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Hello everyone!

This is a quest based in the ASOIAF universe which follows a captain of a free company that has recently been given dominion over Stormgrave, an island near Dragonstone. Lord Aurion Shryke is a common-born man with a natural affinity for leading men and making friends. We are continuing where we left off in the year 284 just before the fall of Dragonstone.

Quest resources including character sheets can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ot_VGz9iDVmO1neVhGQMOs9h2G9Hd7nb?usp=sharing

I try to update twitter on run times/important votes here: https://twitter.com/CormaicB

Previous Threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=House%20Shryke

Now, let's get started!
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>>4412533
You lay back in the sparse grass and whistle an old marching tune while your splinter host makes camp in the shadow of a rocky hill. You’ve little else that needs seeing to at present. Your men know how to set a camp and your own provisions are seen to by your new “squire,” a certain Dorea Waters. Unless she is a better liar than you, which is exceedingly unlikely, she would be the bastard daughter of the late Lord Duram. The first brother amongst the four Bar Emmon children of this generation. That would make her the niece of the current Lady Bar Emmon. If she were legitimate, then she would be the Lady Bar Emmon. If she were legitimate. You’re unsure how much mischief you will make with this, if any, but the sheer possibilities are enticing. As is she, but you’ve behaved yourself thus far. It’s made the last few dreary days a touch drearier in searching out these fellow mischief makers, these raiders. But you’re not supposed to fuck your squires, even the false ones. That’s in a book somewhere. Probably.

“M’lord…” the timid voice interrupts your musings and grey cloud gazing.

You glance over at your false squire. She’s done with the tent, but she fidgets. “What is it? If you need to make water, go deeper into the bushes. The scouts are due back and all scouts are buggerers. Everyone knows that. That goes double for Devils of the Rhoyne,” you say.

“S’not that m’lord,” she reddens. “It’s only… why a squire? Why not the septa’s cloth?”

“Are you a septa?” you raise a brow.

“No m’lord. It’s only I thought it safer…”

“With this lot? Hardly. My lads might behave, Seven knows I pay them well enough… but it only takes one to put you and me both in a right mess. They’re not all Seven worshippers, you know. The further east you go, the more priestesses look like whores and whores like priestesses… there’s no difference at all in some places. And I’ve been further east than any you’ve laid eyes on. Fact is, some would’ve taken you all dressed up as the Maiden as encouragement,” you explain.

“That’s horrible,” she pales before hastily tossing in another “m’lord.”

“Aye, that’s one way of looking at it. I could think of worse ways to pay tribute to a god, but to each their own,” you shrug. “Lucky for you, you’re woefully underfed for a kitchen wench’s girl. All we need do is keep your hair up and your face dirty and hide any suspect bits under the mail. You slouch under the hauberk like a fresh squire lad any road. Simple as.”

“… M’lord is clever,” she compliments, at a loss for what else to say.

“I am,” you heartily agree while fishing your rum from your pack. “But this is an old trick. You’re not the first wench I’ve snuck into an armed camp and by the gods I hope you’re not the last.”
>>
>>4412538
She’s saved a response by Ser Byron Yew reporting in. He’s the only other one in the camp who knows who you’re trafficking around on your latest whim. As you’ve come to expect from him, he’s taken a decidedly neutral approach to it all, preferring to keep his thoughts to himself. Better than Vaeron’s parting jests, though you expected no less of your old friend after sticking him with wet nurse duty to the Rambton girl while he rests his latest wound.

“The scouts are filtering in. They found the third village to the north. It seems my lady was correct again,” he nods to Dorea, who doesn’t know what to do with the passing compliment.

“And?” you press, sitting upright. In this at least, your wayward Bar Emmon by-blow of a ward has been a welcomed boon. She knows these coastal lands well enough to point out a rough reckoning of the unmarked fishing villages on the map. Her late father had taken her sailing down the coast a time or two. An old hobby of his. It’s certainly saved you some trouble in planning out movements and your seemingly impossible knowledge has absolutely baffled the scouts Lord Badics left you, to your immense amusement.

“Sacked, like the other two. But they made camp within it and should be there even now. Some three hundred men, no horse. We could be on them by the morrow,” Ser Byron answers.

“Which’d have them rested and us exhausted. Unless they lose themselves in their cups… any sign of ships? And what’s past the village?” you ask your captain of bows and ward respectively.

“No ships. Only some fishing boats that had the sense to cast off,” Ser Byron answers.

“Sharp Point’s the only place of note past it, m’lord,” Dorea adds, looking very uncomfortable at the implication in that.

“So, they’re either going to have to turn back our way or they’re of the mind to march on Sharp Point. Normally I’d dismiss the latter, but they have to know the garrison’d break at a stiff wind. Specially if they had the sense to cut off their provisions,” you say. There’s opportunity there. If you time it well enough, you could either take them from behind as they attempt to breach the gates or even beat them to the castle entirely. They’re further north, but they’re on the opposite coast while you’re more inland. It’s about the same distance to Sharp Point for both you and your quarry.
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>>4412540
A reminder, you have the following men at your disposal against the 300 footmen of House Massey of unknown training:
Elite Heavy Infantry (Stormbringers)
Veteran Personal Guards+Cavalry (House Manderly Knights)
Veteran Scouts (Devils of the Rhoyne)
Trained Crossbowmen (Byron’s Bows)

Strategy
>We will steal a march on them and ambush them on the morrow.
>We will reinforce Sharp Point. They won’t expect such resistance.
>We will attack them from behind while they try to besiege Sharp Point.
>Something else or some more specific detail to add?

Dorea Waters
>“It’s ‘my lord.’” Regardless of what show you put on at court, the current Lady Bar Emmon wronged your family and that requires an answer. You’re of a mind to explore the possibility of installing Dorea in power over her aunt. It won’t do to have her talking like even more of a commoner than you.
>Leave her be. You’re not looking to play lady-maker with her.
>Something else.

I'm leaving this up overnight so everyone can trickle into the new thread after our long break. I'll pop in to answer questions as needed. Thanks for the patience with my delays!
>>
Glad to have you back, Boggs! You wouldn't believe how many times I've refreshed the catalog or your Twitter today. Corona has done a number on me

Strategy
>We will attack them from behind while they try to besiege Sharp Point.

Dorea Waters:
>“It’s ‘my lord.’” Regardless of what show you put on at court, the current Lady Bar Emmon wronged your family and that requires an answer. You’re of a mind to explore the possibility of installing Dorea in power over her aunt. It won’t do to have her talking like even more of a commoner than you.
Don't tell her anything about this possible plan yet, though. Let's see how Cassandra Bar Emmon fares in our absence. But keep the option open, because why not?
>>
>>4412565
Although after that performance in court, we probably can't remove Cassandra through legitimate means without embarrassing ourselves completely. We'll just have to ask the assassin if he's open for a short detour after he's done with Cerelle. It most likely won't come to that though. I hope Cerelle's cousin woos her successfully.
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>>4412544
>We will steal a march on them and ambush them on the morrow.
>Something else or some more specific detail to add?
Between our Scouts and Crossbowmen would we be able to pick off stragglers or possibly their own scouts? We have way more variety in troops so I feel like we should use that if possible. I don't know how well Dorea knows the land but she seems to have been useful in a Guerrilla sense so far, so maybe she could help with this?

>“It’s ‘my lord.’” Regardless of what show you put on at court, the current Lady Bar Emmon wronged your family and that requires an answer. You’re of a mind to explore the possibility of installing Dorea in power over her aunt. It won’t do to have her talking like even more of a commoner than you.
Bar Emmon gotta go
>>
Boggs will it make a difference in our chances to reach Stonedance in time for the siege if we pick any option other than the immediate ambush?
>>
>>4412544
Glad to see you back!

>We will reinforce Sharp Point. They won’t expect such resistance.

>“It’s ‘my lord.’” Regardless of what show you put on at court, the current Lady Bar Emmon wronged your family and that requires an answer. You’re of a mind to explore the possibility of installing Dorea in power over her aunt. It won’t do to have her talking like even more of a commoner than you.
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>>4412585
IC you would know Barristan should be outside Stonedance's gates any minute now if he isn't there already. Assuming the castle doesn't just let him in, there would either be a very brief assault or a protracted waiting game of a siege. In any case, a few days shouldn't make a difference. Your choices here won't affect the outcome there, for better or worse.
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>>4412544
>>We will attack them from behind while they try to besiege Sharp Point.
Surprised we haven’t tried to seduce yet
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>>4412544
>>We will attack them from behind while they try to besiege Sharp Point.

>“It’s ‘my lord.’” Regardless of what show you put on at court, the current Lady Bar Emmon wronged your family and that requires an answer. You’re of a mind to explore the possibility of installing Dorea in power over her aunt. It won’t do to have her talking like even more of a commoner than you.
>>
>>4412544
>We will attack them from behind while they try to besiege Sharp Point.

>“It’s ‘my lord.’” Regardless of what show you put on at court, the current Lady Bar Emmon wronged your family and that requires an answer. You’re of a mind to explore the possibility of installing Dorea in power over her aunt. It won’t do to have her talking like even more of a commoner than you.

Wb! How's the dorne/reach stuff going?

>>4412708
yet
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>>4412737
>How's the dorne/reach stuff going?

Great, actually. I think it should be a lot of fun. I think I have the knight mostly pinned down. I hope you like spears. The wife MC is more troublesome. Not from a lack of character ideas, but from a synergy standpoint. Like I've said before, I don't want to run a persuasion/fighting tag team powerhouse, so the traditional noblewoman build is dead out. I have a few workarounds and alternatives such as just giving her a restrictive drawback (mute, some sort of social anxiety, etc.) or making her more like a sneak/huntress rather than a talker, but I'm still idly brainstorming it for now.
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>>4412544
>>We will steal a march on them and ambush them on the morrow.
>“It’s ‘my lord.’” Regardless of what show you put on at court, the current Lady Bar Emmon wronged your family and that requires an answer. You’re of a mind to explore the possibility of installing Dorea in power over her aunt. It won’t do to have her talking like even more of a commoner than you.

>>4412811
How about haughty, lascivious or supreme arrogance?
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>>4412544
>>We will attack them from behind while they try to besiege Sharp Point.

>“It’s ‘my lord.’” Regardless of what show you put on at court, the current Lady Bar Emmon wronged your family and that requires an answer. You’re of a mind to explore the possibility of installing Dorea in power over her aunt. It won’t do to have her talking like even more of a commoner than you.

still waiting on votes?
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>>4412544
hell yeah, good to see you again Boggs

>We will attack them from behind while they try to besiege Sharp Point.
>Leave her be. You’re not looking to play lady-maker with her.
We've already got good relations with the current lady, attempting to usurp with a bastard is gonna take more favors than it's worth
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>>4412955
That is exactly what I was thinking for lady bar emmon. But I just wanted to get an update tonight; but idk if that is actually going to happen.
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>>4412966
>>4412544
>I'm leaving this up overnight so everyone can trickle into the new thread after our long break.
>>
>>4412544
>>We will steal a march on them and ambush them on the morrow.
>“It’s ‘my lord.’” Regardless of what show you put on at court, the current Lady Bar Emmon wronged your family and that requires an answer. You’re of a mind to explore the possibility of installing Dorea in power over her aunt. It won’t do to have her talking like even more of a commoner than you.
>>
>>4412811
>inb4 Tsundere Mute Poisoner
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>>4412544
>We will attack them from behind while they try to besiege Sharp Point.
>Leave her be. You’re not looking to play lady-maker with her.
>>
>>4412578
I'll keep this idea in mind for the next post.

>>4412818
>How about haughty, lascivious or supreme arrogance?

A persuasion 5 or 6 character would still slam through almost every encounter with those drawbacks. (Not that they'd start that high, but Aurion started at 4 and look at him now.) It would need to be something directly impactful to persuasive ability. And she will be good at at least one other thing whether it's thievery or survival or healing or something else. I'm basically just trying to avoid a quest that consists of switching between an optimized fighter and optimized talker based on the situation.

>>4413011
Hmmmmm.

Anyway, I'm running tonight at ~8-830 EST. Multiple posts tonight.
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>>4413426
Ignoble then? I don't want to be a mutie because being able to speak is important for characterization and a lot of other thing. Healing as a second specialty is good.
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>>4413482
I think you're probably right about mute. It might detract from the story which is the opposite of my intentions with all of this. Ignoble might work depending on the character. That or I'll knock persuasion down to 1 with the "shy" flaw and make it so she can do Will tests to "be the lady" (Deception: Act). Maybe even add the possibility of overcoming the drawback through suitable investment.
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>>4413498
Nice. It'll be interesting to see if the quest suffers or benefits from not having a fixed House and House fortune rolls. I'm interested in running such a quest myself, although I'm still in the research phase and I'll have to read all 5 books again. My idea of the MC is becoming clearer and clearer as I think upon it in my free time and get more inspiration.
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>>4413498
Ah, the MC would be the wife, I thought you were talking about the MC’s wife. My mistake
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>>4413517
Benefits is my assumption, at least from an adventure and exploration standpoint. Having the responsibility of a house to manage stifles the opportunity to really get out there and try new things. From a status standpoint, at least the knight will be fairly influential from the beginning. Definitely highborn and from an influential family, just not the son likely to inherit anything. It occurred to me that we've never had a haughty highborn MC; they're all plucky and upjumped in some way or another. Not enough distain for plebs. Something needs to be done about that.

>>4413522
The MC and MC's wife are both going to be playable. That's what makes it tricky. If I plop down a stereotypical lady, then there will be fairly little to do outside of POV shifting just to slam an intrigue.
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>>4413539
Hoping the lady is attractive or at least licentious
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>>4413539
Hey, I voted 3 times on that poll btw. Not trying to samefag, I wanted to change from Reach Knight to Dorne Knight and the only way to cancel out my old vote was to vote twice the other way. I guess I'm telling you because I think you should go with whatever you think fits the story best. Both are cool with me.

>>4413549
Me too.
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>>4413569
>Not trying to samefag
>But I’m samefagging
>>
>>4413569
Good to know, thanks. I figured there was something like that going on. The two options flipped back and forth by 1-2 votes for several days. I was using it to gauge interest in the different options rather than a hard and fast "vote" anyway. I wouldn't use a strawpoll on Twitter if I was dead set on taking the results as an absolute. That wouldn't be fair to the anons that don't dabble in the blue bird. The dual region pairing was clearly popular, so I'll be sticking with that either way. The rest will depend on what I come up with on my end for background planning. I intend on going with whatever will make for the best quest.
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>>4413549
>>4413569
>2020
>samefags and fags ruining threads
>all years are the same
>>
>>4413591
>>4413600
It was a strawpoll. It's not like I could link back to my previous vote and say I was switching. All this StV PTSD...
>>
>>4413549
same
>>
Since people are already checking this, can I get 3 rolls of 5d6 for Warfare (Strategy) to see how you do in outmaneuvering the enemy commander later?
>>
Rolled 5, 3, 6, 4, 5 = 23 (5d6)

>>4413660
Well, here’s some crit fails
>>4413604
Cool story, still samefagging
>>
Rolled 6, 1, 3, 1, 5 = 16 (5d6)

>>4413660
>>
Rolled 3, 1, 5, 2, 1 = 12 (5d6)

>>4413660
>>
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“Tell the lads to get their rest now. We leave at first light. We’ll take the closest path inland and come up behind them while they’re fussing over the main gate. Trap them between a wall of stone and a wall of steel,” you decide. Ser Byron nods and leaves off to spread the word.

You pull off your scaled hauberk and lay back to catch some sleep yourself. Dorea takes that as her cue to do the same with her borrowed mail, but she leaves her gambeson in place. A bit prudish, especially in this humid weather, but her comfort is her own concern. Even with her politely or nervously averting her gaze, you can tell she is far from letting sleep claim her. You let some time pass while you ponder the coming battle before finally engaging her in some twilight conversation.

“You make a terrible squire, you know,” you tell her as you try to spot the stars beyond a small rip in the tent. You really could do with a new one. A proper lordly tent, like Lord Guncer’s pavilion.

“M’lord?”

“Squires aren’t supposed to be distracting and yet I find myself willing to give a groat for your thoughts,” you prompt. Or is that pages?

“That’s pages, m’lord,” she corrects. You can hear the smile in her voice even with the encroaching darkness.

“Is it? All the same,” you turn on your side to face her.

“… how do you do it?” she asks at last.

“Now that is a question that we’d both need a whole lot more rum for. Be more specific.”

“We could all die tomorrow. How can you just… sleep?”

>By the sounds of it, tomorrow is going to be exciting. The sooner I sleep, the sooner it’s here.
>Because I have to. Otherwise more of my lads might die that otherwise wouldn’t.
>The gods love me. They won’t see me killed. Not yet at least.

Choose the one you think most fitting while I get to work on this next part.
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>>4414163
>The gods love me. They won’t see me killed. Not yet at least.
Are we gonna try to dick her?
>>
>>4414163
>>Because I have to. Otherwise more of my lads might die that otherwise wouldn’t.
>>
>>4414163
>>Because I have to. Otherwise more of my lads might die that otherwise wouldn’t.
>>
>>4414174
I was going to save that vote for later, but I guess the night before a battle is a pretty good time for it. I'll put it up now while I write the opening for the next part.

Are we rolling to seduce?
>Yes
>No
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>>4414163
>The gods love me. They won’t see me killed. Not yet at least.

>Yes
>>
>>4414163
>>Because I have to. Otherwise more of my lads might die that otherwise wouldn’t.

>No
getting her pregnant runs counter to our schemes
>>
>>4414196
>Yes
>>
>>4414163
>>By the sounds of it, tomorrow is going to be exciting. The sooner I sleep, the sooner it’s here.
>Yes
>>
>>4414196
>Because I have to. Otherwise more of my lads might die that otherwise wouldn’t.
>Yes
>>
>>4414196
>>No
>>
>>4414196
>>No
>>
>>4414163
>>Because I have to. Otherwise more of my lads might die that otherwise wouldn’t
>>4414196
>>No
>>
>>4414201
>>4414214
>>4414218
>>4414221
Can we not? She's not hot, we just got some not even a few days ago, and it throws our plans into jeopardy. Hell we're not even going to get a smut scene out of this so i am very much confused why you are voting for this other than COOMER memes.
>>
>>4414233
We decided to live life to the fullest last thread, it's the eve of battle, and she has been described as pretty on multiple occasions. I'm not going to toss on a chastity belt because purityfags need a third do-over.
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>>4414233
What better time is there to do this than before battle where me might return dead or crippled?
>>
>>4414233
>>4414241
>>4414247
>thread has only been back for a day
>this argument is happening already
Fucks sake boys.
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>>4414241
SO you're going to throw the plans we have in the trash
get our men pissy
andrisk this getting back to our wife
all for some nookie?
Fuck's sakes this isn't even the big battle, there's living life to the fullest and thinking with your dick and only your dick.
>>
>>4414252
Yes. And half of those what-ifs are total asspulls.
>>
>>4414163
>The gods love me. They won’t see me killed. Not yet at least.
>Yes
>>
The situation at STV has really put everyone on the edge huh.
>>
>>4414258
plans get rather hard if she's preggers
THe mena re going to want some cunt too, and now they know we've been hiding it fromthem

And unless we're a shitty lay any of our men could let it slip around our wife, not counting the OTHER men around gossiping.


Literally none of this is an asspull.
>>
>>4414271
The arena chest in Stranglethorn Vale isn't for another 10 min.
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>>4414272
We are fucking her at the campfire now? Not in the tent? Now THAT is living life to the fullest. Nice write-in anon.
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>>4414277
the tent isn't sound proofed anon, and people can put two and two together.
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>>4414163
>The gods love me. They won’t see me killed. Not yet at least.

>No
>>
Top of the hour. 5-4.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 6d6 for Seduce?
>>
Rolled 3, 6, 1, 6, 6, 5 = 27 (6d6)

>>4414289
>>
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>>4414286
>>
Rolled 5, 1, 4, 4, 4, 1 = 19 (6d6)

>>4414289
>>
Rolled 1, 3, 6, 1, 2, 3 = 16 (6d6)

>>4414289
>>
>>4414163
>>By the sounds of it, tomorrow is going to be exciting. The sooner I sleep, the sooner it’s here.
>>4414196
>No
>>
Rolled 1 (1d2)

That 27 though... alright. Alright. I'm not going to ignore this vote >>4414286 and I'm not going to drag this out. Let's ask the gods.

1. Through dick, unity.
2. Not tonight.
>>
>>4414307
Based. I'd have voted yes too, just got here.
>>
Keep it quiet though, I don't know what we roll, stealth? Awareness to take her to a quiet spot? The fuck man, this one is risky. Last one was plausible deniability, this one is getting straight to the wife unless we take some measures. Only Byron Yew knows this is a girl, right? And he's not gonna tell. Alright, so roll Stealth or Awareness to keep it quiet or away.
>>
Well fuck me sideways, Twitter fucked me again.
>>
>>4414307
>Fucking a Medieval Reverse Trap
Truely, the greatest Chad known to Westeros
>>
>>4414323
>>4414342
>The camp thinks we're a boyfucker now.
Please if there's any chance of discovery let us roll something.
>>
>>4414251
Boggs knew what he was doing.
>>
Will is her highest stat. Will. She’s pious and she has the Stubborn benefit. 18 composure. 18! I specifically designed her to be able to resist temptation and yet here we are. The gods had other plans for her.
>Rolled 27 vs DC 17. 3 Degrees of success. The exact number needed…

If you could die tomorrow, if every night could be your last… how would you spend it?

Yet again, the old words come to you unbidden. Without the hauberk, you can see the slight curve of her hip in the moonlight. Not for the first time, you find yourself wondering just what she wears beneath the gambeson. Smallfolk don’t normally wear smallclothes. A comfort that is too much of a luxury for those that will never feel true gold touch their palms. But she’s not smallfolk, not really. She’s a bastard with some highborn blood. Born of lust and passion. Perhaps she just wears smaller smallclothes. That must be it. So, it’s settled. No need to keep thinking about it. No need at all.

You find yourself with an old coin in hand. You’d almost forgotten you had it in your traveling pack. It’s of an oval shape. You flip it on impulse. The naked dancing woman of Lys stares back at you even in the low light. You pick it up and find it oddly warm to the touch. Must be the heat.

“M’lord?”

“It’s ‘my lord,’ not m’lord,” you finally correct.

“But that’s how better borns say it…”

“Just so. Well, I don’t know about the better part in it. All the same, you need to start talking better. Like them. Otherwise you’re going to make my part in this all the harder, and we wouldn’t want that, would we?”

“Your part?” she sounds completely lost.

“… a thought for another day, perhaps… what was the question?” The girl clearly doesn’t see it, but she’s the sort of weapon that can bring a house to its knees. With a little sharpening. Cassandra Bar Emmon has wronged you, wronged your family, and you don’t personally give a fig for Cerelle’s arrogant little cousin. It’s time these highborn learn the fury of a patient man.

“How do you sleep… my lord?

“The gods love me,” you mutter to yourself in a low tone. “Because I have to. I can stay up pondering it all, go into this with a fog over my head, might be some of the lads out there don’t make it because I make the wrong call. Might be they were to die no matter what I do. But I have to be at my best for them. I owe them that much,” you tell her.

“Such a burden…” she comments, pondering it all.

“Perhaps. Like your hauberk.”

“A few knots. Not m’lord’s problem,” she corrects her speech just after.
>>
>>4414430
“On the contrary, it is my problem. I caused it, so I’ll make it right. I’m a fair hand at untangling knots,” you tell her. You’re not. She protests again, but her heart is far from in it. Rote formality from one used to being treated the servant. She sits up and lets you knead at her shoulders. The gambeson proves a hindrance and soon finds its way around her waist. You were wrong. She wears nothing beneath.

“My lord is very good at this. Too good,” she absentmindedly whispers. She turns to face you, exposing her modest breasts for the first time and finally catching your eye. She forgets herself entirely and lets her hands roam over your chest. “I could relieve your burden some.”

“You could,” you agree. You kiss her. She eagerly, sloppily returns it. She strokes at your manhood while you busy yourself trying to shimmy down her breeches as they cling tightly to her hips. She’s more than ready for you, but bites down on your shoulder to keep from crying out. You set a slow, steady rhythm lest you inadvertently wake the camp. The quiet and ease of it carries a passion all of its own. You release your burdens at last when she shutters beneath you and clamps down. You drift off with her nuzzled into your embrace.

She wakes before you do. The camp has only just begun to stir, and the sun is yet to fully crest the horizon. She’s hurriedly cleaning between her legs and redressing. You’re a touch abashed when you note a spot of red on the rag she stuffs back in a sack. Not at all what you’d expected of a bastard grown. She doesn’t broach the subject and looks troubled, but she does at least smile when she notices you stir. There will be time for words later if they’re needed. You’ve work to do.

The trail you take to ambush the Massey foragers ends up narrowing to little more than a goat path, but it serves. You find yourself in the shadow of Sharp Point’s massive light tower around a couple hours past midday. Timing was everything with your maneuvering. Arrive too early and spoil the hammer and anvil. Arrive too late and risk seeing the anvil dropped on your own head. As it stands, you were almost fashionably late. Almost.

As you exit the pass, you can see that the foragers turned besiegers are heavily invested. A makeshift battering ram is beneath the gate and the archers on the battlements are well-suppressed by the bowmen almost casually eying them behind their mantlets. Bowmen who become far less casual at the sight of your own men. They look to a mounted man with an admittedly extravagant hat coupled with a flowing multi-hued cape which borders on the absurd.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 4d6 for Awareness (Notice)?
>>
Rolled 3, 6, 6, 6 = 21 (4d6)

>>4414435
>>
Rolled 2, 1, 1, 4 = 8 (4d6)

>>4414435
>>
Rolled 5, 1, 2, 3 = 11 (4d6)

>>4414435
>>
>>4414435
Jalabhar Xho?
>>
>>4414439
ayy
>>
Blonde bombshell, Milf, and now reverse trap. Will Aurion be the first MC to "make the 8"?
>>
>>4414469
Last two are in the Crownlands, which isn't even counted within the 8. Maybe you could stretch and say the Milf belonged to the Riverlands. Also how ironic and unbelievably retardedly suicidally stupid would it be that Aurion's wife was only the first. That's not even counting the Valyrian from the Stepstones.
>>
>>4414493
True, but I was talking about our feats in quest. If you consider our whole career then we'd need only girls from The North, Riverlands, and Dorne I guess.
>>
>Rolled 21 vs DC 12. Success, 2 degees.

“By the Warrior’s cunt,” you swear as you exchange looks with the flamboyant commander. You don’t know which of you is more surprised. You turn to Lieutenant Trios and Ser Wylis Manderly, who ride at your side. Trios does a double take with his Myrish Lens, the closest thing to shock you’ll ever get out of him, as Ser Wylis looks more surprised at your choice of words.

That is Captain Benificent Riccaro. The Devils of the Rhoyne don’t know the difference between House Massey’s colors and the fucking Solemn Flames?” you curse. “And can they not fucking count? There can’t be more than two hundred.”

As if he read your mind, or perhaps your lips, the colorful captain grins, doffs his hat with a flourish, and raises a gilded horn to his lips. Another hundred infantrymen spring from the rocks further down the road as the archers shift position back around the other side of the mantlets.

>Rolled 20 for Warfare (Strategy) vs an opposing roll of 21. The Solemn Flames Free Company takes the initiative.

Your men begin to form up just as you’d planned with the scouts and crossbowmen behind the heavy infantry and horse, but it’s as if your opponent here was expecting such an eventuality. You know this particular company is out of Braavos and Pentos, but you only know their captain in passing. Not a true rival or friend until now. Either he’s better than you in strategy, or your scouts have made a grave error. Your ranged support is exposed on one flank to a well-equipped infantry regiment, but two-thirds of the enemy Free Company is still caught between you and the walls. This could go either way.

Crossbows
>Attack the archers
>Attack the infantry
Scouts
>Attack the archers
>Attack the infantry
Heavies
>Charge the archers
>Brace for the infantry charge
>Charge the infantry
Knights
>Charge the archers
>Charge the infantry

You also have the option of bowing out of the fight entirely if you so desire.
>Fight
>Pull back to the pass

I’ll leave this open overnight. Thanks for playing!
>>
>>4414506
>>Pull back to the pass
>>
>>4414506
How many enemy units are there again? I can only read one unit of archers and one unit of well equipped infantry. Who's the other hundred and who's charging? Also will the bowmen on the walls fire on the exposed backs of the bowmen down below now or do we have to give an order?
>>
>>4414506
>Attack the infantry

>Attack the archers
>Brace for the infantry charge
>Charge the infantry

>Pull back to the pass

Thanks for running boggs
>>
>>4414506
Crossbows
>>Attack the infantry
Trying to duel archers equipped with mantlets is pointless, our men will just get shot to pieces

Scouts
>Attack the archers
Heavies
>Charge the archers

Knights
>Charge the infantry

With the crossbows suppressing and disrupting the infantry, the knights will be able to crush their formation. Our heavies can can screen our scouts during the charge, then let the scouts encircle the archers
>>
>>4414516
3 units, 2 of infantry and 1 of archers.

1 unit of infantry was battering down the gates and have 1 unit of archers behind mantlets (+5 to range CD, by-the-by) in support. They are closest to your infantry and cavalry.

On the other side is a fresh unit of infantry that was laying in wait to counter any ambushes. They are now positioning to charge your ranged units.
>>
I think there's two infantry units and one archer unit here and we're getting confused because they're not distinguished. Bowmen and infantry are both 100 men units, right?
>>
>>4414516
What's left of the bowmen on the walls aren't yours to command, but it's reasonable to assume they'd take what opportunity they can if they see the chance to (and if their commander can get them to).
>>
>>4414526
You should have differentiated somehow with Infantry 1 and Infantry 2 here >>4414506, I was confused and I think others will be too. Thanks for running, though.
>>
>>4414538
The other infantry unit isn't completely formed up yet and is closest to the gate. You'd need to go straight through the archers to hit them first. That's why I simplified it. But good point. I'll just make a crude map next time to go with the post.
>>
Alright, so
Crossbows
>Attack infantry charging at them

Heavies
>Charge infantry beneath the walls

Scouts
>Attack archers

Cavalry
>Charge infantry charging at our crossbows
>>
>>4414506
Crossbows
>Attack the infantry
Scouts
>Attack the archers
Heavies
>Charge the infantry
Knights
>Charge the archers
>>
>>4414547
Alright disregard this then - >>4414551

Crossbows
>Attack infantry charging at them

Heavies
>Charge the archers

Cavalry
>Charge the infantry charging at the crossbows

Scouts
>Attack the infantry charging at the crossbows (if possible, from the back)

Kill off the charging infantry first while the other takes its time to form up. Focus everything on it afterwards.
>>
>>4414553
Horses might get trapped between the archers and the remaining infantry if they decide to swing around, the infantry are just behind the archers. I think it's better to attack on the open field and see if there's opportunity for another charge.
>>
>>4414506
Crossbows
>Attack the archers

Scouts
>Attack the archers

Heavies
>Charge the infantry

Knights
>Charge the infantry
>>
>>4414574
Support. It's gonna be a tough fight
>>
>>4412538
>>4414430
Such a captivating exchange, Boggs! Glad the quest is running again.

>>4414574
Support.
However, if it helps to be more specific, move the scouts into a flanking position to that infantry unit.
>>
Don't scouts use bows? Some of these plans are assuming they're melee.
>>
>>4415056
They don't have a key fighting ability, so they can be whatever, melee or ranged as a whole. (Rolling what? 2 dice?)

I suppose we could order them to loose a volley towards the infantry first.
>>
>>4415070

In my opinion, better to have them harrass/tie down the archers to remove our enemy's biggest counterplay rather than have them flail against "well-equipped" and likely at least Trained infantry.
>>
>>4414574

Supporting this but with Scouts moving to harass the archers in melee while fleeing the enemy infantry charge.

Having them "fake flee" could open a nice hole for the Manderly Knights to counter charge through.

>>4414506
>>
>>4414526
>1 unit of archers behind mantlets (+5 to range CD, by-the-by)
If we are behind them, aren't they in front of mantlets from our POV?
>>
>>4415140
>as the archers shift position back around the other side of the mantlets

They've identified you as the bigger threat, but they're exposed to the walls now.
>>
>>4415140
manlets can probably turn around to protect from any side
>>
>>4414574
>>4414858
>>4414894
>>4415085
If the scouts are only rolling two dice for both marksmanship and fighting, and the enemy archers have a +5 Ranged CD, I think the scouts should used ranged attack on the infantry charging the crossbows. They have Long Range attack as well, no need to get close and risk them for no benefit.
>>
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With how good mantlets are, we should invest in some as well for our crossbowmen. Pavises would be a more mobile alternative, but likely provide a lower bonus to defense. Bonus points for giving a broad surface to advertise or show paintings of the Seven
>>
>>4415164
>(New Benefit) Manlet: often overlooked, manlets are nimble creatures. Take -1D to Persuasion (Seduce) attempts, add +1D to Agility (Dodge) and Agility (Contortions) tests.

>>4415252
I think I stated in a previous thread that I would use the mantlet rules with pavises. It cost 1 wealth per unit to equip them. One of the better upgrades in the book.

Okay. It looks like the heavies will charge the archers with the scouts supporting them after they pop off a volley towards the infantry. The crossbows and cavalry will focus on the infantry. Let's start getting through these rolls... there will be a lot. First off, let's do the actual command rolls. I'll take best of 1 for these. 1 per unit. Command DCs are usually low unless you're stuck with some real shitters.

>Can I get 4 rolls of 5d6 for Warfare (Command)?
>>
Rolled 5, 2, 3, 6, 5 = 21 (5d6)

>>4415308
cummand
>>
Rolled 1, 4, 3, 4, 6 = 18 (5d6)

>>4415308
You forgot -1D to all knowledge tests, for manlets never learn.
>>
Rolled 5, 6, 1, 4, 6 = 22 (5d6)

>>4415308
Here goes nothing
>>
I was surfing the archives and couldn't find the character creation thread for Aurion. Was he pre-generated like Brynden Malroy?
>>
Rolled 6, 4, 3, 4, 3 = 20 (5d6)

>>4415308
>>
>>4415340
No, we did it at the tail end of my first quest. I never archived it since there was no story in the thread.
>>
Surprisingly high rolls. Those should all be successes. Okay, let's start with the units. Scouts first since they're the most complicated. First 2 dice per roll are ranged, last 2 dice are melee.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 4d6 for the Scouts?
>>
Rolled 6, 3, 2, 6 = 17 (4d6)

>>4415353
>>
Rolled 2, 4, 3, 1 = 10 (4d6)

>>4415353
>>
Rolled 5, 6, 4, 5 = 20 (4d6)

>>4415353
>>
>>4415362
>>4415367
>>4415370
Oh hey, they actually did something. Nice.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 3d6 for the crossbows?
>>
Rolled 3, 2, 5 = 10 (3d6)

>>4415370
Nice

>>4415381
Disregard this if you want someone else to roll instead.
>>
Rolled 1, 3, 4 = 8 (3d6)

>>4415381
>>
>>4415389
I don't see a problem with rolling on multiple prompts. Just 1 roll per prompt should be fine.
>>
Rolled 6, 4, 2 = 12 (3d6)

>>4415381
>>
Rolled 6, 4, 1 = 11 (3d6)

>>4415381
>>
>Can I get 3 rolls of 3d6 for the charging cavalry?
>>
Rolled 5, 3, 6 = 14 (3d6)

>>4415420
>>
Rolled 4, 6, 3 = 13 (3d6)

>>4415420
>>
Rolled 3, 2, 6 = 11 (3d6)

>>4415420
>:
>>
Ok. Last batch for now.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 4d6 for the charging heavy infantry?
>>
Rolled 6, 5, 2, 5 = 18 (4d6)

>>4415470
Please some good dice.
>>
Rolled 3, 3, 5, 6 = 17 (4d6)

>>4415470
Here we go! Big roll coming through.
>>
Rolled 6, 1, 4, 3 = 14 (4d6)

>>4415470
>>
I lied. The scouts didn't really do anything. Scouts fucking suck lol. More evidence that Aurion is always right. Continuing in 2 hours.
>>
>>4415602
god damn, a 20 wasn't enough?

