out that he's the one who had to stay in the fist place because he wouldn't let us take Victus.

You sit back and eye your uncle, he seems so ragged and broken down, worry upon his mind with every step you took, it was as if your step was not the one he truly cared for, but the steps of the House. He spoke of care for you, his intentions only being good, even accepted Victus as his squire but in his heart there was another intention and you could only feel it when he questioned you so. Still, this thought did little to quiet the fire that now burnt in your eyes, he asked this of you? Questioned your every motive and decision, never agreed to your actions. The one that had called you, now your greatest detractor.

“Uncle, would you feel better if perhaps I left for Essos again?” you question your tone level and eyes met with his.

“Brynden, you’re avoidi-”

You interrupt him, “Perhaps you would like to take the reigns of the House? Hm? Perhaps you would like to be the one to have his honor slighted by a boy pretending at a Knighthood? Asking to save his sister, deny the Celtigars their war, or rather become indebted to them by a marriage of unhappiness. I could leave for Essos with Victus, my men, and it would be all yours Dontos.”

“I did not say that Brynden,” his voice strengthens to meet yours.

“No Dontos you did not, yet you question. You prod. You ‘misspeak’ at every turn. You question why I would deny the Celtigars. As if you would not have done the same. Ask why I do not wait for you to hold my hand through decision of saving our bloody House from the debt to their Crown. To making trade’s with MY mother’s House, that only benefitted us to immense degrees. Why this, why bloody fucking that,” your voice had turned to anger in this eyes flared in the soft candlelight, “You ask as if you would not have done the same! If a fire had begun in Steadhold would you have taken to feathered wing to ask my permission to put it out?”

Your Uncle quiets, his eyes turned from your gaze, “No Brynden.”

“Of little doubt Uncle. And beyond that you ask of my men. Of my cousin even? Ser Wesley, like he’s a traitor to us already. I was with the Second Sons for five years Dontos, my own men for a mite longer. I know them as brothers, I trust them with my life, and you question my ability to make judgement calls about who swears their swords to me? You do not even care for idea of melee, your joy as a youth, your callous and bitterness of a man half broken. And yet. You. Question. Me.”

He stares at his table, quiet, he knew your anger, he knew its force, but he did not know the shame you had placed upon him. Though the truest of Knights you had ever known in his way he was just like you, impulsive, snappy, but he had tempered it was a calculated worry, where you had let it free to guide, “Brynden… You had promised to include me in matters of the House. I wish to see the House restored as much as you do but only see the foolishness of youth in your actions.”

“No Dontos. You see my father in my actions, and you hate that it is so,” you respond and stand making leave for the door before calling back, “When we were both squires in King’s Landing eight years ago, you would have done anything to bring Glory to the House, to do her honor and smite those that would seek to deny that to her. What changed Uncle?” And with that you leave him to his quiet his eyes darkened, and turned away.

-3 Weeks later-

The month had turned by with quickness. Wesley had taken to preparing everything he could, even extending invitation to his father to attend, he had left you with a list of other Lords that may. Among the many other notes left upon your table. Those of requests, of things of worth. Your marksmanship had come back to form and you took to longer stretches by the day, but for now, you worried of your House's Fortunes.

Give me a 4d6 for House Fortunes.

Rolled 1, 3, 1, 4 = 9 (4d6)

>>42707630
Crapbaskets

Rolled 4, 4, 6, 2 = 16 (4d6)

>>42707630

Rolled 1, 6, 3, 2 = 12 (4d6)

>>42707630

Rolled 5, 1, 1, 5 = 12 (4d6)

>>42707630

Rolled 4, 1, 5, 3 = 13 (4d6)

>>42707630

Rolling for Esossi whores

>>42707676
>>42707692
>>42707695

Welp had to happen eventually. Highest is a 16, which is a Curse.

And I will take over which resources it takes from.

Here's your vote.

>-1d3 from Law
>-1 from Lands, -1 from Power

>>42707752
Lands and power we can't really afford law dipping below 40

>>42707752
>-1 from Lands, -1 from Power

>>42707752
My guess would be a storm or some sort hits us hard.

>>42707752
>>-1 from Lands, -1 from Power

Well fuck.

>>42707752
are you always going to take highest roll for this?
a 1d3 to choose the chosen roll might work out better since it would seem low number rolls are near impossible to get.

Hey when we host the melee can we make sure to get just under our limit so that we can have a couple spare spots in case good event options come along?

>>42707861
Yeah. but if we roll a 2 or a 3 we will fall too low on Law and it will fuck us over. Rather not risk it

>>42707911
I was meaning for the fortunes roll anon.

>>42707861
At that point we might as well just have him make the roll instead of requesting it.

>>42707861
For the most part, yes. I'll remind, things were suppose to be a bit harder in the initial ongoing, I've been pretty easy about your House Fortune rolls thus far. And should you ever get it into a situation where your House Fortunes modifier and Status are ridiculous and almost every month is a good roll, people would not want me to leave it to that chance if someone had rolled a 3 to two 28s or something.

Besides you guys will survive. Anyway, writing. I plan to get us to the trial today.

>>42707977
We should bring Victus. Not to the court itself but to Kings Landing. We also promised him we would get him some better clothes.

>>42708034
I think we should take Victus to court, we're now well aware that Robert is a man of many bastards. I don't think he'd be too offended and I don't think we really care at this point if the Queen likes us or not.

>>42708063
Well if we do bring him to the court it will be in effect has Dontos squire and not our son

>>42708034
Well at least we know a seamstress worth going to.

>>42708063
Probably still not a good idea. Robert may give no fucks, but others like Tywin lannister will use it as ample ammo if we get into a dispute. We might just squeak through if he acts like Dontos squire first and foremost.

>>42708091
Dont think Tywin is at court but yeah, everyone else will still be unamused by it.

>>42708080
>>42708091
I thought we were doing a trial by combat anyway. He should see his old dad at work.

>>42708080
In that case it really should be up to dontos, and I think I know what he'll say.
But regardless we'll at least take him to king's landing.

>>42708116
That is still not really relevant. If we do trial by combat he can see the duel but it is not the same at being at court or the courtroom itself.

>>42708160
Not just the duel, I thought we were turning the court into a big spectacle to show off for Robert a bit, like Jon Arryn reccomended. I might be wrong, but I think that's what he said last thread.

You had not called a meeting of your council this month Benjin and Mason provided you with all the knowledge you need know. Dontos had not spoken to you since you had fought, and offered little in advice for what had occurred early in the month. As if by cruel fate a fire had broken out in the Outer Ring, near the sept, that had torn the already dangerous building down to the ground. It had set the rebuilding efforts back by a month, and your people had lost faith seeing it as an ill omen that fire would attempt to take the sept again. Dontos’ mood had only worsened to this news, and that of his men risking their lives to save it, losing them in the process. It weighed heavy on your mind.

You taken to the yard again, hoping to clear heavy thought from mind by practicing your bow. Barq Zos had dropped out at 100m, but Solhas and Mors kept with you at 150. You dropped an arrow within a breadth of the center mark and sighed when Barq Zos had signalled such to you. Mors had taken his spot after you and was lining up a shot when Ser Mason had called to you, throwing the man off and his arrow hitting the outer ring of the target. Solhas laughed at the man near half his size as he muttered of rudeness of Reach Knights and began again.

Mason draws alongside you and whispers word into your ear, “Brynden. Our raider Knight wishes to finally speak. It would appear he’s tired of the dungeon.”

