File: house cuy coa.jpg (44 KB, 474x522)

44 KB JPG

You are Tristan… something. Flowers? That’s what your fellow bastards around these parts of the Reach, Old Town specifically, tend to go by. But they’re not exactly your fellows, are they? At least, you don’t recall ever meeting another bastard accomplished enough to be able to proclaim themselves a true alchemist. Sure, you may have washed out of the Citadel after your seventh link, but seven is an auspicious number, is it not?

Bluewaters. Tristan Bluewaters. That’s a name you’ve used before. It’s a Nothing Name, according to your old friend Roland, just humble enough to not arouse suspicions and just… nameish enough to imply you’re worth a second name. The bastards who’ve taken root up and down the Narrow Sea are known to go by Waters, and it’s not as if you’d ever call yourself Blueflowers. You can name precisely two blue flowers. One is reputedly wonderful for wooing ladies, even you aren’t that satirical, and the other is remarkable only in its effectiveness in loosening one’s bowels.

Why blue? Well, your father is Ser Terrence Cuy. House Cuy of Sunhouse traces their lineage back to the Coming of the Andals. A storied history indeed. Their heraldry boasts six sunflowers upon a field of azure. See, there’s the blue. It’s all very impressive if one does not consider that your noble father isn’t exactly in line to inherit much of anything. He was born a second son, a failing he compounded by producing you… and later your brother, another Terrence. Subtle, mother. To be fair to the both of them, you’re quite sure the damage was already done before Terrence the Younger entered the world. From what you’ve gathered, acknowledging your birth ended your father’s tepid betrothal to some third daughter or another. He was never again favored with leave to wed after that incident.

>>4616853
That isn’t to say the good Ser Terrence is without his incomes. He is a knight captain of the City Watch and the castellan of House Cuy’s villa here in Old Town. It provided him with stipend enough to purchase the roof over your head for your mother’s sake. The Hog’s Stout. Stupid name, really. It should be The Stout Hog, or it should at least stock some proper stout. Words you’ve heard from a drunken sailor or seven over the years as well, true comrades. You do prefer wine like any other good Reachman, but it is the principle of the matter. It was in raising your support of one of these drunken pursuers of justice, a man with the apparently self-inflicted moniker of “Beans,” that you met and fell in with his captain. Roland, occasionally known as Roland the Red, is a self-described washed-up bard-turned-smuggler.

A fortuitous meeting that coincided with your split from the Citadel. While you were appreciative of the arts you learned, you had other plans for your life that went beyond serving as a full maester to a noble house. Roland’s promises of riches and more were enticing to say the least. Enticing, but not as fulfilling as you’d hoped.

>Let’s see how much coin we have on hand. Can I get 1 roll of 2d6 for the amount (in gold dragons) that we have? Half is owned by your “partner,” but we are using her non-gimped Status for the roll anyway.

Rolled 3, 4 = 7 (2d6)

>>4616854

Rolled 5, 1 = 6 (2d6)

>>4616854
Welcome back boggs

File: cellar top view.jpg (29 KB, 563x287)

29 KB JPG

>>4616873
>7: 3 gold dragons, 105 silver stags each.

Between you and your… partner… you have around seven gold dragons. A fine number… well, until the arguing over how to divide the coins started. You were taken aback by the myriad of reasons your “partner” Yvetta managed to conjure for why she should get four coins and you only three. You rallied well enough. You were the one with the foresight to bring a coin purse to the market, so it was only fair that you should get the coin… but your mother stepped in and swapped it out for silver stags. Lizbeth doesn’t abide lengthy arguments in her tavern. At least not during the day.

Overall, it’s not a paltry sum in the eyes of most. And yet it’s not nearly enough to buy you what you need. After all, most of your reagents and tools were stowed away aboard Roland’s ship, a fine schooner which one might dare to suggest was purpose-built for smuggling. The Port Authority certainly did. It was impounded the morning after it last pulled into Old Town Harbor. The crew, Roland included, seem to have found themselves in a bit of a spot. The spot, in this case, happens to be the City Watch’s dungeons. By your reckoning, that will mean they will soon be off to the gallows or the Night’s Watch if they haven’t been dealt with by now.

That left you, Tristan Bluewaters, in a bit of a spot of your own. But therein lies a bigger problem; Tristan Bluewaters is currently the name of a wanted man. Tristan Bluewaters is wanted for high treason and smuggling along with whatever else those simpletons of the City Watch managed to scrawl onto the warrant. It’s enough to make one reconsider one’s choice of name.

>>4616889
Vexing. First off, you take umbrage with the charges. You can’t recall ever committing treason, let alone high treason… assuming there is a difference there. Law and Justice was a subject you deftly avoided in your pursuit of greater knowledge. The smuggling… well, you’d call that an exaggeration or an issue of perspective, but you can’t quite shake the feeling that the powers-that-be couldn’t give a fig over your defense. It’s true that you may be friends with some that have been found guilty of smuggling, but you can’t take credit for ever smuggling anything yourself… probably.

Secondly, you take issue with the sheer suddenness of it all. One moment, you were browsing the market for fresh balm wort, as futile as that is in this dreary weather. The next moment, you were being pulled off to an alleyway with a hand clamped quite unnecessarily over your mouth by a shifty Dornishwoman. But you knew this particular minx… Yvetta. Roland’s daughter. It was hardly the first time she’d greeted you in such a way, but the panic in her eyes was new.

Roland’s caught. They’re looking for you. Someone talked.

But that was two moons ago, and you’ve had quite a bit of time to mull over the identity of the informant. Two moons alternating between pacing the cold, damp cellar floor and warming up in the cot you’ve so strategically placed in the corner beneath where the common room’s hearth should be.

>Can I get a roll of 5d6 for Cunning?

Rolled 1, 2, 3, 6, 1 = 13 (5d6)

>>4616892
Can I get a pleeeease?

>>4616898
Please!

That'll be 1 degree of success on a DC 12. Writing!

File: Yvetta.jpg (68 KB, 500x856)

68 KB JPG

You know the why of it easily enough. Smuggling. Not just smuggling but smuggling Arbor Gold on behalf of another noble employer. House Clawwater. A jealous house that drastically overreached in a scheme to reap the profits of their neighbors’ and liege’s harvests. Their plan was foolhardy at best, closer to madness. Even Roland saw that. Still, the profit was enough to make a man set aside any thoughts of danger. It helped that your captain was adept at weaving a tapestry with words in such a way as to get the crew spending the coin before they could bite it. He reasoned a single ship wouldn’t be missed if and when the ring collapsed. As one might predict, the smuggling ring did indeed collapse. It just so happens that the getaway seems to have been botched…

Someone talked.

Just so, Yvetta. Someone always talks. That’s the mantra, is it not? But who? By the snatches of gossip Yvetta has gathered so far during your cellar vacation at the Maternal Tavern, the Clawwaters are no more. The lord and lady are both dead. The sons took the Black. Pity. The oldest was a bit of a prat, but you were on good terms with Brandon. The daughters… you’re not quite sure. The younger one who always glared at you must be some poor bastard’s ward, Seven bless him. Brandon’s twin, Lady Myrianna is of an age to be wed. You’re not sure who would do the deed what with her having traitor’s blood now. You would. You could use an assistant to cook for you and she was always quite pleasant… but you’d put your meager coin on her getting handed off as favor to a sworn sword.

The Clawwaters could’ve talked. It might’ve saved them some pain if they were put to the question… if that’s even done to their types. Brandon knew you well enough and fit the bill of a “talker” … at least Roland thought so. It’s still an odd fit, isn’t it? You just don’t see how you’d warrant being singled out by them or their gaolers. You’d have thought you would be insignificant in their eyes.

There’s also Bhaarissio, Tyroshi merchant extraordinaire… or something like that. He could’ve given up Roland easily enough… and why wouldn’t he if he were caught and was looking for some reprieve? Yet again, you’re left with the same odd fit. Why single you out? Because you insulted his perfume and his taste in wine? You did. Repugnant on both accounts. But you hardly see how that would lead to an official warrant specifically bearing your moniker. Perhaps he’s just that petty?