This is why heavy infantry and crossbows are the best investment aside from siege weapons, those things were broken in Bordain
>>
>>4415753
It was a great roll, but amounted to an 11 for ranged and 9 for melee. Still enough for 1 degree each, but I hadn't factored in armor vs their shitty dmg when I made that post earlier.

I'm typing stuff up right now, but it may take slightly longer than expected. I wanted to show everyone the unit breakdowns to give a better idea of strengths and weaknesses for the future.
>>
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>>4415776
Ah, jack of all trades, master of none problem. Guess we'd be better off only investing in specialized troops
>>
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You maintain your gaze upon Captain Riccaro. The colorful, olive skinned Braavosi’s waxed mustache raises higher with his cocksure grin. He’s outmaneuvered you and you both know it. Had you crossed him in the Disputed Lands in such a manner, you would have assuredly returned his earlier salute and been on your way. What sort of Free Company Captain would commit to a pitched battle in such conditions? For a distant magister’s vineyards or mines against a rival’s? Not a chance. But Captain Riccaro has made a grave error. This isn’t the Disputed Lands. This is Westeros, the Sunset Kingdoms. The Land of the Glorious Charge. And you are more than a Captain now. Here, you are both Captain and Magister. So much more is at stake. Perhaps you will tell him so if he lives. His smile fades, your intent palpable. He begins rapidly disseminating orders as you do the same. You keep him in your gaze the entire time.

“Lieutenant. Those archers are going to die. You are going to kill them. Have at it. Shields Up Lads,” you call to your Stormbringers. Trios smoothly dismounts and falls into step with their perfectly interlocked formation as they begin their implacable advance.

“Captain, Ser Byron. Loose at the flanking regiment. Captain, one volley. Then you are to immediately break away and rush to the walls. Is that understood?” you spare the scout captain the briefest of glances.

“Yes lord,” he replies. You sense the hesitation, the fear, in his reply. It would disgust you if you had the time or inclination to care. He moves off.

“Ser Wylis,” you say with some added cheer. “I give you and your fine Northmen the honor of breaking our flankers. Wait for the feathers to fall if you please.”

You’re left alone on your mount aside from your “squire,” who does her level best to hold your banner steady. You’ll be sure to tell your actual squire this story one day. That will see your colors never touch the dirt. And the song begins.
>>
>>4415873
>Devils of the Rhoyne Scouts roll 11 vs Veteran Infantry II (CD 5+5). 1 degree.
>3-4= -1 dmg vs 12 HP. Veteran Infantry II are unaffected.

Your loaned scouts begin the storm of arrows and quarrels that fill the rocky valley from so many lines and directions. It’s for the nonce. These Solemn Flames are true and tested veterans, all too quick to adopt a checkered formation in their ordered charge upon your lines. More arrows fall betwixt the formation than upon it, and their charge isn’t slowed in the slightest. But your scouts don’t lose heart, even if they may appear to. They immediately break off in the opposite direction to catch up with the wall of steel of your finest men.
>Byron’s Bows roll 12 vs Veteran Infantry II (CD 5+5). 1 degree.
>5-4= 1 dmg vs 12 HP. Veteran Infantry II are damaged. (11/12 HP).

Ser Byron’s men fare a touch better, but only just. They unleash their crossbows across the field as soon as the scouts clear their ranks. More quarrels go wasted, sliding uselessly across the gravel, but at least some punch home amidst gaps and soft spots of mail byrnies. You click your tongue in annoyance in the face of their continued undeterred charge towards your lines.

>Elite Archers roll 16 vs Stormbringers (CD 5+5). 2 degrees.
>14-9= 5 dmg vs 15 HP. Stormbringers are Damaged. (10/15 HP).

You snap your head around at Dorea’s sharp intake of breath as your men close with the walls and the greater host beneath. Your men are avatars of steel on the battlefield. Nothing will stop their advance. Nothing ever has and with the gods as your witness nothing ever will. But these Solemn Flames are a cut above the rest. How else could they suppress the battlements with such surety? You hear a few pained yells from the cloister of shields after the archers’ disciplined, precise volleys.

>Sharp Point Defenders (Green Archers) roll 9 vs Veteran Infantry I (CD 5). 1 degree
>4-4= 0 dmg vs 12 HP. Veteran Infantry I are unaffected.

The garrisoned archers of Sharp Point, or what’s left of them, take the opportunity to loose some pot shots at the infantrymen racing from the walls to the archers’ aid. It does fuck-all-nothing to their ranks that you can see, but you’ll take a reminder of the Solemn Flames’ growing entrapment delivered by arrowpoint over nothing.
>>
>>4415876
>Manderly Knights roll 14 vs Veteran Infantry II (CD 5). 1 degree.
>(9+2)x2-4= 18 dmg vs 11 HP. Veteran Infantry II are disorganized.
>Veteran Infantry Rally.
>Veteran Infantry II roll 16 vs Manderly Knights (CD 6). 3 degrees.
>5x3-5= 10 dmg vs HP 12. Manderly Knights are Damaged. (2/12 HP).

You turn again at Captain Riccaro’s accented bellowing as the Manderly Knights’ lances find purchase against the encroaching infantry. The charge proves far more effective than the peppering quarrels as the Northern war lances devastate the mail of the infantry and threaten to turn the neat formation into an unruly mob. The good captain gives up his fruitless shouting, worth little in the face of the baritone calls of “MANDERLY” and “WHITE HARBOR” and a dozen other far off places. Instead, the Braavosi takes to his horn and blasts off a long, mournful tone that has his men rallying to give answer. The charge may have faltered, but the line holds and answers in kind with thrusting spears well-suited to retaliating against the stalling cavalry. The next few moments will tell for which force holds and which breaks.

>Elite Archers roll 21 vs Stormbringers (CD 5+5). 3 degrees.
>21-9= 12 dmg vs 10 HP. Stormbringers are Disorganized.

But your attention is dragged back to your own men. Their steel may be unbreakable, but it leaves them ponderous. Slow. Too slow. They’re forced to sup on another wicked volley before their charge slams home and it’s as if the elite archers of the Flatlands were determined to see your Stormbringers pay for their defiance in the face of their onslaught. The charge begins to falter. It’s as if you feel the bodkins slam home. Your rage grows. It’s as if you were swatted across the nose with a palm branch. You spur your courser forward towards their lines and roar your own defiance. The dragon awakens.

STORMBRINGERS. BREAK THEM.

Leader of Men Activated: Stormbringers Rally.
>Stormbringers roll 18 vs Elite Archers (CD 8). 3 degrees.
>(7+3)x3-3=27 dmg vs HP 6. Elite Archers are destroyed.

Your men roar along with you and redouble their efforts at the last moment. The archers break, and not gently. Some stumble backwards. Some run outright. Some reach for blades, arrows, anything. All are cut down in a frenzy of butchery that even has their infantry comrades faltering. It’s all they can do to keep the supporting scouts at bay.

You look to Captain Ricasso. He falters. A weakness.

>You will take his head yourself. Charge him.
>Remain in place. You will humble him as a general.

The dice gods aren't sated yet.
>Can I get 3 rolls of 4d6 for the Manderly Knights to start with?
>>
Rolled 6, 5, 5, 5 = 21 (4d6)

>>4415887
>>Remain in place. You will humble him as a general.
>>
Rolled 4, 3, 4, 3 = 14 (4d6)

>>4415887
>The dragon awakens.
Oh shit.

>Remain in place. You will humble him as a general.
Only because I wanna talk to him after this.
>>
Rolled 2, 6, 3, 1 = 12 (4d6)

>>4415887
>>
Aaaaand can I get 3 rolls of 4d6 for your next heavy infantry charge?
>>
Rolled 1, 1, 1, 2 = 5 (4d6)

>>4415921
>>
Rolled 5, 3, 5, 6 = 19 (4d6)

>>4415921
>>4415923
>>
Rolled 4, 5 = 9 (2d6)

My mistake. That should be 5d6 still as they are pincered. Adding these 2 dice in order to the above posts
>>
Rolled 1, 6, 4, 5 = 16 (4d6)

>>4415921
>>
>>4415929
I'm gonna let other people roll for the rest of the night
>>
Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>4415941
>>
Rolled 1, 2, 1, 6, 4 = 14 (5d6)

>>4415921
>>
Rolled 2, 6, 4, 5, 3 = 20 (5d6)

>>4415932
>>
>Manderly Knights roll 21 vs Veteran Infantry II (CD 5). 4 degrees.
>9x4-4= 32 dmg vs 11 HP. Veteran Infantry II are Destroyed.
>Veteran Infantry II roll 13 vs Manderly Knights (CD 6). 2 degrees.
>5x2-5= 5 dmg vs HP 2/12. Manderly Knights are Disorganized.

The Knights of the North continue their all-out brawl in the midst of the breaking Essosi infantry. Both groups are hardened veterans, but the ferocity of the Northmen proves the better over the professionalism of the foreign spearmen. Those few knights remaining mounted are quick to pursue the rapidly diminishing stragglers. Perhaps a little too quick, but you’ve other concerns at present.

>Veteran Infantry I roll 21 vs Devils of the Rhoyne Scouts (CD 7). 3 degrees.
>5x3-2= 13 dmg vs 12 HP. Scouts are Disorganized.

>Stormbringers roll 24 vs Veteran Infantry I (CD 5). 4 degrees.
>(7+3)x4-4= 36 dmg vs HP 12. Veteran Infantry I are Destroyed.

The last remaining infantry regiment beneath the castle walls proves as tenacious as their dying comrades up the field. They swat back the probing scouts with practiced vigor, having little to fear from the lightly armed and armored backwooders. The paltry formation of the Devils begins to crumble, but you knew it would. All they needed was to hold and they proved adequate for the task.

The hammer falls. These Solemn Flames would’ve passed for heavier infantry across the sea, but your own favored elites have ascended along with you. Lords of the Battlefield. They treat the line of spearmen like the tapestry of a defeated dynasty, rolling up their ranks with contemptuous ease. You remain upon your mount, stock still through the exchange and taking in every motion. As does your peer at the far end of his crumbling lines. He sounds his solemn horn one last time, the death knell of a once great company. His banner falls. A trophy for your hall.

>Can I get 4 rolls of 1d6?
>>
Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>
Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>4415969
Pls
>>
Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>4415969
Here comes a 6!
>>
>>4415972
>>4415971
>>4415970
For the love of God, someone get something better than a two!
>>
>>4415973
No
>>
Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4415969
2
>>
These have +1 from your Master of Arms holding. Aurion might not give them much thought from his POV, but that didn't stop Master Warrick Flint from sending some of his staff to follow the camp.

>>4415970
Trained Crossbows Intact.
>>4415971
Veteran Scouts ----> Trained Scouts
>>4415972
Elite+1 Heavy Infantry Intact (Thanks, Leader of Men)
>>4415975
Veteran Knights Intact. Manderly scoops up the highest roll. This pleases him.
>>
You survey the field as the camp followers scurry down the path towards the waiting wounded. You don’t need their reports to gain a measure of the Butcher’s Bill. All but Ser Byron’s men were battered in this, but not so much as to diminish their readiness for the days to come. Well, except for the scouts. Badics will have to forgive your rough use of them. His under-captains are notoriously independent anyway, fickle even. A few well-placed words and he’ll sing your praises to your fellow Sellsword Lord. You’ll need to speak with Ser Byron as well. True company men or not, you expect those under your banner to perform better. To be sure, their failings were in part due to the nature of the battle. One volley does not make a story… but perhaps it should. At the least, they can repurpose the fancy equipment of the Solemn Flame archers. Crossbowmen do better behind cover.

Those very few surviving Solemn Flames, at least those not too injured to earn a quick mercy killing, are rounded up along with their defeated captain. You call for their banner to be added to your personal effects and continue onwards to the gates of Sharp Point. You think for a moment that this will become yet another occasion in which you’re forced to talk or shout down scared men while at arrowpoint, but the gates begin to unceremoniously creak open without a word on your part. Perhaps actions do speak louder after all.

The garrison commander who receives you is decades younger than the grizzled veteran you’d encountered on your last venture here. Apparently, he was killed by a stray arrow. You don’t know whether to curse or thank the Solemn Flames for that. After all, you did lose two of your finest to this garrison’s panicked indiscipline. And to Lady Cassandra Bar Emmon’s incompetency. Another mark against her and another mark in favor of her niece, who has handled herself remarkably well thus far. This must’ve been her first sight of true battle and yet she’s still clutching your banner. Pale and shaking is a fair sight better look than most upon such an experience. Enough to go unnoted amidst the reigning in of the post-battle chaos.

The castle is yours. What do you intend to do? (Assuming you’ll send word to Ser Barristan at the least)
>Feast with your sub-commanders. It’ll do them good.
>Spend the time rummaging around the castle while the others celebrate. You’re not rushed as you were last time.
>Do both. You’ll probably end up in your cups and won’t explore as much as you could, but you can at least dive into the most obvious areas.
>Something else.
And for Dorea
>Now that you’re safely within the walls, present her as a lady. Make a statement.
>Keep her disguise intact for now.

Continuing tomorrow. Thanks for playing!
>>
>>4416029
>>Do both. You’ll probably end up in your cups and won’t explore as much as you could, but you can at least dive into the most obvious areas.
People have been complaining about about not going for gold much. This is a good half way measure.
>>Keep her disguise intact for now
>>
Damn, I'd hoped the crossbows would level up after a battle. Next time.

>>4416029
>Do both. You’ll probably end up in your cups and won’t explore as much as you could, but you can at least dive into the most obvious areas.
>Keep her disguise intact for now.
I imagine it'll be awkward if we reveal that our squire who had been sleeping in our tent was actually a woman.
>>
>>4416029
>>Do both. You’ll probably end up in your cups and won’t explore as much as you could, but you can at least dive into the most obvious areas
>>Keep her disguise intact for now.
>>
>>4416029
>Spend the time rummaging around the castle while the others celebrate. You’re not rushed as you were last time.
The 'tism is overtaking me. LOOT.
>Keep her disguise intact for now.
No one here matters enough to make a reveal worthwhile and it might distract from LOOT.
>>
>>4416029
How many survivors were there from the Solemn Flame? All told, would there be enough to cobble together a third 2nd from the remains? Maybe this time as a skirmisher unit instead of heavies. They are foreign sell-swords, their company has just been broken to pieces and with their defeat, there is no longer a war going on (excluding the impending capture of Dragonstone); what else are they going to do?

>Do both
>Keep her disguise for now
>>
Didn't the Massey men sack this place pretty good that first time? Why was there a garrison and why were there people still trying to get in? We'd have to question the captives. Maybe the money that was sent to Braavos wasn't for an assassin after all, these guys are Braavosi right? I'm getting a feeling we could be missing out on something big in the LOOT by half assing it.
>>
>>4416054

I would like this to be possible. Though I feel like they won't want to fight alongside the guys who just murdered their friends
>>
>>4416074
Yeah we pretty much destroyed all three units. I'd rather save Power for an actual unit of infantry than use it on mercenaries.
>>
>>4416029
>>Spend the time rummaging around the castle while the others celebrate. You’re not rushed as you were last time.
>Keep her disguise intact for now.
>>
>>4416029

>Spend the time rummaging around the castle while the others celebrate. You’re not rushed as you were last time.

This could be prime time. I'm highly skeptical of the castle inhabitants, it would be nice to quickly question some local leaders on their loyalties/why they were being attacked, or have our subordinates do it.

Basically get a measure of anyone who could be hiding loot.

>Keep the disguise for now

Unless someone comes up with a good reason not to. Seems like a decent card to keep hidden.
>>
>>4416029
>>Spend the time rummaging around the castle while the others celebrate. You’re not rushed as you were last time.
>Keep her disguise intact for now.
I'm less interested in gold than I am information
>>
>>4416036
I'll change the first vote to
>Spend the time rummaging around the castle while the others celebrate. You’re not rushed as you were last time.
>>
>>4416029
>>Do both. You’ll probably end up in your cups and won’t explore as much as you could, but you can at least dive into the most obvious areas.
>Keep her disguise intact for now.
>>
>>4416029
Oh Boggy, do have a specific battle cry for when we’re crushing our enemies before us and for when we’re hearing the “lamentation” of their women I know the other big asoiaf has RUIN as theirs
>>
>>4416055
A lot of good questions I want to find answers to as well.

>>4416054
>>4416074
>>4416078
Idk about others, but since we lost the second to folly and the subsequent recruitment of randumb units, all I wish for is to restore the second regiment of stormbringers. We don't get power from victories but we get wealth, which can be converted 2:1 into power.

>>4416142
Why don't we, players, come up with it?
'Ruin' originates from house Reynold's motto. Lets start with that.
>>
>>4416029
>Do both. You’ll probably end up in your cups and won’t explore as much as you could, but you can at least dive into the most obvious areas.
>Keep her disguise intact for now.

Something to consider is that we may want bannermen/houses and how that will interact with our Free Company.

Beyond the garrisons will they have their forces inducted into the Company with them or on of their house acting as Captain?

Or will we simply try to swell numbers and then fuck off to essos once we have enough ships for easy money in the western parts of essos, thus staying relatively near to the iron throne?

Are we going to finalize a proper contract with the iron throne once we finish up with dragonstone and have that include all these details, like the required numbers, the ability to take other non-conflicting contracts so long as we have x number of men on standby in westeros for emergencies of the crown untill we extricate the bulk out of essos. How will the issue of the contract fare in succession? do we stay out of succession disputes? aid the one standing on the throne, or give the king the ability to transfer our contract to his presumptive heir- and the contract remains in effect so long as the presumptive heir can keep up their end of it?
>>
>>4416250
I agree that we need to restore the 2nd infantry, but I'd raise a fresh loyal unit than pick from these guys whose friends we just slaughtered. Let's see if we get any glory from this which we can convert at 1:1 ratio to power. A military academy sounds like a good idea now, which lets us convert wealth to power at a 1:1 ratio.

>>4416283
Good questions for later. I'd like to know as well.
>>
>>4416294
Military academy does sound nice.


Provided we can offset the wealth engine of town+market+port with constant glory revenue to convert into power.

On the other hand having effectively a free port is interesting as it seems we don't want to do taxes, meaning that the town+market+docs will not directly make us wealth if we don't tax them - we can sidestep it a bit with renting docking space and market stalls and such but we also may ant to go for ancilarry services to not have to do more taxes the required- most likely warehouses for not the dock and the market, with maybe a rail cart line like those used for mines running from the docks through in between the warehouses and then the market. Transport services added to that as well...

On the other hand just whiting out more military units and picking up extra contracts and just get wealth like that.
>>
>>4416250
Alright then, what even are our House Words, or, what are our Free Company’s words?
If we’re working with our Free Company, perhaps Crash could work, I was thinking of Bolt but it’s a little too gentle for a Rout-Word
>>
Just throwing it out there, but since our home island is Stormgrave, how does 'To The Grave' sound? When it's in battle, it means send their enemies to their graves, when otherwise, it's a call to home (back home to Stormgrave)
>>
Also, this Company sacked 3 villages before coming here, they must have some LOOT from that, too. I didn't see it mentioned in the write-up. Either go ourselves or send someone to see to the Solemn Flames' camp for LOOT. Other than that in the castle that is.

Also, if not this night, then the next day talk to Wylis Manderly about how confident he feels in our ability to get him on Dragonstone. We did win from an outnumbered and outmaneuvered position after all. (In no small part due to his knights, compliment him)
>>
Rolled 4, 4 = 8 (2d6)

>>4416055
>Didn't the Massey men sack this place pretty good that first time? Why was there a garrison and why were there people still trying to get in?

That was the dockside hamlet beneath the castle. Those actual Massey men didn't have the strength or stones to directly challenge a castle like Sharp Point, lightly garrisoned or not.

>Maybe the money that was sent to Braavos wasn't for an assassin after all, these guys are Braavosi right?

:^P

>>4416142
I think I used something like "Bring the Storm" for the company before, but that was more due to an absence of a player write-in than any preference on my part. Come up with mottos or names for ships/units and I'll be glad to work them in.

>>4416054
>How many survivors were there from the Solemn Flame?

Good question. Rolls are in the post for the infantrymen. The archers are gone either way.
>>
>>4416689
Veteran Infantry I are down to Green Infantry.

Veteran Infantry II are Destroyed.

So ~100 survivors that have seen better days.
>>
>>4416689
>:^P
Boggs you absolute son of a bitch half my coomer votes were based on the assumption that Cerelle would be dead because we didn't do anything on that end. Now we don't even need to visit Braavos. jk, I love you. You did say in-character that maybe the money wasn't enough for a Faceless man and it was a lesser order of assassins or something else. Guess it was something else then. Though I do wonder why they're out here raiding and not helping in the siege of Stonedance. Something to ask the commander, perhaps.
>>
>>4416716
Didn't we get told about the assassins by Lady Bar Emmon? I guess that her family didn't tell her what they were actually going to use the money for.

In hindsight, why would they spend that much just to kill the wife of a minor noble? Cassandra was already engaged, so it's not like they planned to join our houses with her marrying us. Killing her would hurt us emotionally and delay an heir to Stormgrave, but it'd have been better to kill us
>>
>>4416784
Yeah I'll go back and re read that conversation again.
>>
>>4416029
>>Spend the time rummaging around the castle while the others celebrate. You’re not rushed as you were last time.
>Keep her disguise intact for now.
>>
Okay, so Cleo is the one who told us about the dowry first,

>“I wasn’t finished. My sweet Constance’s friend. That ‘lady.’ Tell me. Where is her dowry? Do you have it?” Cleo asks.
>“We sort of left in a hurry… in their coffers I’d hope?” you cut in.
>“Then why has coin crossed the sea, my sea, to those who take coin for but one purpose?” she presses.
>“Who?” you demand.
>“Braavos. I am well-liked there, you know this. That leaves a few options. I know not which. Such would cost me,” she answers.

Then we caught Constance peeping on us and Cerelle, and she said this

>“I see little reason why not. He has already received her dowry and she will be destitute without some leniency from the crown. House Massey is still in favor,” she says.
>“Who told you of the dowry?” you ask. She’d already left the room when Cleo brought that up.
>“Lady Cassandra did… who else could have known?” she answers.

Then lastly we confronted Cassandra herself and intimidated her

>She drops to floor with a look of shock and what might be betrayal as her tears run freely. “I never meant you any harm. Truly, you must believe me. I only thought… well…”
>“Say it,” you command, starting to lose your patience.
>“Icouldmakeyoualord,” she blurts out.
>“What?”
>“I could make you a lord. A true one. Honest,” she practically babbles.
>“How? I’m a man wed and you’re hardly in a position to---” you stop and look at her as it falls into place. Such surety from an unsure girl. You hear the pounding of drums in your ears as old words come to mind unbidden.
>You feel genuine dread as you jolt back to the present.
>“The assassin. The one bought with your dowry. That’s not for me, is it?”
>She shakes her head. “I told you, I mean you no harm… I overheard them talking of it and--- are you well? Ser? What are we to do?” she calls to you as you stride from the room, leaving her on the floor.

Then Boggs said in a comment:
>I could've been more clear on a few parts. It's not her plan, it was enacted by Maldon/House Massey just before she took the reigns. She just kept her mouth shut, content enough with letting things play out. That's what she meant by overhearing. I'll leave the why for another time.
>>
>>4416853
So she overhead them talking about the basilisk assassination plan and mistook the use of the dowry as an attempt to hire more. Braavos do become sellswords fairly often, so the mistake is understandable.
>>
>>4416439
>>4416487
I wanna check one of the previous threads where Boggs described the induction ritual and work that into the motto or the battle cry.

'To the grave' sounds fatalistic or it is just me.

>>4416689
I like "Bring the Storm" as the company motto. As for house words we could use something like "Through storms and tides".

>>4416604
Good points and I'd like us to do that.
>Compliment Wylis
>Check the Flames' camp, order the scouts to look for it if need be, but keep an eye on them - send Ser Byron with them to oversee, perhaps.
>>
>>4416920
Is it though? At the time of the basilisk venom plot we weren't married or betrothed. The venom was for us. The later discussion regarding sending money for sellswords also has no connection to Cerelle. Where did Cassandra get the idea that the supposed assassins weren't for Aurion, but his wife. It has to be specific, and she was completely sure that the wife would die. Other than her saying it, there's no evidence so far that the plot was against Cerelle and not Aurion. But then there's Boggs' comment, which makes me doubt it all.
>>
Rolled 3, 5, 2, 3 = 13 (4d6)

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

>>4417093
Interesting.
>>
Rolled 3, 2, 2, 2 = 9 (4d6)

>>4417093
>>4417094
And one more...
>>
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>inb4 LOOT roll
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>>4417103
Oh, right.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 4d6 for Awareness (Notice)?
>>
Rolled 3, 6, 3, 1 = 13 (4d6)

>>4417106
>>
Rolled 5, 4, 1, 4 = 14 (4d6)

>>4417106
>tfw the DM does random rolls behind his screen
>>
Rolled 6, 4, 6, 4 = 20 (4d6)

>>4417106
diddncnuffin
>>
>>4417111
>>4417119
>>4417127
Nice 20.

Ok, I don't like blue-balling people on rolls like this, but I wanted to do them openly since they're important. I was just giving myself time to write, but the lack of transparency is nagging at me, so here it is:
>>4417093
Assassin in the Westerlands. Base DC 12+3 from Cadre = DC 15. Failed.
>>4417094
Cerelle's counter roll. 1 degree = assassin killed, 2+ degrees = assassin captured alive. 21 vs a roll of 13, 2 degrees of success.
>>4417096
This one we will get to tonight. Suffice to say it's a bit closer to home. Obviously a 9 isn't very good... for them.
>>
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>>4417143
>Cerelle is alive
>It's an abstract kind of feel

I'm praying the 9 was Barristan's diplomacy roll for the Stonedance garrison to surrender.
>>
>>4417143

Wow the Cadre worked
>>
>>4417143
thank god, maybe people will be less coomers now that the wife is safe
>>
>>4417168
The path between a coomer and a dutiful husband is like walking a tightrope for Aurion. unfortunately, Aurion is blind in one eye...
>>
>>4417143
Based
>>
>>4417168
Nah we’ll just be less open about it
>>
Your Stormbringers and House Manderly’s knights feast together in the round drum hall of Sharp Point. The scouts and crossbowmen also partake, but they have to make do with the encampments sprouting up within the bailey. There simply isn’t room for everyone in the hall and there is a pecking order in these sorts of things. You doubt there’s a group of stick shooters in the realm that can claim to match the pedigree of the Knights of White Harbor or who can rival the sheer reputation your favored men have been building. They’re still far better accommodated than the survivors of the Solemn Flames, who are left out in the mud against the wall with a sizable guard.

But you’ve a different sort of celebrating in mind. While your men busy themselves emptying Lady Cassandra’s cellars, you aim to see to her coffers and whatever else you might come across. Perhaps you’ll celebrate with your guide as well… she should be drawing a bath for you. Purely a squirely duty. Nothing odd about that. Not at all. But first…

You speak heartily with Ser Wylis as you walk with him to the high dais, insisting he takes the place of honor himself. “A fine showing, my friend. Your knights are a fearsome lot and all the more so under your leadership. Your lord father will be proud, I’m sure,” you say as you clap him on the shoulder.

The burly young knight positively beams under the praise. From what you gather, this was his first major sortie in a leadership role. You’d thought his father a simple glutton and sot, but it’s passing clever of him to build up his heir like this. A notion you’re all too happy to contribute to, given the hefty man’s up-front payments and the usefulness of his loaned men.

“To House Manderly and House Shryke! To the Stormbringers!” you shout over the din, raising a goblet with one hand and Ser Wylis’s arm with another. The men roar their approval over the simple words and cheer as you down your goblet in one go. A new serving wench quickly moves to refill it, but you wave her off. You have other matters… but you do make a note of her olive-skinned complexion. Curious. Too curious. Obvious, even. You favor her with a warm smile.

>Call her out here and now.
>Take your leave and see if she follows. You can handle a lone woman yourself.
>Move on and drop a mention to your more trusted men on the way out. They’ll nab her with little incident.
>Something else.
>>
>>4417516
I'm interested in pursuing further, but will this interfere with our rummaging for LOOT?
>>
>>4417523
It shouldn't. This is the 9 from above in action.
>>
>>4417516
>Take your leave and see if she follows. You can handle a lone woman yourself.
Well then, here's hoping it's her fighting roll.
>>
>>4417516
>Take your leave and see if she follows. You can handle a lone woman yourself.
>>
>>4417516
>Take your leave and see if she follows. You can handle a lone woman yourself.
>>
>>4417516
>Take your leave and see if she follows. You can handle a lone woman yourself.
>>
“I leave the feasting in your capable hands, ser,” you tell Ser Wylis before moving on. Best not to spoil the mood. These men drew blood today at your behest, your enemies’ and their own in some cases, while you’ve yet to draw your blade at all. You can handle a lone woman, especially one so sloppy. You exit the hall at a leisurely pace, humming an old marching tune. You stop humming for a moment and hear hurried footsteps on stone. You take the nearest staircase for the main tower, making no attempt to mask your route.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 3d6 for Agility (Quickness)?
>>
Rolled 1, 5, 6 = 12 (3d6)

>>4417580
Damn I didn't remember our Agility was only 3.
>>
Rolled 2, 6, 4 = 12 (3d6)

>>4417580
>>
Rolled 4, 1, 5 = 10 (3d6)

>>4417580
>>
You wait around the first bend. That’s the thing about these castle staircases, their upward spirals are reversed from what you’d expect. It’s a feature you’ve only ever found on this side of the Narrow Sea, where seats of power are built for function over form. It gives those defending the upper reaches free use of their sword arms with their right sides on the outer spiral and their left sides partially around the bend. The attackers are left awkwardly scraping around the bend with their right arms or forced to fight with their off hands. Unless they’re some left-handed oddity. You know all of this, how could you not? But does an Essosi?

>Rolled 12 vs opposing roll of 12. Tied initiative.

You hear your quarry’s footsteps on the stone again as she cautiously ascends. At her shadow on the wall, you leap down a step with blade to the fore… only to be matched by a stiletto inside your guard. She’s fast, instinctual… and wide-eyed. The dark, mythical metal of your sword is a hand’s width from her neck. You are at each other’s mercy. Well, to an extent. You are wearing armor and she is not. You’ve been poked before and could likely shrug off another poke unless this sneak had the wit to poison her blade

>Try to talk her down, she has to see she’s failed. You're not opposed to sparing her life if she yields now. (Convince)
>Try to talk her down. You aren't exactly feeling merciful, but she doesn't need to know that. (Deception: Bluff)
>Fight. You like your odds.
>>
>>4417638
>>Fight. You like your odds.
>>
>>4417638
>Try to talk her down. You're not exactly feeling merciful, but she doesn't need to know that. (Deception: Bluff)
>>
>>4417638
>>Try to talk her down. You aren't exactly feeling merciful, but she doesn't need to know that. (Deception: Bluff)
>>
>>4417638
>Fight. You like your odds.

I don't care if this is a bad idea. All this jerking around by schemers and my man needs to hit someone.
>>
>>4417638
>Fight. You like your odds.
>>
>>4417638
>Try to talk her down, she has to see she’s failed. You're not opposed to sparing her life if she yields now. (Convince)
>>
>>4417638

>Try to talk her down. You aren't exactly feeling merciful, but she doesn't need to know that. (Deception: Bluff)
>>
>>4417638
>Fight. You like your odds.
The odds of successfully subduing her in a fight is better than bluffing.
>>
4-3-1

>Can I get 3 rolls of 5d6+2?
>>
Rolled 4, 1, 6, 3, 3 + 2 = 19 (5d6 + 2)

>>4417753
RIP nameless lady.
>>
Rolled 6, 3, 2, 5, 6 + 2 = 24 (5d6 + 2)

>>4417753

Gooo 22
>>
>>4417758
Lol wtf. How
>>
Rolled 1, 2, 3, 2, 2 + 2 = 12 (5d6 + 2)

>>4417753
>>
>>4417762

Had a feeling
>>
>>4417758
neat
>>
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>Rolled 22 vs CD 10. 3 degrees. 21 dmg vs 0 AR, 9 HP. 3/3 Injuries taken, -3 HP remaining. (Assassins are secondary characters, so they may take injuries but not wounds).
>Assassin rolled 12 vs CD 8. 1 degree. 4 dmg+2 piercing vs 7 AR. Aurion is unscathed.

An effeminate poker is pointed at your scales by a wide-eyed sneak. This? This is supposed to humble you? This? You bare your teeth at the waif in a mad approximation of a smile that you just know is more akin to the expressions of the beasts of legend your ancestors rode to break the world. You both move, fear and desperation clashing impotently against surety of purpose.

She’s fast, you’ll give her that. The stiletto jabs out at you in a blur. You barely register the useless clinks against your scales while you slash with vicious overhanded blows. The waif cries out and stumbles back as your ancient blade bites deep into her shoulder. She throws up her arms in a vain attempt to block the next downward cut to her face and loses her stiletto and a couple fingers for the trouble. The next cut opens her cheek and has her rolling backwards down the steps in shock. You give a contemptuous snort and descend the steps, ready to finish what you’ve started, but there is no need. She’s out cold, but you don’t think you’ve killed her unless the stones opened her skull. A couple of watchmen come hurrying down the hallway, likely from the noise she made, and gape at the sight of you standing over her.

“Clean this up. And call for a healer. I’ve questions for this one and I will be displeased if she doesn’t make it through the night,” you order. The guards are quick to obey, no doubt word of this will quickly spread through the castle, but that’s a trivial matter.
>>
>>4418002
There’s nothing like a good fight to warm the blood, and warmed blood puts you in a mind to celebrate your triumph. But first, you stop by Lady Cassandra’s quarters. Well, they would be her old quarters now that she is the lady of the castle, but you doubt the servants have troubled to rearrange things in the absence of leadership here. You know the right door from your last visit. A proper highborn lady should have her fair share of fine jewels, and you know she didn’t have the time or the foresight to grab them last time. You checked. Hells, she’s the only lady of this old house, so she should have all the old jewels. Well… there is another lady of the house down the hall. It’s only fair she should have some too. Perhaps you’ll bedeck the lady of the castle’s niece in jewels and nothing else.

You glance about the noble lady’s room, still in a disarray from your hurried flight. Clothes, garments, other silky things. No jewels. They’ve other rooms, don’t they? Cerelle does. Where else would they keep all this shit? There’s a side door… a privy. Lovely. But there’s another beyond it. It’s locked, so you kick it in. A dressing room, to be sure. There’s a large mirror that would fetch a pretty price if you could be bothered to carry such a thing… but more importantly, there’s a chest. This is good, you like chests of all types. This one is locked too, but you’ve a sword and no time for keys. You hack at it until the lock breaks. Your grin widens and your eyes glitter as they reflect the contents within.