You turn and give Mason a queer look that he aleves with assurance he had not turned Sallo on him, “Then let us go hear what he has to say Mason.”

Bidding the men off you turn to journey beneath the castle proper, it was rare you visited the dungeons of Steadhold, rarer still that anyone occupied it. Your raider Knight had been the only one for the better part of three months, and it would seem the quiet had finally gotten to him. Mason brings you before his cell, he sits upon a wooden bench as a bed and eyes you carefully.

“Dis ‘im cock Knight?” he asks Mason.

“Yes scum. This is Brynden Malroy, Lord of Steadhold and her domains. Domains you were raping and pillaging and committing atrocities across.”

The knight clams up and looks to you again, “I ain’t speakin’ unless I get to walk free.”

>Agree to his terms
>Agree to his terms with every single intention of betraying him
>Forget all of that, intimidate the man into submission, draw your answers yourself

>>42708211
>Agree to his terms with every single intention of betraying him

We will let him walk free all the way to the wall and that is only if we get what we need

>>42708211
Walk free?
-Fuck no-
Offer him the option to go serve on the wall in the north at most. Kill him after promising he can walk a free man out of this prison cell if he says some useless crap.

>Agree to his terms with every single intention of betraying him

>>42708211
>>Agree to his terms with every single intention of betraying him
But try to argu him down more first

>>42707618

I'm a little confused. Couldn't we have stood by our decisions without talking down to our uncle like he hadn't been covering our House's collective ass the past few years? I understand that we're hotheaded, but the guy had perfectly logical ground to stand on in arguing his point.

Instead of telling him, in detail, that the Celtigars are a bunch of manipulative pricks who would have gladly drowned us to make a power play on the Crownlands we basically just told him he's a shit and to trust us blindly. Which makes him worthless as an adviser and alienates him needlessly.

What did I miss here? I'm pretty sure I haven't skipped a thread.

>>42708446
He has been doing nothing but second guessing, complain and generally been against every single thing no matter how small or big since the day we arrived. Pretty much had enough of his shit and complete lack of trust in us..

>>42708211
Only way for you to walk free is to take the Black once you answered my questions.

>>42708479

THAT IS A GOOD THING THOUGH.

What is the worth of an adviser who won't disagree with you?

What is the worth of destroying an avenue of dialogue with OUR BLOOD RELATIVE? What do we gain by bitching him out instead of calmly explaining our decision? Have we even told him what the Celtigars were trying to pull?

Why should we expect the man to follow us blindly when we refuse to furnish him with all the relevant information? Further, why would we alienate a person like Dontos who we can't even get rid of easily should we need to?

The gaoler had drawn two small stools for yourself and Mason to sit upon, of which you did with quiet regard for the man before you. He looked like he was once fat, though his skin now sagged from lose of weight, but he still held strength in his upper body, a squat face with tiny eyes, and every intention of a sellsword, but with the blessings of a Knight.

“You will walk free then,” you state simply, his eyes turn to yours, a hope upon them, a stupid idiotic hope.

“Then… Then I want water too. And not that piss you been gibing me,” he states fiercely.

“Gaoler, fetch me a skin of water,” you call to the man behind you, you remain in silence until it is brought and placed into your hand. He eyes it with lust, and dismay when you take a swig from it, allowing it to waste across your lips and onto your chest, “If you wish for water, then you will answer my question, Ser?”

“Ser Bor Wetstone,” he says hurriedly.

“Of which House?”

“None m’lord. I sell me sword, work for whos ever has food and bed,”

“And yet I find you, upon my lands, in command of men?”

He shuts his mouth and opens it again a moment, “Aye… My men, they were mine.”

You knew he was lying, a stupid thing to do in reality, you stretched the skin near the bars and he scrambled to meet it, only for it to be out of reach. You turn the skin over and allow the water to drip out and he moans in agony as he attempts to reach it, “You’re lying to me Ser Bor.”

“M’lord please!” he shrieks reaching with all his might, “I tell you everything! Please!”

Tossing the skin within reach allowing the water to splash from it, he grips it and quickly heaves it down, coughing and sputtering as he does so, not even caring of its waste. His eyes turn to you again and he sits in quiet before speaking, “What do you wish to know M’lord?”

>Whose men were those?
>Who hired him? Their coat of arms?
>How was he paid?
>Custom?

>>42708446
I didn't see any particular call for that response. Nor massive support behind it. A lot of back talking otherwise.

Dontos is always going to balk against you, because you remind him of his brother, and he constantly questions the decisions he's made.

>>42708446
Because two of the three writeins had that tone, I guess.

>>42708552
Well lets ask for he was paid first.

>>42708552
>>Whose men were those?
>>Who hired him? Their coat of arms?
>>How was he paid?

>>42708552
>I didn't see any particular call for that response. Nor massive support behind it. A lot of back talking otherwise.
>Dontos is always going to balk against you, because you remind him of his brother, and he constantly questions the decisions he's made.

Not calling you out, QM. You just write what the players vote for.

I'm just confused why the fuck anyone would vote for that in the first place. We're burning a valuable bridge for no reason other than "we mad now", and we aren't even giving the poor man the courtesy of explaining our logic in making these decisions.

Dontos is absolutely right in assuming that we're going to burn down the House with rash, foolish antics because we have furnished him with ABSOLUTELY NO INFORMATION THAT SUGGESTS OTHERWISE.

>Who gave you command of those men, and for what purpose?

>>42708597
There weren't really votes it seems like? There were some suggestions on what to say, and then no one really backed any of them up so they kinda got amalgamated

>>42708652
Also it seems kind of silly to me that we have to specifically ask to tell dontos about stuff like the celtigars fiasco, I'd assume he hears about everything we don't specifically decide NOT to tell him.

>>42708652

>Explain our thought process to Ser Dontos
>Yell at him for not reading our mind

I mean, we've already made our choice here. But everyone who voted for option two is frankly a dumbass and is fully deserving of the knife our dear Uncle is going to plunge into our back.

>>42708674
You really didn't have to. He had heard about it, he was still asking why you had made the decision you had. Storming off on a Lord's son like that, and denying them in such a way is still a mighty slight. He knew the why and how that lead up to it. But saw such a decision as foolish regardless. In Dontos' eyes Brynden has a duty to the House first, even if it slights his honor to do so.

>>42708597
I dont really think any bridges has been burnt just yet. Think it is more like a wake up call for Dontos to actually do something or come with some decent advice instead of just complaining and brooding.

>>42708739

Name one other person in our employ who has disagreed with us once.

Once you try (and fail) to do that, really ask yourself whether Brynden's decision-making thus far has been so tirelessly flawless that you don't want a single one of your inner circle questioning your calls.

>>42708781
Ofcourse they are not flawless he is a bit of a hothead. But he must realise he is approaching his nephew the wrong way.

>>42708737
Oh for fucks sake HE was the one who complained about doing unhonorable things for the sake of the house in thread 1 or so.

>>42708804

Sure, he can absolutely afford to be more perceptive in that right.

But frankly, Brynden's the only one in this exchange who is being outwardly aggressive and hurtful.

All I'm saying to you anons is that, when Dontos pulls a "For the Watch" moment on us, you all realize that we asked for it and even said pretty please.

>>42708821

Then TELL HIM THAT. Challenge him to stand upon the weight of his own words. We pretty much told him "you did a shit job running this circus while I was off fucking whores in Essos, but now I'm back and your opinion means less than nothing to me."

>>42708821
Yeah Dontos is sort of a hypocrite, later on you'll really see this when some stuff comes out. If it had been him? He would have likely done the same though less storming off and more politely decline. It's a part of his character.