>>4616914
Who else? The crew? You think they like you well enough, or at least tolerate you. Is that enough for them to risk their necks for you? Probably not. Maybe one or two would, but one of the six of them would talk. But it couldn’t be them. For one, at least some of them knew of your mother’s tavern and yet you’ve had no trouble here. Past that, Yvetta is with you. Physically. As in, she’s in the building. That’s all. You’re fairly sure not one of them would risk her getting caught. She’s Roland’s daughter.

So, it was either the middleman or the patrons... probably. Either way, why you? That’s the question you keep coming back to, the question that just doesn’t have an answer. You have directions, but you’re missing answers.

You’re interrupted from your musing by the incessantly creaking floorboards and the clattering of the tavern above. You can faintly hear your mother shouting about something or another. Opening already? You would’ve thought there was a couple hours left. Then again, you have been known to lose track of time.

You stir from the relative warmth of your favored corner of the cellar, pick at this damnably itchy woolen overshirt, and pad over to the wooden stairs just beneath the cupboard of a kitchen’s trap door. You catch a swish of skirts heading to the bar as you push the door up and open. You fail to stifle a sneeze as you enter the surface world… this floor could use a good sweeping… you ought to complain to the management. At least the foodstuffs are freshly stocked. There’s a surprise. Prices are generally a bit high during the winter, even this early in the season, and yet there’s enough here for a veritable feast. Perhaps there is something useable here for your own purposes. You can take stock here, then maybe a quick jaunt to the market…

“What are you doing?”

You spin away from your foraging to find Yvetta standing in her usual fashion with arms crossed and hip cocked to the side. How does she always sneak up on you? It’s not natural.

“Nothing. You’re doing that thing again. It’s bad for your back,” you comment with a gesture to her hips.

>>4616917
“Don’t try to distract. You were trying to go out,” she accuses.

“Was not.”

“You were. You can’t,” Yvetta reminds.

“Can so. Why not? It’s not like they know my face,” you protest. You’ve both repeated this routine entirely too often lately.

“We don’t know that. Besides, Arbormen are here,” she says.

“Here?”

“Not here, here. Here as in the city here. There’s a tourney for some highborn’s nameday. Lots of knights are here. Redwynes and their lackies too. The purse is supposed to be massive,” she explains.

“How do you know all of this?”

“Holly told me,” she shrugs. “She’s a bit thick but good for gossip.”

“She is,” you agree.

“She is what?” she narrows her eyes and recrosses her arms.

“Just what you said. What’d you think I meant?” you raise a brow, genuinely puzzled.

“Nothing,” she relaxes and saunters over to the assorted foodstuffs. “Have you been picking at these? They’re for later.”

“Ah, we’re not opening yet? Thought it was a bit early,” you say as you go back to your rummaging next to her despite the light chiding. “Where’s the lemon balm?”

She reaches into her skirts with a satisfied smirk and pulls out… a lemon. “You wouldn’t believe what they were trying to charge for one of these. I know it’s winter, but these traders are turning criminal. It’s not right. So, I swiped one. Fair is fair. Happy?” she smiles as she lightly tosses the lemon up and down.

“Lemon. Balm. Not a lemon,” you frown. You wanted to brew a tonic.

“What’s the problem? Can you not turn it into a balm?”

“Woman you will be the death of me,” you sigh and continue before she can retort. “Lemon balm isn’t a fruit. It’s a perennial. You dry out the leaves and crush them up. Then you—”

“You can show me the perineum later. I’ve lots to do. Do you want the lemon or not?” she huffs.

You blink rapidly at the word. “Do you even know… right, I’ll take the lemon.”

She tosses you the lemon and goes back to whatever meal she’s preparing. You let the silence hang for a few moments before your curiosity gets the better of you. “Why do you have so much to do?”

“You don’t know? Well, then I don’t know if I should tell. Lizbeth might not want you to know…” she teases, all smirks again.

>If you’re not supposed to know, then it’s not worth your time. You’ll go out instead (Deception: Bluff Roll). [Rogue]
>Perhaps you can work out some sort of deal with her. She does like her bargaining (Persuasion: Bargain Roll). [Healer]
>Sounds like you’ll find out soon enough. You’re going to try to brew some sort of tea or tonic with these paltry ingredients instead. [Alchemist]
>Something else.

I'm going to leave it here for tonight to give people a chance to filter in and vote. We'll continue tomorrow at the same time, but I'll pop in to answer questions before then. Thanks for playing!

>Sounds like you’ll find out soon enough. You’re going to try to brew some sort of tea or tonic with these paltry ingredients instead. [Alchemist]

gib shekels

Good to see you back Boggsy

>>4616922
>Perhaps you can work out some sort of deal with her. She does like her bargaining (Persuasion: Bargain Roll). [Healer]

>>4616922
>If you’re not supposed to know, then it’s not worth your time. You’ll go out instead (Deception: Bluff Roll). [Rogue]
I assume this is bluffing that we'll go out if she doesn't tell us, not actually going out.

>>4616851
>Note: this will be a “best of 1” rather than a “best of 3” quest
Nice

>>4617038
>I assume this is bluffing that we'll go out if she doesn't tell us, not actually going out.

Yup.

>Sounds like you’ll find out soon enough. You’re going to try to brew some sort of tea or tonic with these paltry ingredients instead. [Alchemist]

File: images (12).jpg (23 KB, 480x640)

23 KB JPG

>>4616922
>>Sounds like you’ll find out soon enough. You’re going to try to brew some sort of tea or tonic with these paltry ingredients instead. [Alchemist]

Missed you so much, Boggs. Hope your situation is better now..

>>4616914
>>4617207
And dammit, you're back to stealing pics from my potential pics to post folder (°□°)︵ ━
Time to start another quest before you steal them all...

>>4616922
>Sounds like you’ll find out soon enough. You’re going to try to brew some sort of tea or tonic with these paltry ingredients instead. [Alchemist]

>>4616922
>>Sounds like you’ll find out soon enough. You’re going to try to brew some sort of tea or tonic with these paltry ingredients instead. [Alchemist]

>>4616922
>>Sounds like you’ll find out soon enough. You’re going to try to brew some sort of tea or tonic with these paltry ingredients instead. [Alchemist]

>>4616922
>>If you’re not supposed to know, then it’s not worth your time. You’ll go out instead (Deception: Bluff Roll). [Rogue]

Alright, I think it's safe to call it for SCIENCE. Can I please get one roll of each of the following?

>A roll of 5d6 for Forage (4D+1b) to see if you recognize anything out of the ordinary (DC: 15)
>A roll of 6d6 for Alchemy (5D+1b) for the actual distilling (Base DC: 12, extra degrees net you an additional serving of product)

The post will be up by 8. I'll have a second vote up tonight.

>>4616881
>>4616940
>>4617207
And thanks for the warm welcome back!

Rolled 1, 5, 6, 6, 2 = 20 (5d6)

>>4617970

Rolled 6, 5, 1, 6, 4, 4 = 26 (6d6)

>>4617970

>>4617977
>19, so that'll make it Superior Quality instead of Common Quality
>>4617987
>25, 3 degrees. 3 vials up from the base of 1.

Whew, high rolls.

>>4617970
And that was for 8 EST, so in about 90 min.

File: tavern.jpg (502 KB, 1920x1532)

502 KB JPG

“So, if you want to know—” she continues.

“Then I can keep doing what I’m doing, and I’ll find out later,” you say as you reach past her in search of something to go with this lemon. What is that smell? You sniff the air. Lavender?

“Definitely lavender,” you mutter. You keep sniffing. “It’s you,” you point to the wrongfooted Dornishwoman as the trail leads right to her neck.

“What are you doing?” she demands.

“That’s what I should be asking you. Where’d you get lavender oil?” you demand in return. You can’t recall distilling any.

“The market—”

“The market? You have a genuine alchemist here and you got that from the market? From some… some acolyte?” you gasp out.

“It was cheap, and I like it. You should’ve made me some if you’re so touchy about it,” she says.