I loved a maid as fair as summer
with sunlight in her hair.

I loved a maid as red as autumn
with sunset in her hair.

I loved a maid as white as winter
with moonglow in her hair.


You’re still singing as you burst through the door to the lord’s chambers with a rolled-up tapestry under arm. Dorea sits up with a start from her place upon the canopy bed. She’s cleaned herself at some point and now wears an ill-fitted blue doublet with tight black hose. You’d told her to keep to the men’s clothing, but you must admit she couldn’t have chosen a less provocative set of leggings.

“My lady has fine taste in attire,” you cheerfully greet while you roll out the gaudy swordfish tapestry, spilling generations of sparkling jewelry across the floor. Combs of ivory and jade, earrings of all shapes and sizes, necklaces of pearl and diamond and sapphires. Oh, the sapphires… the sweet, sweet sapphires. It’s enough to make you wish you had some blue in your heraldry. Your fingers all sport new rings and yet there are still dozens laying about. “I would see you out of it,” you add at her shocked expression.
>>
>>4418004
“My lord… you’re wounded!” she looks pale. Too little food, you think. Her mother should have fed her more. What sort of kitchen wench raises a skinny daughter? Where is the justice in that? You reach up and touch your face and find it sticky. Your finger is red when you examine it.

“Ah. An assassin. Their blood, not mine,” you shrug and stride over to the bath. “Your eyes look blue with that doublet. This water is far too cold.”

“I drew it when you said… my lord are you well?” she asks while you’re dragging a brazier closer to the copper tub to heat it.

“Never better,” you dismissively respond, splashing water on your face from a metal basin and shrugging out of your armor at last. Satisfied, you cross the room to her again. She still hasn’t touched the jewels. You kiss her and start working her over to the fireside sofa. It’s closer than the bed. She kisses you back but gentler. You have up her against the sofa with her hose down around her ankles in an instant, pausing only to admire the slight bounce of her pale cheeks as you put her on display.

“Wait,” she suddenly finds her voice and awkwardly spins away to seat herself bare arsed on the furnishings. You stand over her, puzzling at the shift.

She takes a deep breath as if to steel herself. “I’ve some words first,” she says with a determined look. Her stormy grey eyes look green by the fire. You wave her on, at a loss.

“What we did. What we’re doing… I never thought this’d happen,” she says. “This isn’t what I prayed for. This isn’t what I promised.”

“Right…” you seat yourself across from her. “Now I’ve heard the first part before, but not the last. You did want all this, yeah?”

“Yes. No. Both,” she answers with some exasperation. “All my life I’ve heard telling I’m a creature of sin. Born’ve lust and passions and baser things. Everyone said it. My ma said it… I think she never wanted me… and Septa Ignus said it too. She was good to me. Taught me letters and said I could be something more, least in the eyes’ve the gods. I liked that, so I tried not to have those baser thoughts and prayed hard. ‘m eight and ten now… I think. And I didn’t touch none’ve the boys and the Rambtons won’t have raping in the kitchens, so I was doing good by it. Cept Lady Tysane didn’t like seeing my face so I got slapped sometimes, but that’s not so bad next to some… I prayed every day I might find some good man like my father to wed me elsewise I’d take vows and be happy with that.”
>>
>>4418008
“Then you came along. With more men’d I’ve ever seen at your back. We was all looking out through the stakes and all I could see with all that was you. That big one that’d done for Ser Rambton and Ser Barristan Selmy just riding by you like that’s some normal sight,” she half-laughs at the memory and clasps her shaking hands in her lap. “And then Ser Rambton got killed and my ma rushed me off and had me dressing like Septa Ignus and staying with the little lady. We were so scared. And two’ve yours come and try to rape me and that sad looking one comes in and plucks out one’s eyes quick’s anything. So, you come into the room and you smile at me and I get this warm feeling. Like it’s all gonna to go back to how it was. And I see your eyes. I don’t know how to explain it… you’re just gonna think I’m a stupid wench…”

“Not at all. Go on,” you urge. You’d protest the “two’ve yours” bit, those were Redfort knights, but you’ve never heard the like of this and want to see where she’s going with it all.

“It was like I was’n front of the Seven, may they forgive me for saying,” she quickly adds. “Like the septa’s robes were stripped away and I was naked or wanted to be naked and wanted you to say my name. And then you just went and smiled and named me for my father’s blood and said I had pretty eyes. Like you’d heard my thoughts… then you took me with you. When we were alone in the tent and you looked at me like that again, I couldn’t help myself. I promised I wouldn’t have no bastards. I promised I’d not act like a bastard, all lustful like that… but I loved it. I loved you, more’n anything. But I hear talk… they all talk about you. How you fought an elephant naked, and you killed men with your roar earlier. How you’ve this pretty highborn wife with gold hair and a little one now maybe. But what’s that make me to you? Just another bastard, a camp whore? Something to leave behind?”

“What do you want?” you ask.

“To be with you. To not get left behind,” Dorea bluntly replies

But what do you want?

>She was just a bit of fun and that hasn’t changed. Maybe you can find her a husband after all this. Break it to her gently. (Persuasion)
>She’d probably believe just about anything from you right now. Promise her what she wants to hear. If you can’t follow through, well, that’s probably still not going to be your problem. (Deception)
>You’re actually quite fond of her and aren’t looking to discard her after this campaign. You’ll find a way to keep her around if that’s what she wants. (Basically the paramour option)
>Something else.

Sorry that took so long. I got carried away trying to express how someone from Dorea’s background would see someone with as many “larger than life” qualities as Aurion from their POV. I’ll close the vote tomorrow. Thanks for playing!
>>
>>4418010
>She was just a bit of fun and that hasn’t changed. Maybe you can find her a husband after all this. Break it to her gently. (Persuasion)
Maybe we can set her up with the Sir Yew, not sure where he is in his family, might be below his station. We could give her some of the jewels as a dowry either way
>>
>>4418010
>You’re actually quite fond of her and aren’t looking to discard her after this campaign. You’ll find a way to keep her around if that’s what she wants. (Basically the paramour option)

I think a wholesome reverse trap bastard paramour to take on the road is the best way to settle the coomer wars with an armistice. I say this as one who has voted yes on every seduce vote. Well played Boggs. Well played.
>>
>>4418010
>She was just a bit of fun and that hasn’t changed. Maybe you can find her a husband after all this. Break it to her gently. (Persuasion)
Cerelle is going to see through any bullshit. And she might even have the girl killed. Can't be bringing home conquests
>>
>>4418050
It's not like they would share the same bed or even the same table. A cottage outside the castle would be fine. Some place to get away from time to time, drink rum, and bang it out on the wrong side of the sheets. Cerelle is smarter than Aurion so it's not like he's going to fool her in the long term. But she also seems like the practical sort. Why wouldn't she prefer for him to keep a single mistress instead of having to worry about him whoring it up on the road or fucking the wrong lord's wife?
>>
>>4418010
Dammit Boggs! Some anon caught her on a whim and an unlikely roll and now you've gone and made me care for her. I don't want to discard her, but as anon above me said, Cerelle 'Cunning 6' Lydden will sniff her out, and I don't want something bad to happen to her. And as much as I too have voted for the Seduce options and jokingly prayed for Cerelle's death, I don't want Aurion to fuck up his marriage too much. Bringing Dorea as a paramour will just be a distraction from Cerelle, and she needs support right now with a new baby.

Alright, so write-in
>Break it to her, but more gently: be honest and say while this started as just a bit of fun, we actually became fond of her so quickly. But while wives may accept men taking a lover during war, Cerelle won't accept us bringing a lover home, and she's a cunning sort. So as much as we'd like to bring her home, this dalliance will have to end once we're back in Stormgrave. Apologize to her if we've ruined her life and offer her the jewels as a dowry or if she wants to take the vows as a septa, we could pull some strings with the Faith and have her situated comfortably.

I know this probably won't win but I'd prefer it over just discarding her as a bit of fun or keeping her and risk being found out by Cerelle. If she ever finds out it'll be a complete deal breaker for her and our marriage will be effectively over.
>>
>>4418010
>>She was just a bit of fun and that hasn’t changed. Maybe you can find her a husband after all this. Break it to her gently. (Persuasion)
>>
>>4418088
Hmm, ditto, who knows we could even get her placed in our Septa
>>
>>4418010
>She was just a bit of fun and that hasn’t changed. Maybe you can find her a husband after all this. Break it to her gently. (Persuasion)
Fun is over it seems

Don’t set her up with a man near us though - can’t have it getting back to us.

Maybe a merchant in Kings Landing
>>
>>4418010
>She was just a bit of fun and that hasn’t changed. Maybe you can find her a husband after all this. Break it to her gently. (Persuasion)
Maybe if our wife died, but she didn't
>>
All this fretting over Cerelle all of the sudden. Modern sentiments right back to the front when the dice fall. What a surprise. Ok. Still skipping over 2 things.

The vote to try to elevate Dorea over her aunt. Letting her down right now is the closest thing to breaking up with her. That is the worst option for seeing a person truly loyal to us ruling this neighboring house. Or are we going to have a push to ignore that vote too?

This whole "but muh marriage" argument is confusing. So Cerelle is so smart that she is going to be sniffing out and I guess murdering mistresses now? Ok. But she's still oblivious to us leaving her to die because we'd rather take our chances with her and the baby than miss out on feasting and warring? That's the reality of our decisions and she's had the time to think about it. I'm going to be shocked if she is still a fan when she gets back. Enjoy that cold bed with no where else to put it I guess. Crazy to see the 180 after all the recent votes though.
>>
>>4418140
Blatant metafagging. Weeeeeeeeee

Absolutely psychotic btw. "It's okay to cheat as long as I've written her off for dead but if she lives then I want my toy back without her being cross with me."
>>
>>4418151
Hey man I voted for Seduce every time and I'm still voting for breaking it off. My reason is that these two women we seduced were out on the campaign trail and this vote is for bringing one home permanently. In the previous vote after Aurion fucked Selena Darry the options were between staying loyal, keeping a paramour and living life to the fullest. Living life to the fullest won then, I voted for it too, taking it to mean that we take our chance whenever we're out of the house, but nothing at home.

Cerelle has been offstage for a while and many anons may have written her off for dead because we didn't do that much. But it's not like we didn't do anything at all. We got a healer for her and sent the cadre with her (which ultimately saved her life, she'd be dead without that +3 DC) So we do care for her. And now she'll be back with a baby, our heir. I see this decision in line with our previous vote to have flings away from home, but no permanent paramour. Unless she turns cold anyway due to our inaction as you say, I hope it doesn't happen, but we'll reexamine our position then.
>>
>>4418010
>You’re actually quite fond of her and aren’t looking to discard her after this campaign. You’ll find a way to keep her around if that’s what she wants. (Basically the paramour option)
>>
>>4418010
>She’d probably believe just about anything from you right now. Promise her what she wants to hear. If you can’t follow through, well, that’s probably still not going to be your problem. (Deception)
>>
>>4418010
>She was just a bit of fun and that hasn’t changed. Maybe you can find her a husband after all this. Break it to her gently. (Persuasion)
I do like her, but I'm not really interested in having a paramour. I agree with >>4418182 that just doing stuff on the campain trail is best.
>>
>>4418088
I support this write-in.
>Apologize to her if we've ruined her life and offer her the jewels as a dowry or if she wants to take the vows as a septa, we could pull some strings with the Faith and have her situated comfortably.
We've had a good time but this is not a permanent arrangement and never was going to be.

>>4418151
>The vote to try to elevate Dorea over her aunt. Letting her down right now is the closest thing to breaking up with her. That is the worst option for seeing a person truly loyal to us ruling this neighboring house. Or are we going to have a push to ignore that vote too?
Her aunt is a bit simple but can be controlled. There is no reason to replace her with Dorea. It is not worth the effort.
>>
>>4418268
Giving her all the jewels is ridiculous. I support giving her a couple, but don't go overboard please
>>
Some good points all around. The vote is still open, but I'd like to add/clarify a few things where you should have IC knowledge.

First, what is a paramour here? A mistress, discreet or open, but just the one mistress. As far as social acceptability goes, they're pretty much on par with bastards. Something more or less under the umbrella of "lords will be lords," but not to be discussed overmuch in polite company either. That's why you hear about both more with Dorne where openness of such things is (somewhat) more acceptable.

I think this is where some modern sentiments do come into play. Not so much with Aurion, I think he's been played rather fairly, but with thoughts on Cerelle and probably some other NPCs. I'd like to clear things up a little just because there should be a better sense of this IC from someone who grew up in this world: I'm not going to write some dramatic, emotional blow up from her that has you sleeping on the couch. Well, unless you were to do something particularly egregious like give her a pox or publicly embarrass her at a feast or something. That's just not how things are done here, not from a proper lady who has been warned time and again of the character flaws of men like Aurion. Would she be completely cool with it? No. Definitely don't expect an invitation to share beds... preferably not even castles. The rest is varying shades of out of sight, out of mind. I tried to show that in your conversation with her over Cleo (in thread 4 after the wedding) where her focus was predominantly on appearances. It bugged her a little since the timing was obvious to her, but she got over it when it was clear you weren't going to make it into something that would disrupt her life or reputation. She's not Cersei.

She's not an indulgent robot either. There are shades to all this, and obviously just staying true is going to win you the most affection from her, but flipping the switch back to dutiful husband is borderline out of character after recent votes. Not without some meaningful event. Maybe after he holds his kid or something, I don't know gods forbid he has a girl, now that would be some karma. A paramour is better than whoring. Whoring might just be better than bending over your lady hostess, if only just. Bastards or merchants' daughters are seen as preferable to smallfolk. They're cleaner, or at least that's the perception. Smallfolk (tavern wenches and the like) are going be preferable to married noble ladies. It's a rivalry thing with a dash of scandal potential.

I hope this helps. Oh, and no metagaming. That shit is like half a notch down from samefagging in my eyes and really saps my enjoyment when I see it. I was okay with putting those dice up there because I trusted that to not come into play here. Don't prove me wrong.
>>
>>4418270
I don't know if you can answer this, but will Cerelle take active measures to discover if Aurion is having affairs? Like if we install Dorea as a junior septa in training under Septon Boremund in the newly built sept in the hamlet, and she never enters the castle, will Cerelle give Aurion grief over long prayer sessions on Sundays?
>>
>>4418010
>>She was just a bit of fun and that hasn’t changed. Maybe you can find her a husband after all this. Break it to her gently. (Persuasion)
>>
>>4418010
>>She was just a bit of fun and that hasn’t changed. Maybe you can find her a husband after all this. Break it to her gently. (Persuasion)
>>
>>4418287
Not really, unless it becomes a problem for her. There's a decent chance she'd figure it out anyway because you all went and picked the smart one. I should stress, there's a difference between her being relatively okay with an occasional trek of yours to a nearby cottage, to use the example above, and her not caring at all about affairs. A good part of this flexibility is from your marriage being in its early stages. You're still sort of setting the tone. She didn't marry you for love, she married you because she saw an opportunity to be her own master in a way. Her Goal is Freedom. Of course, the strong mutual attraction helped a lot and she finds Aurion's eccentric personality to be oddly endearing, but there was a sort of underlying transactional nature to this. The love has been growing, but it's a tenuous thing. If you want busty blonde milf afternoon delight at your leisure, then keep growing it and make her feel like she's all you want. With her cunning, the line between feeling and knowing gets very blurred. If you're cool with bedding her a little less frequently, but still having the option there on good nights, then probably keep to at least some sort of tolerable routine in an affair. If you don't mind your interactions with her being strictly professional, then go make the eight.

But that's not quite how being a septa would work for Dorea. She'd be a novice in a septry for a while first. The Faith knows from experience that sticking a novice septa in a lord's castle is just asking for trouble and your sept is currently located within the walls. It was the chapel holding.
>>
>>4418010
>>She was just a bit of fun and that hasn’t changed. Maybe you can find her a husband after all this. Break it to her gently. (Persuasion)
I like the idea of Aurion being the type to keep his indiscretions to his business trips.
>>
>>4418303
Thanks for clarifying that. It makes sense. It's a shame about Dorea, but I'll keep it in mind for future situations. It just raises more questions in what if scenarios in my mind though, not exactly related to the path we've taken. Like what if we had picked someone like Constance who is not so good at Cunning? Would she be blissfully unaware of our affairs? On that note, if we keep the indiscretions to the campaigns only, will Cerelle still find out?

Feel free not to answer these if it spoils too much. Thanks for answering so far anyway.
>>
>>4418325
I don't mind answering questions. In settings like this, people (understandably) have their own head canons for what is and isn't ok in social situations. Since I'm largely the one controlling the NPCs, I'd rather break it out from my point of view so everyone can make informed decisions. Constance, yeah you'd be fine. She has the naive drawback and would rather convince herself Aurion had good intentions or that there's a misunderstanding. Someone like her but a little less naive? Just don't be dumb about it and you'd probably still be fine. But hey, they'd be lackluster at managing a household, so there's that.

If you keep it just to campaigns... I can't fully answer that because there's a whole range of possibilities you could get up to if you put your mind to it. Depends on what you're willing to risk, I guess.
>>
Seems like a clear enough vote.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 8d6 for Charm? Roll high.
>>
Rolled 5, 2, 5, 3, 2, 4, 5, 6 = 32 (8d6)

>>4418555
>Roll high.
Ok
>>
Rolled 6, 5, 1, 4, 2, 6, 1, 1 = 26 (8d6)

>>4418555
:(
>>
Rolled 4, 6, 3, 4, 5, 5, 6, 3 = 36 (8d6)

>>4418555
You're too good to us after that metagaming.
>>
>>4418571
Whew. At least I made her feel better? I'll take it.
>>
>>4418571
Good night sweet lady. I wish it didn't have to end this way.
>>
>>4418555
Well, at least we didn't hurt her feelings too much. Still feel bad for her though.
>>
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>33 vs DC 18. That’ll be 4 degrees. You needed 3. Now you get to choose, you charming bastards and bastard charmers.

“To be with me…” you mull over the words. “Those things you’ve heard of me, they’re mostly true I think. I do have a wife now, and gods know I hope a child too. All that and this bloody lordship’s come with more courtliness than I’d ever wanted to stomach, so I thought it’d be good harmless fun to let loose on campaign like I did in my younger days… well it has been fun, living life the way it’s meant to be lived. Trouble is, as fond of you as I am, I can’t go bringing you with me back to hearth and home. My lady wife is freakish clever. She’d sniff you out one way or another and that’s not fair to either of you. Not saying she’d go and punish you, but do you want a new mother fretting over mistresses?”

“No, that’s not what I want. I’m not trying to be a home wrecker…” Dorea admits, looking a little abashed at the thought.

“I didn’t think so. We’ve just not thought this through, yeah? I’ve this paymaster… difficult, nagging woman. More than you’d ever believe. She does this thing where she talks me through all these different paths when I’m of a mind to go get things done. There’s a certain merit to it, though. Now… following me around like some sort’ve paramour is a bad idea for all of us. We know that. So, what does that leave us? I do want to make this as right as I’m able. Those jewels over there are House Bar Emmon’s. You’re half a Bar Emmon, so it’s not stealing if you get some of your own. We could sell a few pieces and see about setting you up with a nice dowry with some ---”

“No,” she actually cuts you off and gives you a determined look. “I’ve already given myself to you. I’m not looking for no other husband. My ma said my father did this. He was a squire when he got her with me, so his father had him offer up some dowry coin. But she only wanted him, so she refused, and she was never happy with no man after that.”

“Sounds like she should’ve just taken the coin. Least that would’ve helped you both…” you can’t help the comment and half-expect her to take it poorly, but she just ponders it for a while.
>>
>>4418733
“That would’ve made her his whore, that’s what she told me when she was in her cups… but it might be you’re right. Better’n eating leavings in the kitchens…” she nods and gets to her feet… and pulls off what’s left of her clothes. She struts over to the pile of jewels, making you painfully aware of every curve you missed in the darkness of the tent. She bends over, puts on just a necklace, and turns to face you at last.

“You took me and I’m yours. Only yours. I’ll be your whore if that’s what it takes, only for you. I’ll take this necklace and buy a cottage by the sea some place… but no whore I’ve ever heard of is worth real gold coins and my ma didn’t raise a thief. I’ll earn this necklace tonight and if I’m still not good enough for it, then you--- you come and visit me when it please you. Fair, my lord?”

“And if that’s not what I want?” you ask as you marvel over the sheer stubborn audacity of it all. She stands nude and proud before you, hands on her hips and clad in only the sapphire necklace. This might be the first time you’ve been propositioned after giving a woman “the talk.”

“Then I’ll thank you to keep your necklace and I’ll go to whatever septry that’ll still have me. And I’ll pray for you and your babe. And your lady wife. But this is what I want,” she adds.

Well?

>If she insists on earning that necklace, then you’re happy to oblige her.
>She should take her vows.

I’m posting this early so that it doesn’t get in the way of what I wanted to get to tonight. There won’t be any hard feelings either way and she’s dropping the paramour part, so no need to worry about this backfiring.
>>
>>4418735
>>If she insists on earning that necklace, then you’re happy to oblige her.
>>
>>4418735
>If she insists on earning that necklace, then you’re happy to oblige her.
>>
>>4418735
>If she insists on earning that necklace, then you’re happy to oblige her
>>
>>4418735
>>She should take her vows.
I feel bad about this one. But I don't want a bunch of bastards running around.
>>
>>4418735
>>If she insists on earning that necklace, then you’re happy to oblige her.

Her peasant speak is grating but I do like her though.
>>
>>4418735
>>She should take her vows.
we need all the prayers we can get
>>
>>4418735
>>If she insists on earning that necklace, then you’re happy to oblige her.
>>
>>4418735
>>If she insists on earning that necklace, then you’re happy to oblige her.
>>
>>4418735
>If she insists on earning that necklace, then you’re happy to oblige her.
>>
>>4418735
>If she insists on earning that necklace, then you’re happy to oblige her.
If there's no roll involved for her 'earning the necklace' throw in a ring to remember us by and a small sapphire for living comfortably. I can't imagine a single necklace will be enough for her to both buy a house and live well for the rest of her life. If there is a roll involved, it can be a reward for her degrees of success.
>>
>>4418735
I'm getting a feeling when we check back with her in a few years we'll see she's not the only one in her cottage. I'm dreading what would have happened with less degrees of success or god forbid a failure.
>>
>>4418802
>She rolls low
>Best I can do is a pair of earrings and a bracelet
>>
>>4418828
>I have a friend called Petyr Baelish at Stonedance who's an expert at these matters. You can give me a repeat performance in front of him and he'll give me a fair value. You do know how much an auction costs, right? There's fees to be paid, taxes, bribes, I'm telling you, this is the best deal you can get at your level of experience.
>>
You’re no jewel merchant, but that necklace would fetch a fistful of gold dragons from even the most miserly Pentoshi copper clipper. Enough for a fine set of full plate armor and a warhorse to match. With her looks and pedigree, her maidenhead might fetch… one gold dragon? Something like that. Then a few stags at best after that, and that’s being generous. It’d take years on her back to afford the likes of even that singular piece of plunder. And yet it’s nothing to you on its own, beneath your notice. Hells, you’d toss in a few more matching pieces just for the novelty of picturing her aunt’s face at what you’re about to do in her bed.

“You know, I’m not one for counting coppers, but I’d reckon I’d need to take you oh… hundreds of times for a piece as fine as that,” you say as you move in.

She looks suddenly uncertain. “I could pick something else---”

“No. No, it has to be that one. Those were your terms. You’re not going to break terms with a Free Company Captain General, are you? Perish the thought. We’ll just need to work all the harder to make this fair,” you pull her in close by her rear. She wraps her legs around you and you carry her to the canopy bed. And the bath. And against the wall. And the sofa. And the bed again.

“By the Seven,” Ser Byron Yew mutters. On the morrow, you think. You roll over and squint at his form in the doorway. Dorea is burrowed next to you on her belly, still lightly perspiring with the finest peach of the Crownlands on display. A provocative pose at odds with the peaceful look on her face. It’ll be a while before she stirs. You’d had her every way you desired, and she proved a remarkably eager study. She should eat, though. Or drink something, water even.

“You’re letting a draft in,” you admonish your captain of bows.

“You… you’ve turned this into a lair…” he stares around the room, for once showing some genuine shock.

“Something something dragons and such,” you tiredly dismiss, getting up to find something suitable to wear.

“The ceiling is dripping,” he observes.

“The bath, I think. Boiled the water away. What news?”

“We tore apart the camp as ordered. The captain had a trove of letters under cypher,” he reports.

“And?”

“I won’t claim to be adept at breaking Braavosi cyphers, my lord,” Ser Byron deadpans.

“Hmm. Janesa would… pity she’s away. Or the captain himself. I trust he’s made it through the night? No stupidities?”
>>
>>4419101
“He was afforded a comfortable cell as befits his rank. No harm came to him,” Ser Byron assures. “Around one hundred Solemn Flames yet live. The lion’s share are of the infantry your Stormbringers broke at the battle’s conclusion. The Northmen were… overzealous with their foe.”

“Next time I laugh into my cups when some fool claims you can’t buy good help, you’ll know why. What of the waif? She was Braavosi, mark me. There’s a connection here,” you say.

“She hasn’t woken, and it may be that she never will. We have lay-healers, but no true maesters,” he shrugs.

“Then my colorful peer will have to do.”

You break your fast in the lord’s solar. A bowl of honeyed oatmeal, sliced apples, a cool amber ale, and a blood orange. You squeeze the juices over the ale. Delightful. The view is breathtaking at such a height in the light tower. Had the sky been clearer, it just might be possible to see Driftmark with your Myrish Lens.

Captain Benificent Riccaro is seated across from you by two of your Stormbringers. You motion for the manacles to be removed so that he may properly dine with you. That is simply how things are done between captains, and decorum should be observed. Sans the multi-hued cape, he’s as put-together as he was on the field, though the bags under his eyes give tell to the weight of command. You understand, you’ve lost men before as well.

“Captain Aurion. My congratulations,” he bows his head and raises his cup. You raise your cup as well and drink. He has a bite of the oatmeal and stifles a frown.

“It needs cinnamon. I know. I would make my apologies, but it’s not my castle. Well, not in name at least,” you say. Your fingers drum upon the stack of letters. “We have much to discuss.”

“We do,” he nods.

“I will need to know what these say. All of them. I have a master translator near here, but I am a busy man,” you fix him with a level gaze.

He returns it. “My men?”

“These assassins, are they yours?”

“We have the same employer. That is all. It was… you say not personal. Employer too. He would want you knowing that,” he replies, or rather dangles.

You’ve done this dance before. He will want your word that his men’s lives will be secured… and preferably his own. Depending on assurances, this will be that much easier or harder. But you’d like to hear more first before passing judgement.

>Convince him that working with you is very much in his best interest.
>He saw you yesterday. Intimidate him. You don’t care about making friends at this point.
>Something else.
>>
>>4419107
>He saw you yesterday. Intimidate him. You don’t care about making friends at this point.
Can we try calling for healers nearby to fix the assassin enough for an interrogation?
>>
>>4419107
>>He saw you yesterday. Intimidate him. You don’t care about making friends at this point.
Hes in no place to negotiate, we can make or break him right now.
>>
>>4419107
>>Convince him that working with you is very much in his best interest.
It's not Westerosi custom to execute prisoners. We can give assurances that they'll be allowed to return to Essos under oath not to join a Targaryen host until the end of this war
>>
>>4419107
>>Convince him that working with you is very much in his best interest
We might be a lord but we know how the Sellwood business works,, and it is a business. Let's do business.
>>
>>4419107
>Convince him that working with you is very much in his best interest.

I'd like some gold from his employer.
>>
>>4419119
Yup. I'll be rolling for that too.
>>
>>4419107
>He saw you yesterday. Intimidate him. You don’t care about making friends at this point.
>>
>>4419107
>Convince him that working with you is very much in his best interest.
>>
Hey Boggs, while we're waiting, what would have happened if we failed the Persuasion check with Dorea?
>>
>>4418735
>>If she insists on earning that necklace, then you’re happy to oblige her.
>>
>>4419214
Very hurt feelings, even if she'd try to hide it for now. It wasn't terribly high-stakes on your end, she's just not a vindictive person, but you did wonders for her future outlook on life. DCs were high just because she's incredibly stubborn in her way.

Ok. Can I get 3 rolls of 7d6 for Convince?
>>
Rolled 6, 1, 2, 3, 5, 3, 4 = 24 (7d6)

>>4419235
>>
Rolled 1, 4, 4, 2, 1, 3, 2 = 17 (7d6)

>>4419235
>>
Rolled 5, 1, 2, 6, 5, 6, 1 = 26 (7d6)

>>4419235
>>
Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>4419239
>>4419241
>>4419252
25 is 3 degrees.

1: Boy
2: Girl
>>
>>4419260
...Can we give our boy some stats as good as ours?
>>
>>4419260
Aaaaaaaaaaaay. Aurion putting out them Y chromosomes bay-bee
>>
>>4419260
Now we wonder which woman this roll is for
>>
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“You’re a lucky man. You find me in an exceedingly good mood. I’d take coin over blood. That is, if you can give me the proper sort of assurances. The identity of your employers and these assassins and anything else you might now. The more I know, the more at ease I’ll feel. The more at ease I feel, the better I’m inclined to treat you and yours. So, my friend. Put me at ease,” you offer.

“Pleased to see captains keep form. I confess I worried you had gone native. These Westerosi like chopping heads,” he gives an affable smile of his own.

“Oh, I think that’d just be for you. It’s an honor of sorts. The lads’d get nooses… but there’s no need for all that. Good fighting men are worth good coin. So are good translators,” you motion to the stack of letters.

“The code is known to me. If you please,” he holds out a hand. You slide the stack across the marble table and go back to drumming your fingers as he peers over the contents. His lips move and his eyes narrow. One is tossed aside, and another is retrieved. He tosses it faster this time. “Progress reports,” he supplies.

“And?”

“A moment…” sweat beads on his forehead and his frown deepens. “You say you have a translator of own…?”

“I do,” you quickly reply. “She’s Qartheen. Lovely lady. So, don’t fuck about.”

He grimaces and moves on, then quickly skips to the last letter in the sequence… he stares at it for a good long moment, and finally lets out the breath he was holding.

“What?” you lean forward, your patience fraying.

“Great embarrassment for guild in West. The mother, she catch guilder and hold him. Son unharmed.”

Your heart skips a beat. “Son?

He smiles. “It says son. Clearest part. We of Braavos are very picky on marking sex. Yours?”

“Aye,” you say, voice hoarse. “I’ve a son... his name would be Cerion. Passing fucking odd way to find out, I might add,” you start laughing.
>>
>>4419295
“Bank is better than ravens,” Captain Riccaro grins.

“Bank?”

“Iron Bank. I keep contract with keyholders,” he supplies.

“What in bloody hells are keyholders doing attacking babes in cribs? They’re supposed to loan coin, not take it. I’ve not gotten this backwards, yeah?” you ask, head still spinning at the news. You quaff your ale.

“Is that good, with the orange?”

“Blood orange, yeah.”

“Ask them? This is not whole bank. Bank has many keyholders. To guess? Much coin lost on this war. Bad betting, yes? You were to fall, and seed. That’s what letters say. Ask your translator woman and she will agree. This is all I know,” he shrugs.

“Not my wife? The ‘mother’ here?” you frown.

“No? Why do this? Serves nothing,” he looks confused.

“And this ‘guild’ has a name?”

“All guilds do, yes? This is not known to me. Only ‘guild’ in letters. We Solemn Flames are not sneaks. We take coin in Braavos, promised more here to take your Stormgrave. Coin does not come, so we make much mischief. It is in name, no? We get solemn when no pay. Then flames start. It is business,” he tries the ale. “This is good.”

You have a son...

>I’ve been really wanting to get to this. I’m glad it’s worked out and you’ve made it this far. If you have more questions for him that make sense, then feel free to ask away. Otherwise, I’ll be running Tuesday night. A storm is brewing, and Dragonstone awaits. Thanks for playing!
>>
Would it make sense to bring these guys into our company? Or do they just want to go home and regroup?

I’m assuming they don’t have ships for a return trip, maybe we can broker passage via our piratical lady friend
>>
>>4419296
Can we ask him why this guild sent (what appear to be) absolute amateurs? Is that inferred by the letters?
>>
>>4419266
Minor spoilers: a lot of it is pregenned. I rolled up a girl and a boy and waited for the point in the thread to flip. Depending on how things went down, you could've easily found out in a normal letter, so I wanted details ready. He has his father's eyes and mother's hair. So, Blood of Valyria. Cunning is supposed to be an important stat due to inherited Eidetic Memory. He didn't inherit Charismatic, but picked up Attractive. This is just the basest stuff. The rest is up to you guys in how he's raised and such. I threw in Charismatic as an inheritable thing, but that doesn't mean he can't pick it up over time just because he wasn't born with it.

Oh, and the birth. Cerelle was a natural, so she's fine. I knew that part much earlier since it was how I was doing the twins result, and that's the sort of detail that needed to be accounted for at an appropriate point. It needed 2 6s. The first die was for difficulty of birth and the second came into play depending on whether a 1 or 6 was rolled. A 1 would've prompted a roll for the possibility of drawbacks or worse (your healer giving a reroll here). A 6 prompted the second roll looking for the second 6. A 1/36 chance is a fairly accurate number for twins. After the first 6 came up, I rolled the second die in the thread. After so many twins in quests, I wanted something to refer back to. I'm pretty sure that came up as a 3. Overall, pretty favorable rolls for this one.
>>
>>4419321
How would the girl turn out?
>>
>>4419296
>You were to fall, and seed. That’s what letters say. Ask your translator woman and she will agree. This is all I know,” he shrugs.

>“Not my wife? The ‘mother’ here?” you frown.

>“No? Why do this? Serves nothing,” he looks confused.

Well Lady Bar Emmon has some explaining to do. Also how much are the jewels we found worth, in dragons and Wealth? We also surprisingly didn't find any money from the company's camps even though they've just sacked 3 villages?
>>
>>4419315
Up to you guys.

>>4419318
The plot in the West had a 44% chance of success and the plot here had a 76% chance of success. They weren't bad, just unlucky to go 0/2. Although those odds would've been much more stacked if they were Expert Assassins.

>>4419516
A terror. The bane of her mother's sanity. I might still use it at some point.