“Who hired you?” you ask first, watching the man in his disgusting way pull the last stretches of water from the skin.

“He did not give name m’lord. I only saw a sigil, but I can’t splain it, I’d need to draw it.”

Having the gaoler fetch a piece of parchment and a line of charcoal the Hedge Knight begins at his work, and continues talking, “We met in King’s Landin’ some 3 months ago m’lord.”

“What did he ask you to do?”
“Offered to take me into his House, gib me command of some men. All I need do was follow orders,” he says with little wit, seemingly that was all he was good for, “I agreed and founds meself in the woods up north of the Rush, no soft mattress, and a bunch of shit for brains that followed some other order. Theys were the ones that carved up the horses in those people and sent da heads to you m’lord.”

You shudder at the thought, your Uncle so incited to go to war with half the realm by such an act, “And you no part of it Ser Bor?”

“None m’lord. I only act as the orders gib.”

“And where are these orders?”

“Gone in flames m’lord. As instructed.”

“And of payment?”

“Spent on… entertainment, m’lord,” that would explain the excessive amounts of alcohol and the poor girl you had found.

“What of your last orders then Ser Bor?”

“We were to make camp in the forest and push towards the castle. See if we could catch your farms unawares and burn ‘em to the ground.”

“And had you met healthy reprisal?”

“To die upon the sword, and not speak a word.”

“And yet here we sit, you speaking many words, Ser Bor.”

>>42708866
Yo I was the person whose suggestion back then was to apologize for NEEDING to make these decisions without him there. Then the one kind of mean-spirited part of my post got tacked in which did kind of miff me.
And it's a bit hard to argue with the real argument he's secretly thinking but not actually voicing. If he went "why are you putting honor before the good of the house" we could say "you asked us too for the seven's sake!" But if he's just going "why didn't you ask me" the only thing we CAN say is 'you won't always be there you need to be able to trust me!"

He quiets a moment again and finishes his work, handing you the parchment, you knew the House, but only recalled it when Mason spoke, “House Darklyn? But… They’re gone, wiped from the face of Westeros.”

“I ain’t lying m’lord! That is exactly what I saws!” Ser Bor offers weakly.

You sit, quietly studying the parchment, there was little else in this, trails that lead to a dead House and not to the Redwards or Langwards. Everyone else, dead and orders flung to fire. Ser Bor was a dead lead. Now you need but decide to do with him.

>Any further questions for Ser Bor?
>Or let him walk free, straight to the Wall.

Just as a note to the conversation at hand. No the bridge is not burnt, but both sides need to begin seeing a better way to approach one another. Brynden perhaps needing to level his head a bit more when it comes to his Uncle being a bigger part of it.

Victus...

1) is handling the culture-shock of coming to Westeros with grace and patience

2) holds his father in equal esteem and doesn't seem to blame him for bringing Victus into a society where Victus will be treated as a living mark of shame

3) attempts to make nice with the people close to him regardless of their stature, attitudes, or allegiances

Whereas Brynden...

1) actively shits on the most knowledgeable person in his House about Westerosi customs and politics

2) holds his Uncle and arguably the brightest and most powerful man of House Hayford in literal contempt whilst spending his time fucking Essosi whores in King's Landing

3) has thus far avoided having a much needed heart-to-heart with his bastard son who adores him about the difficult changes the boy will need to face regarding his place in the Westerosi social ladder

Honestly, if we just handed the reigns over to Victus right now he'd probably do a better job than we are currently. We really need to consider our decision-making going forward, because frankly Brynden is starting to reek of Aerys II. I'm not saying we should have jumped into bed with the Celtigars, and our treatment of the Pentoshi banker was a masterstroke. But so far, in my own humble opinion, we've mostly just acted like an irresponsible little shit since we got back home.

>>42708982
>'you won't always be there you need to be able to trust me!"

We did not say that. That would have been fine. That is not intentionally abrasive and shitty. We did not say that, though. We basically told Dontos he was impotent.

>>42709015
Again, the abrasiveness was not really my suggestion but the fact is that's still pretty much what we were saying, just in an abbrasive way. Abrasion is not substance its tone.

>>42709015
And I will say. This hits the nail on the fucking head. Cluing in to both the characters perfectly.

Even Jon Arryn has talked to Brynden about calming his god damn shit down. I will write the character as is seen fit until an active swing towards leveling off occurs.

>>42709004
Yeah i get the feeling someone is using the Darklyn's sigil. Not really sure what else we can ask of him.

>>42709015
>You are not in Essos anymore

As Jon Arryn said. But yeah. I do agree we should spend some more time with Victus. Hopefully we can do more with him once we get to Kings Landing again.

>>42709004
>Or let him walk free, straight to the Wall.

>>42709066

Well, you have at least one anon who is going to be making a brutal push towards said leveling off, now.

>>42709004

So either Redward or Langward used the Darklyn sigil to trick a sellsword into raiding us. Okay, so we know our foes aren't stupid. Time for us to stop acting stupid.

>Slit Bor's throat and bury him. He was a patsy.

I say we respond in kind to our foes. Go get our recently hired hedge knight, and give him an old shield with the Celtigar crab painted over it. Have him collect some various disreputables and convicted criminals for our lands, and give them orders to do the same thing to the Redward's holdings as they have done to ours.

I want to send a message to the bastard that we know exactly what he did, and we are more than willing to respond in kind.

>>42709128
I dont think that is a good idea with the court coming up around the corner. Could easily backfire.

>>42709128
>So either Redward or Langward used the Darklyn
Or a 3rd House...or even a 4th

>>42709128
>>42709153

Heck it could even be Cersei. She is petty and vindictive enough to do such a thing and using Darklyn is a great cover

Admittedly I kind of like the reputation. If we're seen as a wild animal backed into a corner then other down on their luck houses might seem a more tempting target.
>>42709128
First we shouldn't do this, but second if we do we'd be better off with the same darklyn sigil since there aren't any of them left to be upset we've implicated them.

>>42709128
>push towards leveling off
>let's send a band of brigands and criminals into Redward lands in reprisal

Anon come on, you're killing me.

Alright doesn't look like there is any support to ask further questions of Ser Bor. So time to dick him over.

However here's a vote. I was planning on doing one more scene in Steadhold before we left for King's Landing.

>Practice with your Knights in the yard. Duncan, Victor, Wesley, Mason, and Dontos.

>Attempt to meet with Dontos privately. It isn't hard to find him since the sept burnt down.

>>42709196
>Practice with your Knights in the yard. Duncan, Victor, Wesley, Mason, and Dontos.

As much as i would love to patch things up with Dontos i'd rather bond a bit with our other knights and practice for the coming trial that will most likely end in trial by combat. Gonna need that level

>>42709215
Yeah I agree with this logic.

>>42709215
I'm still trying to figure out where people are getting this idea that you gain levels from the scenes I do. That's a hard crunch, and is only improved by investing yoru experience in it. I'm not sure if someone else does it differently, but I surely do not do it that way.

That being said, not getting a lot of responses now so I suppose I'll go with the intended scene of practicing in the yard.

Know what's funny? We're Robert 2.0.
Robert has Ned and Jon to keep him from going full retard, most of the time.
We don't have a Ned and Dontos is at best Cersei when he starts whinning, no wonder we're all over the place.
Both Dontos and Brynden needs to grow up.

>>42709196
>>Attempt to meet with Dontos privately. It isn't hard to find him since the sept burnt down.