“Hmm. It would be cheap this time of season,” you mumble as you scratch your chin. You could use a trim. “The petals have the most oil late fall. Would’ve been wiser to wait til spring and sell it then.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. Lots of flowers are blooming in spring. And in winter the scents’d be perfect for getting warm under some furs and—”

“Hardly. There’s no supply in early spring lest you’ve stocked up over winter. And you’re the coin-savvy one?” you scoff. “What else is there?”

“I grabbed some cheap roots and leaves from this strange eastern merchant before his ship cast off. You should’ve seen it, his robes were real silk… I think,” she goes on. You sift through the bundle. Tea leaves… fine… a dried-out root… some purple flowers… some sort of grass or hay. A dried-out root?

“This eastern merchant… how eastern are we talking?” you ask while you take a closer look at the root.

“Eastern eastern. Yi Ti? He had that sort’ve look,” Yvetta answers.

“Just when I was starting to doubt you… this is better than lemon balm. This is root of ginseng. At least, I think it is. Valuable stuff,” you smile.

“What does it do? Is it a poison?” she warily asks.

“You’d think at its price. No, quite the opposite. It raises the spirit. Potent stuff if the maester who demonstrated it is to be believed,” you explain while you lay the root out on a cutting board.

“How much is it worth?” she asks.

“Hmm. Tough to say since I haven’t tested it yet. To the right lord or rich knightly type? A few dragons at least,” you mutter as you begin thinly slicing the root. You’ll put it in with some water just below a boil, not too hot lest you break down something important. You’d heard of a powder, but these thin slices may make a decent substitute…

>>4618191
It takes some doing to find replacement tools up to the task… you really do need a new kit if you’re going to start making coin in any respectable amount outside of this stroke of luck. You’re fortunate enough to find an old glass wine carafe. It’s not as transparent as you’d like it, but you can still peer into it well enough. Yvetta continues on with her own meal while you work, leaving you to your own devices.

“There,” you say with a final clap while you grin at the finished product. “That’s the orange color I remember. A better yield than I’d hoped for. Interesting. Perhaps I’ll add a touch of that lemon for flavor. I’ll need to note this…”

“Tristan! Come greet your father!” your mother calls as she peeks her head into the kitchen. So that’s what the minx was keeping from you…

Ser Terrance Cuy is still in armor from whatever it is he does in his duties. You swear he looks older than when you last saw him. When was that? Fall? Probably Fall. You recall a chill in the air… at least a few moons ago.

“Bloody sleeting outside. Why wouldn’t it be?” he grumbles while your mother takes his overcoat. He notices you at the kitchen door and just stares at you. He’s frowning, but then he’s usually frowning. He often doesn’t mean anything by it.

“Pleasant weather?” you try.

“Why don’t we all have a seat and discuss things over some wine?” your mother, Lizbeth, cuts in with her fake smile.

“Why not?” your father grunts.

Yvetta pops out with some wine, hastily pours, then retreats to the bar.

“Seven Bloody Hells, Tris,” your father grumbles, right to the point and ignoring the warning on language from your mother. “What were you thinking, falling in with this lot of bottom feeders?”

“I’m not quite sure I was thinking anything as I’ve no idea why anyone would look for me,” you answer with a shrug. It earns you a scrutinizing glare from the aging knight in return. One you don’t much mind. You’re telling the truth and you can see him realize it.

“You think you’ve been wrongly accused?” he asks a bit more calmly.

“That… I’m not sure of,” you admit. “It’s true enough I’ve spent a good deal of time in colorful company. I just don’t get why—”

“They’d care,” Father finishes. “I wouldn’t give a rat’s arse—” “Language” “— to catch one measely crew member who’d managed to scamper away from a smuggling ship. City’s full of the like. We got the ship, and we got her captain. That’s what matters.”

>>4618195
“What of the captain?” Yvetta suddenly interrupts from the bar where she was clearly doing more than cleaning.

“Who’s this wench?” your father half-grunts in annoyance.

“Ah, Yvetta. She’s with me,” you resign yourself to answering.

“You took a woman? Now I have seen it all,” he remarks.

“I didn—we haven—” you and Yvetta both start talking at once.

“Then what’re you doing here? Who’s that captain to you?” he questions, shifting to a demeanor much more in line with a knight captain who has kept watch over the city’s interests for the past three decades.

“Her father,” you answer on her behalf lest she bolt on the spot. “She’s the one who warned me.”

“Hm. Well, best you sit rather than shifting to the door. Don’t be daft, girl. It’s common knowledge that I own this tavern. Last thing we need is another scandal. I arrest you here and like as not my lord brother will have me out of the villa and stick my preening nephew there instead. And bring the food while you’re at it,” he orders.

Yvetta cautiously approaches with a wooden board hosting a warm flatbread. It’s covered in thin slices of spiced lamb sausage with a crumble of goat cheese and a drizzle of olive oil. The sweet red accompanying it is a nice touch.

“Ser…” Yvetta tries. Your father is either more focused on the food or is deliberately letting her hang on word of the crew.

“Right,” he wipes his mouth. “Three are for the Wall, those that we could be sure were of the Kingdoms. The captain was one of them. The foreigners we hanged about a moon’s turn ago.”

“Hanged? Isn’t that a bit…” you grimace. You were expecting some loss of fingers or hands, but nothing quite that severe. For your craft, that might as well be a hanging, but most of the crew would’ve been just fine with that. The Wall wasn’t much of a surprise, though. Still, Yvetta’s skin has definitely gone a couple shades paler.

“Aye, but that was the order. This isn’t a game, lad. Not a week past, Lord Redwyne himself asked after this “Bluewaters” tripe you’ve been playing with. I’ve never seen one such as him bother with these matters. Now do you see what you’re dealing with? This is serious,” he with a weary look.

“But why?”

>>4618202
“Does that matter? It could be that Redwyne takes theft of Arbor Gold as a personal slight. It could be that someone of worth’s neck sprouted feathers when they rooted out those Clawwater filth and they thought to blame the hedge wizard rather than the bowmen. It could be that you insulted the wrong noble and caught blame that way. Hells, it wouldn’t be the first time you’ve done that…”

“That was a perfectly reasonable critique on—”

“I don’t want to hear about the Tyrell lad’s ineptness at healing again, Tris. What I want from you is to end this mummer’s farce, one way or another.”

“I’m not keen on losing a hand, much less having a noose around my neck, Father.”

“Nor am I keen with dealing with the fallout of such a scandal. You’re recognized. There’s no sweeping your antics under the rushes for House Cuy,” he points out.

“Then what?”

“Drop the bloody name unless you’re looking to be a bloody pirate. Bluewaters, honestly. Is Flowers so bad? You spend enough time turning them into potions, do you not?” he suggests, if it’s really a suggestion.

>You’d rather stick with Bluewaters. It’s a known name, sure, but notoriety opens doors of its own. It’s worth the risk. [Rogue]
>Isn’t this beside the point? You should focus on clearing your name first, then revisit the issue of your reputation. Who knows? This could work out in your favor if you are as wrongly accused as you suspect. [Healer]
>You suppose you could cut your ties from your past and go by Flowers like most expect of you. You just want to perfect your craft and be left in peace rather than in pieces by some slighted noble. [Alchemist]
>Something else.

And I’m going to call it here until tomorrow. I had another vote I wanted to do, but this is an important choice, so I’d like to leave it open long enough for discussion and debate. This is a sort of backstory decision. For those that keep track of the character sheets and such, this is a decision to keep or drop that Outlaw drawback. You do gain an extra Destiny Point for keeping it, but you will have an appropriately harder time moving around in the open going forward.

One quick note: if it looks like there is samefagging (1-posts not linked to anything with nothing in the way of discussion), then I will have to discount those IDs. Have a great night or day!

>>4618208
>>You suppose you could cut your ties from your past and go by Flowers like most expect of you. You just want to perfect your craft and be left in peace rather than in pieces by some slighted noble. [Alchemist]

>>4618208
>>Something else.
How about Tristan Sunflower?