>>4419645
About 5 wealth in total. Plus pavises for the crossbows and upgraded weapons for the Stormbringers. So more like 7 wealth. I glossed over the villages because they didn't have much. They were just small fishing villages, not even hamlets from a holdings perspective.
>>
>>4419321
All these scheming women are going to have a stroke when they see this lad
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>>4419703
The real question is if we raise him like a lordling, or induct him into the Stormbringers
>>
>>4419645
Maybe they wanted a powerless, distraught widow to force into marriage? I can't figure out these guys' plan, it seems like so much expenditure for a minor island during a building up period of the war. Is it literally just anger over having land taken? But that doesn't explain how they go so many houses onboard
>>
>>4419748
Yeah, apparently Iron Bank keyholders are upset that they made some bad bets during the war. But why target us? We didn't play any role in the war, we got involved literally after the war was lost. We haven't taken action against anyone who didn't strike at us first.
>>
Maybe they just wanted the island?
>>
>>4419745
Why not both? Make our own version of sailing/sellsword and lordling culture. I think its immediate that the houses in the narrow sea had something similar to the Ironborn religion as the Velyarions have a drift wood throne they won from the original inhabitants of Driftmark
>>
>>4419821
Could be to get access to our wife's family coffers. Kill off the heir and pressure a widow into marriage, you'll be swimming in gold. That's assuming her dad dies fairly soon, so it isn't a particularly good plan

Maybe it was all started when we smuggled her off Dragonstone? Some Targ loyalist had plans to marry her that we fucked up.
>>
>>4419845
We know they're working with Massey and we know Massey was working with Rambton and Bar Emmon. Idk what Bar Emmon was supposed to get, but Rambton wanted the island. Idk how the keyholders come into that, but I don't think this had much to do with Cerelle.
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>>4419835
The island is completely non descript and has nothing of value besides the crystals, which are only valuable to the Faith, who we're supplying them with anyway. The Sunglass Lady (Tysane) whose son was supposed to inherit it had a good motive, but why is the Iron Bank involved in this?

>>4419845
That's too much of a stretch I think, besides, when the first assassin attacked, Aurion wasn't even betrothed to anybody.

>>4419296
I'm not understanding this straight due to the language, were the Solemn Flames hired directly by the Iron Bank (or its keyholders) or by House Massey? I thought Massey hired them then stopped paying, and they began sacking the countryside in revenge. So how's the Iron Bank involved in this?

Everytime we get closer to solving this mystery we get cucked by something happening. When we caught Tysane Sunglass she was sent off to the Silent Sisters before we could question her thoroughly. Then we catch Cassandra Bar Emmon lying to us, but never follow through on what exactly she heard or by whom. Then we killed Rambton without getting him to spill anything. Now this captain guy is speaking in riddles again despite us agreeing to help him.
>>
>>4419838
its implied*

Sorry for phone posting
>>
>>4419873
There might be a language barrier with him, we could be able to get more out of him if we had Janessa with us. We could have her come over from Stormgrave, it's 10-20 miles away. We just need a raven, but that could wait until we take Stonedance

I'm at a loss as to the motivation as well, hopefully the assassin survives and we can learn more from her
>>
>>4419873
>I'm not understanding this straight due to the language, were the Solemn Flames hired directly by the Iron Bank (or its keyholders) or by House Massey? I thought Massey hired them then stopped paying, and they began sacking the countryside in revenge. So how's the Iron Bank involved in this?

Right, rereading it I can see how that could've been more clear. The Solemn Flames are under an extended contract with the Iron Bank. Certain keyholder(s) brokered a subcontract with Massey. The Captain doesn't know why, so he suggested asking the keyholders themselves.
>>
>>4419873
>Then we killed Rambton without getting him to spill anything

This is why we need to fight people ourselves.
>>
Slight announcement. I'm refunding the Destiny Point for Cadre. The more I've thought about it, the more I just don't think it should cost one. You spent the time to search out the knights and recruit them instead of doing other things, so that should be good enough. So with that in mind, do you want to spend it on something else or bank it?

>Spend Destiny Point
>Bank it
>>
>>4420525
Yeah, sure.
>Expertise : Persuasion (Charm)
So we'll roll with 8 test dice and 1 bonus dice.

On a serious note though, I don't see many good options left which we don't already have.
>>
>>4420525
>Bank it
I like the Famous quality, but don't think we really qualify yet. Inspiring would be a good one as well, making us a better general.

Going into Dragonstone, I think having a DP in the bank could save our life
>>
>>4420548
Then I'll make more.
>>
>>4420525
>>4420558
>Spend it

Absolutely based.

>>4420549
I don't like the cheat death stuff. It encourages stupid play and takes the excitement out of encounters.
>>
>>4420561
Or you can end up dieing to a fat boy with a hammer.
>>
>>4419693
Ooh, a Terror, I’m definitely interested in how
>>4419321
Awesome, it’d be fun to raise our son into an absolute powerhouse like his son
>>
>>4420570
If you insist on taking a fighting 3 character into a street fight... yeah. You deserve it. That's fair. What doesn't feel fair is sticking around for stupid fights and then burning a get out of jail free card to avoid consequences. We also have the no-fun-allowed Cohort.
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>>4420525
>>Bank it

If we have to pick one Courteous is a good pick.
You may add one half of your Persuasion rank (round down) to your Deception tests. In addition, whenever an opponent in an intrigue would use the Read Target action, you may add your Cunning rank to your passive Deception result.
Great synergy, it really mixes well with our character. It also plays into his eventual devlopment. With his wife we learn to be an absolute ass like we did with inciting at the wedding. Just on a better level. Seems weak but If we aren't going to use it on something useful like armor mastery or Expertise in long blades it's just nice.
I love lucky, but seems strange to get lucky this late in the game.
>>
>>4420525
>Spend it.

Courteous would definitely be my choice as well, we can't get Eloquent yet but this would set us up to basically never fail a persuasion or deception check. I wonder how long we would be able to keep Dorea under wraps?
>>
>>4420525
>Bank it
>>
>>4420690
I like courteous too. Or pious would be a really good all rounder.
>Expertise in long blades
This would help settle the ability debate nicely.
And also anything warfare related sounds good. I really liked the battle.
>>
>>4420741
Pious seems like it would be a stretch, character-wise
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>>4420758
Proctor of the faith. Tithing crystals. Building a chapel. Recruited a septon. Took confession with the septon. The gods love him.
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>>4420763
>Recruited a Septon
We also stole a Septa so I guess thats a wash.
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>>4420768
True, doesn't get much more blasphemous than doing depraved things with a girl that you talk into letting you choose between her being a whore or a holy woman. The only thing we were missing were anointed oils for lube. But we are forgiven if we confess, right? That's how this works.
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>>4420777
There. The Seven agree. +1D to ANY test once per day. Time to make our septon blush.
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>>4420763
Even if the Gods love him, the question is does Aurion love the gods? I think his view of them is more important for that type of benefit
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>>4420782
Why not? Why else confess to a septon? And there is backstory with him being raised around the old local sept. It's a pre-modern setting with minor magical elements. There's no reason not to believe and this character has had a lot of luck in his life.
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>>4420525
>Spend
>>
>>4420794
Well for a start, truly pious men don't go around fucking women out of wedlock, especially when they've already married. I'm not saying he can't be, but I know I haven't picked up on any religious overtones for him as a character. Every "religious" thing Aurion has done seems to have an ulterior motive
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>>4420802
What was the ulterior motive in confessing to the septon he had just met?
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>>4420525
>Spend Destiny Point
>>
>>4420812
That entire scene didn't really come across as a confession. It came across as Aurion shooting the shit with an unorthodox septon who was well traveled and rather gruff and almost "sell-swordish" himself.
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>>4420525
>Spend Destiny Point
>>4420558
Based
>>
>>4420525
>>Bank it
>>
>>4420525
>Bank it
Not sure about Courteous. We weren't big on Deception so far (because we charmed our way through?). Besides by description it mentions manners of which we have none other than pronouncing 'my lord' correctly. Did we hire a tutor or did Janesa coach us? Then suddenly Aurion becomes a paragon of social conduct.

Honestly I'd prefer waiting until the Dragonstone business is concluded and if luck favors us we become famous for it. Next thing we pick up Respected (and perhaps invest in Reputation?). Become that upjumped yet accomplished lord who commands grudging respect.
Thus voting on banking.

>Status 2 (Reputation 2B)
>Your accomplishments and reputation inspire respect. Opponents targeting you with Incite, Intimidate, or Taunt take -1D.
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>>4421227
Backing this
>>
For the Pious stuff: I've been deliberately writing Aurion as on the fence for piety so that you guys could decide to pursue it further or not. If you decided you did want him to be more pious, then we'd have a scene or two on it showing a shift more in that direction. Even with the piety, it's likely that his approach to the morality of it all would still be rife with flaws. Faith isn't a cure-all for a rough upbringing and decades of questionable lifestyle choice, nor does it require moral perfectionism. That +1D to tests (that might just be the best benefit in the book) would probably be written with him having even more absolute surety of his divine favor. For you StV fags (RIP), think more Cain less Adam, I think.

You don't meet the base requirements for it, though. You need 1 bonus die in Will: Dedication. That would cost 10 exp, so it's affordable right now. Will: Dedication is used when testing to stay true to your ideals. It's something you can test is someone successfully convinces you of something you're not completely comfortable with in an intrigue (such as seducing you) or pulling out when busty blonde forbidden fruit has just discovered her favorite riding technique. So, not a bad buy if you want to go that route.
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>>4421432
Eh.. I'd rather go courteous over Pious, but Weapon Mastery or Long Blades Expertise above both to get over that cap of Fighting 5. Besides, do you WANT Aurion not to be seduced or forced to come inside? I don't.

On a side note I hope this drama over StV doesn't kill off /qst/ for good. There's no site like this and I'd be sad to see this or any other thread die because of lack of interest.
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>>4421438
>On a side note I hope this drama over StV doesn't kill off /qst/ for good.

There's no reason why it should. I like Forgotten, but he let himself get too sucked into the drama. The claims in that one post were borderline satirical, the Navy Seals Copypasta of /qst/, but it got to him as the troll knew it would because he's been going as far as to hold up votes for days over the possibility that some sperglord whipped out their phone because Idealist > Hearty or something. He could've ignored the shitpost, and it would've blown over. Never thought I'd find myself saying this because I abhor censorship, but he should just pick up where he left off and report any posts in his thread screaming about /qst/ deep state or "good luck I'm behind 16 Starbucks wifis" until they get bored and move on. Or not. I hope it works out, but either way, I'm not going anywhere.
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>>4421460
Based. I love you Boggs (no homo)
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>>4420571
>Ooh, a Terror, I’m definitely interested in how

Charismatic isn't necessarily for Charm. It can apply to any one Persuasion specialty. So, let's say I have a 1d6 with 6 different Persuasion specialties on it, and it lands on a very... karmatic specialty...
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>>4421679
How does Incite work?
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>>4421694
It makes someone angry or outraged about someone or something. It could be used to rile up a mob or work up some knights over an injustice, etc. Or you could use it to needle at someone you want to upset without resorting to the directness of insults via Taunt.
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>>4421679
There some whores in this house. There some whores in this house. There some whores in this house.
>>
Vote is 6-5 in favor of Bank. I'm going to close it soon for all you non-voters. Aurion in armor?
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>>4421842
Spend
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>>4421842
>>4421851
bank
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>>4421842
Thick!
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>>4421889
Yeah... I wish it was a little taller and skinnier. Finding the right armor and sword together is a real bitch, so I was happy to even find this.
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>>4421842
Bank.

Also i never thought of Aurion as rhe heavy armor kind of guy.
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>>4421842
I've been picturing him similar to Capwell's modo antiquo armor, or whatever the Essosi version of it would be. Trying to harken back to the styles of Valyria, or at least popular conception of the styles given that we know they used lamellar armor from Euron. It'd standout against the mail and plate of Westeros pretty well and play into Aurion's foreign quality

http://www.ageofarmour.com/instock/heroic-armour.html
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>>4421939
That's up to you guys. Scale armor won the vote, and that's a pretty standard example of scale armor. Maybe I'll be able to part you with some of that wealth for extraordinary quality armor down the line?
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>>4421976
There's also plated mail like this as an alternative
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>>4421976
That's described as a demi-curiass and brigandine. We have rules for brigandine and for half-plate, I could go either way on it for that example, but that wasn't chosen.
>>
What was the significance of bulk again? I tried asking Fish QM (who seems to have disappeared) in his thread, but he said he'll disregard it. Am I wrong in remembering that it had some significance in this quest?
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>>4421842
I like this, looks exotic and has a big scimitar
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>>4422016
It's normally for movement. Every two points takes 1 yard off your run total... but no one uses that in these quests because it would be beyond taxing to keep track of. Instead, I'm using it for Agility tests. Every 2 points knocks 1D off the test. That is probably the most significant for Quickness tests in determining order of initiative for combats. Unlike other quests, initiative matters here. If someone strikes first and scores an injury or wound, then their opponent is striking back with that penalty in effect.
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>>4422016
Reduces your movement speed mostly. Right now we've only got 2 bulk, so our movement is reduced from 5 to 4 yards. I'm guessing it's more important for normal party play, as the knight in the party might not be able to reach the weaker members. Benefits of theater of the mind over a map
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>>4422055
Me as well. And who says Aurion won't become more portly with age? It is a sign of prosperity.
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>>4420525
>>Bank it
>>
>Destiny Point Banked

“So, if I’m getting this right, your Solemn Flames are contracted with the Iron Bank. Some keyholders brokered a subcontract with Dustin Massey. You went with the standard half-and-half, showed up to Stonedance, and realized you were buggered on the back half, so you torched a few villages and made your way here… why here?” you ask Captain Ricarro.

Bene, Captain. This word, ‘buggered’ I like it,” he smiles. I bet you do, Braavosi. Well, crows and ravens after your escapades… “I hear these Masseys talk of this Sharp Point. Light garrison. I think to myself, ‘this garrison, they cannot hold, but three hundred Solemn Flames? Facile.’ We take, we get terms, we go home fat and happy. I see watchers on way, I prepare. You know… I thought you would dip banners at my trick…”

“Fair take. I would’ve… if I were still only a captain. More to lose as a lord, you see. And more to gain. I’m sure your employer would understand. You’ve a name for me?” you circle back around. A low rumble reverberates through the marble table. The storm outside quickly turns torrential.

“This storm… this is normal here?” the captain looks ruffled by the shift in the severity of the storm. This is the second band today…

“No…” you answer, frowning as you look out on the white capped bay and the massive swells. “Far from it.”

“Hmm. The Honored Portero Reyaan is my broker. Pass on my well wishes. Or… I go with you? We talk to him together, everyone profits. This is best, yes?” he suggests with a gleam in his eye. He’s either completely unbothered by his precarious position or he wants you to think he is.

>You agree. You will see about ransoming the Solemn Flames and getting your introductions to this keyholder.
>You can’t accept. An example must be made of the Solemn Flames.
>Something else.
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>>4422241
>You agree. You will see about ransoming the Solemn Flames and getting your introductions to this keyholder.
>>
>>4422241
>You agree. You will see about ransoming the Solemn Flames and getting your introductions to this keyholder
No reason why not to, we were heading to Braavos anyway, although we had a little less incentive until now. Also, The Storm is here, farewell Viserys and Daenerys, RIP Rhaella.
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>>4422241
>>You agree. You will see about ransoming the Solemn Flames and getting your introductions to this keyholder.
>>
>>4422241
>You agree. You will see about ransoming the Solemn Flames and getting your introductions to this keyholder.
>>
>>4422241
>>You agree. You will see about ransoming the Solemn Flames and getting your introductions to this keyholder.
>>
I wonder how much the canon will have to change for us to have a fight at Dragonstone. In canon, Willem Darry had to flee because the garrison was ready to sell out both Targaryens even before Stannis had arrived. Interested to see how that changes.
>>
You nod. “You had me at profit. We’ve terms.”

He clasps your hand with a grin and the two of you pass the rest of the leisurely meal discussing the finer points of battle. He’s awfully sore over losing those archers, the pride of his company, but you still find him to be an engaging conversational partner. And, to your slight chagrin, you believe he may be the more experienced general despite his loss. You’d wager your force of personality won the day more that your strategy and preparation. Apparently, the reputation of you and your company for direct, brutal assaults is known to him. A reputation he respects with the caveat that his company’s penchant for winning sieges is unmatched. He only laments his favored siege weapons were left behind in Braavos. House Massey was unwilling to front the cost for transporting them. Perhaps out of an unwillingness to risk razing your castle. You part with him on amiable terms with the promise to speak more later.

With little else to do in this dreary castle that isn’t already handled by underlings, you descend a floor to the lord’s chambers to check on your… whatever she is, passing along your greetings to Ser Manderly and a couple northern knights as you go. No surprise that they’d grab the guest suites. They seem the types that like their comforts. One compliments your new coat as you take your leave, an exquisite ermine ensemble that you’ve draped over your loose sandsilk shirt and trousers. You gifted it to yourself from the Bar Emmon wardrobe. Which is perfectly reasonable as it compliments the jewels you’re wearing quite nicely.

Ser Byron’s “lair” comment does seem apt from this vantage. The canopy bed has lost its canopy and much of the bedding. It developed an irritating creak at some point, for which you take no responsibility. It was only natural to relocate to the sofa by the hearth and take the bedding with you. Dorea is still curled up naked in the center of the nest of fabrics. You go over and wake her with a shake, momentarily worried she’d expired from exhaustion. She wakes in a daze and favors you with a demure smile completely out of place after your marathon of debauchery. There’s something very liberating in being with her. She’s not a lady and doesn’t expect to be treated like one. And she’s fresh in a sense, a blank slate, willing to indulge in your every whim, eager even. Really, it’s for the best she’s so stubborn about remaining unwed. You’ve undoubtedly ruined men for her at this point. Any other would likely leave her either woefully unsatisfied or bored.
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>>4422327
“Help me?” she holds up her arms with a slight pout, so you pull her to her feet. She nearly falls back into the cushioning again, so you sit her down and proffer a pitcher of watered wine which she gulps down the gusto of one of your knights.

“I thought that part was a dream,” she says, staring at the copper tub. It’s… unsalvageable. Half the tub has melted away and fused with the stone beneath. You really don’t know how one goes about repairing such a mess. You’d dragged a brazier back under it after your first bath and forgot about it. You were too busy deep in Dorea when the copper of the tub started to melt and slag, and she was in a state far past caring about such trivial, worldly concerns. But she’s back in the present now, mostly. “Will this cause trouble?” she worriedly asks.

You can’t help but laugh. “I’m a lord. One in favor at that. I can do what I please. No, it will never come up. Too crude a topic for these crowds, even considering they’d have no notion I didn’t simply do this on my own. In truth, they’re lucky I don’t put the castle to the torch in parting. Your lady aunt and whichever dull thing she weds will have to bear it and even thank me for my patronage next time they see me. I expect smiles as well. They’re half a hair from being my bannermen as is.”

“My aunt? The Lady Cassandra? Well-fed girl, a little spotted? We’re of an age or near enough. Father showed me to her years ago. She was… nice. You know her?” Dorea asks.

“Aye, she’s at the Red Keep. Not sure about well-fed, must’ve slimmed down a touch. She’s the lady of this castle now, by my good graces,” you tell her.

“Oh. That was kind of you, my lord. I pray she’s happy with it,” she gives you one of her bright smiles. Not a drop of ambition.

“As far as I know…” you shrug.

“Will you come to the sept with me? There’s a little one here in the castle. I’ll wear those clothes like you asked so you don’t have to be seen with the real me…” Dorea shyly asks.

>Sure. Maybe you could use a little more prayer in your life.
>No thanks.
>Something else.
>>
>>4422331
>No thanks.
Find a healer for the assassin?
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>>4422331
>Sure. Maybe you could use a little more prayer in your life.

This is the most chad MC of all time.
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>>4422331
>>No thanks.
>>
>>4422331
>>No thanks.
We need to see to the assassin.
>>
>No thanks

Let's go see what our little friend has to say
>>
>>4422331
>My aunt? The Lady Cassandra? Well-fed girl, a little spotted? We’re of an age or near enough. Father showed me to her years ago. She was… nice. You know her?

Hmmm... Some anon caught Dorea on a whim, so let me try, here's Cassandra's description from thread 5:
>You get down on the woman’s level. Rich brown curls, full cheeks, sharp nose, grey eyes. And of a good age by your reckoning. You’ve seen prettier, but you’ve seen far less comely as well. A man could do worse. In another lifetime, perhaps.

No mention of spots or fat. I'm getting a sense either Dorea didn't meet the real Cassandra or, more likely, the girl we met isn't the real Cassandra. But in the same thread, Maldon Bar Emmon calls her Cassandra too, and nobody reacts negatively. Another mystery. Can Dorea do a memory check and confirm her exact description to us? We've seen 'Cassandra' very recently so I don't think we need one.

Anyway,
>No thanks
Let's do the healers for the assassin part. I'm not interested in Aurion finding faith, when we're reaping such rich rewards being unfaithful. Can we still give her some jewelry to make her a matching set though? By your description she performed very well. She more than earned it. It'll make her life easier and more comfortable as well, and it'll be less than a drop in the bucket for us.
>>
Out of curiosity. How does our presence help wake her from a coma? Are we going to do the healing roll ourselves? Are all of our subordinates too stupid to look for a healer? If this is to fedora tip over religion then just say so.
>>
>>4422337
>>4422393
Bro...
>>
>>4422394
Yah, my mistake. Forgot I voted.
>>
You just talked with Ser Byron a couple hours ago.

>“She hasn’t woken, and it may be that she never will. We have lay-healers, but no true maesters,”

Nothing has changed.
>>
>>4422404
oh yeah, in that case i change my vote
>Sure. Maybe you could use a little more prayer in your life.
>>
>>4422404
How about
>Accompany her to the sept, but no praying

Also can you please answer these : >>4422388
Namely-
>Can Dorea do a memory check to confirm Cassandra's physical description
>Can we give Dorea some more trinkets to get her a complete set?
>>
>>4422421
>Can Dorea do a memory check to confirm Cassandra's physical description

I'll save you the trouble, I was just trying to show that they'd met during an awkward growing phase.

>Can we give Dorea some more trinkets to get her a complete set?

Sure. You can give her whatever you want as far as I'm concerned.
>>
>>4422404
Okay, follow her but just watch, no need to pray then.
>>
>>4422421
Changing to this
>>
>>4422423
Alright, if the other anons don't object, tell her she earned the necklace, and give her an earring and a ring to match, and say you'd rather have her live comfortably.

And in case this wasn't clear, I'm changing my vote to
>Go with her but just watch
>>
>>4422437
I'll support going with her and watching. I like Aurion using the faith as a political tool rather than him being a true believer
>>
>>4422437
sure. Be there for her, and nothing else.
>>
>>4422431
>>4422436
>>4422437
>>4422447
>>4422451
Personally I really like the irony of praying next to our whore, who would otherwise be a septa, but to each their own.
>>
>>4422506
3deep5me
>>
>>4422331
>Something else.
Can we get some report of how the main host went with their “siege”. I.e send a runner off to go find out. OOC we assume it is resolved by now but good to find out IC and what it means for our movements.

Find out how long we are to be in this castle, will we need to leave to meet up with the main group or stay here longer.

I’d rather spend some time with our men (post battle) rather than going to the sept. We should see how our archers are faring (did the get those shields)?
>>
“Aye, I’ll accompany you,” you tell her.

She tries to clamp down on her giddiness while she prepares.

“You can walk straight, yeah? If the lads see you with me waddling around like I’ve hidden the Solemn Flames’ standard up your arse, then that’ll start a whole different sort of rumors,” you quip, treating yourself to a stormy grey glare. She has trouble maintaining it at your laugh and ends up covering her mouth.

You find the castle sept a floor down. A rung above the domains of the more humbly born folk. Castles septs aren’t typically for their use, but some lords and knights will indulge in opening their doors to all once a week or so. It hasn’t been sacked. Small miracle there.

“It’s as I remember…” Dorea smiles.

“Good. I’ll wait here,” you say at the doorway.

“Why?” she asks, looking genuinely confused.

“I’m not feeling very repentant,” you shrug.

“So? Nor am I, as it happens. Don’t you have others to pray for? A babe? A wife?” she frowns.

“A son, Cerion. I just found out…” you confirm.

“… then I’ll pray for him, my lord.” She shakes her head and leaves you there. You watch while she makes her rounds. She lights her candle first to the Mother, then the Father who sits in judgement. Then the Smith, who mends broken things… then the Mother again.
>>
>>4422517
Then you see your fleetmaster of all people trudging down the passageway with an aide. Dorea looks up, so you motion for her to stay inside with a sweep of your hand and move to meet him. Malaq knows your tricks too well and will take it like Vaeron did. The short, tattooed Volantine is completely drenched with matted hair and a miserable frown. “My Captain finds new creative way to attempt murder of his poor Malaq. It warms my gentle heart to see I am in your prayers,” he greets. You’d sent a raven to Stormgrave with your new movements before you went your separate ways from the host.

“Wasn’t quite this bad a few days ago,” you shrug. “Good to see you undrowned, my friend. What news?”

“Many ships dashed on rocks. Massey ships, might be others too. Others… might be they went southward. Fools. I cross the channel with the Harvest and the dromond. The galleys cannot manage even that, and their captains make me rich in dicing,” he reports.

“That bad?” you whistle.

“It will get worse, mark me Captain. I fished one out of drink. Stonedance is lost. They moved to join Dragon’s fleet. This storm… I’ve not seen the like of it. Those fools need to break anchor. Cause is lost, no?” he says.

“You don’t understand Westerosi, my friend. They fight past reason. Specially this lot, why else are they still out there? I’ve met this king, he’s a true warrior. There’s no boy prince living or dead that will match his like,” you tell him.

“He can be what he likes. They will all die of sea and storm,” Malaq promises.

That would be troublesome. Doesn’t leave much glory for me now, does it?”

“That look. Captain…”

>Maybe he’s right. If Sea and Storm want to win this war for you, then far be it from you to stop them. You will wait for the storm to blow over.
>You’ve the capacity to load all of your men here aboard your two ships. This blockade will be faltering. This is your chance for an early landing. You’re likely to lose your ships, but that’s a price you’re willing to pay.
>You’ll take just the dromond, load it with your Stormbringers and some token northmen, and beach the big ugly bitch right on the sand. You said you would be first on the beach and you will. It’s a mad plan, but the payoff will be worthy of song...

Well, here we are. Vote is up overnight. Thanks for playing!
>>
>>4422521
>>Maybe he’s right. If Sea and Storm want to win this war for you, then far be it from you to stop them. You will wait for the storm to blow over.
Drowning at sea isn’t very glorious
>>
>>4422521
>You’ll take just the dromond, load it with your Stormbringers and some token northmen, and beach the big ugly bitch right on the sand. You said you would be first on the beach and you will. It’s a mad plan, but the payoff will be worthy of song...

You want that famous quality this is it. Don't bitch out now.
>>
>>4422521
>Maybe he’s right. If Sea and Storm want to win this war for you, then far be it from you to stop them. You will wait for the storm to blow over.
But set sail as soon as the storm passes, you can still be the first on the beaches!
>>
>>4422542
>I want both
Then what would be the point of a vote?
>>
>>4422521
>>You’ve the capacity to load all of your men here aboard your two ships. This blockade will be faltering. This is your chance for an early landing. You’re likely to lose your ships, but that’s a price you’re willing to pay.
We still need to take a castle after we land, we need all the arms we can muster.
>>
>>4422521
>You’ll take just the dromond, load it with your Stormbringers and some token northmen, and beach the big ugly bitch right on the sand. You said you would be first on the beach and you will. It’s a mad plan, but the payoff will be worthy of song...
We bring the storm, lads.
>>
>>4422544
I'm trying really hard not to metagame here. According to our knowledge the entire Targaryen fleet is there and all the stragglers have pulled back there too. And whatever soldiers are still loyal to the Targaryens. That's literally thousands of men on or around that island. And we'll be sailing there with our 200 men without backup or coordination with Stannis' fleet? In the middle of a storm our fleetmaster hasn't seen in his lifetime? That's completely suicidal, and both options to go there now involve losing our ships so we'll have no escape route either. I think we can find plenty of other adventures much less risky to have songs made for us.

As for the 'both' thing, I'd still like to fulfill that contract with Manderly, and I don't see any harm in Aurion setting sail as soon as the storm passes and seeing if he can't still be the first on the island.
>>
>>4422578
We don't have to singlehandedly beat thousands of troops. We just need to land and stay alive. Word of their blockade sinking and stagmen landing on the beaches, even one ship, is going to have them shitting bricks. We can do more morale damage with one ship than anyone else has done in months. A general should appreciate that. I'm struggling to think of any sort of event that could possibly happen in Aurion's LIFE that would measure up to such a balls of steel play on a world scale. Merely establishing a beach head in this way is instant fame.
>>
>>4422521
>You’ll take just the dromond

We’ll need a ship to get off the island
>>
>>4422521
>You’ve the capacity to load all of your men here aboard your two ships. This blockade will be faltering. This is your chance for an early landing. You’re likely to lose your ships, but that’s a price you’re willing to pay.
If we die so be it then. won't be the first time either
>>
>>4422521
>>You’ve the capacity to load all of your men here aboard your two ships. This blockade will be faltering. This is your chance for an early landing. You’re likely to lose your ships, but that’s a price you’re willing to pay.
>This is how we earn famous
>>
>>4422521
>>You’ve the capacity to load all of your men here aboard your two ships. This blockade will be faltering. This is your chance for an early landing. You’re likely to lose your ships, but that’s a price you’re willing to pay.
Given the short distance, could we cram in some of the Manderly knights as well? Standing room only in the holds, and offload everything but the rowing benches
>>
>>4422708
Oh, and bring the pavises/mantlets that we've captured if possible. If we're making a beachhead, we need to protect our crossbowmen from the defenders
>>
>>4422521
>>Maybe he’s right. If Sea and Storm want to win this war for you, then far be it from you to stop them. You will wait for the storm to blow over.
fuck storms
>>
>>4422521
>Maybe he’s right. If Sea and Storm want to win this war for you, then far be it from you to stop them. You will wait for the storm to blow over.
>>
>>4422521
>You’ll take just the dromond, load it with your Stormbringers and some token northmen, and beach the big ugly bitch right on the sand. You said you would be first on the beach and you will. It’s a mad plan, but the payoff will be worthy of song...
We are the Stormbringers, we do not quake in our boots like children at the sound of thunder FOR THE SOUND OF OUR SWORDS AGAINST OUR SHIELDS IS THE THUNDER AND WE SHALL BE AS LIGHTNING
if we pick up the Famous quality, I hope we can get called The Black Bolt or something similar
Also
>Inb4 our Son gets called The Raincloud because he’ll grow into being a Storm
>>
>>4422521
>You’ll take just the dromond, load it with your Stormbringers and some token northmen, and beach the big ugly bitch right on the sand. You said you would be first on the beach and you will. It’s a mad plan, but the payoff will be worthy of song...
But send the rest after the storm is over.
>>
>>4422521
>You’ve the capacity to load all of your men here aboard your two ships. This blockade will be faltering. This is your chance for an early landing. You’re likely to lose your ships, but that’s a price you’re willing to pay.
Normandy 2 : electric boogaloo
>>
>>4422521
>You’ve the capacity to load all of your men here aboard your two ships. This blockade will be faltering. This is your chance for an early landing. You’re likely to lose your ships, but that’s a price you’re willing to pay.
>>
>>4422521
>Maybe he’s right. If Sea and Storm want to win this war for you, then far be it from you to stop them. You will wait for the storm to blow over.
Sailing in hostile conditions is bad. And then to try for a landing on top of that?

Hell, i am tempted to hire the Solemn Flames for the trip with us to bulk our numbers, but sailing into the storm to force a landing through a hostile fleet is... not very smart.
>>
>>4422910
>to force a landing through a hostile fleet
Correct me if I am wrong but hasn't the fleet withdrawn to weather the storm?

And I'd be on for hiring the braavosi.
>>
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>>4422922
Cannon is the fleet was destroyed in the storm, but that meta gaming. Aurion would assume that the fleet did the smart thing and would be harboring on dragonstone right now.

I vote for changing the storm, we have a son and heir now, so its not like game over right? We are playing CK2 rules with inheritance right?

Can we send a raven to Cleo or any allies we believe would follow us and reinforce us once we make a beach head?
>>
>>4422942
>Aurion would assume that the fleet did the smart thing and would be harboring on dragonstone right now.
Yeah but in a safe harbor, not patrolling the coastline.

>Can we send a raven to Cleo or any allies we believe would follow us and reinforce us once we make a beach head?
Another good idea though I've got a feeling she will fuck us over.
>>
>>4422942
Nobody's sailing into a storm to help us. Best we can do is send a raven to Stannis and hope he sets sail as soon as the storm passes.

What's the difference between the 2nd and the 3rd plan btw? Why is there more glory in the 3rd option than the 2nd? As far as I can see, in 2nd option we try to break through the blockade and land on the Dragonstone docks with all 4 units. In 3rd option we take just the Stormbringers and try to evade the blockade and land on the beach instead. Is that about right?
>>
Cleo has been a shit ally and always wants more in return than she gives us. She'll charge double or triple for sailing into a storm and even then I'm sceptical how much help she'll be. I'd avoid her entirely. I'd say recruit the Solemn Flames by waiving their ransom money, but our ships are already full as it is, no room to carry them.
>>
>>4422985
>What's the difference between the 2nd and the 3rd plan btw? Why is there more glory in the 3rd option than the 2nd? As far as I can see, in 2nd option we try to break through the blockade and land on the Dragonstone docks with all 4 units. In 3rd option we take just the Stormbringers and try to evade the blockade and land on the beach instead. Is that about right?
I believe the difference is in risk for our ships and their contents. The bigger ship can handle the storm better.
>>
The voter's 5-6-5 for stay, 2 ships, 1 ship. I'm tempted to change my vote from stay. Which would be better, any arguments anons have for one over two ships or vice versa? We'll save the 2nd ship at least if we take 1 ship, but even greater risk. But then again we have a destiny point now.
>>
>>4423031
Do you expect being allowed to spend a DP for the other ship's captain to navigate through?

We're going in blind on the chance that we'll pull some bullshit and succeed. Aurion is reckless but I can't honestly tell if this is the suicide option.
>>
>>4423037
No, I meant that even if there's greater risk in us going alone, we have a destiny point now to save our asses. There's a problem though, Vaeron is our company Champion, but he's away and resting. We don't have anyone good at fighting if we find a competent fighter on the island.
>>
>>4423044
Perhaps we could talk our way through some of the encounters. Persuasion is our strong suit after all. It is a reasonable guess for Aurion to make that some of the defenders will be eager to flip sides.

And I am not sure how soon we're to head out. Can we still pick up Vaeron?
>>
Can we change the colours on our ship to Massey or Bar Emmon colours? Some of the Massey ships are sunk, we could impersonate one of them and say we got lost but found our way later. By the time they realize the truth we'll already be in.

On that note, we can take up the banner of the Solemn Flames too, and if we get confronted, say our contact in the iron bank came through, and paid us double to get to the island through the storm. We have enough signs and symbols of the Solemn Flames to impersonate them.
>>
>>4423072
>>4423049
>>4423044
>>4423037
>>4423031
The Storm is the most dangerous thing, and that is the problem. Then its landing with barely a few hundred dudes to fight an island with a magical star fort, where a lot of loyalists are congregating.

Unless we bulk our numbers or come with precut fortification supplies we are not going to last until Stannis finally arrives with the fleet.
>>
>>4423087
With two ships, don't you double the chance of losing them, along with your men? If we're going to die, better die with less of our men with us. I think there's a reasonable chance to surrender anyway if we lose in the fighting, or as a last resort, burn the destiny point.

>>4422521
I'll change my vote >>4422542 to
>You’ll take just the dromond, load it with your Stormbringers and some token northmen, and beach the big ugly bitch right on the sand. You said you would be first on the beach and you will. It’s a mad plan, but the payoff will be worthy of song...
>>
Taking 2 ships is riskier at sea and in landing. You would need to offload hundreds of men under horrible conditions, but you would be in a better place on the beach with more men. You can't beach a galleass. It just doesn't have a flat enough bottom. You could always beach the dromond anyway here, but you're still waiting on most of your men from the galleass to undergo a standard disembark.