>>42709196

It absolutely is leveling off. Mostly because it's an attempt to cause harm to our detractors instead of our own goddamn House, which is what we've been doing so far.

Either way, we can't send this guy to the Wall. Much safer to put him in the ground. He serves absolutely no use for us and could be a dangerous loose end if left alive. At the very least he shows up at Castle Black and drags our name through the much for flashing him false promises.

>>42709196
>Attempt to meet with Dontos privately. It isn't hard to find him since the sept burnt down.

FFS rebuild this bridge. We shouldn't have burnt it in the first place. You guys are acting like you WANT Dontos to testify against us at the trial.

>>42709399
He's not gonna do that until we've married a girl and knocked her up so he could lead the house with a legitimate heir and not have to produce one himself, I think.

>>42709399
>. You guys are acting like you WANT Dontos to testify against us at the trial.

What? Why on earth would he do that and exactly how ? Its about how Cersei cant/shouldnt add that extra debt on us.

>>42709427
One thing i do agree on however is that Brynden need a Eddard or a Jon Arryn

>>42709427

Dontos tells the Queen that we're a hotheaded sellsword who just sold the debt the Crown leveled against us to a Pentoshi bank in an attempt to raise money to hire forces to seek reprisal against the Redwards (which isn't even a lie), Cersei strips us of lands and titles for plotting to disturb the King's Peace, Dontos breathes a sigh of relief as he can now stop us from (in his opinion) making our House extinct.

You lack imagination, anon.

>>42709480
Without a shred of evidence and we are allowed to gather forces and soldiers. So no we are not disturbing the peace. Sending brigands to the Redwards however would be.

And i think you ahve a bit too much anon

>>42709480
You're dumb

>>42709480
He'd be hanging on the rope next to us because all things being equal he's the one who dragged us back into this mess and Jon wouldn't let that shit fly.

>>42709480
Not to mention that Cersei is not the judge in this matter so that is not going to happen and if Cersei strips us off our land and titles he has just killed his own house.

>>42709556
And ALSO if he just got leadership switched over to him he'd have the same problem he started with where he's unwilling to produce an heir so the house is still eventually extinct anyways.

>>42709128

Honestly this is the most rational thing anyone has proposed so far. Consider:

We know the Redwards started raising forces as soon as we got back to Westeros.

They know they have the Crown on their side and can likely attack us without fear of punishment from the Iron Throne.

They know we have no way to rally a significant number of swords against them should they decide to get aggressive on us.

It's very likely that they are already making aggressive moves against our holdings through this misled sellswords.

This is a solid way to slow their progress in amassing wealth and power while still giving us a blanket of plausible deniability.

Does anyone else have a good idea on how to stop the train the Redwards have gotten going? They're gearing up for conflict and I'm getting the distinct impression they aren't trying to depose Robert with these swords.

>>42709541

Oh please, he'd get a royal pardon for bringing back the last male heir of a traitorous House and exposing his warlike ways.

>>42709556

>the Queen has no say in our trial

Hahaha. Haha. Ha.

>>42709580

He'd start talks with Samuel Hayford about cadet branch creation immediately. It's a safe move and Samuel really does not like us.

>>42709526

no u

>>42709640
>the Queen has no say in our trial

You know very well i didnt say that, I said she is not the one passing judgement.

You stand and cast the parchment into a brazier, allowing the flame to consume the thin paper before Ser Bor’s eyes, “Gaoler, set our man here free.”

The gaoler comes and twists through his knot of keys, Ser Bor seemingly giddy with glee to be escaping unscathed. The heavy lock comes loose and the door is opened enough for him to gently step out and into your full regard, he smiles to you and goes to say something before your own smile cuts him off. And then your punch to his gut doubles him over, Mason kicking in the back of his knee as he falls to the ground.

“Mason, find transport for Ser Bor here to King’s Landing. No doubt there will be a Night’s Watch recruiter there for the Tourney,” you say kneeling down to the Hedge Knights level.

Ser Bor coughs and sputters, “You said I would walk free! You twice cursed fucking horse cock!” he curses into your face.

“Yes Ser Bor. I did. Walk free, all the way to the Wall. As banditry s a crime punishable by death, Ser, you should be glad not to have walked free all the way to the hangman’s noose,” you respond before standing straight again. Mason nods you off and the gaoler goes to clean his cell, as you walk off into the bright glow of midday sun. Your men still hadn’t finished with their little archery contest, so you rejoined them with a shot at 175m, meeting their pace.

>>42709652

Yeah, she just has the ear of anyone who would be.

I'm baffled why anons think we're going to get a fair shake at this trial.

>>42709660

Oh Jesus Christ. We're letting him live?

>>42709640
Samuel hayford has no standing to create a cadet house because WE'RE in the line for THEIR house, not the other way around. There is that stormlander who signed on with Robert after Robert killed his dad, but you're ready just showing how little you actually understand the situation

-2 Weeks later-

The Tourney in King’s Landing was mere days off now, another week and you would be needing to appear for you trial. One that as it stood you still had not done a single thing to prepare for outside of honing your skill at arms and getting back up to pace. Ser Mason fought like a Knight of greater quality compared to the rest, Ser Wesley favored skills of a Tourney, and Victor and Duncan though both trained leaned towards different styles that were more akin to your own. Mason had been going hard into your guard all morning, attempting to trip you up, and insisting you use at least a buckler against whomever they choose to fight you. But you preferred using a single sword, being able to use it as a bastard sword if need be. It felt odd to have that weight on your other hand
Mason stopped a moment and opened his helmet, staring off into the distance, “Brynden. Behind you.”

You turned, have out of breath from your last tilt and saw your Uncle, Dontos dressed in full plate, his full Tourney Plate, of dark steel with golden accents, his sword the one gifted to him by the Targaryen Prince upon a long time ago, his shield a bulwark of steel. The only thing you see is his eyes, peeking from the opened full helmet. Mason moves off, to stand against Ser Wesley instead, your Uncle making a point to stare him down the entire way.

“So this is how it is nephew? You plan to go into this with a head of steam, ask for a trial by combat?”

You don’t respond, sword arm slack for a moment in awe of your Uncle in full regalia as he once had been.

“It was upon a day I sought glory for our House. It was upon a day I did so with secreted word, and a promise in front of a red door. I would bring honor to our House, even if it meant dishonoring myself,” he continues, his eyes spoke of sadness. Though you had no idea what his words told of.

“I told you to no undue dishonor to our House, Brynden. Not to hire spies, or criminals. Not to slight Lords and undo the flower of ladies not of your hand. And yet here we stand, you waiting to charge on into the breach. Placing your honor above that of the needs of the House You are the son of my brother. But you are untempered steel. Made to be broken,” he finishes and shuts his helmet, the glowing golden eyes of the horse shaped thing standing strong to meet your own, and he draws his sword, “If you wish to fight a member of the Kingsguard, today you will do so.”

And he charges.

Roll 5d6 for Fighting.

Rolled 6, 2, 5, 1, 3 = 17 (5d6)

>>42709691
Thats more like it uncle!

>>42709668

You think that inheritance for Hayford lands and titles can pass through OUR MOTHER, A FEMALE to us, and yet you're calling me out on not understanding the situation.

No, friend, you are fucking stupid.

Rolled 2, 3, 1, 1, 5 = 12 (5d6)

>>42709691
heh

Rolled 1, 2, 2, 5, 2 = 12 (5d6)

>>42709691
And who was it that said not too!!

>>42709671
We would have a claim if everyone else went extinct. Not the greatest claim and unlikely to be backed up by the crown in the current atmosphere, but it still exists.