>>4618208
>You suppose you could cut your ties from your past and go by Flowers like most expect of you. You just want to perfect your craft and be left in peace rather than in pieces by some slighted noble. [Alchemist]

>>4618224
I can get behind this. It's our fathers sigil after all, and it's a compromise with using flowers instead of waters.

>Something else
Tristan Sunflower

>>4618208
>>You suppose you could cut your ties from your past and go by Flowers like most expect of you. You just want to perfect your craft and be left in peace rather than in pieces by some slighted noble. [Alchemist]


>>4618224
>>4618250
Will that fly? I like it but we're a noble bastard, we're supposed to go by Flowers. Is hopping from one assumed name to another going to do us any good?

>>4618224
>>4618250
You could do that. It's not exactly humble, and there may be some that would think you are reaching above your station, but there is nothing prohibiting you from a reference to your paternal house either.

>>4618298
>Will that fly? I like it but we're a noble bastard, we're supposed to go by Flowers. Is hopping from one assumed name to another going to do us any good?

It's allowed, it's just considered pretentious by a good number of nobles to go past the traditional names to craft names for yourself. More so when there is an allusion to an actual house. Highborns like their bastards humble. You'd be taking on a potential risk, but not a "wanted criminal" sort of risk.

>>4618298
>>4618300
I guess I meant it to be cheeky? It also kind of plays up his autism in that he doesn't really get what the difference is; hopping off of one near bastard name to another. The fact that it relates to his family sigil is just icing.

I was looking at the Char sheet and saw the Savant drawback. Combined with the way that he sniffed out the Dornish woman makes me think he might not be...normal socially.

>Sunflower
Is the MC gay or a virgin? Why was the father surprised that he'd shacked up with a girl?

>>4618446
>Is the MC gay or a virgin? Why was the father surprised that he'd shacked up with a girl?

Virgin. So far, his focus has been on knowledge (his parents would say to a fault).

>>4618208
>You’d rather stick with Bluewaters. It’s a known name, sure, but notoriety opens doors of its own. It’s worth the risk. [Rogue]

>>4618446
he's an autist

>>4618208
>new name
>sunflowers

>>4618208
>You suppose you could cut your ties from your past and go by Flowers like most expect of you. You just want to perfect your craft and be left in peace rather than in pieces by some slighted noble. [Alchemist]

File: Ser Terrence Cuy.jpg (308 KB, 683x969)

308 KB JPG

“I could drop Bluewaters,” you agree. “These charges have been an awful lot of distraction from my work.”

“Good. Good,” your father sighs in relief. “I was hoping you’d be reasonable about this.”

“I was thinking Sunflower instead. It has a nice sound to it, doesn’t it?” you smile.

Your father lets out a frustrated groan while your mother reaches for more wine. “You can’t be serious.”

“Why not?” you ask. “Is there some House Sunflower I don’t know about that I’d be impersonating?”

“Not anymore, but there’s a Sunflower Hall that might take offense. Do you think your lord uncle will be pleased? What am I to say when next I see him? ‘Pleasant weather, brother. How’s the family? My oldest bastard, the one with the mutton chops capering around with all the vials, he’s decided to name himself after the castle of our birth.’ I’m sure he’d be thrilled,” he grumbles.

“Why not, father? Lord Benifer seemed to like me on the couple occasions I’ve seen him,” you point out.

“Aye, when he thought you were going to be a maester. That would’ve at least bought him some good grace with the Citadel without him needing to send a trueborn. But you decided to quit before your chain was joined… still don’t get that. Try to understand this, Tris. You’ve marks against you for the manner of your birth. That’s just the way it is. I won’t apologize for it as I’ve been fair to you and your brother both, good even,” he explains.

“He has, Tristan,” your mother cuts in. “Your father didn’t have to recognize you. His father didn’t want him to. I’d thought I would be left with a purse of silver and that’s it. Instead, we got the support we needed for both you and your brother to make something more of yourselves. The least you could do in return is make things less hard on him. This smuggling nonsense was too much.”

“I told you, I didn’t much care about the smuggling. It was just a convenient way to gain access to reagents. The crew was kind enough too,” you sigh and turn back to your father. “What’s the problem with me taking a name that’s not Flowers? There’s no law against it. It sounds better to customers.”

He takes his time in answering as if searching for the right words. “If I’m remembering it right, there was a House Sunflower once… years and years ago. Some second son or cousin… or it might’ve even been another bastard… took the name as a landed knight in service to House Cuy. They’re long gone in any case, but you can see the issue all the same. The last one was a knight, and I’d say a distinguished one at that. It’d be one thing if your brother won a tourney or two and maybe wed a lady of gentle birth. Then your lord uncle might see the worth in the name. But for you alone? It’s just… reaching. You’ve done nothing to earn it. You can see that, can’t you?”

File: Lizbeth.jpg (273 KB, 481x493)

273 KB JPG

>>4619772
You mull it over while everyone eats. You suppose he has a point. Ser Terrence Flowers, your younger brother, is very much a knight. You don’t think he’d claim to be Arthur Dayne, but he’s supposed to be at least competent. You and he have a decent enough relationship if a bit distant. He was always so serious, bent on proving himself.

“You always were a good cook, Lizbeth,” you father praises your mother. “This has a Dornish taste to it but in a good way. Always thought you had some Dornish blood.”

In truth, you’re not sure where your mother’s roots are. Nor is she. She’s just one of the thousands of sailor’s seed common to port cities like this one. You don’t think she’s ever actually left Old Town at that. Before she met your father, she was a tavern wench herself.

“Thank Yvetta, not me,” your mother gestures, smiling all the same for the compliment.

“Oh?” your father peers a bit more closely at Yvetta. “You do have that sort of look about you. I’d say… the Riverfolk? Not swarthy enough for the deserts.”

“My mother’s of the Greenblood, Ser,” Yvetta nods. “Not sure about Roland.”

“That captain. That was the name,” your father grunts. “So, what’s the deal with you two? If you’re not bedding down, then what?”

“We’re partners. He brews the potions, I find buyers and keep him out of trouble. We split the coin evenly,” Yvetta answers.

“Or you get him into trouble,” he says and gives you a bemused look. “You’re sharing your coin with her like you’re wed with none of the perks. I thought you were supposed to be the clever one.”

“It had been working well enough right up until the ship was seized,” you shrug while Yvetta quietly steams. “I don’t suppose you can do something about that.”

“It was a schooner, right? No chance at all. Any loot you had stashed away would’ve been split around the Watch by now. A good reward for them not taking the bribe on this one. The ship itself is more than I could hope to lay claim to. Ships here are taxed on masts and main deck space. It’d have at least two masts, so it’d be in a higher class… you’d need a lord’s blessing to reclaim it. If it were a sloop with a single mast, then that’d be another story,” your father explains.

>>4619773
“A sloop could get us to Dorne,” you tell Yvetta. She has frequently brought up leaving for her mother’s land during your stay here and invited you to join her. You’ve been hesitant since that essentially means starting over, but it seems you’re only one step from a blank slate anyway.

“Dorne?” your father interrupts. “Why?”

“Yvetta still has some family there, and I could think of worse places to rebuild my supplies,” you answer.

“I’ve not known one of those Orphans who wasn’t a pickpocket. Do you really want to leap from one den of thieves to another?” your father frowns. You look between him and Yvetta. She looks more than a little put off by the comment, but she’s holding her tongue… for now.

“Well, I haven’t many options here,” you say.

“You can always stay here until you get back on your feet,” your mother suggests. “Perhaps make a potion that’ll help your brother win in his tourneys.”

“That’s not quite how that works…” you sigh. You could probably do a decent job of keeping him on his feet in between the batterings that lot give each other in their war games, but you’re not a pretend spell weaver like those superstitious alchemists of King’s Landing. You’re Citadel-trained.

“It’s true your brother is looking to advance himself through tourneying. He’s a better rider than I was at his age, but he doesn’t know when to quit… youth. Your Uncle and I had thought to arrange a match for him that would strengthen ties for the House, but we decided it would be better to wait and see if he’d improve his station first… you, though,” your father gives you an appraising look. “You’re no fighter by any means and you’re a bit odd, but you’ve your talents. We could make a match for you to a lesser house, a cadet branch perhaps. You needn’t do anything but agree to it and we will do the rest.”