Taking just the dromond makes landing easier. No anchoring or trying to keep steady in the waves. Just a flat charge on the beach, leaving you with your heavy infantry, the dismounted norf knights, and a unit of sailors from the beached ship. Both options are dangerous, but this should come off as more glorious because of the circumstances. 1 ship against the storm and all of that.

Vaeron is days away in the other direction. You can send out as many ravens as you want, but I'm not sure what good that would do in a hurricane. And they'd be attacking soon anyway. There should be plenty of people with higher warfare ranks than Aurion looking at the storm from further away and gleefully merchant-handing.
>>
>>4423097
When you say dismounted Northern knights, is it a unit or only individuals as the prompt suggests? (Some token Northmen) is there any competent fighter among them? Also I'd like to know if either of these is possible >>4423072 and Aurion's in character opinion on how likely either is to succeed.
>>
>>4423106
They're personal guards+cavalry, so they fight on foot with personal guards stats. I said token, but there's no reason 20 knights can't ride out a short trip.

I'm just not sure what the deception is meant to accomplish. It's going to be obvious that you're out of place as soon as you land and no one in their right mind is going to stop to board you at sea in this.
>>
>>4422521
>You’ll take just the dromond, load it with your Stormbringers and some token northmen, and beach the big ugly bitch right on the sand. You said you would be first on the beach and you will. It’s a mad plan, but the payoff will be worthy of song...
Ah fuck it
I'll go for the suicide option
>>
Taking both ships means we have no one holding the castle or guarding our loot and prisoners and all we gain are some wet ranged units that were proven shitters in the last fight.
>>
>>4423106
And I should add, the Solemn Flames were working with House Massey and are not known to House Targaryen. Bar Emmon is known to have fallen and Massey was at least supposed to be supporting the Stags. It would be at the point where you might as well just show up as yourself and say you were acting on the Queen's orders if you were that ballsy about bluffing it.
>>
>>4423124
Yeah, you're right. I guess I didn't think about it too hard, sorry. But yeah, that write-in is great! We were totally working on the Queen's orders. Ask any guard on the docks, we were the ones who escorted her here in the first place! Now let me roll (4+1)D to convince you.
>>
>>4422942 here, locking in vote for going with the Drommund.
>>
I'm going to call the vote for going in with the dromond. I'll be taking tonight off to plan and will start it off tomorrow night. This should be fun.
>>
>>4423494
If we live, it’s going to kick ass, especially if we can really spread a rumour about our involvement in The Storm
I would have thought we’d have some kind of weird ritual as Stormbringers like the one we had as an initiation
>>
Since we have time to discuss stuff, thoughts on carving out some Bar Emmon land for Ser Byron? Lenore Lydden has a thing for him and her brother might be the next Lord Bar Emmon. We get those 2 together and her brother can't pitch a fit over the lost land. I'd like to keep Byron as loyal as possible if he's keeping so many secrets for us.
>>
There’s a new house creation thread set during the Blackfyre rebellion. Some of you guys might be interested in this. Hopefully it shall last longer than the last few attempts.

>>4419116
>>4419116
>>
I'm not sure if this is the place to discuss this, and I'll apologize in advance to Boggs, but since this thread appears to have the most players interested in ASOIAF, if Fish QM doesn't return in some time, would it be okay if I take over the quest and run it instead?

The idea of a bastard true to his nature, scheming against his house and trying to take it over appeals to me. Even during character creation I had lots of ideas where the story could go. So will it be an asshole move if I wait 2-3 weeks and if the original QM doesn't return, I run the quest? Character creation and House Creation was almost done. Will players be interested? A warning though, I haven't run a quest or a D&D session ever before, it will be my first time. And sorry again for derailing.
>>
>>4423697
No idea who Fish is, but no. Continuing a quest by another QM is bad form. Start your own, similar, quest.
>>
>>4423700
The quest hasn't started yet. We did character creation and house creation, and then the QM disappeared. There's no actual story yet. Here's the thread, it's still on the catalog on Page 9, but I archived it on suptg in case it falls off. >>4389754
>>
>>4423697
Finish everything up yourself, make changes that you feel necessary and then run it if Fish doesn’t make a peep. I would be interested although I didn’t really get into the House gen for that one save for a few rolls.

>>4423700
No it isn’t. There have been many successful quests that flourished when someone hijacked an abandoned one.
>>
>>4423697
Without his explicit permission, I would say to not do so. If I were in your shoes, I would fluff my own own house and characters and go from there. The premise of playing as a bastard does sound fun, but I personally wouldn't want to start my quest off riding anothers coat tails.

But thats up to you so feel free to do as you please. If you want help in fluffing up a house, /sifg/ on /tg/ is a good place where you'll likely get participation without the distrust of people getting invested in a quest and then being let down. Best of luck regardless, and hope to see you running soon
>>
Do whatever you want. Personally, I would rather focus on and discuss this one since Boggs and Joe are the only asoiaf QMs that have shown any consistency and dedication. The least we can do is put in some effort in planning things here rather than chasing the 1798th house creation thread.
>>
>>4423755
Yeah, sorry about that. I'll just go with these >>4423700 >>4423726 and create a similar house.

Coming back to this quest, I think we're lacking some information before we go ahead. First I want to clear up the 'assassins for the wife' angle with Cassandra because she's the only one who suggested it, we went on her word alone. If she genuinely heard the plotters planning to kill Cerelle (maybe to kill our heir in the womb) there's no way she did not also hear the plan to kill Aurion. There's something fishy going on with her and she may be involved in a deeper plot. So I'd want to ascertain that before anything. Maybe we can use that knowledge to depose her, maybe force her to give up the land, maybe I'm just reading too much into it again like above where I thought she was an imposter. Whatever, it's something to clear up with her.

Then we don't know if Cerelle's cousin manages to successfully court Cassandra.

On ser Byron I think we're better off keeping him close to us. Even if we do land him, I don't want him away on the mainland. I think being landed will only take him away from us. Brokering a match between Lenore and him is already a good enough reward in my opinion. If she requires a bride price, we can pay it and also fund their wedding. That should be enough I think, he's not shown any special competence in the field to merit something greater yet.
>>
>>4423628
Anyway I think taking land from Massey is more feasible because he's a traitor to the crown. Unfortunately we didn't participate in the siege of Stonedance, so we'll have to see what's going on that front, whether Dustin Massey was captured alive or not, whether they found any incriminating evidence, etc.
>>
I could see her hearing something about cerelle because she was pregnant and then the target shifted at the birth. An heir is more trouble than an expected widow. Killing her alone never made much sense to me, nor a few other anons since I never commented on it and I've seen it brought up.

I brought up Bar Emmon lands just because we've done so much more around them. Gaining Massey's lands when we've never set foot there feels like a stretch. It's a feudal system. You don't hand out land to vassals just because another vassal was mean to them. They need to prove they're better off holding it. Idk that we would qualify over some more favored cousin of that house. But Bar Emmon we've "saved" twice now. I got the idea reading this:

>Your lady aunt and whichever dull thing she weds will have to bear it and even thank me for my patronage next time they see me. I expect smiles as well. They’re half a hair from being my bannermen as is.

Either it's a case of unreliable narrator. Possible since Aurion is an absolute cocky bastard. Or they're asking for 1 domain to be carved off. Byron has been useful, but not so much that I feel we can't give him more responsibility. I don't look at it as a reward either. Just a competent person that can be put in charge of something and eventually have an heir with blood ties to our own. More loyalty.
>>
I really don't understand why these house creation threads aren't run on /tg/. They're not technically quests anyway. A simple link here would suffice in alerting anons that it's up there. They could be finished in a night or two there and may actually bring in fresh players to the board afterwards. That or the OP could drop it and move on without being a "flake" if it doesn't turn out like something worth the effort of running. Hell, you could run one every night of the week and pick your favorite. You'd still be running sooner than if you started a thread here.

Not that I particularly recommend running house creations at all. I certainly never would. You're just opening yourself up to your own background ideas getting sidelined before they have a chance to be tried. The second you put a meta idea to a vote, you have to stick with it regardless of your interest in writing it. That or resign yourself to putting up with the worst vitriol. It's easy enough to avoid putting up stuff you just really don't want to write during the quest, but meta stuff like house creation is an uncontrollable sandbox that can get away from you in minutes.

>>4423755
I appreciate the sentiment, thanks anon. I don't mind the discussion and linking, though.
>>
I'm going to push this back to saturday. Sorry for the inconveniences.
>>
>>4424498
I for one, am hyped for the storm seige
>>
>>4424930
Bitch
>>
>>4424943
Ditto, it’s going to be amazing
>Inb4 Aurion gets struck by lightning
>It only makes him stronger
>>
>>4424988
You really think this a good reaction considering how cancerous this board has been to QMs lately?
>>
>>4424988
>1 post by this ID

Better a bitch than a pussy?
>>
>>4425007
Hell, we’ve already got lightning tattoos, some lightning scars would look good
>>
>>4425295
That could be pretty kickass
>Inb4 it adds into our current tattoos
I’m a little sad we haven’t had any fluff text about people admiring our tattoos
>>
>Roll for damage from getting hit by lightning
>Dick stops working
>>
>>4425294
And his mother is both
sorry, just had to cut in there
>>
>>4425434
>Implying Lightning isn’t the Best Spanish Fly this side of Barcelona that doesn’t include rhino horn
>Implying it wouldn’t add three inches below the belt
>Implying it wouldn’t make Aurion The Golden Bolt into some kind of Super Human
>>
https://twitter.com/CormaicB/status/1299414312424034305
>>
>>4425982
it seems somebody is determined to crash this board with no survivors.
>>
>>4425982
This is frankly getting ridiculous.
>>
>>4425982
Goddammit
>>
>>4425982
ugh I hope this problem gets solved soon.
>>
Well at least on /qtg/ people are vaguely optimistic that something is going to be done soon, and a mod finally put up a thread to decide a banner, so they're listening to at least some of our complaints. I'll cautiously wait and watch for a while. Other than that I can only recommend that if you decide this place is not for you anymore, there's an NSFW Questing board on Questionable Questing that is as active as /qst/ I believe, and most of the people there aren't out and out coomers. There's quite a few autists that come up with elaborate plans and don't mind if there's not much lewd posts (like this quest).
>>
>>4414435
So, this was the post? At least it wasn't deleted. Odd. I would say the only thing that I find bothersome about it is how cringey the lack of detail makes it. I type these parts like a school guidance counselor trying to paraphrase Cardi B just so this sort of fake pearl clutching can be avoided. Not sure what prompted the reporting of a week old post. Not sure I care either. I'll go ahead and archive this thread since there seems to be a pattern of QMs getting their threads deleted. Maybe I'll come back to it when all of this is fixed.
>>
Archived. http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=House%20Shryke
>>
>>4426096
That's a shame. I was really looking forward to that storm siege. I hope this mess is taken care of soon and you can come back.
>>
>>4426096
Hang in there Boggs. Take a few days of break and preparation if you want. I think the jannie issue will be resolved by next week.
>>
>>4426096
Seriously man just want to let you know I love your quest and I'd hate for it to end like this.
>>
I'm not going to end the quest over something this stupid. I'm just going to take a step back and see how all of this plays out in the coming days. Thanks for the kind words.
>>
>>4426384
This has been a fantastic journey, thanks for all your efforts. Maybe taking a break is the best choice to let this mayhem blow over, and give you some time to plan the upcoming siege.
>>
>>4426384
Boggs this is quest has a really special place in my heart, I greatly enjoy your work and cannot wait for the next run. Take care
>>
>>4426096
Hang in there senpai
>>
I've tried to bring up your warning to the moderator in /qtg/. I hope he responds and clarifies some things.
>>
Boggs, a suggestion if you will. Next time just write all smut posts on a pastebin. Allows you write longer, more explicit scenes and completely avoids the problem of trigger happy jannies.
>>
>>4427910
Subtle.
>>
Hey Boggs, have you decided whether you will continue the quest? Forgotten seems to have come back to /qst/, and the Joker QM drama was a massive false flag (I'm beginning to think more and more that this guy is a supervillain) Although I'm still awaiting an assurance from the mods that moderation will be more relaxed in the future.
>>
>>4429067
Don't worry Boggsy will continue. Don't let one mod get everyone's panties in a bunch
>>
>>4429071
He wasn't a mod apparently. He just abused the report button and some idiot saw the report out of context and swung the banhammer and the delete button. The two QMs he claimed to have banned actually had their tripcodes leaked, so presumably he used their tripcodes to commit some ban-worthy offenses elsewhere and then claimed that he banned them himself. Even Boggs and Forgotten got their tripcodes leaked. (I'm judging for Boggs for that password. 'Pearls'? Really?) But this isn't the thread for that.
>>
Continuing Tuesday night. I'd do so sooner, but I made other plans not knowing how this would play out. It should be a fun run.

>>4429075
"pearl," from my first quest. Because, you know, pearls and shit. I'd plugged it in halfway through my first house creation and didn't regard it as a password at all (wrongly assumed no one would be this salty about their inability to run a successful quest).

>>4427176
Thanks for that. Looks like neither of us got an answer. Not that I'm surprised.
>>
AHEM.
Constance Celtigar is best girl. Westersluts need not reply.
>>
>>4430519
VALYRIAN FAGS BTFO! ANDAL BEAUTY STRIKES AGAIN! WESTERN SUPREMACY! WEST IS BEST!

Constance forgive me
>>
Mmhmmm I've become something of a Dorea guy myself these last few updates. I hope we give her a proper sendoff (and complete that jewelry set!) before launching on this suicide mission.
Is there any naive anon who thinks Dorea won't be pregnant after that night of debauchery?
>>
>>4430845
I'm hoping she is. One more strong Valyrian to set this degenerate Andal world to rights.
>>
>>4430849
Hmm what are the chances there are still some of Rhaella's handmaidens left on Dragonstone?
>inb4 Selena Wendwater (nee Darry) has a purple eyed son as well
>>
>>4430907
We are supposed to at least attempt to "rescue" the Darry handmaiden. Idk where else they could've gotten off to unless they're going to try to escape with the rightful king.
>>
>>4430923
Ohh right, completely forgot about her. I was just thinking about the aunt. Well we can 'rescue' her alright. I hope Selena is there to receive her personally when we drop her back.
>>
Yo boggs you got a good pic of Aurion on hand? Im in the mood for some drawfagging (of the shitpost variety though)
>>
>>4415873
>>4431753
This is Aurion's standard picture used.
>>
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>>4430519
>Pic
>>4431753
>>4431755
Yup, that's the one. Cerelle may or may not have lofty ambitions towards grooming him like a proper lord.
>>
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>>4431755
thanks man

>>4431917
the Lord Coomander of the Stormbringers himself
>>
>>4431980
Add some clearly defined shoulders, right now the fur around his neck looks like a manlet's arms. Otherwise, great!
>>
>>4431980
He needs great big coomer arms, don’t forget he’s also blind in one eye
>>
>>4431980
Almost spilled my second cup of coffee laughing at this earlier. Very nice. I'll have to use it at some point.

Okay, I should have the first post up in about an hour. Thank the gods I prewrote a good amount of this because I'm drinking more than usual. Forgot today was a cause for celebration.
>>
“Malaq,” you give him a fevered look.

“Captain, no. Please. Not this time. The Havest is good ship. Don’t do this to her. She deserves better,” your fleetmaster pleads.

“Relax friend. The Harvest isn’t going anywhere in this.”

“Oh. Good. For a moment, I thought---”

“I will be needing that dromond, though.”

“… pardons?”

“The dromond. The other ship you brought. She needs to ready to cast off. Sooner the better. I’m taking it and the First and whichever Northmen can stomach a brisk voyage,” you decide.

“Captain this is not so good of jest. This is madness. Even if she could ride the winds in, she could never tack out of it. Too sparse on sails and too flat of keel. She’s coast hugger,” Malaq frets.

“I know. I’m counting on it. I’m going to take that big ugly bitch straight through and beach her. With the storm at her back, there’s not a ship made that can match my pace. I will be the storm’s herald, mark me,” you tell him.

He knows you’re right. Even if the blockade could hold, which it can’t in this, you will be carried along by the mother of all tailwinds. Intercepting you is a fool’s errand. “Just so,” he concedes. “You get to beach. Then what?”

“Improvise,” you clap him on the shoulder. “Not sure what it’ll look like on the beach. Though I don’t expect it to be swarming with men in this weather, not when they’ve a perfectly good fortress to hole up in… they did have a light garrison when last we visited. Well, light for a castle of that size. Who knows?”

He shakes his head. “Madness.”

“Only if it doesn’t work. If it works, it will be worthy of song. I would like my own song. Fear not, your place is with the Harvest.”

He lets out an overdramatic sigh. “Ten years with you. Ten years. A good investment, no? I’ll not let you cast off without me now. You will sink ship and I will have to be pirate. Malaq will guide you and you will make me rich like you always say,” he gives you a gilded grin.
>>
>>4432601
“I was hoping you’d say that,” you smile back. “We’ll need the best oarsmen from either ship. The ones who’ve seen a boarding action or two. They’ll augment my lads on the beach. Better’n trying to row in sand with thumb in arse. Double pay.”

“Will need triple. Even oarsmen will see this is madness.”

“Fine. Don’t care. Oarsmen get paid fuck all to start with. Let them dream of silver.”

“Silver is good. You know, your Stormgrave needs more brothels…”

“Every place does. Another time.” You send him off to ready the men.

“You can come out now,” you call out. Dorea steps out of the small castle sept looking like she’s seen a spirit.

“You’re going sailing. In that?”

“I am. I’d say I’ve been in worse, but well...” you shrug carelessly.

Why?

I will be the hero.
>It may be stupid, but it doesn’t matter. You made a promise once to your wife. You mean to keep it.
>This storm was sent for you. It’s a mark of your favor. It won’t harm you.
>This is Cerion’s storm. It heralds your son’s birth and promises great things to come. You mean to celebrate it.
>Something else.

He may be feeling all of these things, but which does he feel the most?
>>
>>4432605
>This is Cerion’s storm. It heralds your son’s birth and promises great things to come. You mean to celebrate it.
I like this
>>
>>4432605
>>This storm was sent for you. It’s a mark of your favor. It won’t harm you.
>>
>>4432605
>>This storm was sent for you. It’s a mark of your favor. It won’t harm you.
>>
>>4432605
>This storm was sent for you. It’s a mark of your favor. It won’t harm you.
>Besides, there's fair maidens on that island that need rescuing. I am the Lord of Stormgrave, it would be shameful if I let a storm of all things stop me.
>>
This is Cerion’s storm. It heralds your son’s birth and promises great things to come. You mean to celebrate it.

Let's not forget someone tried to kill our family.

My wrath is lightning. My fury the storm. S
>>
>>4432518
>more than usual

Do-do you usually drink and write?

>>4432605
>This is Cerion’s storm. It heralds your son’s birth and promises great things to come. You mean to celebrate it.

Famry man goal coming through. You wanted it, here it is.
>>
>>4432634
The more I drink, the more verbose I become. Do people not? Weird flex but okay.
>>
>>4432640
Drinking is haram.
>>
>>4432605
>This is Cerion’s storm. It heralds your son’s birth and promises great things to come. You mean to celebrate it.
>>
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>>4432640
Let the liquor flow through you Boggsy. It's the only way to achieve true enlightenment.
>>
>>4432605
>This is Cerion’s storm. It heralds your son’s birth and promises great things to come. You mean to celebrate it.

Forgot to include my vote like an idiot. Whatever our feelings are towards Cerelle and fidelity, we absolutely will love our son. Daenarys might gain the recognition as the Stormborn, but we know this storm is for our son not her.
>>
>>4432605
>>This storm was sent for you. It’s a mark of your favor. It won’t harm you.
>>This is Cerion’s storm. It heralds your son’s birth and promises great things to come. You mean to celebrate it.
This is the storm of house Shryke
>>
Writing
>>
“Why not?”

“Your own man out there was terrified of it.”

“And he came around. My men always do, they just need to look to me on occasion. The storm’s an omen. The greatest storm of our lifetime and when does is come? In the face of my son’s birth. This is Cerion’s storm. It heralds the birth of the next Lord of the Storm’s Grave. The next Master of the Bringers of the Storm. My first born, who the gods know is destined for greatness. And I mean to celebrate it.”

“How can you know that?” she asks, seemingly shocked in the face of your surety.

“How could I not? He was born not a fortnight ago, when these clouds began to darken. He’s at the teat, a lovely teat at that, and has already survived an assassination attempt. It’s how I know before the ravens,” you tell her.

“By the Mother---”

“Just so. His mother holds the wretch. If you’d like to say a prayer over it, pray she doesn’t let the Braavosi live long enough to feel my judgement. I’m told I have an active imagination,” you say, offering the briefest of glimpses into your bottled rage. Even that makes her flinch, but you can’t help adding, “before you go thanking the gods for that too, know this: he lives because I surrounded him with oathsworn killers of my own, not because of divine intervention alone.”

She mulls that over your words for a time before settling on something. “I prayed for your son and your lady wife in there.”

“Much appreciated---"

“It might’ve been too late, but I hope it helps all the same. Please my lord, listen for a moment. When I was a young one, this traveling septon came through,” she continues. “Lots of septons came through Rambton’s hall as they were always welcome at hearth for a few words from the Book, but this one said something new. He spoke’ve how the Seven are all part of One like they do sometimes, but then he said this: we are just like the Seven Who Are One. We all have some of the Crone’s wisdom and the Mother’s mercy and the Smith’s strength. Even the Maiden’s innocence in one way or another. All of us. You might be a touch wicked in some ways, everything my ma warned me about men, but there’s goodness in you too. I know there is… I’m not sure what’s happened to you that’s got you not praying now, but I hope you find your way again, my lord. For little Cerion’s sake.”
>>
>>4432736
You don’t fully know what to make of her words. The whole Seven and One concept was always something you’d paid little mind to. It’s a touch confusing, and even holy men seem to be hung up on the ambiguity of it. Even so, her take has this undeniably beautiful optimism to it… but there is little else that needs to be said on the matter now. Instead you change the subject:

>“Where will you go?” Her future is in her hands, but you’d at least like to know that much.
>“Ser Byron will find a place to put you when the storm blows over.” Given her parentage, you would rather have more control over where she gets off to.
>“I think it’s time you put on a dress.” She will be revealed as Dorea Waters and can stay here in Sharp Point. She might not be welcome on Stormgrave, but she can at least live a castle life. Her aunt will see to her well-being.
>>
>“Ser Byron will find a place to put you when the storm blows over.” Given her parentage, you would rather have more control over where she gets off to.
>>
>>4432737
>Ser Byron will find a place to put you when the storm blows over.” Given her parentage, you would rather have more control over where she gets off to

I’m not that committed to seeing her again - but she is a useful political pawn at the very least
>>
>>4432737
>>“Ser Byron will find a place to put you when the storm blows over.” Given her parentage, you would rather have more control over where she gets off to.
>>
>>4432737
>“Ser Byron will find a place to put you when the storm blows over.” Given her parentage, you would rather have more control over where she gets off to.
I hope she can still buy her cottage by the sea, though. Tell her we enjoyed the time and complete her jewelry set.
>>
>>4432737
>“Ser Byron will find a place to put you when the storm blows over.” Given her parentage, you would rather have more control over where she gets off to.
>>
>>4432736
>“I think it’s time you put on a dress.” She will be revealed as Dorea Waters and can stay here in Sharp Point. She might not be welcome on Stormgrave, but she can at least live a castle life. Her aunt will see to her well-being.

It won't win but whatever. Chaos vote.
>>
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“Dorea. You haven’t the slightest notion of how to fence those jewels,” you state. There’s no question.

“I’ll be fine. You’ve other---”

“And unbelievably stubborn,” you laugh. “There’s a coin purse with the other jewels. Couldn’t tell you what’s in it beyond a few dragons, but it should be more than enough. Take it. I won’t miss it.”

“… if you won’t miss it…” she looks uncertain.

“I won’t. I’m not sure it’s even mine. Keep the necklace and whatever matches it for good measure. You do look lovely in it. Ser Byron, the dour one, he will find a place for you when the storm blows over. Somewhere safe for you to start a life. By the sea, as you said. He will have command of the castle in my absence, so do mind him,” you tell her.

“This is it? You’re leaving?” she asks. You see the uncertainty in her stormy grey eyes, expressing words left unsaid, better left unsaid.

“Aye. The storm waits for no man, not even me. As hilarious as it’d be for me to drown after everything I’ve gone and said, I’d much rather avoid that fate. Safe travels, Dorea,” you go for a quick peck on the cheek, but she envelopes you in her best attempt at a crushing embrace. She lets you go after a few moments… but still whispers the words better left unsaid at your passing. Words you haven’t the time to think on…
>>
>>4432852
“Lord Aurion!” you turn at the latest interruption out on the castle bailey, having just finished retrieving your armor and apprising Ser Byron of the situation. Ser Wylis Manderly jogs toward you.

“Ah, good. I was going to send for you, ser,” you greet in turn.

“Yes. Quite. My lord, I heard the queerest rumor---”

“What? The ship? No, that one’s real.”

The burly Northman lets out a nervous laugh that sounds dangerously close to transforming into a whimper. “You—you’re certain of this? It isn’t a jest?”

“Certain as I’ve ever been. I do recall promising your lord father that we’d be the first on those beaches. The blockade breaks. The storm is at our back… mostly. The opportunity has been all but delivered to us. Fear not, my friend.”

“The storm, though…”

“This is the Narrow Sea. The storms here fuck you hard. This time, I’m looking to see some payment out of it,” you tell him.

“This is bloody madness,” an older, ruddy-faced Northman cuts in. You shoot him an irritated glace as you continue across the bailey.

“Only if it fails. I’ve as little interest in coaxing men up ramps like frightened horses as I do in being stopped whilst I’m walking. If the storm unmans you, stay here with the women and bowmen, ser…?”

“Ser Leonard Woolfield, the Knight of Ramsgate. My good-father,” Ser Wylis supplies.

“Is he? Shit luck then, ser. I know you Northmen to be the honorable sorts. You’d not let your good-son wade through this without you, eh? I wouldn’t after his talks of giving you a grandson,” you jest.

He lets out a snort. “No, I suppose that won’t do. I’ll not give a skinny Southron reason to call me craven over some waves either. We’re with you, my lord,” he says to the assent of the other nearby Northern knights.

“When do we depart?” Ser Wylis asks.

“Why, now. I’d suggest grabbing a last hearty meal, but that may be a poor choice given the circumstances,” you laugh at his crestfallen expression.

Your own men are already assembled at the docks when you arrive with the Northmen. They’re far more enthusiastic over the whole ordeal than they’ve any real sensible right to be. The trust they put in you it’s… well, it’s not humbling. Why do people say that? Of course, the oarsmen might just be excited over the prospect of extra silver at the end of this. And so, it begins…

>Can I get 3 rolls of 5d6 for Warfare (Command)?
>>
Rolled 1, 3, 4, 5, 2 = 15 (5d6)

>>4432853
>>
Rolled 2, 1, 4, 3, 2 = 12 (5d6)

>>4432853
Crash the waves!
>>
Rolled 6, 2, 4, 1, 5 = 18 (5d6)

>>4432853
and we back!
>>
>>4432863
>>4432865
>>4432867
Nice save with the 17.
>>
>>4432852
>She lets you go after a few moments… but still whispers the words better left unsaid at your passing. Words you haven’t the time to think on…
Help out an autist with 0 EQ, anons. Is this a roundabout way of saying that she said 'I love you' to Aurion?
>>
>>4432871
She called Aurion a coomer.
>>
>>4432882
Nah she whispered
>I faked it
>>
>>4432871
Yes.

It looks like I'm going to need 3 rolls of 4d6 for Awareness (Notice) as well.
>>
Rolled 1, 6, 6, 1 = 14 (4d6)

>>4432899
>>
Rolled 2, 6, 3, 2 = 13 (4d6)

>>4432899
>>
Rolled 4, 3, 5, 5 = 17 (4d6)

>>4432899
Thanks for clarifying.
>>
Rolled 1, 5, 5, 2 = 13 (4d6)

>>4432899
G'wan
>>
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>17 vs DC 15 for Command (1 degree), 17 vs DC 12 for Notice (2 degrees)

By your word, the journey is brisk. Out here where the boundary between bay and open sea blurs, the waves swell to titanic proportions. It’s all you can do to avoid being swallowed by them, but shouting yourself hoarse in tandem with Malaq has the oarsmen spurring the fat-bellied dromond to crest the burgeoning mountains before their caps whiten and bend. That, and no small amount of help from the winds howling against the stern and causing the main mast to groan.

Visibility is poor in the downpour, but you swear you caught some shapes off of Driftmark. Wreckages or something worse besides… krakens are drawn to blood on the water from leagues around. Best to leave the bleeding to those poor bastards of the blockade…

Hours feel like days as your veteran oarsmen wrest for control of the ship while infantry and knights alike return buckets of water to the sea. You steady yourself with a grip on the railing until your arms ache and beyond… but it’s not long from there before the southernmost tip of Dragonstone materializes in the curtain of rain. Had you not been expecting it, you might’ve missed it entirely and found yourself carried as far as Rook’s Nest. Malaq starts shouting for a head-on approach while your men don their armor. Safe to swim it from here… probably.


“Faster you whoresons! I won’t have us catch in the surf!” you yell to the oarsmen. Or on what’s beneath the surf… no one’s ever said these islands were bereft of rocks and the beaches are no exception.

They let out a roar as the drummer hastens the tempo for the final push. It’s exhausting work after the trying ordeal so far, but the sight of land raises their spirits enough for them to push through, nearly raising the ship from the waves in one final burst.

“BRACE!” the calls ring out across the deck just as keel meets sand. The few left standing lose their footing at the sudden lurch, and the ship beaches itself in a torrent of gravelly sand.

This part of the rocky beach is nearly deserted aside from a couple of hapless patrolmen. Their colors mark them for Driftmark men, you think. They stand transfixed to the spot as they look at beached wooden whale in their midst. You leap off the deck into the sand. The two Velaryon spearmen seem to have lost control of their jaws at the sight of you.

“Tell me you saw that lads” you call out to them, eyes alight with mirth even in the downpour. They drop their spears.

>You’ll play this friendly for now. Have the patrolmen take you to the leaders of the first gatehouse. Surely, they can see this is the end?
>You’ll play this as stealthy as you can manage. It’s time to put those grapples to good use. Question the patrolmen, then silence them.
>Momentum is your advantage here. Hit them hard and fast before they can piece together what is upon them.
>Something else.

That's it for now. Thanks for playing!
>>
>>4432920
>>You’ll play this friendly for now. Have the patrolmen take you to the leaders of the first gatehouse. Surely, they can see this is the end?
>>
>>4432920
>>You’ll play this friendly for now. Have the patrolmen take you to the leaders of the first gatehouse. Surely, they can see this is the end
Thanks boggs
>>
>>4432920
>You’ll play this friendly for now. Have the patrolmen take you to the leaders of the first gatehouse. Surely, they can see this is the end?
Heh, Velaryons are like valyrian brothers to us, are they not? They may scoff at assumptions of such kinship but given our rapid and firm ascent, they will see it is to their advantage.
>>
>>4432920
>You’ll play this friendly for now. Have the patrolmen take you to the leaders of the first gatehouse. Surely, they can see this is the end?
>>
>>4432920

Can I leak behind the curtain and ask what we noticed? Was it for the patrol on the beach?

I’ll throw my hat in with the others to move this along:
>You’ll play this friendly for now. Have the patrolmen take you to the leaders of the first gatehouse. Surely, they can see this is the end?
>>
>>4433392
The island itself and the wrecked ships. You could've missed it in the storm.
>>
>>4432920
>You’ll play this as stealthy as you can manage. It’s time to put those grapples to good use. Question the patrolmen, then silence them.
All it takes is one trigger happy guard to sound the alarm and we're fucked. Like Sharp Point.
>>
>>4432920
>You’ll play this friendly for now. Have the patrolmen take you to the leaders of the first gatehouse. Surely, they can see this is the end?

I don't think they're all going to flip, but we won't be as out numbered if the lower gatehouses feel like surviving this.
>>
>>4432920
>You’ll play this friendly for now. Have the patrolmen take you to the leaders of the first gatehouse. Surely, they can see this is the end?
>>
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Posting this here for ease of access. Ignore the crossbows/cavalry for this expedition.
>>
>You’ll play this friendly for now. Have the patrolmen take you to the leaders of the first gatehouse. Surely, they can see this is the end?

Let's play to our strengths. We know Aurion can talk a septa out of her small clothes, talking a garrison out of their castle shouldn't be that difficult
>>
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>>4432920
>You’ll play this friendly for now. Have the patrolmen take you to the leaders of the first gatehouse. Surely, they can see this is the end?

>>4432218
>>4432001
aight made the edits
>>
>>4433564
Based
>>
>>4433564
Based Coomer
>>
>>4433539
So these are the troops we have with us on the dromond?
>>4432920
>>You’ll play this friendly for now. Have the patrolmen take you to the leaders of the first gatehouse. Surely, they can see this is the end?
>>
SO when we run into somebody of import. Whats our plan? We are the first of hundreds of ships landing on these shores, and if they fall in line we can make sure they pay us a minimal ransom for fighting alongside us? Or something of that nature? If we could get a few more troops fighting under us or even leading us to a tower of some kind, where our allies can base out of would mean we've earned our reputation alone. Since it would save countless lives from being massacred on the beaches.
>>
>>4433777
>and if they fall in line we can make sure they pay us a minimal ransom for fighting alongside us
I mean to say, If they pay us a fee and fight alongside us. They will be fighting for the winning side, hence a possibility lesser reparations and potentially not lose all of their fighting men. Is more what I meant. What I wrote before made no sense once I reread that. We could likely convince most people of that. And it would be mostly true, only deception would be when our allies may be arriving.
>>
>>4433783

I'm very against recruiting enemy troops. There is no way to be sure they won't turn at the first chance.

>>4432920
>Momentum is your advantage here. Hit them hard and fast before they can piece together what is upon them.
>>
>>4433783
It's a bluff we can try if it comes to it
>>
>>4433564
Nice, thanks man
>>
>>4433789
>I'm very against recruiting enemy troops. There is no way to be sure they won't turn at the first chance.
Unlikely to happen among the more noble houses of Westeros. Convincing them to turn on allies won't be easy however.

>>4433777
>Since it would save countless lives from being massacred on the beaches.
Not going to cut it. We promised to plant the Manderly banner and for it to be the first on Dragonstone.
>>
You know we can tell anyone important we meet here that we're here to negotiate their surrender. If the Targaryen fleet still tries to maintain the blockade, they'll be lost in the storm and countless lives lost. We braved the storm to come here and tell them to lay down their arms, call back their fleet and tie it down as hard as possible, and we'll personally guarantee the survival of everyone on the island in return. All non-nobles will be let go without ransom.
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>>4433821
>We promised to plant the Manderly banner and for it to be the first on Dragonstone
That is a given. Planting a banner means he/his representative was there. We don't have to take the place by force. I agree that high born with plenty of history likely wouldn't side with us. But Doesn't mean we can't pick up 2-3 units that cover some of the beach defences. And nab up a high born ransom. We could just skip over the knight/lord in question and tell the troops if they ever want to see their families again, to lay down their arms and stop fighting a battle they can't win.
But a lot of that stuff is a stretch depending on who we run into. Just keep in mind, persuasion is would bread & butter. We've plenty of avenues to convince them.
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>>4433834
>we'll personally guarantee the survival of everyone on the island in return.
we can't do that in reality. And who is going to believe of some snot barely anyone has heard of? Lets not over promise is all. I would rather we didn't have to try and use our political capital for our enemies. I'd rather see them dead. We've no real ties with the old king and his allies.
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>>4433838
We can use the storm in the arguments, saying that the Targaryen fleet was the only thing keeping them safe, and we saw it sinking in the storm on the way in. Stannis has a fresh fleet and thousands of troops waiting to conquer the island, troops who have been frustrated with months of waiting, so this is the last chance of still escaping this island alive.
>>
Okay this is slightly meta depending on if she has fled the castle or not but hear me out.