>>42709734
>>42709727
Well fuck

>>42709691
>a red door

All of you anons who have been giving Dontos shit should consider yourselves properly chastised. This guy helped spirit away Daenerys and Viserys from King's Landing.

>>42709726
Actually it can if the entire male line goes extinct.
>>42709778
Good then he can maybe show us it.

>>42709726
>>42709748
The point being that there are malroys descended from hayfords but not the other way around, so however unlikely inheriting their house might be its still more possible than then getting to form a cadet branch of our house.

>>42709787

His skills in smuggling regency?

Probably not why he put on his plate.

Seriously, are you fucking shownly or something? You don't seem to be giving this absolute hornet's nest the kind of gravitas it deserves.

>>42709801
If they had more distant male cousins we still might get it. It'd probably need to be fought over but we'd have legitimate claim.

>>42709822
Whoops meant to reply to >>42709787

>>42709809
Because so far he has been all talk and even that has been shit. Maybe for once he can motivate himself to actually be the knight he claims to be. I want him to put on his plate armor and kick ass.

>>42709838

>a red door
>a red door
>A RED DOOR

I can pretty much confirm you for never having read the books at this point. Do you honestly have no idea what Dontos just admitted to?

>>42709847
I do anon. But he has to show it and Brynden doesnt know the importance of it.

>>42709868

I think being part of one of the most monumental conspiracies in the entire series, the kind of thing where if even a whisper of Dontos' involvement in it made its way to the wrong ears we could be justly executed just by sharing blood with the man, is testament of the size of his balls.

This explains SO MUCH of Dontos' behavior, casts an entirely new light on not just his character but the situation of our House as a whole, and you want to do the same thing we've been doing each thread. The same thing that the QM just pointed out has made Brynden look like nothing but an insufferable jackass ever since he landed in King's Landing...

You want us to whip our dick out and say that we will not suffer this slight to our personal pride.

Do us all a favor and stop trying to sink this quest, maybe some of us don't want Malroy to go down in history as "bad end".

>>42709911
No i just dont want us to do a sudden 180 and suddenly change completely character and actually develope it over time.

>>42709691
>“It was upon a day I sought glory for our House. It was upon a day I did so with secreted word, and a promise in front of a red door. I would bring honor to our House, even if it meant dishonoring myself,” he continues, his eyes spoke of sadness. Though you had no idea what his words told of.

guys maybe we should stop bullying dontos

Again, hardly anyone actually voted to bully dontos in the first place. 20 posters in this thread and like four people made suggestions in that write in.

>I won’t be telling you the success rates for this. Have fun guessing.

His sword buries into yours, drawing down deeply as he pushes into your guard, “Dontos what in the Seven fucking Hells!” you spit at him, your eyes level with his. He does not respond, instead taking the opportunity to bounce his shield into your side and breaking the stalemate. He postures again, shield in front of him, sword at the ready. Begging you for an attack. You grant him his desire.
You moved quickly in your armor, the weight of countless years of it being your only possession, shrugged off as you moved in with a strike to his shield. He took the bait and lashed out with his sword, aiming inside your guard, but you moved just enough to flank his side. You fight like a sellsword, and know the way a Knight fights, and of how useless they can be upon the ground, and quickly dig a heel into Dontos’ left knee. But it does not buckle, it holds and he rounds with a sweep of his shield that you dodge and have to roll out of the way of.

“You still fight like a boy in the yard Brynden,” he throws at you, assuming position once again, “You know who I squired for. You know what they said of me. As great a Knight as Ser Landor the Burnt.”

“I know of what they once said uncle,” you say in between heaving breaths, you stand again to meet him, “But now I only hear the boosting of a man broken. Who speaks in riddles and does nothing but holds truths from me.”

Dontos charges again, his steel ringing against your own but this time he catches you, bursting into the side of your exposed head with a headbutt that throws you off your balance entirely. He follows up with a stiff shot from his shield into your side and you find yourself on bended knee before your Uncle, “Had it been a member of the Kingsguard you would be dead Brynden.”

>>42709943
>>42709734
>>42709727
>>42709711
With those rolls, yeah. Dice gods are most displeased

He moves off, and resumes his stance, “Now. Again.”

You stand to meet him, dizziness in your head, a ringing in your ear. Duncan has run off, and Mason is holding Wesley back from interfering. “What dishonor do you do to yourself Dontos?” you ask through half slurs. Before breaking into your own charge.

Roll 5d6-2 for Fighting.

Rolled 3, 2, 2, 5, 1 - 2 = 11 (5d6 - 2)

>>42710008

someone explain my Dontos is attacking us, i'm drunk and confused.

Rolled 6, 3, 3, 1, 4 + 2 = 19 (5d6 + 2)

>>42710008

Rolled 5, 4, 1, 1, 6 - 2 = 15 (5d6 - 2)

>>42710008

Rolled 5, 4, 1, 3, 6 + 2 = 21 (5d6 + 2)

>>42710008

Rolled 3, 4, 3, 6, 5 - 2 = 19 (5d6 - 2)

>>42710008

Frankly at this point I hope he beats us. Dontos is winning me over more and more with every post.

>>42710015
He want to teach us a lesson it would appear.

>>42710015
I think to show us how we're going to get ourselves killed in a trial by combat.

Rolled 3, 2, 2, 5, 1 + 2 = 15 (5d6 + 2)

>>42710008

>>42710027
>>42710023

Father do you count rolls with inaccurate modifiers?

>>42710059
Odd. I could had sworn i used -.

I hope he will just take it as a -2 anyway.

>>42710075
You need to +- to actually minus mate.

>>42710075
We'd actually do better if he ignores it.

>>42710087
Well shit. Now that i think about i have never had to actually minus before in a roll before

>>42710087
>>42710102
Yeah i guess one if those +2s was me if that's the case

Dontos meets your sword and parries the blow, before you lash out again, bringing yourself in close, you see an opening in his shield form, he still favors the arm that had broken years ago, and press into it with another strike after pushing his blow to the ground. He reels for a moment and then pushes you off with another blow, one that you match, across the yard. He moves with deliberate measure, but not with a pattern, every footstep a matter of determined focus. But your form is just as unknown, matching blow for blow. Stepping into his guard to lash out and quickly retreating. Standing a distance again you call to your Uncle demanding answer.

He removes his helmet, dropping it to the ground, his hair a tangled mess of sweat, his eyes meeting yours without fire but with a pain, “I let your mother and sister down.”

He presses into you again, you match the blows but they only become more fierce as they bounce and shred to either side, for a moment you gain advantage and pull away his shield, twisting his arm to a pained response. He follows this up with insult, instead of meeting your swing he parries and allows it to fall to the ground, and he follows up with a mailed dlap to the face that sends you absolutely reeling to the ground. You pull yourself up to your elbows and see a sword pointed to your eye.

“I failed them. But you do them dishonor. You act a boy. Ready to run off with any whore that catches his fancy. Ready to lead our House into ruin. I would not know what to do with you if I knew not that I could meet you in the yard.”

He walks again to the other side of the yard, a crowd has formed, quiet entirely, “Now, again.”

Roll 5d6-4 for Fighting.

Rolled 4, 5, 5, 3, 3 - 4 = 16 (5d6 - 4)

>>42710198
Fuck you!

Rolled 6, 4, 5, 5, 1 - 4 = 17 (5d6 - 4)

>>42710198
Fuck you uncle check dis roll.