“That’s it?” you ask, a bit skeptically.

>>4619775
“That’s it,” he confirms. “We will find an appropriate match, you just bed her. Mind, there’s no backing out once we proceed with this.”

“And I have no say in the lady you pick,” you point out.

“Why would you?” he asks with a confused look.

“If it’s all the same, I’d like to not get stuck with someone who will make me miserable,” you say.

“I doubt that’d be a problem. These cadet branches tend to be a bit bookish. Most are a half step from being merchants, but they’re more palatable to House Cuy than dealing with actual merchants. The point is, I’d say they’re your types, or close enough to it,” he shrugs. “Look, if you want the House’s blessing with your trade and this Sunflower idea, then you need to do your part for the House in return. Earn it. It’s that simple.”

>If she’ll cook for you and provide you with the means to ply your trade, then an arranged match sounds good to you. More the better that you don’t have to do any work. [Alchemist]
>You’re not really looking for an arranged match even if it’s better than what you could do on your own. You’ll see about your mother’s idea of staying put here and helping your brother advance instead. [Healer]
>You’d rather take your chances in Dorne with Yvetta than deal with either of those plans. [Rogue]
>Something else.

I posted this early because I’m going to be busy tonight. It was evenly split between the regular alchemist option and the Sunflower write-in. I wrote this as the Alchemist option with the Sunflower option in mind so that everyone could at least see the condition your family would place on supporting the Sunflower name (the Alchemist option in this vote). The vote is open overnight.

>>4619777
>>You’d rather take your chances in Dorne with Yvetta than deal with either of those plans. [Rogue]
once we're in Dorne we can call ourselves whatever we want

>If she’ll cook for you and provide you with the means to ply your trade, then an arranged match sounds good to you. More the better that you don’t have to do any work. [Alchemist]

So if we resolve this situation with the authorities looking for us, will we lose the Outlaw drawback?

Good chapter and some shitty options because only third let Yvetta stay with us and let us know her better. The first option exclude Yvetta because her role will be taking by future wife family.
Third make us abandon mc's father, brother and mother...
Second option is helping family, but I thought you wanted to make it like a journey for mc to travel and learn...
It's better to look after younger brother so that he won't die from scratch or something and Yvetta will still be our representative.
>>4619777
>You’re not really looking for an arranged match even if it’s better than what you could do on your own. You’ll see about your mother’s idea of staying put here and helping your brother advance instead. [Healer]

>>4619803
Nah, you're good on that now. I just updated the sheet. You're not significant enough to be identified as an outlaw without using Bluewaters alias.

>>4619811
Grrr, fucking hate when autocorrect do this shit

>>4619777
>>You’re not really looking for an arranged match even if it’s better than what you could do on your own. You’ll see about your mother’s idea of staying put here and helping your brother advance instead. [Healer]

Also, checking those trips.

>>4619811
Yeah, I have to say, not particularly thrilled about any of those options. I'll hold my nose and vote for Healer, if only because it still allows both the family and Yvetta to stay in the picture. Maybe after the brother's been through a tourney or two, we can revisit this question, with more information on hand.

>>4619777
>You’re not really looking for an arranged match even if it’s better than what you could do on your own. You’ll see about your mother’s idea of staying put here and helping your brother advance instead. [Healer]

>>4619777
>If she’ll cook for you and provide you with the means to ply your trade, then an arranged match sounds good to you. More the better that you don’t have to do any work. [Alchemist]

I like this because it's practical and actually playing the setting. I always thought it was weird that medieval quests so often have MCs marrying for love. Funny that it took a bastard quest to see this option in play.

>>4619777
>>If she’ll cook for you and provide you with the means to ply your trade, then an arranged match sounds good to you. More the better that you don’t have to do any work. [Alchemist]

Btw would a wife from a cadet branch, no matter how lowly, even know how to cook?

>>4619811
>I thought you wanted to make it like a journey for mc to travel and learn...

Yup, I do. All of those options will eventually lead to that. It's the when/where/why/how that we are fleshing out right now.

>>4620052
Yup. It should be expected of her. Even the wives or daughters of minor lords are ultimately expected to be in responsible for the kitchens. Whether that's in a hands-on way or a supervisory way would probably depend on their status. I'd think a landed knight's daughter would probably be hands-on. For a book example, I'd point to House Borrell of Sweetsister from the first couple Davos chapters in A Dance with Dragons. That's a lordly house with the granddaughters of the lord doing the cooking/serving (if I'm remembering it correctly, there might've been a daughter involved somewhere).

>>4619777
>If she’ll cook for you and provide you with the means to ply your trade, then an arranged match sounds good to you. More the better that you don’t have to do any work. [Alchemist]
Free companion. Just don't give us someone too ugly.

>>4619887
Well he can marry for love, that what is attractive in bastardy is freedom of choice, when legitimate children will have their marriage arranged for them long before they become adults

>>4619777
>>You’re not really looking for an arranged match even if it’s better than what you could do on your own. You’ll see about your mother’s idea of staying put here and helping your brother advance instead. [Healer]

Yes, the Maester Aemon arch.

>>4620082
>That's a lordly house with the granddaughters of the lord doing the cooking/serving (if I'm remembering it correctly, there might've been a daughter involved somewhere).

But isn't Sweetsister a very specific example, with the fisherman's daughter helping Ned win the war and Merman and every weird thing going on there?

>>4620346
He can but why would he when he doesnt already have a lover and there are obvious benefits to doing what the family wants. I would rather do what is accurate in the setting for a change than treat this like a medieval dating sim. Let them arrange whatever while we focus on what we are good at.

>>4620394
>But isn't Sweetsister a very specific example, with the fisherman's daughter helping Ned win the war and Merman and every weird thing going on there?

It has its backstory easter eggs like many other things do, but the function of the house itself is closer to the rule rather than the exception. The problem is that the majority of the other houses depicted are basically just royalty with different titles. That is necessary framing for the story the author is trying to tell, but it does seem to give a lot of readers a warped perception of what the rarely depicted lower nobility were like, seeing them all as some flavor of prince or princess when that wouldn't be the case. Many /tg/ and /qst/ depictions have only fed into this exaggeration. Maybe that's a power fantasy thing. Maybe it's just a perspective issue. I'm not sure, but what I do know is that the reality is many nobles would make the effort to put on a good appearance in front of their peers and then still pitch in for household duties. That's not to say they didn't have hired help, but they certainly weren't just lounging all day either.

>>4620745
>That's not to say they didn't have hired help, but they certainly weren't just lounging all day either.
This I can attest to. I had the feeling that, especially during the relaxed state of the late summer time, in the North where we have spent the majority of our reader's experience, that the Lords often had their private lives. The reinforcement of duties, especially where the Seven had a strong hold was also necessary to uphold the morals. This was partially broken first with the fall of Bran which had Lady Stark put into a semi-catatonic state, then the summoning to Winterfell, and then with the wave of Wildlings coming from beyond the wall, as Osha was captured in Winterfell and put to work in the kitchen. When the rough times arrived, everyone needed to know their stations, so it was a bit more Royalty-lite.

In a counter example I can point out to Falia Flowers, the bastard child of Lord Humfrey Hewett of Oakenshield. Although House Hewett is a minor house comparable to the House Borrell, the mother and the sisters of Falia took measures to make sure Falia would stay beneath them, and thus be a serving girl. This is to reinforce the notion that she will never be among the ruling family and thus contradicts with that's going on in the Sweetsister. Perhaps as it's the case with the women of House Mormont taking up arms when their men fell through, in the North things are more egalitarian due to the roughness of the landscape.

>>4620865
>summoning to Winterfell,
summoning to King's Landing*

I think we are tied right now. I'll keep it open a little longer to see if any fence-sitters want to change their votes or contribute if they haven't already.