We bluff the garrison saying we need to speak with Queen Rhaella urgently. We then go and inform her that a fleet is waiting for the storm to pass to sail to dragon stone and put it under siege. Then once we're alone with either her or the castellan we bring out the sword and order them to cede the castle to us.
>>
>>4433564
Love it. Thanks for the OC, anon
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>>4433564
>how do you do, fellow dragonseeds!
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“Velaryons? With the garrison, then?” you prompt the shocked patrolmen as your men follow your lead in leaping from the wrecked ship.

“Aye…”

“Good. I’m Lord Aurion Shryke. The storm sends me to bring word of war’s end.”

The two spearmen were quick to oblige your demand to provide escort to what passes for leadership here… a Ser Blackberry at present, they think. At least down here. Lord Velaryon and his son are both missing. Ill news, for them at least, doubly so after what you saw off of Driftmark’s coast. They walk with you at the head of your host as you trudge through the gravelly sands to the first gatehouse. You had them pick up their spears lest they look like cravens or hostages.

“What of the other one I saw… Lord Celtigar?”

“Him? He’s went off back to his own keep, m’lord. Was just a night past. Him and them Clawmen had words after M’lord Lucerys dint come back in the storm,” one answers.

“Hmm. Then there are ships here still?”

“Might be a couple moored on the far side, m’lord. Cogs.”

Cogs are what you’d want if you were going to slip out of this disaster. Deep keels to stay righted and heavy sails meant to take a bit of wind… and on the other side of the keep. You ill like that.

“So, how fairs the Queen these days? I assume she is still about. Her and the little princeling both?”

The other spearman stifles a snort. A mistake. You stop, causing the scores in your wake to halt in step with you, and round on him, eyes alight with the fires of long-dead sorcery. “You find yourself a part of a very rare occasion in which I don’t find my words to be entertaining. Speak quickly.”

And speak quickly they do. Rumor has it the Queen Rhaella is dead or dying. An unexpected birth, given her age and circumstances. Memories come to mind of the Mad King’s “favor” upon her flesh, further souring your mood. Still, it does explain their tarrying on this side of the sea. It wouldn’t do to put a frail woman heavy with what would be the last Targaryen princeling on a ship. Not unless it was the only option left. “But they are still here, yes?” you finally ask.

“S’far as we know, m’lord. The King Viserys at least.”
>>
>>4434081
“You did well to tell me of this. All the same, careful with that “king” bit. The one sitting the Iron Throne isn’t still playing with a wooden sword,” you warn. They stammer their apologies as you resume your march.

“M’lord… if it please you to answer, how many’s coming for us?” the first spearman tepidly asks.

“Oh, thousands. Tens of thousands? I can’t say I bothered to count. Lord Stannis Baratheon has the honor of leading them unless the King has deigned to come himself,” you answer.

“Dined…?”

You shoot the spearman an amused look. Is this how Cerelle feels with you? “Aye. Haven’t you heard about Lord Stannis? He lived through a year long siege. How’d you think he did that? Way I’ve heard it told, he ate his enemies.”

The two exchange looks. “He wouldn’t… he’s a highborn lord.”

“Lords get hungry too. I know I do. Haven’t you seen the feasts? Now imagine we don’t get to feast because we’re holed up with no resupply… for a year. I’d say you’d look mighty appetizing after all that. You lads have more meat on your bones than the rats. Not that I’d eat you, mind, but I’ve been eating well of late. Lots of feasts in the city what with the war already being won and your lot being called the traitors now. But Lord Stannis? Some say a man that’s gone through all of that develops a sort of… taste… but those might just be rumors. Far be it for me to traffic in such. Although…”

“Although?!”

“Well, he did chomp his teeth at me once with this fevered look in his eye. Frightening stuff.”

They look ready to drop their spears all over again. “I don’t want to be on no spit, no ser. Not me,” the twitchier one babbles.

“Relax, friend. I doubt he’d do all that… he’d stew you like a rabbit. Much more efficient. Course, you’re still eaten, but it beats having a stick up your arse first,” you reassure as the gatehouse comes into sight around an outcrop of rocks. Guardsmen are scrambling at the sight of the nearly two hundred fighting men that have suddenly appeared on their doorstep.
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>>4434082
“One of you go fetch this Ser Blackberry for me. Quickly now.”

At your command, your men plant the banners of House Shryke and House Manderly in the sand. It’s satisfying to fulfill your debt to the Lord of White Harbor. By your reckoning, that was the last debt you owed from all of your mid-war haggling. Ser Blackberry comes quickly enough with the spearman and a pair of knights beside him. A soldierly type in his thirties by the look of him.

“You are in command here?” you call out to him as he approaches.

“I do have the honor of leading the lower reaches, but I cannot speak for the castle itself. I am Ser Jace Blackberry. You have me at a disadvantage, ser…?” he prompts, frowning at your banners. He clearly doesn’t recognize them.

How do you want to proceed?

>Tell him the war is over. You are the first of many, many ships and resistance will only spell his doom. Convince him that he can save some face by cooperating. (Convince)
>He needs to bend the knee, now. Any who don’t will be put to the sword as traitors. Death is coming for them. (Intimidate)
>You’re here on orders to save the Prince/Queen. They need to escape now. (Deception)
>Something else or something to add to the above options.

I’m going to be busy for the rest of the night, so this will be up until tomorrow. By all means, get creative with how you want to approach this.
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>>4434084
I don't think the northmen are much for deception. I feel like a good ole intimidation.

>He needs to bend the knee, now. Any who don’t will be put to the sword as traitors. Death is coming for them. (Intimidate)
Maybe half convince with we can put in a good word to Stannis if he complies now
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>>4434084
>Tell him the war is over. You are the first of many, many ships and resistance will only spell his doom. Convince him that he can save some face by cooperating. (Convince)
>>
>>4434084
>Tell him the war is over. You are the first of many, many ships and resistance will only spell his doom. Convince him that he can save some face by cooperating. (Convince)

I don't want him getting pissy about it and backstabbing at the actual castle.
>>
Maybe toss in a comment about riding with Ser Barristan just before all of this. And being on decent terms with Lord Sunglass. Anything to show we're not just a backstabing W*sterman.
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>>4434285
Or that we just put a dragonseed into Lady Selena Darry
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>>4434295
Hah. A nice icebreaker for asking to talk to her uncle/cousin/brother. The master of arms.
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>>4434084
>>Tell him the war is over. You are the first of many, many ships and resistance will only spell his doom. Convince him that he can save some face by cooperating. (Convince)
Its the honest truth. Even if he won't fight against his allies. To surrender peacefully would help.
And some information would go a nice way towards that as well. Keeping him and his men for ransom once this is over is nice if at all a possibility.
We should also try and send word, to have Vaeron come alongside another group of troops if he can find another of our knights to replace him.
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>>4434464
How are you gonna send word out in this storm? No one's leaving the island and any raven sent will be lost in the storm.
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>>4434084
>>Tell him the war is over. You are the first of many, many ships and resistance will only spell his doom. Convince him that he can save some face by cooperating. (Convince)
>Something else or something to add to the above options.

Maybe make some reference to our Valyrian ancestry and say 'if anyone would want to fight against this it's me, but when the wars over it's over; it's just not over here, yet...'

Also, the name Blackberry to me says, hes from the Reach, we should just tell him that Highgarden has surrendered. Their siege of Storms End is broken and Stannis is on the way.
>>
>>4434285
>>4434581
Voting for these
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>>4434082
That bit with Stannis is hilarious

>>4434285
>>4434581
Supporting these. Same as we told the soldiers, Stannis has had a year to build a grudge and was denied at unleashing it on the Reach lords, and this is his last chance to get some vengeance. So it's better to surrender to us and get out alive. Everyone wants the war to be over and the last time we met the king, he was tired of signing pardons to loyalists who surrendered. So they can expect good treatment, maybe even being let go without a ransom.
>>
>>4434084

>>4434664
>>4434581
Seems smart they must have heard lots of stories about the Baratheon brothers and their image, playing this up seems smart.
The war is lost, they are coming, backup is not, and the man who started and won this whole war solely out of vengeance and spite has had to swallow some bitter pills as king, and you are the last "free" target for his rage old and new. If i were you I'd surrender quickly to somebody who will accept it rather than chance it with Bobby B or The Manis
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>>4434084
>Tell him the war is over. You are the first of many, many ships and resistance will only spell his doom. Convince him that he can save some face by cooperating. (Convince)
These guys are already willing to chat. They just need to see that the war is already over.


Also, can we please seed rumours that Stannis chops off the fingers of those that displease him because he still hungers for the taste of flesh on account of his diet during the siege.
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>>4434730
If you hunger for the taste of flesh, why would you chop off fingers and not more meaty parts? I'd refrain from spreading any rumours about Stannis to any highborn.
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>>4434464
Wouldn't it take days at best for Vaeron to get here?
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>>4434964
It was days when we were still on mainland.
>>
Boggs I summon you!
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>Can I get 3 rolls of 7d6 for Persuasion (Convince)?
>>
Rolled 1, 6, 3, 5, 6, 2, 6 = 29 (7d6)

>>4435414
>>
Rolled 2, 4, 5, 1, 1, 6, 5 = 24 (7d6)

>>4435414
>>4435409
Did that actually work?
>>
Rolled 3, 5, 6, 3, 5, 1, 6 = 29 (7d6)

>>4435414
>>
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>>4435424
Only one way to find out.

Heed my call Boggs!
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>>4435592
It's almost ready, I swear
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“I’m called Lord Aurion Shryke. Among other things. Trios?”

“Lord of Stormgrave. Captain-General of King Robert Baratheon’s favored Stormbringers Free Company. Proctor of the Faith. The Herald of the Storm,” your lieutenant crisply rattles off.

“Just so. I’m here to negotiate your surrender, Ser Blackberry. You and every other rebel on this miserable rock,” you tell him.

Rebel?” one of his fellow knights bursts, but he’s silenced at a raised hand from Ser Jace.

“Aye. Rebel. That’s what the rest of the Seven Kingdoms call you now,” you continue. “Hells, some of your former friends shout it the loudest. Eagerly, at that. I’m sure you can count those preening Reachmen amongst them. The very same that dipped their banners without a fight.”

“I had heard of a Captain Shryke, even a Ser Shryke. Tell me true, was the lordship your price for betraying the Queen?” Ser Blackberry demands, keeping his face carefully neutral.

“I’ve betrayed no one. Betrayal would’ve been throwing her off my ship or carrying her off to the Vale. Both would’ve been easier than fulfilling my contract with her. The lordship came with victories in the field. Westerosi castles don’t seem to be able to keep their gates closed to me. But by all means, waste time with whatever churlish slanders those warming themselves above us have decided to peddle. I’ve nothing but time. You don’t, but I do.”

Ser Blackberry and the other, quieter knight exchange a look. “You come alone with two hundred men. I’ve thrice your number under my command. I could ride out with all of my strength and crush you. For all I know, you were blown here with the storm and now seek to save yourself with your words. What reason do I have to take this for more than a sellsword’s gambit to make me into the fool of the century?”

“Then do it,” you shrug. “I’ve faced worse odds and won. Saves me the trouble of scaling your walls and pulling you out of your hide holes with fire and sword. I don’t lead strawmen-drilled garrison lads. You have six hundred men? Good to know. I’ll repay the kindness. I’m here because it’s convenient to me. I just took Sharp Point, where more of my men remain with my fleet. I’ve been riding with Ser Barristan Selmy and three thousand Valemen at the Lord Hand’s behest. We took Rambton’s keep together and then split our host. He’s just taken Stonedance, and he will be meeting me here soon enough. More than that, Stannis is coming. Him and more men than he needs now that your fleet is broken. And he is furious after his long confinement by your preening former friends.”
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>>4435641
“All that may be true, but so is this: we swore oaths. Every one of us. We swore no harm would come to the rightful King and Queen. I know I speak for my brothers as well when I say we will hold true to that on our honor as knights. There will be no rapes or heads dashed against walls here,” Ser Blackberry swears.

“Good. Keep your oaths. I’ve no reason to harm your charges. That was some oaf Westerman’s doing. Look into my eyes, ser. I’ve more cause to see them safely guarded than most. Keep your weapons, keep your pride, keep your oaths. We go up this hill together and see an end to this. No follies.”

“Ya can’t trust this turncloak, Blackberry,” the blustering knight half-snarls.

Ser Blackberry ignores him and only looks thoughtful. “On your honor as a knight, you will do no harm to the King and Queen,” he finally decides.

“Aye, on my honor as a knight. I swear it,” you agree, staring him right in the eye.

He nods and takes his hand off the hilt of his sword… only for the angrier knight to unsheathe an axe from his back.

“Are you mad, ser?” the quieter knight finally speaks.

“Mad? Fuck yerself, Stonemont. I hope Willem and Waelon piss on yer cloak and yellows it fer ya, turncloaks,” the knight curses. A Clawman?

“You dare?” the knight, Stonemont, goes for his own sword… as do your lieutenants, but Ser Blackberry halts them with raised voice.

“This is my command. Mine. You openly defy it with blade in hand,” Ser Blackberry warns, one last time.

“Yew spit on yer oaths, I spit on yer command. Let’s an end to it, ser,” the Clawman raises his axe. He’s hopelessly outnumbered and knows it, but he won’t yield.

“So be it,” Ser Blackberry solemnly draws sword and the clash begins. They’re both equally fast, but Ser Jace manages it with full plate and shield against axe and mail. They exchange blows, but the Clawman gets the worst of the exchange and bleeds from two deep cuts while Ser Jace merely rolls his shoulder. To your surprise, the Clawman just laughs with wild abandon and rushes in to put a true end to it. He rains blows upon Ser Blackberry’s shield before abruptly collapsing to his knees. You see the side of his neck bleeding freely. You’d nearly missed the thrust. Impressive.
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>>4435644
Ser Blackberry raises his sword in salute one last time, before sheathing it and returning to the onlookers. “Ser Lucamore Hardy. A good man. I hope this is worth it, my lord. His kin above will be just as unbending,” he says through heavy breaths.

You and Ser Wylis Manderly walk with Ser Jace Blackberry and Ser Daeron Stonemont on the march to the summit. Both are of minor knightly houses that hail from this very island. Ser Jace is the head of his house and Ser Daeron is his father’s heir. Their families have guarded this seat for generations and clearly pride themselves on just that… but they’re also no fools. They have everything to lose in this. You don’t even think it’d be a bluff to suggest their entire families might have been attainted if they’d gone as far as the late Ser Hardy in all of this. Their next lord won’t want to be guarded by old fanatics.

“He said Willem and Waelon… I can’t say I know them,” you prompt as you pass the second gatehouse. There has been no further resistance, though you’d put the numbers closer to five hundred than six. You would’ve exhausted yourself pressing through them, but it may have been possible.

“Ser Willem Darry and Ser Waelon Waters. Ser Willem has overall commander here, and direct command of the Sea Dragon Tower with the Royals. He was the master-at-arms of the Red Keep. Ser Waelon holds the Stone Drum and the outcroppings,” Ser Daeron supplies. Ser Jace has been fairly silent since slaying the Hardy knight.

“Darry. Right, Willem Darry. That was the name. I’ve met a Darry or two,” you say, blinking away the memory of sultry words whispered into your neck. “I don’t suppose a Lady Lyra Darry is still present? I’d promised her lady aunt to see she had safe passage.”

“One of the Queen’s handmaidens? She should be… I’d heard an odd rumor of a Captain Shryke stealing off with a couple of them…” the two knights both look at you.

“Aye, that was me. I wed the Lady Lydden. She just gave me a son not a fortnight ago. Lady Celtigar is with her brother in King’s Landing,” you confirm.

Ser Daeron mouths “Cerelle Lydden” and shakes his head. “How’d you even manage that?”
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>>4435649
“It was her notion. I think. I was only around for half of it, busy hunting assassins. Or was it pirates? Any road, it’s long story, bells and all. And for another time, perhaps. How many men have they?”

“Perhaps… eight hundred…?” Ser Daeron looks to Ser Jace.

“Closer to seven. The bulk of our numbers were at sea. I suspect half will follow us,” Ser Jace says.

“Near about three to one in our favor if you've the right of it. I like those odds,” you grin.

“I would caution, my lord. Those that don’t will fight like Ser Hardy. They have no where else to go,” Ser Jace warns.

You reach the summit at nightfall with hundreds of men at your back and the mount’s protectors at your side. Blackberrys, Stonemonts, wayward Velaryons, and even some Riverlanders. The wet, black stone and bestial carvings look all the more sinister by torchlight. You wonder if this castle has ever been sieged before. Has it ever fallen?

Ser Blackberry turns to you. “Whether to gain His favor or ours, there will be those who will try to gain hold of His Grace. We cannot let that happen.”

“What do you propose?” you ask, watching as scores more torches begin to alight.

“We need to split up. One of us will need to press through to King Viserys while the other commands here.”

>You’ll take your men to this Sea Dragon Tower and leave the battle beneath the Drum Tower to Ser Blackberry.
>You will command here, Ser Blackberry must find the princeling.
>You’ll keep your men together and make a quicker end of this here.
>Something else.

More tomorrow. Sorry for the one-updates, just preoccupied with other work at the moment. Tomorrow will be a longer run for sure.
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>>4435655
>>4435655
>You’ll keep your men together and make a quicker end of this here.
>>
>>4435655
>You’ll take your men to this Sea Dragon Tower and leave the battle beneath the Drum Tower to Ser Blackberry.
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>>4435655
>>You’ll keep your men together and make a quicker end of this here.
Even with the 29 persuasion i just don't think it's prudent to allow this guy to split away from us. Once hes away from us it could make it a lot harder to get out of here if he turns sides back to Targ. you know what they say 'fast friend make for quick enemies'
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>>4435655

The timing is fine, more time for discussion is nice for events like this.


I wonder if it is more important right now to try to go for the head and go after the keep with the royals or to secure a defensible spot with port control to hold out for reinforcements to take these places.

Then again our momentum is a good advantage, they haven't had time to prepare yet.

Waiting until other ideas to vote
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>>4435655
Let me get this clear, there's around 7 units on Dragonstone and 3 of ours, and of those 7 around half (300?) Will follow us in battle. If we leave now, picking the first option, we take our 3 units to the Sea Dragon Tower and the remaining turncloaks fight their former comrades. If we take the second option, we fight the loyalists while Blackberry takes his units to Viserys. And if we pick the 3rd option, all our units fight here, but someone may try to get a hold of Viserys in the meantime. How much of that am I understanding correctly? Also is there fighting expected on our way to the Sea Dragon Tower or are all the remaining loyalists at the Drum Tower?

I think the smart play would be to let the turncloaks and the loyalists battle it out and take our units with us. If the loyalists win, it will be a costly victory and we can deal with them later. But we don't want Viserys slipping from our hands because that shit will be on our name.

So, I'm tentatively voting
>You’ll take your men to this Sea Dragon Tower and leave the battle beneath the Drum Tower to Ser Blackberry.

But I'd still like the answers to these questions above.
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>>4435644
>Look into my eyes, ser.
>>4433564
>>
>>4435718
My problem with committing everything here is that if Viserys gets away or is harmed, it'll be entirely our fault. He's the most important target here, and we need to do as much as we can to capture him unharmed. It's clearly indicated that if we take the third option, there's a lesser chance of that happening. Perhaps we can leave Manderly and his knights here in command and take the Stormbringers and the Sailors with us? Boggs can we do an awareness check on which type of units we have with us and how competent they are?
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>>4435723
>But we don't want Viserys slipping from our hands because that shit will be on our name.
Charging at a tower, with some knights and 50 men. If the crown prince escapes I doubt anyone will blame us, unless they already didn't like us anyhow.
I genuinely believe we should gather as many ransoms as we possibly can. And "clear the way" for the next unit. seems like we have already made a base for our allies to land of sorts with out getting absolutely rained on from the beaches.
>You’ll keep your men together and make a quicker end of this here.
I would rather we mop up the place here. And once we finish up charge altogether at the remaining loyalist. Everyone left at the dragon tower, will be kingsgaurd and the most well equip loyal men, and likely best trained. lets not march solely our men into that.
>>
If we send blackberry, the prince gets away. If we go ourselves and the battle goes south we'll be fucked into making an escape.

I don't know how to play this. Do we want to capture Viserys? Maybe the best way to do so would be to go ourselves and steal away on a ship with him
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>>4435723
Right, a unit breakdown is probably better since numbers =/= quality. You have 3 units, Ser Blackberry has 5, and he thinks he can probably get another 3 or so to flip sides. The remaining units, (probably about 5 or so) will fight. The Drum Tower is the Great Hall and will have the most men around it.
>>
I also don't want to play the meta card, but the children escape. Yes, it could be said that because of our early assault it is partly our fault. But they escaped prior to Stannis arriving. Could already be gone. Now If they are still here and we know that for a fact, we might be forced to go after them men lost be damned.
But again to meta, we wont be capturing the boy king. That really destroys canon to much.

I also justify it as Aurions knows, the men around the boy king should be as stated before the best of the best left to guard the boy king. We wouldn't want to start that fight while leaving our backside empty. Calming saying, would you leave your flank open to turncoats you just turned not to long ago?
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>>4435749
You're leaning into meta, don't do that shit. Boggs is annoyed by it, and frankly I'm annoyed by it too. Aurion in character still believes he has a good chance to capture the king and the queen alive, that's the assumption we take decisions with. Not the meta knowledge that they'll escape for sure. We took a hell of a risk sailing into the storm, with a real chance of being sunk. Aurion has no reason to believe that the loyalists will take those odds with their King.
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>>4435762
Yeah I can obviously see that I am bias here. I am fine if my vote isn't counted here for that reason. But a genuinely believe that Aurion wouldn't leave some turncoats to defend his ass. He can't say for sure that Blackyberry will gain those men. And even if here does, who is to say he won't lose? And then our backs our exposed, while we are trying to scale walls, while being undermanned, I can't see how Aurion would put his men's lives in someone else hands like that.
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>>4435784
but I genuinely*
even if HE does*
This headache is really getting to me. I really don't see him taking a chance this big, that costs more than the gain. Him obtaining some snot nosed brat worth lots of money and fame vs being wiped out to a man. When it has nothing to do with men you know, and no idea on the quality of fighters on either side of the people on your ass.
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>>4435655
>>You’ll keep your men together and make a quicker end of this here.
>>
If staying together wins, perhaps we can lend our voice (and our Persuasion 6) to Ser Jace when he tries to convince the remaining soldiers to switch sides. Did we get all 4 degrees with that 28?
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>>4435732
I'll skip the check and assume Ser Blackberry has told you that much. He has 2 units of trained garrison, 2 units of trained crossbows, 1 unit of veteran infantry. It stands to reason that the ones most likely to surrender are going to be more along those lines rather than true elites. I set it up in the vote with Blackberry commanding because they're his men and used to him, but you're more than welcome to leave Manderly here with his knights if you wish. It's not like you have to confine yourself to my prompts.

>>4435731
>Veni, Veni, Veni
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>>4435809
You'd both be in the same place, so I don't see why not. You got 4 degrees with the write-ins. It would've been right on the 3 mark otherwise.
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I think blackberry has a better chance of taking the boy without a fight but that also means that he's helping him escape. He's made that clear. If we go, I doubt his guardians will be willing to give up without a fight. I don't know if that's a fight we want to be in without Vaeron.
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>>4435825
>I think blackberry has a better chance of taking the boy without a fight but that also means that he's helping him escape. He's made that clear.
Where are you getting this from? Could you quote the line perhaps, maybe I'm missing it. And yes, we don't want to get in a one on one fight with our Fighting 4 and scale mail armor with a full plate knight.
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>>4435817
>>4435809
Doubling down on my vote, we said we would be the first on the island and we are. We've created a clear beachhead for the Mannis. We need to secure the next front and then move in from there. We have until the storm passes until we need to worry about them escaping.
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>>4435841
There are a couple ships on the other side of the island which can be used to get away, even in the storm. Aurion knows about sailing so he knows this, do they?
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>>4435839
>>4435655
>“Whether to gain His favor or ours, there will be those who will try to gain hold of His Grace. We cannot let that happen.”
He's not saying it explicitly but he's not going to let anyone else get him and use him. He'll get him off the island before that happens
>>
Of all the moments to lean on metagaming... just don't. For several reasons...

I do much prefer sticking to canon, most probably already know this, but from a QMing perspective, I could kill off Viserys or let him be captured and it would do very little to change my forward planning for the quest. A minor inconvenience, if that. He has little true impact on the next 15+ years. Not saying I will or not, but who knows? I could flip for it if the whim takes me.

Play the character.
>>
>>4435887
Thanks for making that clear. Almost everyone has stayed clear of metagaming for this decision, but I get that some may get the urge, given that this is a defining moment in canon. It'll be interesting to see how you handle the changes, if any.
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>>4435933
same.
I stand by my interpretation of Aurion. Doesn't make sense for him to leave his flank open. And he knows he could potentially gain more allies by being there to convince 1-2 extra units. Just doesn't make sense that Aurion wouldn't make that call to em. Making it a quick win.
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>>4435655
>You’ll take your men to this Sea Dragon Tower and leave the battle beneath the Drum Tower to Ser Blackberry.

He killed one of his allies. It would take a real mean bastard to do that just to backstab us now, and I don't see him written that way.
>>
>>4435655

>You’ll take your men to this Sea Dragon Tower and leave the battle beneath the Drum Tower to Ser Blackberry.
>>
>>4435655
>You’ll keep your men together and make a quicker end of this here.

>>4435731
Pic related
>>
>>4435655
>>You’ll keep your men together and make a quicker end of this here.
>>
>>4435655
>You’ll take your men to this Sea Dragon Tower and leave the battle beneath the Drum Tower to Ser Blackberry.
>>
Hmm I voted for going to the Sea Dragon Tower, but I'm having second thoughts because we can use Aurion's persuasion ability to convince even more enemy units to defect/surrender which will end the fight even more quickly. Then we can leave Stonemont to secure the tower and take Blackberry with us to Sea Dragon Tower, with more backup. Considering that Blackberry's men are trained/veteran while the loyalists are veteran/elite, I think they'll need the help of our Stormbringers to win without taking many casualties. With that in mind, I'll change my vote >>4435723 to

>You’ll keep your men together and make a quicker end of this here
>>
>>4435655
>You’ll keep your men together and make a quicker end of this here.
>>
>>4435655
>You’ll keep your men together and make a quicker end of this here.

Beach head is established, many if the garrison has already stood down, likely we can get more, our debts are satisfied. We have a favor to do, which should be easily negotiated under the guise of freeing the women and children in the castle before the horrors of war befall the castle, and a siege to prepare for. Ultimately as much of a gloryhound as Aurion is he likely understands that no one is killing anywhere in this storm, especially the crown prince, so biding his time and setting up to look hyper competent when the big dogs roll in is the better play.
>>
Can you imagine the look on Stannis' face when he arrives with his big fleet and army and finds out Aurion's already taken Dragonstone with 1 ship and 170 men while in a storm? And Aurion's not the kind of guy who'll allow Stannis to take any of that credit.
>>
>>4435655
>You’ll take your men to this Sea Dragon Tower and leave the battle beneath the Drum Tower to Ser Blackberry.
>>
>>4436223
we end up being The Mannis spymaster and he hates us, but tolerates it because we're so damn good
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>>4436380
There's a push to not work with him at all.
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>>4436399
Yeah, especially after this. I'll wait to see his reaction in character, but I have a suspicion that he'll hate us for having stolen his thunder and last chance for revenge. Unless we share the credit with him, but I don't want to. So we were thinking about petitioning Robert earlier to be sworn directly to him, because that's what the contract he signed says.
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>>4436411
I'd like to ask Cerelle about it, but I'm not sure if there will be time to. There's also the Stormlands to consider. Idk if that door has shut yet, but that would be my preference.
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>>4436494
Stormlands will still be a possibility after this. There is still one more unique opportunity even with the Lord Paramount issue put to rest.

Okay, keeping everyone together has a strong lead. No one is going to sit around and listen to a Convince argument here, so you're going to need to put on your command voice to sway anyone.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 6d6+2 for Persuasion (Intimidate)?
>>
Rolled 2, 4, 4, 1, 1, 1 + 2 = 15 (6d6 + 2)

>>4436615
>>
>>4436615
Btw starting early today or is this just rolls for later?
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>>4436620
Rolls for later.
>>
Rolled 4, 3, 2, 5, 5, 2 + 2 = 23 (6d6 + 2)

>>4436615
>>
Rolled 1, 4, 5, 4, 1, 2 + 2 = 19 (6d6 + 2)

>>4436615
>>
We just rolled 18 dice and not a single 6
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>>4436676
I mean we rolled a 23 the highest. Which sucks compared to ourselves. But overall we did okay.
we are using all 6 die. We don't lose a die, since we don't have any bonus die in intimidation.
>>4436622
What're the dc?
>>
Not great, but not a complete failure either. This is why specialty dice are important. The higher the ability rank, the less likely to ever hit the upper limits. Rank 5 with 2b is just as good as rank 6, for example. It's why you often see some stupid numbers with easily specialized fighting tests.

>>4436733
Varies by the units in question. 21 base for trained, subtracting discipline modifiers. So, trained infantry would be 21, trained garrison would be 24, green archers would be 15, elite personal guards would be 33, etc.
>>
Well I guess we don't have enough time to spin our Convince spiel. So keep our most formidable units in the front, Stormbringers at the forefront, and less trained units in the back. Unsheathe our Valyrian steel sword, plant your banner a few feet ahead and say

>"The King has grown tired of signing pardons. Either dip your banners NOW, or I'll make sure any who remain alive after the fighting is done will be crucified alive from all the Gates of King's Landing. Your lines will be attainted, your lands taken, and I'll bring your families to watch as the crows slowly pick apart your organs."

Aurion has been in Essos enough to know this practice.
>>
It's looking like I'm not going to have the prep time I need for this. We'll get the rolls done with tonight and I'll have the first post up earlier tomorrow.

First, the commands. Can I get 3 rolls of 5d6?
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Rolled 4, 6, 4, 3, 3 = 20 (5d6)

>>4436923
>>
Rolled 6, 6, 3, 4, 6 = 25 (5d6)

>>4436923
I'll give ya bout tree fiddy to run tonight
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Rolled 2, 3, 3, 1, 3 = 12 (5d6)

>>4436923
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>>4436931
Wish I could. I just don't have much free time.

Okay, can I get 3 more 5d6s for the Stormbringers?
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>>4436895
Its be cool if we could use our enemies forces first.
But with the infighting happening between them, even if they are quick our first should be able to flank atleast one unit. Preferably the personal guard. To knock them out asap in this fight. We could likely destroy their win by capturing a commander and demand their surrender. And move on to the next fight.
>>
Rolled 6, 5, 6, 4, 2 = 23 (5d6)

>>4436950
Can we incorporate some of this- >>4436895 ?
>>
Rolled 6, 5, 6, 4, 3 = 24 (5d6)

>>4436950
>>
Rolled 4, 4, 3, 3, 6 = 20 (5d6)

>>4436950
>>
Rolled 2, 2, 2, 6, 6 = 18 (5d6)

>>4436950
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>>4436954
Yup. I'll work in any ideas that make sense (unless other anons don't want to do them, then I can call a small vote).

>Can I get 3 rolls of 4d6 for the sailors?
>>
Rolled 6, 4, 1, 6 = 17 (4d6)

>>4436965
>>
I'm really confused as to why this is becoming combat..? We dont have any siege equipment or the (loyal) numbers for a siege. What is going on.
>>
Rolled 6, 5, 6, 4 = 21 (4d6)

>>4436965
>>
Rolled 1, 1, 5, 5 = 12 (4d6)

>>4436965
>>
>>4436970
The men up here weren't expecting their guard posts to march up the hill on the wrong side of the conflict. There are parts of the fortress that may still be better secured, but the main "bailey," if an area of such size can even still qualify as one, is wide open.
>>
Ok. Pretty good.

>Can I get 3 more rolls of 4d6 for the Manderly knights?
>>
Rolled 2, 6, 4, 6 = 18 (4d6)

>>4436983
>>
>>4436970
We convinced the commander of the lower defenses to side with us, now we're heading up the castle, gathering units along the way. The enemy in the upper castle has like 700-800 troops, we probably convinced some to surrender or switch sides with that intimidate roll. Now the rest of the defenders are fighting us for the control of the castle. The people upstairs probably don't even know there's a coup happening here, they must be confused why their own soldiers are marching on them.

>>4436971
>>4436956
>>4436931
Surprisingly good set of rolls.
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>>4436978
I think we aren't doing to bad so far. pretty decent rolls. So how many units did we end up fighting 4?
>>4436988
ikr. The dice gods can be merciful. After screwing you.
>>
Rolled 4, 2, 3, 2 = 11 (4d6)

>>4436983
>>
Rolled 2, 2, 1, 3 = 8 (4d6)

>>4436965
Out of curiosity, how does swearing to the Stormlands work?
>>
Rolled 6, 4, 5, 5 = 20 (4d6)

>>4436983

Go high
>>
What are the arguments for being under Stormlands or Stannis rather than being under the King directly? Robert is pretty loose handed with his money and the way we've played Aurion, he'll fit right in with Bobby B. The stories of our exploits alone will ingratiate us to him.
>>
>>4436991
6. 1 off from making it 5. 6 for them vs 10 for you.

>>4436994
It's related to Estermont. That's all I'll say for now. I don't want to spoil too much and see it repeated in a vote before we get to it.

Okay, one last set.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 4d6 for Awareness (Notice)?
>>
Rolled 5, 5, 4, 6 = 20 (4d6)

>>4437010
>>
>>4436978
>>4436988
I understand that but fail to see how the decision to turn recent turncloaks into active siege combatives with zero siege equipment, known command structure, or even a war council could be made without a single vote or even an aside to talk about it. Besides the prior vote just deciding we're going into combat now and some vague one time rolls to convince only the commander of the lower tower to side with us.
>>
Rolled 3, 6, 2, 3 = 14 (4d6)

>>4437010
>>
>>4437010
I get this is bothersome. So if it would ruin anything I get not posting it.
What was the dc for warfare and awareness?
And did the first/or sailors get to flank personal guards?
>>
Rolled 6, 4, 5, 3 = 18 (4d6)

>>4437010
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>>4433539
I just realized fucking wow...does the first all use 2 handed maces or something?
8 damage seems so high for a unit. Not that I am really complaining.
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>>4437017
I haven't done the opposing rolls for those checks yet.
>>4437024
See pic.