Rolled 4, 5, 4, 5, 6 - 4 = 20 (5d6 - 4)

>>42710198

>“Had it been a member of the Kingsguard you would be dead Brynden.”
Frankly, only if it's Selmy or Jaime, these two are the only real Kingsguards

Rolled 5, 4, 4, 4, 2 - 4 = 15 (5d6 - 4)

>>42710198
See this is what i am talking about Dontos!

>>42710198
"I survived for all those years in essos uncle. It would be easier to listen to your advice if you didn't assume that every time I disagree with you it is only my own recklessness."

>>42710242
Dear anon! You do not dare suggest that the Kingsguard is filled by knights only chosen for their political choices rather than their loyalty and skill at arms ?!

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>>42710241


>>42710300

Put your sperg back in your pocket, now's the time for realizing that Dontos is a lot more badass than we all assumed.

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>>42710322
I would never say that

>>42710323
He's much more badass but that doesn't mean he's a one stop shop for good decisions. I mean he's already convinced me not to trial by combat but I'll stand by most of our other decisions. And the trial by combat was seemingly well intended advice from the hand of the king.

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>>42710323
Know who was a badass and isn't anymore?

>>42710399

No one is asking you to do any of that. I'm saying you ought to respect the fact that we have not be giving the man even a fraction of the respect of what he deserves. And the second he tries to teach us a lesson your first response is to masturbate about all the sweet shit you got up to in Essos. It makes you sound like an idiot.

Man if dontos IS a secret double-loyalist I'm not sure he made the right call having us brought back to westeros. Might have been smarter to discretely tell us to go help look after vyserys and dany

>>42710466
Because we are suppose to build up our house strength and wait for Dany/Aegon/Visy to arrive.

>>42710437
That's not masturbating to the sweet shit we got into its 'I didn't die there and I'm not going to lead us into ruin here, I'm more capable than you're giving me credit for.'

You rise, and take a stance, your sword arm almost feels lazy as the world swings around you for a moment, you use your other hand to steady it and begin again, not for want of revenge but because you felt compelled to, his voice urging you on. And not out of spite, there was a real sadness in his voice. Of the first time he spoke of Isis and your mother, he was not wroth with you, he was hurt. Sad. And he only blamed himself.

You bring a heavy blow down and he catches it, swinging his sword around and into your hilt before yanking it away, he drives the pommel of his sword into your gut, and you double over falling to your knees, spitting blood onto the ground, though still defiant you raise your eyes to meet his, “I am not a boy anymore Dontos.”

He walks to your side and kneels, drawing in close, “No Brynden. You are. For all your bluster, and wrath and eyes of haunting look, you are still a second son in the first’s clothing. But I put you there. I called you home. I ensured the blood stayed strong. And it is my duty to ensure you are the man I know you can be. I see flashes of brilliance, you still fight like a man and your dealings with those I could only hope to conquer, is incredible.”

He stands again and lodges a mailed boot into your stomach that catches you off guard and sends you rolling to the other side of the yard. Dontos comes to you in a slow motion, his sword having dropped, and kneels beside you, “Ser Mason, fetch the Maester,” is the last thing you hear besides a prayer to the Father.

>>42710487

We have not done a single thing to prove this to the man.

>>42710482
Lots of people are presumably secretly doing that though. What they could really use are allies in essos, that understand essos, so they don't end up wandering essos derided as "the begger king"

-A day later-

You awake with a start, a bandage covers your eye and you feel a warmth upon your chest, and sweat dripping down your face. The only thing breaking the silence in the room is of Dontos in the corner, praying over his little book as he has many times before, he turns to you and finishes with whispered word, and then comes to your side.

“How do you feel Brynden?”

“Like the Seven Hells have taken me for a ride.”

“I had thought as much,” he reaches for a vial “Here Benjin says it’ll help you recover.”

He helps the liquid to your lips and you swallow it down with disgust, it forming thick in your throat, he sits back afterwards and places his hands upon his knees, “I am sorry Brynden.”

“For what Dontos?”

“For having failed you. I had thought simple word was enough but I failed to realise how much of your father is in your blood. It took years for him to harden. And we always fought…” he trails off looking to a painting upon the wall of a golden horse, “But I did hold truths from you. I… Lied. In hopes that you would make the right decisions. But here I am knowing that in your place I would have spurned the Celtigars much the same.”

You sit up and back, and meet eyes with Dontos, there is a tear, of truer pain.

>Response?

>>42710545
"I am easier to convince I'd you don't ALWSYS assume a disagreement is because I'm being reckless. Often it will be, admittedly, but not always."

>>42710523
Dontos is OP's dmpc

So in short, you did some damage to Dontos, but rolled a three degree of success twice and once a two degree. Had he not things would have gone differently, but he absolutely bitch smacked you.

Either scene would have led to this sort of end. If people want Brynden to change, now is a good time.

As a note, yes it is entirely possible for Brynden to beat a Kingsguard member still. Dontos was just running on emotion, and some super good stats/gear.

>>42710597
This isn't intended as the full extent of what we say but just a contribution. We need to trust him more be he also needs to trust us more.

>>42710545
Tell him that if he willing to trust us we are willing to heed is advice.

>>42710607
Well Dontos is built like a PC, and his Character Sheet is only known to me.

But for real I wasn't kidding when I said Dontos could have become a member of the Kingsguard. His sponsor likely would have ensured it even.

>>42710673
Great knight, terrible people skills

Nothing else guys? I see all this argument and we only get two responses?

See this is how this started originally. I wouldn't have had to bust out Dontos' character sheet and let him hide your ass. I'm not going to hand hold you guys through this one, if I don't get anything else in a bit I'll go with the two answers I got.

>>42710764
It seems to me we really fear writeins

Wait Father. I'm eating, I just need a minute.

>>42710764
I'm trying to think of something that is t trite bullshit and would actually help. Beyond we both fucked up here.

>>42710764
Maybe ask fior his advice about the trial aswell

The truth is, Uncle, I don't know how to do this. I've been a sellsword captain as long as I've been a man grown, and you're right - I am acting the part of the second son. Because I've never known anything different. I've never known anything else.

In Essos when the men beneath you start to question your command it is simply the first cries of a newborn mutiny mewling atop the birthing bed. I've no idea how to deal with dissent amongst my ranks just as I've no idea how to handle this trial. I wanted to approach it as I've approached everything, in the same fashion that has always brought success to me and my men and kept me from getting the point of a sword through my eye. With swagger and a steady sword-hand.

You council me to walk with caution, Uncle, but I've no idea how. And, in truth, I'm unsure whether or not I can learn, and even more unsure whether it's the correct course of action, in this case. The Crown has put our backs against a wall, surely you can see that. And the Celtigars simply wished to change the bricks at my back, not offer our House a way out from under the Iron Throne's thumb. I couldn't bear the thought of simply walking from one slaughterhouse to another. I have a son, bastard-born, yes, but still my blood. I wouldn't see his neck put upon the block in the name of caution. I would rail and scream and fight and die before I see that happen. And I feel you'd do the same for the future of our House.

>>42710866
this

“The truth is, Uncle, I don't know how to do this. I've been a sellsword captain as long as I've been a man grown, and you're right - I am acting the part of the second son. Because I've never known anything different. I've never known anything else.

In Essos when the men beneath you start to question your command it is simply the first cries of a newborn mutiny mewling atop the birthing bed. I've no idea how to deal with dissent amongst my ranks just as I've no idea how to handle this trial. I wanted to approach it as I've approached everything, in the same fashion that has always brought success to me and my men and kept me from getting the point of a sword through my eye. With swagger and a steady sword-hand.