>>4620865
>House Hewett
Hmm, yeah. I can see what you mean with the bastard as a serving girl and the other ladies seeming more leisurely. On the surface, it doesn't quite gel with some of the other minor houses like Smallwood and Hogg. That could be for a few reasons, though. Maybe Hewett has wealth comparable to a major house, letting the daughters live more comfortably. Maybe the trueborns serve the father and honored guests first, laying on the charm and grace and showing their worth as potential wives, then they sit and put the bastard half-sister in her place by making her serve them in turn for the rest of the evening. Further, having the lady of the house or an older daughter still ultimately responsible for the kitchens gives them more opportunity to lord over the bastard daughter who has no such sway.

I'm just spitballing, though. It could be just as it is at face value, but then the man does like his unreliable narrators. My take is more based on actual history rather than the scant few anecdotes I can pull out of the books for this particular tier of minor nobility. Traditionally, noble ladies had two main duties (outside the bedroom): the kitchen and the loom. Whether that's only supervising or more hands-on should depend on their means. You do see just a little of that with the Starks' sewing circles, but I think it comes off as more of a hobby than an obligation. But that's a Great House.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>Still no tie-breaker..
1 - Alchemist, 2 - Healer
What happened to those extra potions we brewed, btw? Will they come in play later or was that just flavour? (I'm fine with either)

>>4619777
>If she’ll cook for you and provide you with the means to ply your trade, then an arranged match sounds good to you. More the better that you don’t have to do any work. [Alchemist]
Ask for one with the tig ol bitties

Okay, I'll have an update up with the Alchemy option later tonight. To ease any concerns, I'm not going to railroad here. It's your character. If he really doesn't like the lady, then he's free to bail before his vows. It would definitely strain ties with his family, but no one is going to force him to wed at sword point.

Like seriously? The quest where you play not as noble but as bastard and everyone automatically want political marriage... What is wrong with you people? Or you just don't have faith that mc can get a gf himself?

>>4621166
MC is supposedly an autist, so anons might have real life experience about the difficulties of getting a gf, and projected them on the MC. Hopefully it's a big tiddy gf who's fine with looking after the household.

>t. virgin autist

Life came up, so I'm going to have to post in the morning instead. I'll have the post up by 1130 am EST with the regular update still on for tomorrow night as well.

>>4621001
Sorry, I missed this question. I'm going to make an extra tab on the character sheet for all your potions since it's probably going to end up getting too crowded for the usual Equipment tab.

I'm also going to be breaking down the potions into categories like "Vitality Potion, Stimulant, Relaxant, Pain Killer" that sort of thing. They'll give a bonus to rolls (1 time only, must be consumed in advance) based on their quality. Different categories of potions will correspond to different abilities. Common will give +1 to the corresponding ability, Superior will give +1b, and Extraordinary will give +1D.

Consuming some of the potions is something to be careful with, though. Certain potions could end up having nasty side-effects if you abuse them.

You'll need to acquire more impressive distilling equipment and seek out rare or expensive herbs to have any hope of regularly crafting the more impressive potions. Consulting rare books or other masters in the craft can also help you.

>>4621528
Thanks for answering! We already have a pretty high dicepool for brewing, so I suppose it's more a matter of finding the right ingredients and equipment, like you say.

File: tavern close.jpg (725 KB, 1630x1561)

725 KB JPG

“So,” you start ticking off the plan on your fingers. “I move out of the cellar back to my room and go about my life. You and Uncle go talk to some would-be ally. Hands are shaken, drinks are had, this lord offers up his daughter and you two offer up me. I get the name, she gets my wit, the Houses get their alliance. Everyone profits… that’s it? I needn’t do more?”

“Aye. I’d be more like to thank you for not doing more. It would be a knight’s daughter, though. A lord’s daughter would have us on the backfoot. Still suits your needs all the same,” your father answers. You note both the women at the table leaning in, unhelpfully not offering so much as a wink or a raised brow.

“Hmm, well I’d like it if she knew how to cook. Not one of those types that loaf about drowning in perfumes and gossiping. It makes me sneeze. And she can’t be hideous. And it couldn’t hurt if she had big t—”

“Tristan.” your mother finally cuts in.

“Sounds like you want a widow. Didn’t know that was your type,” your father says, but you see a rare smile threatening the integrity of his bushy grey mustache.

“Far from it… I could do this if it’s as you say, father,” you decide.

“Good!” he slaps the table with a grin. “Glad something came out of all this mess. I’ll see your uncle upon the morrow. He’s in town for the tourney like every other Reach Lord. Wouldn’t do to miss the nameday of his liege’s favored grandson.”

“And Terrence is competing?” you ask your father while Yvetta and your mother slip off to the bar, talking about something or other. The meal is over, but you’d expected another round or two after.

“Aye, and that’s Ser Terrence now, mind. He was knighted going on two years ago now,” he says.

“I… haven’t seen him in about that long,” you confess. “He’s well?”

>>4621619
“Stubborn as ever. Even worse than you. He’s been on errantry for over a year now. Only just drifted in for the tourney. Hedges must be too cold with winter rolling in,” he chuckles at his own jest, gives a quick glance to your mother at the bar. Finding her still talking, he whispers, “I’m not one for handouts, but one look at him and I was ready to see him in new armor. Wouldn’t take me up on it, said he had to earn it. He’s always been that way about taking the House’s coin. He has the makings of a damned fine knight, but I worry if he’s to compete here.”

“Why?”

“Wouldn’t matter if he’s Arthur Fucking Dayne if he’s entering the lists wearing shoddy splint armor as a hedge knight. It’s too stacked,” your father answers.

“Now if you were speaking to someone who doesn’t see the point in cracking their ribs on the points of small trees…”

“Hedge knights and sworn swords weed each other out first. The best of them get to move on to batter themselves against the landed knights in the next bracket. In a tourney this size, the lords might not take the field til the third or fourth day. It’s a meat grinder for Terrence’s ilk,” he hurriedly whispers as the women make their way back.

>If he’s keen on forging his own path, then who are you to get in his way? He’ll either do well enough to get some good ransom coin, or he’ll learn something in the process. Best to leave him be. [Rogue]
>Yeah, this is a bit much even for him. Maybe if you can talk some sense into him and at least get him to reconsider competing. You’ll meet up with him and see what you can do. [Healer]
>You might not know how to joust, but you know just enough about metallurgy to know what decent armor is worth. If he sells his scraps and accepts your stashed coins, then he could at least go into this wearing some half-plate. He can pay you back after. [Alchemist]
>Something else.

I don't know if this is considered late or early at this point, but here we are! This is open overnight. We'll continue tomorrow. Thanks for the patience.

>>4621619
>And it couldn’t hurt if she had big t—”
Madman!

>>4621620
>You might not know how to joust, but you know just enough about metallurgy to know what decent armor is worth. If he sells his scraps and accepts your stashed coins, then he could at least go into this wearing some half-plate. He can pay you back after. [Alchemist]

>>4621620
>You might not know how to joust, but you know just enough about metallurgy to know what decent armor is worth. If he sells his scraps and accepts your stashed coins, then he could at least go into this wearing some half-plate. He can pay you back after. [Alchemist]

>>4621619
>And it couldn’t hurt if she had big t—”
I vote for this

>>4621620
>>You might not know how to joust, but you know just enough about metallurgy to know what decent armor is worth. If he sells his scraps and accepts your stashed coins, then he could at least go into this wearing some half-plate. He can pay you back after. [Alchemist]
>>4621620

Big tracts of land, yes, yes, I know what you're getting at Tristan.
>You might not know how to joust, but you know just enough about metallurgy to know what decent armor is worth. If he sells his scraps and accepts your stashed coins, then he could at least go into this wearing some half-plate. He can pay you back after. [Alchemist]

When we marry the third daughter, we should ck2 assassinate her whole family. Slip snakes and poisons into their drinks then inherent their land.

>>4621929
>slip snakes into their drinks
What did he mean by this?