>>4437013
I'm not sure what you wanted to go differently. A vote to sit at the gatehouse instead of going up the hill? That's the best I can come up with, but I'm all ears if I'm missing something.
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>>4437036
yeah its just sounds insanely nice. But I guess with such a high cost it is obvious that we should also get high perks.

mhm thanks anyway.
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>>4437044
Yup. I look at them and myrish crossbows as the true "tier 2" units since they require 10-wealth holdings just to raise and maintain.
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>>4437036
Look you run your game how you want I just think we missed out on an opportunity to conduct a proper siege and set up in the name of gloryhounding and war. Very easily could have set up at the lower gate, send a party to parley with the castle, have set goals for the parley (i.e. get women and children out to satisfy our favor of getting Lady Darry out, getting more men to quit the field in exchange for mercy), and actually beginning to construct siege equipment like ladders and covered rams from the wrecked ships (not ours) on the beach. Besides that holding a proper war council with our very fresh made allies and talking how we're going to deal with them from a command standpoint with very little of our own command structure actually being in. I think it was a missed opportunity is what I'm saying, but yes I understand the character is a glorhound so to war we go.
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>>4437053
Alright. Sounds like a lot of dragging things out when the gate is already open, but I guess it's my fault for not anticipating there would be someone that would want to do all of that. Maybe I'm not describing things well enough. I'll try to add more details to the upcoming posts.
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>>4437053
Bruh the reason we aren't having a siege is because they didn't close the gates, because it's their own soldiers coming up the hill, so they are confused at best, not thinking that a takeover is underway and closing the gates. How do you even conduct a siege here when all the supplies are inside the castle and no reinforcements for us until the storm passes? We can end this quickly here and now, why would we extend it to a possibly weeks long siege?
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>>4437053
>Very easily could have set up at the lower gate, send a party to parley with the castle
We did that. That was exactly the point of the intimidation.
WHY would you force your men to siege and go up walls, when you can walk around that barricade and save the lives of you men?
What did you think would happen when we intimidated enemy forces to join our cause that is in direct opposition to their own views?

You do get this is not a castle...We WILL be running into one soon. We could do that if we fail the parlay. Aurion doesn't give a fuck about glory. Yes it is important to fufill his wife's fantasy. But Do you beleiev he would potentially destroy his unit for some glory? He was a mercenary not a knight. Practical > glory every time.

I just feel like you set your self up for failure by assuming to many things. I wouldn't have imagined we could >march up the hill on the wrong side of the conflict.
but here we are, deal with whats in front of you.
>>
Underwhelming response. Game is easier than the last one if we're going to just get everything handed that easily. No wonder people said this is a knockoff Malroy.

Dropped.
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>>4437080
I thought this was going a little too smoothly. 0 votes from you, 0 rolls. Just incessant whining. Doubt you ever played. Goodbye, tumblr-general!
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>>4437080
Nah fuck off with that. Boggs is doing a great job. I played a 20 good men straight, this is more than fine, and actually makes sense.
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>>4437080
Lol. Enjoy a nice (You) on my tab ya fuckin goof

>>4437088
I actually do have a question that I was reminded of by the fanart. Aurion is blind in one eye, but I can't recall a moment that it's actually come up. Is his eye damaged and scarred white? Or is it just something unnoticeable to the naked eye and comes across in his depth perception?

>>4437091
HI DAD! I knew you only went to the gas station on the other side of town!! The one with the cheap smokes!!!
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>>4437080
Fuck off and don't bother coming back.
We've built a monster negotiator. This isn't a purely glory hounding fight maniac like other quests.
We wouldn't be playing to our strengths if we didn't do this.
We have been getting great fucking rolls like uncharacteristically good rolls for fighting. 22 for a warfare with 4 die, you're failing to see how epic that was. and we continued to kick ass.
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>>4437091
WHAT
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>>4437091
D-dad?!
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>>4437080
>>4437091
>mfw Dad takes off his invisibility cloak just to smite this anon
Imagine being this anon right now
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>>4437091
Glad you could catch it live (well, as live as this is).
>>4437107
Slight scarring around it, but the issue is the nerve above the eye, not the eye itself. I can't remember what it's called off the top of my head. I knew someone that lost sight in one eye from that in a fencing accident.
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>>4437091
Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy Name
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>>4437124
Finally caught up this morning. Great stuff my man. Love how fleshed out the Crownlands are now and how this part of the canon timeline has been done. And seeing the little bits and pieces I've strewn about being used is really neat too.

Looking forward to tomorrow's run. Keep it up.
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>>4437119
Imagine the shame of getting yeeted by Dad when he comes home from the gas station. IMAGINE!
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>>4437005
Going back to this since idk what I can say to put that drama queen any deeper into the dumpster.

I'm not opposed to Robert, I just prefer working with the Stormlands out of an assumption that it will lead to the least oversight into our dealings with those of a less tax-friendly mindset. I guess Robert might not care too much either. One of his tax collectors or something might though. I guess I'm more of an "anything but Stannis the lawman" with a slight leaning towards the Stormlands over some guesswork that it may mean less oversight.
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>>4437250
Being under Robert also gives us access to contracts throughout the Seven Kingdoms, though, while being under Renly might restrict us to the Stormlands. We've already proved our company capable warriors and now with this feat on Dragonstone we can also hype ourselves as adept diplomats who managed to convince the loyalists to switch sides. Maybe the King or the Hand can send us on diplomatic missions or ones where the messenger has no problem if the negotiations turn into a battle.
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>>4437250
I will admit to some reservations about taking land from one kingdom to add to another. I feel our immediate political landscape would be negatively affected by such a move and it would, quite literally, put us on an island. I cannot recall specifically what side of Sharp Point we are on, I want to say the eastern island of picture related(?), but that is still a long ways from even the closest Stormlander. I feel cross-kingdom trade and diplomacy would be made more difficult by a move such as that.

The politics of the Crownlands, while volatile, have more to offer someone like Aurion. And owing direct allegiance to the Crown, or major Crown player in the new regime, will afford more leniency and opportunity to continue our more sellsword-y ways.

However, both sides do offer unique advantages.
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>>4437091
DAD?!
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>>4437293
Yup, it's the one just to the east of that Sharp Point tower. I'm working on a more "zoomed in" map for it.
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>>4437293
I'm yet to see any benefit we gain from going to the Stormlands. Keep in mind Renly is like 8 years old at this time. He'll probably have a regent for 7-8 more years who may be harsh on taxes to recover the cost of the war. I don't know what Boggs is hinting at, maybe Estermont himself becomes the regent, he's Renly's grandfather after all

On the other hand, in the Crownlands, we're on good terms (almost vassal-like) with House Bar Emmon, have a working relationship with House Sunglass, hopefully we'll be in favour with House Darry and House Wendwater if we return the girl, and in favor with the King himself. We also have the Rambton girl as a hostage/ward for good behaviour and friendly with the Lady Pyne. We can easily market our company's victories, our diplomatic successes and our knowledge of Essos to convince the King and the Hand to give us wide ranging contracts regularly.

So given all that, I don't see what the Stormlands has to offer that will exceed this.
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>>4437276
Renly is still young. I don't see him doing much restricting. But you do make a great case for Robert. Acting as a big stick ambassador or herald sounds fun to me.

>>4437293
I thought King's Landing and Storms End are about the same distance from us. You make a good point about the diplomacy though. That could get complicated.
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>>4437321
Ah alright I thought so. I'll need to add that to my map some day as well.

>>4437348
>spoiler
I fully believe that's the direction we're going in. Makes the most sense. Estermont is a close ally at this point, or at least sees the high value of Aurion. However, I do believe this benefit would be short term, once Renly comes into his majority, there is a chance he does not care for Aurion and his special brand of diplomacy. I have some issues with coming up with particularly good reasons to go Stormlands myself, though I believe that's a product of not fully knowing Boggs' plans.

In truth, I think I am most inclined to either fully swear to Robert directly (which is a long shot). With alternatives being Bar Emmon or Wendwater, both Houses we know to be in good standing and good footing with close Stormland ties. I appreciate how much Aurion has gained on his own, but frankly he is still a very, very minor lord. There may be a ceiling we need be careful of here and overplaying is a dangerous game in the Crownlands. See how well that has gone for Royce Redward.

Either way, fully agree we have so much more diplomatic potential with the Crownlands. The vast, vast bulk of our allies reside here and diplomatic capital, i.e the Rambton girl. It just makes sense.

>>4437349
>I thought King's Landing and Storms End are about the same distance from us.
Know what that's probably correct as the crow flies. But ultimately the Kingdom of the Crownlands is much closer on the whole.
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>>4437395
>In truth, I think I am most inclined to either fully swear to Robert directly (which is a long shot). With alternatives being Bar Emmon or Wendwater, both Houses we know to be in good standing and good footing with close Stormland ties.

In ASOIAF, Lords don't swear their allegiance to other Lords, only to Lords Paramount. Lords have landed knights below them. The only exception in canon is Stannis, who despite being a Lord still commands the narrow sea houses. Even then it's not clear in canon whether the houses were formally sworn to him or just fell under his area of influence and therefore followed him. When Robert elevated Aurion from landed knight to a Lord, this meant that the only options for swearing fealty to are Robert himself, Stannis and Renly. Not any other houses, because they are the same rank as us, even if it is in name only. Besides, the relationship we have with House Bar Emmon is the reverse, where Cassandra is so indebted to us, she might as well be our vassal. (Which is what Aurion said to Dorea)
>>
>>4437428
Lords can swear to other lords. There's a degree of added courtesy expected that may not be there with landed knights, but it's a thing. There are several examples in canon. Lord Stout sworn to Lady Dustin, all sorts of little lad lords sworn to the Freys...

When I started this quest, I'd planned for you to swear to House Sunglass or House Velaryon with Stannis kicking around as a background option, whether you were a landed knight or a lord. Obviously a lot has changed since then, so you have leeway, but there are worse things than being a bannerman to a more major lord. Agreed that it probably wouldn't be to Bar Emmon given how far they've fallen lately.
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>>4437428
Technically not correct. There are a number of Minor Lordly Houses sworn to non-Lord Paramounts.

Primary examples of this are: House Hightower with Houses Beesbury, Bulwer, Costayne, Cuy, and Mullendore sworn to them. House Rowan with House Webber sworn to them. And House Royce with Houses Coldwater and Tollet sworn to them.

GRRM in the past has lamented his lack of noble titles and has confirmed the existed of minor lordships that owe fealty to larger more powerful Lords that are not Lord Paramounts themselves.

That being said, thank you for the correction on the Bar Emmons, I misunderstand how that was written. But still stand by House Wendwater being a viable option while acknowledging that strictly speaking, we are Stannis' domain.
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>>4437440
Hmm I searched throught the first 10 pages for examples in ASOIAF of Lords being sworn to other Lords, but it seems Google has betrayed me. I concede that point. Still, we've already rejected Lord Sunglass when he wanted us to become his vassals. Bar Emmon is out. So is Massey, after that hornet nest we kicked on him, the successor is bound to hold a grudge. Wendwater is a craven and we placed our bet on the wrong Celtigars.

As a last resort, can we burn that destiny point to be sworn to Robert directly?
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>>4437453
>can we burn that destiny point to be sworn to Robert directly?

Just as I ultimately decided the cadre wasn't worth a destiny point, getting saddled up to Robert might just be too much for only one destiny point. I'm not looking to guide this any which way, but he's a hell of a reach option. He openly stated that he raised you to lordship in part as a check on your neighbors. Sound familiar? There would need to be a compelling reason for him to rethink that, and a contract he's probably never read may not be enough. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's far from a given. It'll be up to you guys to get outside the box to make that work, if you want to. You're not on any rails here, or at least I don't want you to be. Or explore other options. Either way.
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>>4437497
>Sound familiar?

So we are Stannis with a libido, charisma, and less power. Ok. I don't want to die or lose a hand. Time to brainstorm other options? Wendwater could be worse. Stormlands are looking even better.
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>>4437497
That seems reasonable. Getting Cerelle was also a big ask, but we managed that. Maybe we can do this as well, but I'll be okay if we have to settle for less. My gameplan for being sworn directly to Robert would be -

>Steal all of Stannis' thunder here, if we can't get Viserys blame him for being too slow to build his ships. Basically discourage him from wanting us as vassals, so if we push for being under Robert, he doesn't object.

>See the Massey issue and Bar Emmon's judgment handled well and in our favor. Give up taking their land if it helps in our reputation for dealing fairly with our neighbours. Argue that if we had another lord above us questioning our decisions, we might not have got this done.

>Ingratiate ourselves with Jon Arryn first, possibly during the above two trials, not taking land there might increase our reputation with him. So that he supports us if we ask for being under Robert.

>Play up our reputation and our deeds here and during the war, pay singers if necessary, if possible in feasts where the King is present. This worked well for Baelish when dealing with the Reach. Might help us too. Hype up how much use we can be to the Realm if we served Robert directly, than as a regular petty lord under another lord.

>See if we can find anything on Dragonstone to give him as a gift.

>See if the small council is settled and permanent now, and if any members can be convinced to support our demand.

Those are some things I can think of the top off of my head. Of course, this is just my opinion, and other anons may want to take their chances elsewhere, so these are just my suggestions if the vote to try to swear directly to the king succeeds. I suppose it will come after the business on Dragonstone is dealt with, because there are a few assumptions in there, which will become clearer. And thanks for explaining that again!
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>>4437091
>Father came back from the dead just to smack the saltlick out of a Cunt’s mouth
By the Seven, could it be true?
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>>4437348
>diplomatic successes and our knowledge of Essos to convince the King and the Hand to give us wide ranging contracts regularly.
>get sent to chase Dany
Oh boy

>>4437533
>Basically discourage him from wanting us as vassals, so if we push for being under Robert, he doesn't object.
This can actually cause the opposite effect. Knowing his character he as well may decide to keep the upstart lordling in line, teach us a lesson.
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>>4437765
>This can actually cause the opposite effect. Knowing his character he as well may decide to keep the upstart lordling in line, teach us a lesson.
Yeah I thought about it some more and that point seems a little weak. I don't what will be better, impressing him with our competence or embarassing him for being incompetent. Other anons are welcome to suggest ideas regarding Stannis.
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>>4437533
>Getting Cerelle was also a big ask, but we managed that.

That took burning a big favor with Estermont. I'm trying to think of someone who could help with that now and I'm coming up blank. The Hand and Barristan aren't our biggest fans. We don't know anyone else close to the king. I think there were high expectations of cruising around with the upper crust and being Bobby's best friend just because we had an impressive wedding. That seemed to be more for Cerelle's sake. I can't see that level of exposure sticking with the war ending. Looking back, the king has forgotten our name before lol.

>>4437080
This shit was stupid and short-sighted and a good example of why you should wait for the posts before you sperg out with assumptions, but I can see the worry about handouts with the way some anons are acting like we are going to be the king's right hand and be given a bunch of land and answer to no one but ourselves. I don't want this to turn into Iron and Hate either, but that's been more in the player discussion than on Boggs. He's been fair.
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>>4437823
>but I can see the worry about handouts with the way some anons are acting like we are going to be the king's right hand and be given a bunch of land and answer to no one but ourselves.
I've been having this feeling as well. And I'm pretty sure that Boggs isn't going to hand this to us on a platter (even before his most recent post about the sheer improbability of serving under Bobby directly). We need to put a ton of work into it and that takes time - time taken away from attending to our other responsibilities and goals.
Estermont is a great outcome and we should honestly be content with it.
>>
I'm hoping to resume in 90 min.
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You consider Ser Blackberry’s proposal to split your forces as you stare out at the scurrying torches beyond. As expected, these defenders were far from prepared to be facing their own comrades. An advantage you don’t expect to maintain for much longer. The two local knights wait in complete silence with only the distant shouts and the ding of raindrops spattering on metal to accompany your thoughts.

“Too many unknowns here, even for me. Splitting our men seems a needless risk at this point. We will push through together, right through them,” you tell Ser Blackberry.

“But the King---”

“The Prince, or whatever he is, will be seen to when this is at an end. The better you fight, the faster that will be,” you say in a tone that brooks no further argument.

“As you say,” the knight curtly acknowledges.

“Good. These men know you?” you ask.

“Many do, though I was not with the Prince upon the Trident,” he adds with a touch of embarrassment.

“Cheer up friend, nor was I. Right, you say your bit and then I’ll say mine. Let’s see this done before they get too settled in,” you tell the assembled knights.

You step through the final gatehouse, the guards already subdued by their fellows or surrendered, and into the rain. The clinking and rattling of hundreds of men follow you. You are surrounded on all sides by the rocky outcroppings of the mythic mountainside fortress. You’ve seen this outer cloister once before by day. It looks far more sinister with dusk… but that may just be the promise of impending violence. On your left overlooking the sea is the Sea Dragon Tower. It is connected to the vast Drum Tower on your right by a sprawling, sheltered walkway of the same black stone. The crenellations across the walkway are shaped like monstrous beasts, though you see plenty of men upon it along with… three or four scorpions. The last one is further back out of the rain…

Two blocks of spearmen form up beneath the walkway with more archers dotting the wall closer to the Drum Tower. They’re still not fully organized, and you’re not so courteous as to wait for them. You give a nod to Ser Blackberry. His turn to play his part. He steps forward.

“Loyal men of Dragonstone, hear me! You know me as Ser Jace Blackberry! I have yielded the lower reaches with heavy regret. The end is here, the Baratheons are here, but there is hope! We have been promised safe conduct. No harm will come to our charges. Join me and choose life,” Ser Jace yells to the black stone and flickering torches. You shoot him an annoyed look. What a boring speech. Must all knights behave like they’re guarding their maidenheads when speaking to a crowd? Your turn.
>>
>>4438679
“Right, then. I’ll keep this simple!” you shout from beside Ser Blackberry. “Your fleet is broken. I’ve seen the hulks off Driftmark. Lord Stannis Baratheon is landing with ten thousand men. All who I address are in open rebellion. Treason. The penalty is death, but I can’t see your faces… yet. This ends now, or there will be no quarter given. King Robert Baratheon himself has spoke of his weariness in signing pardons. You will dip your banners and you will do it now, or I will personally drag you by your teeth through all Seven Hells.”

For a sweet, sweet moment, you hear nothing but the rain. Then all hell breaks loose.

The first rank of spearmen is closest to you, that might be what does it. One good look at your assembled host under those terms and they’re ready to go have a nice sit somewhere further in. You’d suggest the gardens, but you doubt they’d hear you over the scuffle that quickly ensues between them and the second rank. The archers don’t seem to know what to do.

“I’ll take it,” you laugh at the sight. “Quickly now, lads! This is it!”

Your men surge forward in their hundreds. Ser Blackberry is quick to lead the infantry from the front while Ser Daeron Stonemont directs the bowmen to close in, looking for an opportune target to feather. You spot heavier infantrymen or knights stepping from the blackness of the cloister, fruitlessly looking to restore order to the chaos amongst the spearmen.

“Ours!” you gesture to the emerging foemen for your own men to see, picking up speed to a measured jog with the lack of arrows flying your way.

The archers ultimately choose life. Or death. That remains to be seen. You don’t recall promising a damned thing to them. Either way, they loose an erratic volley onto the spearmen below. You’re not sure which side they hit more, but at least it wasn’t directed at your own men. Terrible way to make friends, really.
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>>4438681
“Malaq! Ser Wylis! Stay behind us and flank on the left,” you order to their aye’s. The Northmen are fearsome in the thick of it, but you deem their mail to be woefully inadequate in this sort of scrap.

Ser Daeron’s crossbowmen unleash upon the crenellations. You hear some screams, but they inevitably end up trading their smaller bolts for a return volley from the lance-like bolts of the scorpions. You haven’t the time to assess the damage done, but you’re reasonably certain Ser Daeron’s superior numbers will keep him in the fight. That, and the reprieve as those mechanical monsters are wound up again.

The heavier infantry push past the increasingly savage spearmen brawl to exchange blows with your Stormbringers. You see at once that they are true elites, nearly a match for your own men… if only they had the time to form a shield wall. You do. Your men are quick to dig in at your word as the defenders begin their attack.

>Opposing Elite Heavy Infantry take 32-9 dmg vs 12 hp and are Disorganized.
>Stormbringers take 16-9 dmg vs 15 hp. 8/15 hp remaining.

The exchange of blows and curses continuous for far longer than it has any right to. Heavy hammer blows rain down upon plate and shield as your inexorable line pushes the defenders back. Their cohesion begins to falter upon the stone steps…

Then the rest of your line hits them in the flank as Malaq and the sailors start enveloping and hacking down the stragglers, screaming bloody murder all the while. Or that may be how they always communicate. Oarsmen are a breed of their own. The retreat of the Dragonstone elites quickly turns into a rout a hair away from being swept away completely. The Manderly knights move up the steps to finish the job, but they are intercepted by garrison men from some other part of the fortress.

>Elite Garrison takes 15-6 damage vs 12 hp. 3/12 hp remaining.
>Manderly knights take 12-5 damage vs 12 hp. 5/12 hp remaining.

The Northern wolves roar their fury into the guards who have denied them their prize, but these are no undisciplined town watchmen. These are veteran honor guards worthy to be in the presence of Royalty, and they are quick to demonstrate their worth. The black scaled spearmen go toe to toe with the Northern axes. You think Manderly has the better of the fight, or if he holds long enough for you to sweep up to him.
>>
>>4438683
You hear a woman’s scream even over the din of clashing metal and dying men. You manage to catch a brief glimpse of silver and purple behind the black scaled guardsmen. Whoever it is, they’re moving deeper within. You make to give the order to advance but find yourself compelled to look to the sky.

Something… jars… arc through the air. They soar just over your Stormbringers and shatter amidst Malaq and his oarsmen.

>Malaq’s Veteran Sailors take 21 damage from the Spitfire (Wildfire). Unit is Destroyed.
>The fire spreads. Manderly Knights take 3 damage this round from the Wildfire. 2/12 hp remaining.
>The fire spreads. Elite Heavy Infantry is destroyed.

It’s the greatest and most terrible sight you’ve ever seen. The night air itself turns green and the screams of the dying oarsmen cut across the battlefield. Screams you will never forget. You see Malaq in the eye of the storm of emerald. The former slave turned fleetmaster who braved the storm willingly… your old friend. The skin of his face melts from bone like wax as his eyes blacken and burst.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 3d6 for Will?
>>
Rolled 2, 4, 5 = 11 (3d6)

>>4438685

Oh fuck
>>
Rolled 5, 5, 6 = 16 (3d6)

>>4438685
>>
Rolled 3, 6, 1 = 10 (3d6)

>>4438685
>>
>>4438699
>>4438704
>>4438708
Well look at that. Passed vs DC 15.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 4d6 for Awareness (Notice) to assess the battle progress?
>>
Rolled 5, 4, 4, 1 = 14 (4d6)

>>4438713
>>
Goddamn, I knew Malaq was going to die somehow, you sprinkled those little lines like in movies where the guy about to die suddenly finds more lines and character moments. I wonder how the fuck they got their hands on wildfire.
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>>4438723
The unit targeted was chosen by random roll, but it did dawn on me that I may have cursed him with death flags.

You brought it to them in thread 1. It's always been in play.
>>
Rolled 5, 2, 4, 2 = 13 (4d6)

>>4438713
>>
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>>4438727
>spoiler
Of course we did.
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>>4438713
How many rounds does wildfire burn for? Do the Manderly knights go to disorganised first or straight to destroyed?
>>
Rolled 6, 5, 4, 5 = 20 (4d6)

>>4438713
Oops.
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>>4438770
2d6 for units directly hit, 1d6 for those that catch it from it spreading. Keeping the rolls for that to myself since there is no way the character could know that. They would go to Disorganized, but there would be no way to "rally" a unit that is literally on fire.

Writing.
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>>4438796
2d6 and 1d6 rounds?! And then damage per round.. Manderly knights are toast, safe to say. Are we on fire?!
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>>4438803
Yup, rounds. 7 damage for the unit hit, 3 damage for those it spreads to. Ignoring armor. It has a 50/50 chance to spread to adjacent units. The Stormbringers and the Elite Garrison avoided it, so you're not on fire. Manderly and the routed Heavy Infantry weren't so lucky.
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>>4422521
>My Captain finds new creative way to attempt murder of his poor Malaq.
:^)
>>
It’s the greatest and most terrible sight you’ve ever seen. The night air itself turns green and the screams of the dying oarsmen cut across the battlefield. Screams you will never forget. You see Malaq in the eye of the storm of emerald. The former slave turned fleetmaster who braved the storm willingly… your old friend. The skin of his face melts from bone like wax as his eyes blacken and burst.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 3d6 for Will?

For the first time since the Bone Mountains, you falter. Screaming emerald candles scatter every which way, taking their doom with them. The routing foe are engulfed as well, and even the Knights of White Harbor find themselves desperately swatting away the hungry flames. A few even run towards you, but your Stormbringers have closed ranks and are quick to cut down the hapless sailors with careful, probing thrusts. You simply stare, transfixed as Malaq sinks to his knees and finally falls forward into the steaming mud. This is all we are… charred bones and cooked meat. Ashes.

No. Not you. Not now. You need to act. You rapidly survey the battlefield. House Manderly’s knights are closest to you and are frantically trying to beat back the flames spread from fleeing sailors. Beyond them are the black scaled garrison men they were engaging. They’re making an orderly retreat into the inner cloister past the Sea Dragon Tower. They want no part of these flames, but they’re still the closest threat to you and Manderly.

The front-line spearmen on your right flank are all but done for with both sides drastically depleted. Some of Ser Daeron’s bowmen are sweeping up there, but Ser Daeron himself is frozen in his tracks with a solid half of his crossbowmen doing their level best to put distance between themselves and the inferno on the left flank. Bloody fools are going to get a taste of it from that spitfire if they don’t act.

Alongside his more veteran infantry, Ser Blackberry has made marginally better progress than you and is fighting beneath the walkway, but his men have been stopped there by furious Clawmen. The knight himself is locked in single combat with a savage in a bear pelt. You’d judge Ser Jace to be tiring, but it’s hard to be sure after how well he handled himself on the beach.
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>>4438899
At the heart of the resistance in the inner cloister is one knight adorned in blackened full plate. He stands before a personal guard of knights bearing an assortment of heraldries. Many of them bear the black armor of House Targaryen. They are beating back the bulk of Ser Blackberry’s watchmen despite the overwhelming odds against them. Some are falling back deeper into the fortress, but it’s an orderly retreat despite the battering they’ve taken.

Orders?

Stormbringers
>Press on and fight the garrison that the House Manderly Knights had been dealing with.
>Redirect to fight these Dragon Knights. They are the greatest threat on the field.
>Grapples. You want these siege weapons silenced at all cost.

Ser Daeron
>Try to get him to snap out of it. You need him to target the engineers.
>You want him to advance instead and attempt to relieve Ser Blackberry.
>Leave him to sort himself out.

Aurion
>Go pull Ser Wylis’s arse out of the fire.
>Challenge the knight directing the resistance. It’s not Ser Willem Darry, so it is probably Ser Waelon Waters.
>Just stick with the Stormbringers. You’re not looking to risk your neck any more than you have to.
>Something else.

Note:
Siege weapons are rightfully devastating, but they may only attack every other round. They will not be attacking for this next battle round.

Alright, I’m going to leave this open until tomorrow. Not the slew of posts I’d envisioned getting to, but I’m trying to play this as straight as I can, and it turns out 16 units with siege equipment mixed in involves a lot of moving parts. Who would’ve guessed? Thanks for the patience!
>>
...ignore those first few lines of text...

>>4438837
Well, shit. I really did curse him.
>>
>>4438904
>Press on and fight the garrison that the House Manderly Knights had been dealing with.

>Try to get him to snap out of it. You need him to target the engineers.

>Challenge the knight directing the resistance. It’s not Ser Willem Darry, so it is probably Ser Waelon Waters.

I want to challenge their commander but don't want to get flanked by the garrison. Our allies are over that way so we won't be fighting alone if we split from the stormbringers.
>>
>>4438904
>Press on and fight the garrison that the House Manderly Knights had been dealing with.

>Try to get him to snap out of it. You need him to target the engineers.

>Go pull Ser Wylis’s arse out of the fire.

Oh boy. I missed all the fun of getting more of our friends killed
>>
>>4438904
>>Press on and fight the garrison that the House Manderly Knights had been dealing with.
>Try to get him to snap out of it. You need him to target the engineers.
>Go pull Ser Wylis’s arse out of the fire.
>>
>>4438963
Supporting
>>
>>4438974
>>4438979
>>4438904
+1
>>
>>4438904
>>Press on and fight the garrison that the House Manderly Knights had been dealing with.

>>Try to get him to snap out of it. You need him to target the engineers.

Better that he does the engineers and siege equipment than our storm bringers.

>>Go pull Ser Wylis’s arse out of the fire.
And into the frying pan?
>>
>>4438904
>Grapples. You want these siege weapons silenced at all cost.
>Try to get him to snap out of it. You need him to target the engineers.
>Just stick with the Stormbringers. You’re not looking to risk your neck any more than you have to.
>>
>>4438904
>>Press on and fight the garrison that the House Manderly Knights had been dealing with.
>Try to get him to snap out of it. You need him to target the engineers.
>Go pull Ser Wylis’s arse out of the fire. We going for full story mode hero here.

I'd want to challenge the leader. But we just are not built for it. Seems like we are much more likely to let let 1-2 units die fighting them and sweep in and take care of them. Which I am fine with personally. Less units we have to babysit the better. We also have a better chance of capturing these knights if they're tired AF surviving the trash fighting them. Getting to the boy prince is going to fucking suck. Hopefully all the wildfyre is gone.
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>>4439238
>But we just are not built for it.

Lame take. We are just as good at fighting as leading. Malroy is fighting 4 and doesn't bitch out over "builds." Vaeron has spoiled you. A real leader would put an end to this.
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>>4439372
I like it and Aurion has to step up with the fancy sword of his, but it probably means letting Wylis die.
Planting the banner at the cost of Lord Manderly son's death isn't worth it. You can say that there will be no banners if we fail, so lets not fail, one step at a time.

Thus, supporting >>4438979
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>>4439379
There's no indication that he might die... but I guess he might not know that so it's not a bad idea either. I will be fine if it wins even if I'd still rather put an end to this personally. My issue is more with this perceived build nonsense. It's not a scenario-specific justification. It can be and has been slapped on as a universal justification against lifting a finger. And it's not even accurate. Aurion is warfare 4 and fighting 4 and has an advantage in his weapon. No one ever says he should never lead a battle with warfare 4 and yet that seems to be a theme with dueling. It's either plain cowardice or numbers autism based on a faulty premise.
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>>4439433
It's based on the premise that Fighting and Warfare are not comparable that way. In dueling if you lose, the consequences are far more severe. You may die or get captured. In commanding, even if you lose, you have the option of running away. Besides, when we're commanding, we're still depending on elite units like the Stormbringers to carry the day (Who have more fighting test dice than us, mind you). We normally attach ourselves with the Stormbringers when commanding, which are one of the most elite units in this whole setting. Meanwhile here's a guy in full plate armor with probably Fighting 5 or 6 with 2-3 bonus dice in his weapon speciality. We're absolutely going to get slaughtered by him one on one. I think until we have Fighting 5, we should stay away from hard duels. No need to endanger Aurion with very little chances to win.
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>>4439448
If you lose in commanding, then there is the potential that your entire house is fucked. We lost a strategy roll earlier this thread and got surrounded for it. We pulled through, but it could've gone differently.

You don't know this guy is fighting 5 or 6. He is commanding men himself. He could be 4. Even if he is 5, we still have a decent chance of winning. We are fresh and we know those knights have taken a battering. Whatever though. We can hide in the Stormbringers hug box. I know it's not going to win because some anons don't see the contradictions in RPing as a glory loving leader of men that risks his men but never himself.
>>
>>4438904
>Redirect to fight these Dragon Knights. They are the greatest threat on the field.

>Try to get him to snap out of it. You need him to target the engineers

>Go pull Ser Wylis’s arse out of the fire

I would love to get into a sword fight but we really should try to save Wylis first. Having Wyman Manderly on our side is a pretty massive benefit. If White Harbour decides to do trade with Oldtown or Lannisport, Stormgrave could be a place to stop and restock supplies and avoid the tariffs of Kings Landing and Duskendale while filling our own coffers if we invest in a port and marketplace. Plus, I kind of like Wylis even if he is just a means to an end.

Hopefully we can still let our steel sing after we save his bacon.
>>
This whole wildfire thing should really shift Aurion's view of the Targaryens. He just saw your horrific it was. He's getting a first hand taste of why half the seven kingdoms wanted to overthrow them.
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>>4439562
Yeah, Aurion would be incredibly angry after his entire squad of oarsmen and a close friend just got wiped out in such a horrible way. We should definitely make it a priority to find out who gave the command for that wildfire to be used and kill him if he's still alive. Also search the entire castle for any remaining wildfire. I wonder how badly BlackBerry's men would have been doing if we had split up as suggested and went to the Sea Dragon Tower.
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>>4439573
The Elite Garrison are reinforcements from the tower, but I'd imagine the Elite Heavy Infantry would've mulched a lot of Ser Blackberry's men without your help.

The vote seems clear cut. I'll need some rolls to set this up for later if anyone is around. Command rolls first.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 5d6 for Warfare (Command)?
>>
Rolled 3, 2, 1, 4, 5 = 15 (5d6)

>>4439758
Finally unbanned
>>
Rolled 1, 4, 4, 6, 5 = 20 (5d6)

>>4439758
>>
Rolled 5, 6, 2, 1, 4 = 18 (5d6)

>>4439758
>>
Success vs DC 18. Ser Daeron will issue orders.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 5d6 for Stormbringers Fighting?
>>
Rolled 6, 2, 4, 5, 4 = 21 (5d6)

>>4439795
>>
Rolled 1, 4, 4, 4, 2 = 15 (5d6)

>>4439795
>>
Rolled 1, 2, 3, 2, 1 = 9 (5d6)

>>4439795
>>
>>4439804
>1, 2, 3, 2, 1
Impressive in the worst way
>>
>>4439799
>>4439802
>>4439804
Neat distribution.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 4d6+2 for Aurion's Endurance?
>>
Rolled 6, 1, 1, 1 + 2 = 11 (4d6 + 2)

>>4439815
>>
Rolled 5, 6, 5, 4 + 2 = 22 (4d6 + 2)

>>4439815
>>
Rolled 2, 4, 4, 4 + 2 = 16 (4d6 + 2)

>>4439815
>>
>>4439817
how the tables have turned....
>>4439818
thank you ser...
>>
>>4439817
>>4439818
>>4439819
Whew, that fucking 22. A rare care of Blood of Valyria being relevant.

Thanks guys. I'll have the posts up tonight. There will be an important vote from the start, so I'll try to have it up in time for Europoors.
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>>4439822
>so I'll try to have it up in time for Europoors
Based!
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>>4439822
>tfw it is close to midnight already and I'm going to miss that important vote
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>>4439822
>tfw it's 5AM for me but my fucked up sleep schedule allows me to vote
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>>4439822
what was the dc for that?
Full on story mode activated. We now just have to survive this. And shift any blame on others.
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>>4439824
Give me a few.
>>4439833
21. You would've had a bad time without that +2 from your blood.
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>>4439836
fucking wow. That's an insanely high dc. but given what we are dealing with, a fire that doesn't stop burning essentially. I thought it would have just been an 18, since we could "walk around"/dodge whats on the ground.
Cool. Fuck I really want to survive this engagement, and full on story mode this shit up with the king and live up to our wife's expectations. Even with everyone who looks down on us, as an upstart sellsword lord. Can't knock on our achievements.
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>>4439846
After this shit show I can see Aurion going full on kill them all, I collect my debts with the Targaryens. Bobby will be loving that attitude
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>>4439855
Oh yeah. If we kill Viserys and any other loyalist, so long as they don't surrender bpby is gona love that.
But I can totally see Aurion wanting some blood after this shit show. If we can get some wildfire, I say we use it to see how many of them will enjoy it. Malaq has earned him self some revenge via the first. I hope they put on a struggle and we kill them to the last man. Only trouble I see is the turncoats we turned, pleading for them.
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>>4439855
>>4439868
Bros we gave our word to Blackberry we wouldn't hurt the Prince and the Queen. Both of our supporting units got annihilated, we don't want him to be our enemy. This is getting slightly into murderhobo territory. The soldiers are fair game I suppose, we did say no quarter will be given.
>>
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And your eyes fall again upon Malaq, or the blackening husk that was Malaq. You’re breathing so heavily that the scales of your hauberk rattle. You need to act. You need to kill. You need to feel their blood.