You counsel me to walk with caution, Uncle, but I've no idea how. And, in truth, I'm unsure whether or not I can learn, and even more unsure whether it's the correct course of action, in this case. The Crown has put our backs against a wall, surely you can see that. And the Celtigars simply wished to change the bricks at my back, not offer our House a way out from under the Iron Throne's thumb. I couldn't bear the thought of simply walking from one slaughterhouse to another. I have a son, bastard-born, yes, but still my blood. I wouldn't see his neck put upon the block in the name of caution. I would rail and scream and fight and die before I see that happen. And I feel you'd do the same for the future of our House.”

You quiet after your speech, Dontos nodding along and regarding you with a measured gaze.

“Uncle…” you begin, a sharp pang in your head stopping you for a moment, “Dontos. I’m sorry too. I just… I don’t want to fail them. But everything always seems like a disagreement with you. And you always act as if my motives are pure recklessness. I need you to trust me Dontos.”

He sighs and falls back into his chair a bit more, “And I need you to realize I’m only doing this for your own good. I do trust you Brynden. You make good decisions upon occasion, had it not been for you tempering my own rage, we would have hunted those men in the northern forest down like animals in broad daylight. I could not have made a deal with some fat Pentoshi and easing our burden. But for every brilliance, there is the stupid actions of a child, you left the Celtigar boy to rot flung insults in his face, and went to brood like a child. You slighted the most powerful among the Valyrian Houses now, and alienated us from them as a whole. You’ve taken too many people in, I do not know their motives. I cannot trust them Brynden.”

“Then trust mein the faith I have placed in them Uncle..”

“I… I can’t Brynden. Not yet, you need time. I need time, I hide away all of my sorrow and pain, steeling myself, only for it all to come out yesterday in the yard. We are both to blame of this mess. But I know what you can become. If you’ll let me be the voice of dissent in your ear.”

“I hardly think I have a choice now do I Uncle?”

“Stubbornness runs in the family Brynden. I would have hardly let see otherwise,” he stands and helps you to the side of the bed, “Here. We need to take care of the House still. And we can’t do that with you laid up in bed.”

As you walk to the doorway a thought occurs to you, “That day I returned from King’s Landing..?”

“You don’t want to know the answer to that question Brynden.”

“Right.”

Dontos helps you walk to the great hall, many of your men waiting for your usual dismissal. They see the two of you enter to a surprised silence, and begin leaving as you walk throughout the hall and to your place at the head. Dontos guiding your dizzy step. Mason and Elionwy wait, Wesley comes to your other side, and Benjin along with Gawen look on with an impartial gaze. Your Uncle helps you to your seat and you pull yourself together long enough to acknowledge them all, “I’m told we have business to attend to.”

Roll 4d6 for House Fortunes.

Yes, that speech was good enough to bring Dontos around. A mutual respect is going to be born of this, but Brynden must change some of his ways to make it a truth. But they are on alright terms now.

Rolled 2, 6, 6, 1 = 15 (4d6)

>>42711089

So I dropped a lot of major hints about the backstory here. Some people figured out Dontos' part in saving the Targaryen children. But haven't coupled it with events I had told you about yet. I'm still waiting on someone to figure out the big thing yet.

Rolled 1, 1, 5, 5 = 12 (4d6)

>>42711089
>Yes, that speech was good enough to bring Dontos around.

You're welcome, anons.

Can we ask him about the red door? If he's already waist-deep in a Martell-fueled loyalist conspiracy then we probably should try to get on the same page with him.

Rolled 5, 6, 4, 6 = 21 (4d6)

>>42711089

>>42711166
Anon I love you.

>>42710545
>I...lied.
You still do, you intended for me to play in your little game taking YOUR decisions while you played the blumbering fool, the beaten knight.
Here you are knowing that you would have spurned the Celtigars all the same? This does not only make you a liar but an hypocrite hiding behind a veener of self-rightheousness, I do not have the coutesy thanks to this game of yours.
You call me a boy, but I am nothing more than the reflect of your soul, I asked you if you wanted the right to rule, you know how much I chaff under this mantle and you refused the honor, not out of respect for your brother my father but because it let you have this moral high stand you oh so much love.
You want me to lead but question my lead, you say I dishonor our House and family but what does that makes you, you who does nothing but critics and questions?
I do not need someone who critics my decisions knowing he'd secretly makes the same choices, I want someone who'll question me in order to prove that the road taking is the right one.
Are you finally decide to serve me as that someone and earn your place in my House or are you going to play your games, away from my lands.
owtheedge.jpg

>>42711109
>>42711154
>>42711166


And 21 is a Growth. So that's either +1 to two resources or a +1d3 to one.

I'll remind, you have zero wealth and need to make your payment this month for your loan. Which is one wealth.

>>42711154
He won't speak of it again until an event in the future comes to light. There's a lot more to that statement then he let on.

>>42711238
Wealth and lands?

>>42711238
Land and power. Lets restore what was lost to us

>>42711238

Jesus, that's putting us at a massive disadvantage, politically speaking. If someone finds out about his involvement before we clarify details with Dontos we're going to get blindsided hard.

Lands and power.

>>42711299
>>42711278
You guys know Father has said we have no wealth and we have to pay back the loan this month yeah?

>>42711299
if anon. If they find out about and i dont see how. I got the feeling Dontos is working with Varys and know a lot more than he letting on. Even more than what dad has hinted

>>42711327
>>42711278
>>42711238
Fuck you are right. Wealth and land.

Did he squire for Rhaegar?

>>42711330

The only person working with Varys is Varys. The party with the most vested interest regarding Dany and Viserys at this point in the story is the Martells.

Like I said before, we DO need need to keep an eye on these new knights se have.

>>42711327
Well I'm glad someone saw that at least.

>>42711330
This is more or less a correct assumption. Dontos plays a major part in a background story, but I'm not going to use it to fuck you guys over. That's unfair without you guys really having a way to know otherwise.

>>42711362
He did not, it was another Targaryen, not a canon one. But one he loved very dearly.

Anyway. Lands and Wealth? Not the call I would have made but alright.

So +1 Lands. And a 1+1d3 for Wealth. Give me a 1d3. I'll take the highest.

>>42711362
Doubt he'll be alive if he was the squire of the Prince, he must have been a squire to someone close to the Targ though.
My choice would be Arthur Dayne/Gerrod Hightower if the Kingsguard is allowed to take squires.

Rolled 1 (1d3)

>>42711431

Rolled 2 (1d3)

>>42711431

We should have gone Power instead of Land

Rolled 3 (1d3)

>>42711431

Rolled 2 (1d3)

>>42711431

roll

>>42711330

Then why was he so on edge about Elionwy?

Rolled 2 (1d3)

>>42711431
d

>>42711449
>>42711431
It would appear it was Random Targ Cousin #7

Maybe our sister isn't really dead. Maybe she's in essos. Taking care of dem kids.

>>42711451
>>42711462
>>42711468

4 Wealth it is, minus 1 for the debt. And we get a total of 3.

And yes I would have gone power as well but oh well, not my call.

Anyway, That leads us up to the month before the trial and the Tourney. So no more House Fortunes until that is over, and it is a month long affair. Don't worry Brynden will be in good enough shape after that whipping to still compete and do his trial by combat if he wished too.

I had wanted to get to the trial tonight, but the Dontos scene was my sort of stand in for it, just to make sure I could do the scene properly and Brynden wasn't about to get murdered. Dontos is actually a step above the Knight you would be fighting, three guesses on that one.