>>4621942
>What did he mean by this?
Slip snakes into their natural routine.

glad to see you are back Boggs, a shame we couldn't go to Dorne, it would be interesting to travel more for ingredients

File: snek.jpg (68 KB, 624x351)

68 KB JPG

>>4621945
seems more like a Yi Ti thing

>>4622025
Don't they eat snakes there?

>>4622069
.....they eat everything there.

>>4622075
In Yi Ti, you poison snakes.

>>4622075
Do they eat bats?

File: 818px-House_Whent.svg.png (183 KB, 818x900)

183 KB PNG

>>4622165
>House Whent of Harrenhal is a noble house from the riverlands. Their seat is the huge castle of Harrenhal, built three hundred years ago by Harren the Black.

oh crap. Harrenhal conspiracy confirmed.

>>4622165
Yeah. Where do you think the Great Spring Sickness come from? (Which also killed the MC's wife and daughter in the Borlund quest)

>>4622171
From a Bowl O' Brown most likely.

>>4622170
>>4622171

The curse of Harrenhal is spreading
> I ain’t lying; it ain’t no jokes
>The Spring Sickness is Monarch hoax.
>King Aerys, what we gonna do?
>Inject him with the Riverland flu

>>4622205
>Jon Conning-10

>>4621620
>You might not know how to joust, but you know just enough about metallurgy to know what decent armor is worth. If he sells his scraps and accepts your stashed coins, then he could at least go into this wearing some half-plate. He can pay you back after. [Alchemist]

While I am not changing my vote from >[Alchemist], I just realized that we might have issues convincing him to take our money - even if it is a loan.

>Wouldn’t take me up on it, said he had to earn it. He’s always been that way about taking the House’s coin.

Yi Ti Grey Plague outbreaks are canon.

I should have the post up in the next hour.

File: Yvetta1.jpg (75 KB, 564x834)

75 KB JPG

“I could help him,” you suggest.

“How?” your father asks, looking a bit surprised.

“I’ve some coin stashed away. I’ll loan it to him for better armor. He can pay me back after the tourney,” you say.

“Might work.”

“What’re you two whispering about?” your mother asks, back from the bar.

“T—” “Nothing. I should ask the same of you,” your father cuts you off and answers instead.

“Nothing. Drink?” Mother offers.

You all have a couple more rounds, talking of smaller things rather than dwelling on the weighty decision you just made. It feels a bit… unresolved, but that might just be you. You, a wedded man? A husband? It’s passing odd. You largely gave up on the notion as you delved deeper into your studies. The thought crossed your mind a time or two aboard Roland’s ship, but circumstances kept it from becoming more than a passing fancy. With your knowledge of poxes, you weren’t about to go whoring like some of the crew. That just left Yvetta which just felt… off. A half dozen reasons and excuses for the tepid nature of your partnership come to mind, but they largely ring hollow even to you. It was never quite right, though. You note her slipping off up the stairs while you’re pondering the depths of the near-empty carafe.

“You should get some rest too, Tristan,” your mother chides.

You pass along some dull agreement and get to your feet, feeling a bit unsteady at the sudden shift. This is the most you’ve had to drink in some time. The two wait for you to creak your way up the stairs before they begin their conversation anew. Your old room is just above the tavern along with a few others. They’re no bigger than what one would find in an inn, but they’re warm and clean enough for your needs. But you’re ambushed at the top of the stairs.

>>4622794
You find yourself up against the wall with a hand clamped quite unnecessarily over your mouth. “Really now,” you try to mumble.

“Quiet,” Yvetta whispers. You can smell the spiced wine on her from this close, and her eyes look a bit glazed over. “Listen.”

“—not cross with me, are you?” you faintly hear from below. You start to lean in closer and get pulled back by the cuff of your shirt.

“—warning’d be nice—our son—why’d you do that in front of her?” you hear your mother’s voice. It’s quiet for a moment, then you heard the chairs sliding on wood and the creaking of the floorboards.

“Didn’t know she’d be there,” you hear your father a bit more clearly from the bar. “For the better, though.”

“Why? She’s a nice enough girl. She’s been taking some of Holly’s shifts. I didn’t think you of all people would push your son into an arranged match,” your mother argues.

“Didn’t. I gave him a choice. Better this than getting led around and used by a Dornishwoman.”

“He seems happy enough with it. Doesn’t seem like using to me.”

“It is when he’s giving her coin and not getting so much as a warm bed out of it… if it were Terrence then I’d leave it be. But Tris? The lad’s different. He’s freakish clever one moment and ripe to cause a scandal across the whole of the kingdoms the next. He needs a bit more guidance is all.”

“A woman’s touch.”

“Aye. A trustworthy woman… but that’s not why I did it. Benifer and I’ve been working on a deal with Cordwayner. I’d thought to take it up with Terrence, but this is more of Tris’s fit. We need Hammerhal’s leather, they’re looking at some expansion with our quarry. Then there’s this side bit to sweeten the deal.”

“What is it?”

“Still working on it… Benifer has this sort of project that he’s sunk his all into. He wants it to be his legacy for the House, something for the books. It’s a red wine. Fine stuff. To hear him go on about it, he’d like it to be spoke of like it’s an Arbor Gold. Bit full of himself, aye, but it’s good for us. He’d like to ship it to Essos, but we’ve no port of our own. Only makes sense to use this one...”

>>4622796
“You want Tristan to sell wine?” you hear your mother ask.

“And shoes, it seems.” You hear a bark of laughter. “Not so sure on how the selling works. They still need to work that out. I just know it’ll have him aship. The lad knows ships like Terrence knows horses. That’s why I thought’ve him for this. Didn’t even know about the wench.”

“What of the wedding? How does that work?” you hear your mother ask, but their voices are fading again.

Yvetta takes the opportunity to head for her door without a word.

“What?” you ask. She’s never this quiet.

She turns to you at the door. “Nothing. It’s nothing I didn’t expect. Best of luck,” she carefully says. Is she blaming you for something? You can see her feeling a bit blindsided with it all. Hells, you were… but you’re not quite sure she’s taking a fair tone either.

>This really wasn’t about her. You saw a good opportunity and you took it. She should do the same with the first chance she gets. You would’ve thought she would be happy for you as a business partner. [Rogue]
>If this is about something more than business, then she’s free to explain herself. You’d like to get this out and move past it for both of your sakes. [Healer]
>Bid her a good night and say nothing further. You’re really not looking to complicate things here. [Alchemist]
>Something else.

More tomorrow, thanks for playing!

>>4622801
>>If this is about something more than business, then she’s free to explain herself. You’d like to get this out and move past it for both of your sakes. [Healer]

>>4622801

>>Bid her a good night and say nothing further. You’re really not looking to complicate things here. [Alchemist]

Full incel

>>4622801
>If this is about something more than business, then she’s free to explain herself. You’d like to get this out and move past it for both of your sakes. [Healer]

>>4622801
>Bid her a good night and say nothing further. You’re really not looking to complicate things here. [Alchemist]
>>4622972
>incel
>arranged marriage
literally what

>>4623011

No law saying we have to consummate.

I fully trust in young Tristan's ability to botch any chance at sexual activity.

>If this is about something more than business, then she’s free to explain herself. You’d like to get this out and move past it for both of your sakes. [Healer]

>>4622801
>If this is about something more than business, then she’s free to explain herself. You’d like to get this out and move past it for both of your sakes. [Healer]

>>4622801
>>This really wasn’t about her. You saw a good opportunity and you took it. She should do the same with the first chance she gets. You would’ve thought she would be happy for you as a business partner. [Rogue]

>>4622801
>If this is about something more than business, then she’s free to explain herself. You’d like to get this out and move past it for both of your sakes. [Healer]

Okay, I'll close it for the Healer option. If anyone wants to get some rolls out of the way early, then that would be helpful.

>We are going to need 1 roll of 3d6 for Persuasion (Convince) and 1 roll of 5d6 for Awareness (Empathy)

Rolled 2, 3, 3 = 8 (3d6)

>>4623609

Rolled 6, 1, 5, 4, 5 = 21 (5d6)

>>4623609
>>4623609
>>4623609
It is kind of hilarious that an autist like our character has 5d6 in empathy, isn't it?