“Trios. Push them off the fucking cliff,” you grind out. Your men need no further direction. They surge forward with furious purpose, hell bent on venting their wrath upon the Targaryen garrison. You know in your heart they will break them.
SER DAERON. You will loose on that wall or you will burn next.

You roar the words out towards the fear-stricken knight. You expect better of one of such a namesake. He will serve or he will perish… and you believe he will serve with your words serving as stark reminder of his impending doom. He spares you the briefest of nods and starts shouting to his men.

You’re already moving with purpose of your own, right into the spreading inferno. Ser Wylis has been a stalwart ally and you won’t leave him to burn. You need to save someone from all of this. The heat is unbelievable as you advance on the Northmen. You push through the inferno, shielding your face as you go. Your armor and your hair smokes, but you pass through unscathed. The flames welcome you.

You see Ser Wylis scrambling backwards on his arse as a few of his comrades desperately, helplessly swat at the flames spreading across their armor. The Scion of White Harbor’s boots are aflame… and he’s pissed himself. You rip off your smoking hauberk and beat it against his boots. The scales are fusing together anyway. It’s little use, so you reach out and yank them off yourself. A slight singe for both of you, nothing more. You wouldn’t know it by Wylis’ shrieking. “Come on,” you snarl at him. He doesn’t budge fast enough, so you drag him by his gorget away from the flames until he’s safely up against the Sea Dragon Tower. His men are still screaming in the shadow of the walkway. With blisters on his feet and his incoherency, he’s no further use to you. You leave him to sit the rest out and move to rejoin your men

You’re forced to move back along the edge of the inferno, and to use your shield to batter away a screaming, flaming heavy infantryman that reaches out to you. One of the last of those you fought. By the stench of him, he’s cooking in his armor even as it melts and warps against him. Just as you nearly did. From some vile sorcery, the emerald oil seems to stick to your shield like a tar. You hastily toss it aside. The paint warps and the mermaid in your lady wife’s likeness melts away like your Malaq’s face.

>You are becoming deeply, unfathomably furious. Your fear melts away with Cerelle’s portrait. Only anger remains. (Spend Destiny Point on Berserker Quality, Spend Experience now on Fighting 5).
>You need to put this out of mind and get back to your men.
>>
>>4439901
>You are becoming deeply, unfathomably furious. Your fear melts away with Cerelle’s portrait. Only anger remains. (Spend Destiny Point on Berserker Quality, Spend Experience now on Fighting 5).

Thematically spending exp? Awesome
>>
>>4439901
We only have 15 exp though, are you giving a discount?
>>
>>4439914
No. You've done enough so far in this thread to have earned another 15 by now. I'm letting you use it now rather than waiting until the end of the thread.
>>
>>4439901
>>You are becoming deeply, unfathomably furious. Your fear melts away with Cerelle’s portrait. Only anger remains. (Spend Destiny Point on Berserker Quality, Spend Experience now on Fighting 5).
interesting. When ever we get injured we may land another strike.
>>4439914
It may just be we have earned plenty so far via what we have done thus far.
>>
>>4439901
>You are becoming deeply, unfathomably furious. Your fear melts away with Cerelle’s portrait. Only anger remains. (Spend Destiny Point on Berserker Quality, Spend Experience now on Fighting 5).
>>
>>4439901
>You are becoming deeply, unfathomably furious. Your fear melts away with Cerelle’s portrait. Only anger remains. (Spend Destiny Point on Berserker Quality, Spend Experience now on Fighting 5)
I think this is pretty cool desu
>>
>>4439901
>You are becoming deeply, unfathomably furious. Your fear melts away with Cerelle’s portrait. Only anger remains. (Spend Destiny Point on Berserker Quality, Spend Experience now on Fighting 5).
We murderhobo now. That's the fury I wanted to see. Time to collect some debts
>>
You are always at risk of losing your temper in battle. Whenever you take an injury or wound, you may make a Fighting test as a Free Action against an adjacent opponent. You gain no bonus dice on this test. In addition, you can continue fighting even when you should be defeated. At the end of the current round, if you have taken wounds sufficient to defeat you, you may roll a Formidable (12) Will test to continue fighting. The penalty dice gained from wounds do not apply. You may make a number of such tests equal to your Endurance rank.
>example
"Battling a savage warrior of the Burned Men, Mikel is hit for 7 points of damage. Knowing he can’t take all the damage, he opts to take an injury. His Endurance is 3, so he can remove 3 points of damage per injury accepted. He takes two, reducing the damage to just 1 point. Henceforth, for the duration of the combat, he reduces all test results by –2."

This is going to be interesting to implement.
Anyone care to explain how injuries and wounds work. I've just thought it was automatic, health zero's out you gain a wound or something?
>>4439938
I didn't think we would go full on lead from the front type character. But here we are in our full fucking glory. i still want 5 awareness
>>
>>4439901
>>You are becoming deeply, unfathomably furious. Your fear melts away with Cerelle’s portrait. Only anger remains. (Spend Destiny Point on Berserker Quality, Spend Experience now on Fighting 5).
>>
>>4439950
>Anyone care to explain how injuries and wounds work. I've just thought it was automatic, health zero's out you gain a wound or something?

Other way around. You are defeated if your hp falls to zero. Outside of a friendly spar, you would take injuries to reduce damage by your endurance rank (4 right now) or wounds to negate all damage from an attack.
>>
>>4439901
>>You are becoming deeply, unfathomably furious. Your fear melts away with Cerelle’s portrait. Only anger remains. (Spend Destiny Point on Berserker Quality, Spend Experience now on Fighting 5).

Love some thematic DP and EXP spending.
>>
>>4439998
Got it I think.
We take an injury when we use our endurance to cover damage that is under the endurance threshold.
And we take a wound if our endurance which currently stands at 4, can't mitigate all of the damage.
Say we got hit for 5 damage, we would mitigate 4 of it due to our endurance, and that 1 would be taken from our HP pool while also giving us a wound? Or would it be a wound and an injury for the 4 it mitigated?
>>
>>4440089
If we were on 4 heath and took 5 damage and we didn't have the max injuries, we'd take an injury and 5-4=1 damage
If injuries are all gone, but we'd still have wounds, we'd take 0 damage but a wound
With berserker I can't say I understand lol
>>
>>4439901
>>You are becoming deeply, unfathomably furious. Your fear melts away with Cerelle’s portrait. Only anger remains. (Spend Destiny Point on Berserker Quality, Spend Experience now on Fighting 5).
>>
>>4439901
>You are becoming deeply, unfathomably furious. Your fear melts away with Cerelle’s portrait. Only anger remains. (Spend Destiny Point on Berserker Quality, Spend Experience now on Fighting 5).
>>
Aurion right now
>>
Unanimous vote. That's new. Cool.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 6d6+2 for Fighting? Roll high, if you please.
>>
Rolled 5, 5, 5, 1, 6, 5 + 2 = 29 (6d6 + 2)

>>4440210
>>
Rolled 4, 6, 5, 5, 2, 5 + 2 = 29 (6d6 + 2)

>>4440210
Sure. 38.
>>
Rolled 3, 3, 4, 4, 2, 1 + 2 = 19 (6d6 + 2)

>>4440210
>>
>>4440211
28 solid AF
>>
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>>4440211
>>4440214
>>4440216
>>
>>4440089
>>4440119
You're not technically forced to take injuries or wounds. You can eat into your hp as well. It's just that you're done if your hp hits zero. QMs usually handle injury/wound allocation themselves, I'd assume to make combat flow more smoothly. I'd put it to a vote like others have under very specific circumstances such as when there are multiple smart ways to allocate (happens, but rarely). You take -1 to tests for each injury and -1D to tests for each wound.

Berserker complicates things because ignoring wound penalties is massive and you might want to take an avoidable injury just to roll someone harder. I'll put those to quick votes when it's relevant. Ignoring wound penalties is incredibly strong in that it gives you staying power in more brutal fights against other characters. Still, taking wounds can be a big deal after the fight. At best, you're looking at a long recovery period to remove them. If it were leaned into excessively by taking needless wounds on purpose just to attack faster, then you might end up with a drawback such as Marked. Injuries are less of a problem and you normally want to use them over wounds, but do still have a recovery period. Anyway, writing.
>>
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You watch Cerelle’s likeness warp and melt away. They would’ve punished her. For the Sack. They would have hurt her. These monsters. With sorcery. Your woman. Your wife. The only one to give you a son. Malaq had sons. They killed him. With fire. You. You have a debt to collect. In Fire and Blood.

The Dragon awakens.

You take off at a full sprint roaring your anger, your rage, your fury. Your Stormbringers are closest. They’ve beaten the battered garrison back, the elite Targaryen spearmen in their black scaled armor are losing coherency under the vengeful onslaught of your own favored elites. They’re not ready for you. No one is.

>Rolled 28 vs Elite Garrison (CD 6+20). 1 degree of success. 7 damage -6 armor = 1 damage. Disorganized Elite Garrison is now Routed!

You surge straight past your advancing battle line like a demon from the Seventh Hell, clad only in the leather jerkin you wear beneath your discarded false scales. You nearly leap into the midst of the spearmen and begin delivering brutal two-handed blows with your Valyrian Steel blade to all of the false dragons within reach. You fell a guardsman with every blow. A sergeant steps forward and is punished with three slashes in quick succession before he can bellow a command. You could taste their fear if you cared to. You feel no fear, only anger.

Your men roar their approval along with you. Calls of “SHRYKE” and “KILL” and “STORM” and “AURION” reverberate off the cliff face as if your men gone past all knowledge of sentences. It’s too much, far too much. The spearmen break entirely, some even dropping their spears in their desperate attempt to escape you. The cliff is close. You feel the sea beyond. You taste only blood.

>No Quarter
>Leave them
>>
>>4440281
>No Quarter
No fucking quarter
>>
>>4440281
>>Leave them
They're done, and I don't want to get too close to that cliffside. It would be way too easy to get trapped with that behind us.
>>
>>4440281
>No Quarter

If we leave them do we gain an additional action or is it only flavor with no impact on the battle right now?
>>
>>4440281
>No Quarter
>>
>>4440302
It'll take another action to truly see them dead, but Routed units aren't Destroyed. There is always the chance that they manage to rally (albeit with a steep -2D penalty now).
>>
>>4440281
>>No Quarter
I'd like to have some captured.. but I'd say we've a bigger point to be made here.
>>
>>4440281
>No Quarter
>>
You can have that scene from 300 as the picture, where they throw the Persian army off the cliff.
>>
Let's roll it.

I'll need 3 rolls of 6d6+2 for Aurion and 3 rolls of 5d6 for the Stormbringers
>>
Rolled 6, 5, 5, 1, 6, 3 + 2 = 28 (6d6 + 2)

>>4440348
>>
Rolled 3, 5, 3, 2, 5, 1 + 2 = 21 (6d6 + 2)

>>4440348
>>
Rolled 1, 6, 2, 3, 6 = 18 (5d6)

>>4440348
>>
Rolled 4, 6, 4, 2, 5 = 21 (5d6)

>>4440348
>>
Rolled 6, 1, 4, 5, 3, 1 + 2 = 22 (6d6 + 2)

>>4440348
>>
Rolled 3, 5, 5, 4, 5 = 22 (5d6)

>>4440348
>>
Rolled 5, 3, 1, 1, 4, 2 + 2 = 18 (6d6 + 2)

>>4440348
>>
Rolled 6, 3, 5, 3, 6 = 23 (5d6)

>>4440348
>>
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You told them. You told them no quarter. They brought this on themselves. No order needs to be given. Your men move with you. You pick out their captain with his dragon-crested helm. He tries to rally the guardsmen, yelling for them to close ranks. You won’t give him the chance.

>Rolled 27 vs CD 10. 4 degrees. 28 damage – (11-2) armor vs 12 hp. -7 remaining. The captain is slain.

You’re far too fast for him. This one’s scales are reinforced with true plate of the same blackened tinge favored by these dragon’s men. It slows him down. You are not so burdened. He stops his yelling and desperately tries to interpose his shield, but you bring your sword down in a crushing blow over his shoulder, biting at the gap of his gorget and into his collarbone. He tries to adjust his spear to the closed gap, but you grab it, kick him back, and open his throat in a blinding follow-up. The blade is like air in your hands. You laugh as he falls to his knees before you.

>Stormbringers roll 22 vs CD 6. 4 degrees. 32 – 6 dmg. Elite Garrison is Destroyed.

Your men are quick to follow your example. They hound the few remaining spearmen to the edge of the cliffs, cutting down those too wounded to flee from their steady advance. More drop their spears as they find themselves caught between two dooms. A useless gesture. Your men elected Trios, who has a reputation for following your orders to the syllable. You said to push them off the fucking cliff. They do. The sea is given its tribute in blood.

More shrill screams echo across the battlefield. The far end of the battlements above the cloister erupt in green flame. You see men jump to their deaths and others go screaming down the lines of their own comrades. A lucky bolt, a mishap, something must’ve made one of those bastards drop a pot of their own wildfire. You bare your teeth in satisfaction at the gods’ swift judgement against those using such foul methods.

Only a score of knights still keep Ser Blackberry’s spearmen at bay. They make an ordered retreat deeper into the fortress grounds where the garrison’s numbers count for less. A hazy memory of pine trees comes to mind. The gardens. You don’t see Ser Jace himself. Perhaps he is still stalled at the cloister. Perhaps he is dead. You have no notion of which way the Royals went, but the gardens could take them to the sea.

>Pursue the remaining knights in the gardens.
>Stay here and finish off whatever resistance remains.
>>
>>4440450
>>Stay here and finish off whatever resistance remains.
can't leave men behind
>>
>>4440455
>>Pursue the remaining knights in the gardens.
I want to stay. But we really should hurry things up. keep him alive if possible if not. murder and go.
>>
>>4440455
>Pursue the remaining knights in the gardens.
Pick up a shield if possible. We have very less armor as it is.
>>
>>4440455
Can we remember if the gardens have multiple exits? Throwing a couple pots of wildfire in with them if they're trapped would be karmic

If there's multiple exits,
>Pursue the remaining knights in the gardens.
>>
>>4440455
By the way how many units are still fighting here? Maybe we can do an awareness check on our strength and theirs.
>>
>>4440472
I skipped the check this time since they're either right in front of you or too far back to tell. You've moved past the cloistered walkway where a lot of the fighting was occurring. There is a unit of garrison pursuing the knights into the gardens, and the rest is behind you. With the engineers on fire, there should be little resistance past that unit of Clawmen that was fighting with Ser Blackberry's men, if they're still in play. You can double back and be sure everything is secured or you can press forward in pursuit.
>>
>>4440491
Alright, thanks for explaining that. I'll stick to my vote then. I'm assuming whoever's still in command of our allies has the sense to do a proper cleanup.
>>
>>4440455
>Pursue the remaining knights in the gardens.
>>
>>4440455
>Pursue the remaining knights in the gardens
>>
Same deal as before.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 6d6+2 and 3 rolls of 5d6?
>>
Rolled 4, 3, 1, 6, 1, 1 + 2 = 18 (6d6 + 2)

>>4440535
>>
Rolled 5, 6, 6, 3, 5, 4 + 2 = 31 (6d6 + 2)

>>4440535
>>
Rolled 1, 2, 3, 3, 3, 1 + 2 = 15 (6d6 + 2)

>>4440535
>>
Rolled 1, 4, 2, 3, 1 = 11 (5d6)

>>4440508
>>
Rolled 6, 1, 6, 1, 1 = 15 (5d6)

>>4440535

>>4440538
Nice
>>
Rolled 1, 4, 2, 5, 5 = 17 (5d6)

>>4440535
>>
>>4440538
The coomer began to hate.
>>
>>4440561
>tfw the Queen suffers one last rape before dying
>>
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If this lot can’t finish up without you, then they don’t deserve to. You have quarry afoot. You signal for your men to follow and make your way into the gardens, stopping only long enough to pry a fine-looking buckler from a dead guardsman. The metal disc is small enough to not impede your swings. Better than nothing, at least.

The battle here is far less orderly. The spearmen vastly outnumber the pockets of knights fighting amongst decorative trees and more of the ubiquitous black statues. The defenders are fighting for their lives, but they’re battered and exhausted. Despite it all, they fight on. They’re urged on by a Valyrian knight with flowing silver hair calling for them to stand for their king. You’d say he sounds too young or womanly for such a role, but he seems to make it work. This would be the one from before, Ser Waelon Waters. He’s lost his helmet since you last saw him. It seems you’ve a fellow dragonseed on your hands.

“These men would like to die for their false king. Oblige them,” you order your men. They move in for the kill. Ser Waelon lingers as the few knights give one last desperate attempt at holding your men back, but a squire could see the outcome to this, and this man seems as collected as you are. He steps back into the lit corridor beyond with a pointed look to you. The path is clear.

Ser Waelon waits within the corridor on bended knee. For a fleeting moment, you think it may be in capitulation, but he rises at your entry. A few dead knights and a veritable pile of dead spearmen litter the ground. They must have pushed back from here into the garden before being surrounded.
>>
>>4440657
“You are too late, ser,” he calls out in greeting. You see a closed gate behind him.

“Gates can be opened,” you shrug.

“I pray you do try, ser. I could do with one final laugh. Never fear, I will not strike your back. My oaths still mean something,” he favors you with a mocking smile.

“I do prefer ‘my lord’ now. Or m’lord if you’re so comfortable in the dirt,” you reply and step closer. Another dragonseed, to be sure. Blue eyes like Vaeron, but you’d sooner call him pretty than handsome. He could make a small fortune in Lys…

“I do not recall His Grace raising you to such a style. You are the sellsword who turned cloaks, are you not?” that smile again.

“You weren’t there. It was at King Robert’s wedding. Wonderful feast, I might add. But what do I have to gain in speaking to you of it?” you circle him.

“It is not always a matter of gain. That is what you will never unders---”

You lunge forward. You’re done talking. The gate could be a bluff.

Your footwork has never been superb, but you move about with the freedom your lack of encumbrance affords you. Ser Waelon imposes his shield in front of his exposed head out of sheer instinct and years of conditioned training. He nearly buckles under the savageness of the blow. You pivot back and to the side a step and slash at his exposed flank beneath the shield. He thrusts out in return and scores a shallow cut on your thigh as you dance back.

>Rolled 27 vs CD 11. 4 degrees. 28-11 dmg. Ser Waelon takes a wound. 9/12 hp remaining.
>Rolled 20 vs CD 12. 2 degrees. 10-3 dmg. Aurion takes an injury. 9/12 hp remaining.

Berserker Activated

>Can I get 3 rolls of 5d6+1 and 3 rolls of 6d6+1?
>>
Rolled 6, 1, 2, 6, 3 + 1 = 19 (5d6 + 1)

>>4440658
>>
Rolled 2, 3, 1, 5, 2 + 1 = 14 (5d6 + 1)

>>4440658
>>
Rolled 3, 1, 5, 6, 4 + 1 = 20 (5d6 + 1)

>>4440658
>>
Rolled 3, 3, 4, 6, 3, 4 + 1 = 24 (6d6 + 1)

>>4440658
>>
Rolled 2, 6, 4, 4, 6, 2 + 1 = 25 (6d6 + 1)

>>4440658
>>
Rolled 6, 6, 3, 5, 3, 2 + 1 = 26 (6d6 + 1)

>>4440658
>>
What does the 6(7) damage of the sword in the character sheet mean? Also where does the Piercing 2 apply?
>>
>>4440671
6 damage is when it is qielded one-handed, 7 is when wielded with two due to the bonus from the Adaptable trait.

Piercing 2 is applied when dealing damage the number indicates how much damage ignores Armor when calculating final damage.
>>
>>4440675
Okay so how does this work-
>Rolled 27 vs CD 11. 4 degrees. 28-11 dmg. Ser Waelon takes a wound. 9/12 hp remaining.
I suppose if you apply Off-hand +1 from the buckler, that's 7x4=28 damage, but I don't see the 2 damage from Piercing 2 here. What am I missing here?
>>
>Rolled 20 vs CD 11. 2 degrees. 14-9 dmg. Ser Waelon takes an injury. 1/4 W, 1/4 I, 8/12 hp remaining.
>Rolled 24 vs CD 11. 3 degrees. 21-9 dmg. Ser Waelon takes a wound. 2/4 W, 1/4 I, 8/12 hp remaining.
>Ser Waelon rolled 11 vs CD 12. Failed.

Barely in check to begin with, your fury boils to the surface in an instant at the sting on your thigh. You snarl and counter with a wild blow upon Ser Waelon’s sword arm. His armor holds, mostly, but you don’t doubt he will have a sting of his own beneath. You’re not satisfied.

He stands tall despite the deep cut on his side and prepares to face you, but you’re already moving. You rain slash after slash over and around him. He checks the majority of the furious swings, but you nearly sweep him off his feet with a feint that ends up catching the back of his greaves. His over stiff counterattack is brushed away. He’s a trained and practiced swordsman. You’re really not. You’ve no form, no true technique. It’s all instinct and experience born of desperate need, now tempered with boundless fury. You’re in your element, bleeding or not.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 6d6+1?
>>
Rolled 1, 6, 6, 2, 6, 1 + 1 = 23 (6d6 + 1)

>>4440691
>>
>>4440683
I typo'd the -11 there. It should've said -9. Not that it mattered with the wound. He was already 9/12 hp. You're not his first opponent today.
>>
Rolled 6, 5, 2, 1, 6, 6 + 1 = 27 (6d6 + 1)

>>4440691
>>
Rolled 3, 5, 3, 4, 6, 1 + 1 = 23 (6d6 + 1)

>>4440691
THE BUTCHERBIRD FLIES
>>
Can I get 3 more of those to tie it all in one post?
>>
Rolled 6, 3, 6, 1, 6, 2 + 1 = 25 (6d6 + 1)

>>4440704
>>
Rolled 1, 6, 5 = 12 (3d6)

>>4440704
we keeping him alive guys?
>>
Rolled 1, 6, 6, 5, 4, 6 + 1 = 29 (6d6 + 1)

>>4440704
>>
Rolled 1, 1, 4, 6, 2, 4 + 1 = 19 (6d6 + 1)

>>4440704
If we're gonna kill him, first twist his arm until he tells us what awaits us behind the doors, if there are any traps or alternate routes. An intimidate check if required.
>>
>>4440710
Only long enough for him to tell us who ordered the balefire attack then he dies like the rest
>>
>>4440715
>Balefire
Have you been reading 'Climbing the Ladder' (Petyr Baelish SI on Alternate History) by any chance?
>>
>>4440710
I mean Stannis might like to hang him for the spectacule. He is an enemy captain. We wouldn't get any cash money out of him but a proper execution would probably do some people good and get the old justice boners going.
>>
>>4440715
>>4440721
he isn't worth much by the bastard last name i take it, but clearly he is valuable to someone to lead such an group. I'm sure it would help the crown and by extension our own name to capture some outright enemies we could hang or ransom. Always nice to let the higher ups get a show of sorts.

>>4440714
I do wonder, if the children or the queen was just here and escaped. Either way we've to do what we can to see whats behind that door. intimidation may not really work on a dying man. And convince seems like a dumb thought...
>>
>4 degrees of success twice over. 2 more wounds. 4/4. Ser Waelon is defeated!

This one and Vaeron must share the same stubborn ancestor. He still tries to stand tall even with the pain of his wounds. Far be it for you to toy with him. He’s in your way. He defiantly tries to meet your next strike, but it’s not enough. On any other day, it might’ve been. Something has awoken in you. Your blade drinks deep of the flesh beneath his gorget. He lets out a gasp and pushes you back with his shield to give himself space. A monumental effort under such conditions.

It only serves to give you momentum. In a rare display of consistency, you chop back down into the same gash upon his armor. He sinks to his knees under the savagery of the executioner’s blow. His sword clatters to the floor from useless hands.

“Don---” he spits.

“Don’t? I already have,” you step past him to the gate.

You can see through the bars to the other side… it’s opened by some sort of gear on the other side and some cheeky fool has taken it upon themselves to shove a longsword into it. You turn to see your men filing into corridor. They’ve won. Good.

“Have at it,” you motion to the door. It’ll take time, but they’ll either bend the bars or pry the whole thing off.

You walk back to Ser Waelon. He’s still tenaciously gasping for air. With some luck, he may just live. “You really shouldn’t have done that,” you admonish.

“Do it,” he answers with a bloody smile.

>As you wish (kill him).
>No, you’ll throw him to Stannis to answer for his little stunt.
>Something else.
>>
>>4440734
>I do wonder, if the children or the queen was just here and escaped. Either way we've to do what we can to see whats behind that door. intimidation may not really work on a dying man. And convince seems like a dumb thought...
Well Aurion called him pretty twice, maybe we can use Seduce...
Movies do tell me even dying men can be tortured though.
>>
>>4440749
>>No, you’ll throw him to Stannis to answer for his little stunt.
>>
>>4440749
>No, you’ll throw him to Stannis to answer for his little stunt.
Can't we use intimidate on him to get info? Where are the highborn? Any remaining defences or failsafes?
>>
>>4440749
>No, you’ll throw him to Stannis to answer for his little stunt.

Our very own Ser Scapegoat
>>
>>4440749
>No, you’ll throw him to Stannis to answer for his little stunt.
>>
>>4440749
Also secure the castle as soon as possible. Walk outside and see if there's any resistance, command all remaining men on our side to close off all known exits, send Stonemont to secure the highborn, send someone to the docks where the cogs are tied to, have Wylis Manderly seen to by someone. Preferably have at least one crossbow unit sent to the docks so if they're escaping the crossbowmen can fire on them.
>>
I'll continue with the aftermath tomorrow since it's really late here.

A couple of things first...

>Can I get 2 rolls of 1d6 for the Manderly Knights and the Stormbringers?
>>
>>4440749
>No, you’ll throw him to Stannis to answer for his little stunt.
>>
Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>4440778
pls dice gods
>>
Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4440778
Roll high!
>>
Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>4440778
>No, you’ll throw him to Stannis to answer for his little stunt.
>>
>5
Stormbringers are now Elite+2
>4
Manderly Knights are down to Trained. (They were at Routed.)

Not bad at all. Your lads are maxed out now. You'll have to look to other things to boost them.

Ok. Next up.

Achieved House Historical Event: Glory

Because how could I not for this?

>Can I get 4 rolls of 1d6?
>>
Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>4440790
jesus, our boys are gonna roll over the ironborn
>>
Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4440790
Are the sailors completely destroyed?
>>
Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4440790
>>
>>4440793
Yup.
>>
Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>4440790
>>
>>4440798
RIP
>>
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>watching porn on Pornhub like the sad sack of shit coomer I am
>reading this thread again in between wanks because this has been a pretty good thread
>Autoplay leads me to a vixen video of Evelynn Claire
>She looks exactly like Dorea here >>4412538
>Video title: Virgin Evelynn Claire has sex for the first time with big dick
>Feel depressed that this is essentially what we did to Dorea
>As the pornstar in the video calls herself a whore and humiliates herself, reading the part where Dorea calls herself Aurion's whore
>Close the video and bang my head on the table
>>
>>4440798
I imagine that the dromond is going to take power to get back up to snuff as part of a ship investment kind of thing? or would that be just wealth?
so we gained these so far.
4 Defense
3 Influence
3 law
3 Power
Not including the glory. fucking shame Vaeron wasn't here for this.
>>
>>4440811
To be honest, I'm fumbling around reworking ships in general right now. I was way over complicating them on my end before. I'm hoping to have a better answer soon. We should be having a session or two of housekeeping in the coming weeks. Not sure when, but some time this month.
>>
Alright, goodnight man, this was a good session today, thanks for running!
>>
>>4440749
>No, you’ll throw him to Stannis to answer for his little stunt.
>>
>>4440798
Those boys didn't deserve that, fuck. Why couldn't malaq had been at the edge of the fire you monster?

Great scenes though, this all felt very cinematic and was really exciting. Losing most of his old friends in the company and all those poor sods who aren't paid to do battle has got to scar Aurion. Who is even left? Vaeron and Tryos?
>>
So when are we raising a second regiment of Stormbringers?
>>
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>>4440806
Thanks for the rec
>>
Looking forward to Vaeron's reaction both to our victory and to the newfound battle prowess during a spar with us (Aurion and Vaeron do spar, right?). He sat that one out and must be hella pissed.
>>
>>4440806
Find your own Dorea and treat her right, anon. Or visit this one some time in the future. You'll at least know where she is through Ser Byron.

>>4440882
Hoster Rivers and Trios might be the only other named ones. I should name more of them. It's a fairly tight-knit company at this point, so it only makes sense that Aurion would know most of them individually.

>>4440892
Soon if you'd like to. You have 6 spare Power even before the Glory, and you'll have two House Fortunes rolls when you get back to Stormgrave.
>>
>>4441140
We took the lads on a crazy adventure and didn't invite him.
>>
I'm going to resume the story on Wednesday. I have a few things I need to catch up on that I put on the backburner to get through this arc.
>>
I'm going to need to push this back to next week in a fresh thread. I know... delays, delays, delays. I bit on an unanticipated research opportunity that was too tempting to pass up, and I need to get situated for it.
>>
>>4444049
Rest well
>>
>>4444049
good thing uncle Joe just came back from his trip then.
>>
>>4444974
Joe left too. When are you coming back, Boggs? ;_;
>>
>>4448494
I'm sure he'll be back.

Wednesday is looking good for the new thread. Incidentally, I've been kicking around the idea of a PoV shift to Cerelle. Either the back half of the next thread or in the one after that.
>>
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>>4448519
>Cerelle PoV
I'm already dreading it.
>>
Hey Boggs, if you have some time, I have some technical questions for my own quest . How do you research enough for your quest? You mentioned a research opportunity came up, that's why I ask. I'm the anon who's been trying to run a quest and who's asked your help multiple times in the past. I've still not been able to set up a Twitter account (it asks for a phone number) otherwise I'd have asked this in a DM.

Did you read the entire books before starting this quest? Because the details you come up with drawn from throwaway lines in the books are so subtle, I don't think I could find them by searching on Google. Right now I'm trying to set up my House House Darklyn, and I've already read Brienne II (which has the most information regarding the Darklyns) from Feast 2-3 times, but short of reading the books again, I don't think of much more I can do. Right now I'm reading all the guides of the SiFRPG, both on your drive and otherwise (thanks for that btw) and trying to flesh out my story. I'm thinking of straightening out my ideas as much as I can then skim the books for inspiration.

One last thing I want to ask is how you keep your own notes straight. Both before starting the quest and after. Right now my notes are a mess of possible plotlines, great scenes and dialogues I thought of in random moments of genius, a rough timeline (which keeps getting altered every time I open the doc), random thoughts regarding the character's ability sheets, pics of the potential waifus for inspiration . I can only shudder to imagine what it would be like once the quest starts and I have to factor in player input and previous relationships as well. Not to mention maintaining the tone of all the different characters.

I understand if it's too revealing for this quest and you want to discuss this only over DM.
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>>4448550
Why? If it's over the coomer crusade, then consider yourself safe. Even she isn't going to piece that together all the way over in the Westerlands.

>>4448611
RL research. For the quest, I typically read/reread only what I need for particular parts. Less likely to miss something neat that way. I have them on ebook, so the search function is a lifesaver on time. I also use the awoiaf site for quick references, which also contains more details from the supplementary books like Fire and Blood. Thanks for noticing the references. I usually assume they're missed.

As for notes, trigger warning here for at least some of you, I don't really have any. I'm cursed blessed with what I'm told is a good memory. I only recently started to compile and detail everything on houses/characters related to the quest because an anon requested it around 3 threads ago. I think what helps the most for that is that I don't have any one event or plot that absolutely needs to be experienced. It stops me from hamfisting things together and allows the conceptualized characters to do most of the work for me. Sometimes that leads to an insane butterfly effect with "small" votes and sometimes "big" votes end up to be rather trivial.

Voices are harder, but that comes over time. Rather than a "wouldn't it be cool if this happened with the pirates," it is "this is going to happen because this is exactly what Cleo and this other character would do under the given circumstances." Cause and effect. Before the quest... I had nothing for Dragonstone. I just ran with it after a day or two of prep following a house creation vote. Not recommended, I made a few errors in doing so.

If I had to give a couple of actual rule of thumbs since my methods are mostly chaotic and unworkable:
1. Don't allow randumbness to take over your threads. Stick with what's actually reasonable for the characters and setting. This was a problem I had in my first quest and a problem I've seen repeated ad nauseam with new QMs (including me) that were too eager to please and too wary of a polite veto of something stupid. No offense to anyone who was a part of it, but I felt like anons really fucked Ironboi over with bad write-ins and infinite monkey theorem character generation.
2. I know it's technically a fanfiction, technically, but you're probably missing out on a lot of depth and uniqueness if you're relying too much on the appearance of canon characters. I feel like it's best to keep them tertiary.

Oh, and House Darklyn? I thought they were very much extinct, famously so. Or is this an earlier era?
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>>4448807
Thanks a ton for that detailed reply, I'll copy-paste in my messy notes as well. Also, damn! You just ran with it after two days of prep?! I wasn't here in the beginning, but when I read this quest I thought for sure you had prepared for weeks, especially with that conspiracy plot against us. It speaks to your skill I suppose, how are you able to come up with plot threads and scenes that fast?

As for House Darklyn, I got the initial idea from the House Creation thread of Fish QM's House Silverbank, of a bastard who had a noble mother, instead of a noble father. The idea sounded quite unique and interesting. The quest is set 1-2 years before Robert's Rebellion (parallel with House Reynold I think). The basic idea is that the MC's mother is a daughter of Denys Darklyn, who was exiled for having an affair which resulted in the MC. This saved her from the initial execution, but she was found later and forced to marry Lord Adrian Rykker (OC) who was given the lands and titles of House Darklyn. Adrian is a widower with 2 young adult children.

The lord is cruel to the MC's mother, which warps her worldview. (I'm keeping it vague here). The main arc of the quest is the MC working against House Rykker to take revenge. The Rykkers don't play a very important role in canon, so it allows me to mould their members to my quest. Canon characters are very rarely used in my notes so far, tertiary at best, as you said. There was interest in FishQM's quest about playing an evil/immoral character, so I'll allow room for that to develop, at least the initial stats would be geared towards a schemer type character. I'll probably run in the next few weeks.

Thanks for all the help, again! And not just in this thread. This is my first quest and there's a probability of me fucking it up, and I'm changing some canon events and characters, so I'll steer clear of characters and events in your quest, lest I tarnish them.
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>>4448519
support for pov shift



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