So with that:

End of Chapter VIII.

Did a lot of random stuff today, just tying up loose ends before the couple of threads dedicated to the Tourney in King's Landing. I hadn't expected to give out so many secrets today, but it worked with the decisions made, so we have some hints to work with on a meta scale. Though I'm still shocked no one has put them together yet.

Next thread will be Thursday, 1 October, at 2PM. Unless I get it in my head I want to write a bit after work on Saturday. Remains to be seen.

Next thread will open up with a brief scene in Steadhold before we set out, into the trial. And then it'll all go to hell from there.

Thanks for playing tonight guys. I'm glad to see discussion about how all of my characters are assholes. Going to archive now.

>>42711619
NIghty and thanks for running

And i swear to god fuck these roadsigns captcha

>>42711590
Wait... If Dontos was saving the Targ kids that means he was in Dragonstone during the Sack of Kings Landing. He couldn't have seen our sister die

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>>42711741

>>42711741
Duh, that's how he failed them.

>>42711619
>Dontos is actually a step above the Knight you would be fighting, three guesses on that one.
Cersei would no doubt want Jaime to defend the Crown/her honor but I don't see Robert ever letting the Kingslayer out of the wood that early after the end of the war.
Selmy might get chosen, but then again, Robert will veto the fuck out of it, the fuck would he allow two former loyalist to duke it out. No matter won, words on the street would be that the other let him get the win because of their former ties, thus shaming the Crown.

>Dontos is actually a step above the Knight you would be fighting.
Jaime is actualy the #1 most powerful Knight in Westeros with the Mountain/Viper close 2nd(Oberyn being #1 in spears) now that Dayne is dead, so having Dontos being superior to the canon #1 would be strange.

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>>42711741
>His face when he hears how Vyseris turned out to be.

>>42711741
Heh, turns out our sis is still alive and his being made a Redwards baby factory machine.

>>42711785
We got basically straight up told Jaime isn't going to be available during our trial by combat by arryn

>>42711741
Go on.

>>42711785
It won't be Jaime or Selmy. Jon Arryn told you as much last thread. There are still more politically minded options.

On a note of power scale, Dontos is right behind all the major 'bests' but falls off because of his arm never setting right. Jaime. Gregor. Oberyn. Etc. Would all slaughter him.

>>42711893
Friendly reminder I didn't say it. But...

>>42711785
>the Mountain is number 2
Now that's some bullshit. The guy's eight feet tall and built like a fucking mountain. Not only that, he uses a greatsword one handed. Stacked on top of that, he can wear armor that would be impossible for any other knight. He's also a brutal sadist and able to withstand immense amounts of pain. He can easily cut a man in half, and is shown to decapitate a horse with a single strike.

The idea that anyone can beat that on their own, without special equipment, is insane.

Give the man a katana that's been folded over a million times, and he's basically the Tarrasque

>Gregor did nothing wrong

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>>42711980
If Oberyn didn't go full retard and talked shit in the middle of the fight he wouldn't have broken a sweat making Gregor his bitch.

Another guy people forget about is Lynn Corbray, everytime the guy enter a duel, a nigga dies, everytime. And he's been in a lot of duel according to the Fat Bastard.

>>42711948
>Friendly reminder I didn't say it. But...
>Royce Redward... Made claims to Steadhold and her holdings prior to Brynden's return and pardoning.

Mother of god.

>>42712124

So will the Redwards become our Reynes?

>>42712116
>poison clouding his mind and dulling his senses
>fighting a much quicker, agile foe
>foe has a weapon made specially to play against your strengths

>still kill him

>>42712124
Yeah, it's too obvious.

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>>42712157
He was a dead man the second he got hit by Oberyn's poison, he just didn't know it yet.
Oberyn coulda just danced a jig around the big guy while waiting for it to kick in but he had to be a cheeky cunt and go about "muh sister"

>Gregor did nothing wrong
He accepted Cersei's demand to a fight against the Viper, now he has no head and must wait for the CleganebowlGET HYPE

>>42712116
I didn't know cock fights counted as duels.

>>42712150
I'm guessing if Brynden has anything to say about it? Probably.

>>42712160
Well I wouldn't hope that obvious. Until today no one even guessed at it. Rather I saw more posts planning to rape Royce's wife. So...

So, how do you guys want to rape Royce's wife? I was thinking we train some assassins and send them to kill off her guards. They never harm her, just her guards. Royce will have to keep replacing them, and once his forces are depleted, we go in with them and steal her. Afterwards, send her back to him. Repeat ad infinitum.

Make sure all our men are wearing the sigil of the dead house. I think it's a bat?

>>42712233
Untill today we had nothing saying the contrary since Dontos was all like "muh sister, muh niece" and we/Brynden assumed he was there to see it done. Brynden better give him a murderous look when he discover that Dontos knew she was still alive, or maybe Royce pulled a Varys and smashed a girl's head so that everyone though that she died.

In any case he's gonna get a ration of shit when it's revealed that she's still alive, if she is that's it.

>>42712328
The same way Oberyn did it to Bordain's Maester, pull up into town and seduce her.

>>42712354
Never said Dontos knows she's alive.

Since I just now thought of it and a few people are still milling about a question or two.

I don't want the monthly council meetings to feel too railroady with the options given. I like to do things so I can set up stories around them, such as the Melee to recruit the Knights. But I don't see a lot of people calling for specifics otherwise. Is it because of a lack of knowledge of your other options? Or rather just general liking options given? I'm genuinely curious.

Second question. Is there anything in particular you guys want to aim for? A bannerhouse, a particular holding or personage? I like that House Malroy is more defined in what brings in the money, namely the Horses. But otherwise we don't seem to branch out much in interests. So I'd like to know some thoughts on that. If there are any.

If people are content, I'll keep going as I do. I'm trying to maintain the overarching story, while fitting in bits of the side pieces and how your actions match the resources you have and are building or intend to build.

>>42712433
1. Your options cover most objectives with the odd write in to get what's left. Maybe tone down the shadowrunning as this is tg. What may be simple for you to see may be cloudy as fuck and the reverse is true as seen with the Celtigars.

>>42712433
I just want our house to grow. Get married. Have respect. To be one of those houses that people know.

"Ahh, the Daynes, the Umbers, the Malroys."

>>42712433
I just wanna kill and tear down the redwards house

>>42712433
Well, I want brynden to learn more about the war but that's for ooc reasons. Double ooc now that we've guessed about Royce's wife but brynden hasn't quite connected the dogs, it'd be nice to be able to go before the king and make the proper accusations towards Royce and ask if he's going to throw us on the pyre like rickard and Brandon stark.

Maybe our sister isn
4chan ate my post.

But I want you to make us be more involved in how things get done. How do we gain land. How do we get power. Make us plan something for it.

>>42712548
Easy enough. I'm trying to rein that back a bit after the Celtigars. But I do like to do a bit of it regardless.

>>42712900
Haha I can work with that. I'm hoping things go well in the tourney. That should help all of those.

>>42712943
I would expect no less. Still, don't burn it all down yet.

>>42712947
Still reasonable goals. Brynden is fantastic at small scale coordination. But he's no Tarly. Learning more on that regard may help when the Greyjoy Rebellion occurs.

>>42712983
Reading through a few of the other quests I can see where this request comes from. I don'r want to hand it out like Bordain gets from assorted missions, no offense to that quest, but I'm having a particularly difficult time trying to frame things outside of Wealth. Law is easy. But the others are ambiguous. I'll work on it a bit. Thank you.