>>4623626
>6
Failure vs a 10.

>>4623665
>20
Great Success vs a 13.

>It is kind of hilarious that an autist like our character has 5d6 in empathy, isn't it?

Yeah, he can fully understand how someone is feeling and still be genuinely puzzled as to why they would bother feeling that way.

>>4623019
Yes there are, even in our world let alone a pseudo-medieval fantasy world.

>>4623708
It has been a while since I read the books, but I distinctly remember reading that unconsummated marriages can be annulled by the High Septon - sort of like how Catholics have to write to the Pope to get a sanctioned divorce.

>>4623897
Or the bedding ceremony between Sansa and Tyrion, which went unconsummated. Or that it was an important point that Ned have sex with Catelyn before leaving for war. Or even Daenaerys in her marriages to Drogo, and Hizdahr.

File: horny old alchemy maester.jpg (62 KB, 564x792)

62 KB JPG

“Don’t be like that,” you tell her.

“Like what?”

“… that,” you gesture aimlessly. “Out with whatever this is, and we can settle it.”

She gives you a long, half-lidded stare and then yanks open the door. “There’s nothing to settle. I’m used to this. You go ahead and live the highborn life like you’re told,” she throws back before shutting the door.

You’re left standing there with countless retorts tumbling over in your mind, none truly worth voicing. Used to this? Used to what? You mull it over as you enter your room. Not much larger than a ship’s cabin, but the bed is freshly made. Your mother’s doing…

Used to business deals falling apart? She should be, but that’s not it. Too glum for that. She gets awfully heated when a quarrel is over something as simple as coin… you would know. Is it because you’re somewhat close? Are you? You’ve been fairly friendly with her the past three years, but she didn’t start getting clingy until Roland got caught. Your father seemed to think she was just milking you, but that’s not it. The partnership felt more like an agreed-upon farce, an excuse to stay tethered.

It gave her some control. Is that it? Control over not being left alone? Does she fear being abandoned? I’m used to this. That fits. You’d heard Roland was hardly ever there for her until she came of age and insisted on her place. Her mother always sounded like a bit of a flake too, never staying in one place. You’d gotten the sense she was spurned by someone else as well, but you never quite got the story there. Now you’re the next in line to leave her alone and without purpose. She may just be right. You doubt a proper lady would want her around, and you can’t imagine Yvetta playing the servant.

That’s not to say she can’t find other purpose here. Hells, she’ll have purpose enough on the morrow. You need the coin stash, all of it, if you’re to make your little brother look the part of a proper knight in time for the tourney. You snort aloud at the thought of a moneylender, a woman at that, with three dragons to her name. You lay back on the bed. It’s too clumpy for your liking, but you won’t be here too much longer. Nor will she, you’d suspect. Even so, you’ll see her out of this rut first…

“What are you doing?” Yvetta demands, her voice going a bit shrill as she scrambles to pull the sheets higher. You’d just barged into her room around mid-morning. She was taking far too long to wake.

“Where’s the coin?” you ask.

“Under the—what do you need it for? If you don’t start talking I’ll scream,” she tries.

“And give me a witness to my reasonable conduct? We’ve a client to see. Wear something… warm? It’s scandalous, the way you dress,” you add before shutting the door to a frustrated growl.

>>4623977
“What client is this?” Yvetta asks as you step out into the messy streets.

“My brother. I hate this. My toes are already going numb,” you complain. The street is muddy where the sun shines, but the ground still crunches with ice in the shade.

“It’s not that bad. You just need better boots,” she says. Neither of you are exactly well-equipped for the winter season. It’s fairly mild this far south, but it does come with the occasional cold fronts and sleeting rains. “Your brother the knight? How could he be a client? Has he the coin to buy your spirit potions?”

“Hmm. I’m not entirely sure how making his cock hard would help in the joust. Unless he were trying to frighten his opponent? That would be a sight…”

“That’s what you were brewing? You said, ‘raise the spirit,’” she says.

“Right. It should do that… I’m just not quite sure what exactly raising the spirit means in this context… aside from the cock part. That was clear,” you glance back at her. How would that work with a woman? Would it have no effect? Engorge the nipples? Cause her to sprout hairs? “I’ll admit, I’ve not had the chance to study it closely. The root is rare this far west. I only know of it from an old maester who lectured on it as a miracle root. He brought some in and demonstrated the distilling process. Said he couldn’t get hard without it… went on a bit too much about that part, really,” you explain.

“I thought maesters swore to be chaste?”

“Just so. And knights swear to protect the weak and to bathe regularly… or something about cleanliness. What are they to do? Take the man’s chain away because he frequents the dockside a few nights a moon? Wasteful… why am I explaining this to you? This is more your sort of alley than mine,” you point out.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“… nothing.”

“Tristan.” You turn. She doesn’t often use your name. And she’s lagging a bit, still acting glum. “Why did you leave the Citadel?”

Why did you do it? Several reasons or excuses come to mind, but one does sort of stick out to you.

>You just weren’t keen on being a servant for the rest of your life. You wanted to make your own path. [Rogue]
>Advising a single family on what they should already know sounded like an exceptionally tedious and inefficient distraction from your research. [Alchemist]
>You’ve been gifted with the ability to improve the lives of many. It would’ve been irresponsible to limit yourself to the whims of a single family. [Healer]
>Something else.

More tomorrow at the same time. Thanks for playing!

>>4623980
>>You just weren’t keen on being a servant for the rest of your life. You wanted to make your own path. [Rogue]

>>4623980
>>You just weren’t keen on being a servant for the rest of your life. You wanted to make your own path. [Rogue]

>>4623980
>>You just weren’t keen on being a servant for the rest of your life. You wanted to make your own path. [Rogue]

>>4623980
>>Advising a single family on what they should already know sounded like an exceptionally tedious and inefficient distraction from your research. [Alchemist]

>>4623980
>>4623980
>>Advising a single family ... [Alchemist]

>>4623980
>You’ve been gifted with the ability to improve the lives of many. It would’ve been irresponsible to limit yourself to the whims of a single family. [Healer]

>>4623980
Coin, coin and more coin. No coin for the maester.

>You just weren’t keen on being a servant for the rest of your life. You wanted to make your own path. [Rogue]

>>4623980
Too cool for Citadel school

>>4623980
>Advising a single family on what they should already know sounded like an exceptionally tedious and inefficient distraction from your research. [Alchemist]

Just a heads up, this is looking like a late night or early morning update. Busy today.

>>4623980
>You just weren’t keen on being a servant for the rest of your life. You wanted to make your own path. [Rogue]
Besides there's plenty of research to be done!

File: Ser Terrence Flowers.jpg (36 KB, 464x761)

36 KB JPG

“Hmm. Well, I was forging a chain…” you say, then go back to walking.

“What sort of answer is that?” she says while she hurries to catch up.

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s a chain. It’s symbolic. A life of servitude, self-inflicted even. Now I’ll grant there are some who’d say that’s just a farce, that the Citadel still holds too much power, but I don’t buy it. Those old maesters can bluster all they want about their influence. Any lord can come up to them and scold them like children and they’ve no answer but to bow their heads.”

“How’s that any different from how you are now?” she points out.

“It’s not. But I can make my own path. Move around as I please… mostly. Suppose there’s some tolls and such to pay…” you start to frown.

“And you can wed who you please… oh! Wait…” she smirks.

“Right, right. I suppose that’s fair. But I did sort’ve choose to not choose,” you say.

“Just like a maester. You’ve come far, Tris. Good on you,” she slaps your back and quickens her step, letting out that awful cackling laugh of hers.

“I’ll go where I please after the wedding!” you call out. She doesn’t even know where she is going. You never told her.

“You won’t! You’ve shoes to sell! Weren’t you listening?” she grins.

Right, House Cordwayner. That was the one. A bit on the nose with the shoes. They’re an older house too, you think. Strange how that works. Did they make the finest pair of boots some Gardener King had ever seen and get ennobled for it? That’s either the most or least impressive tale you’ve ever imagined. Doesn’t much matter. You can’t exactly boast of any better origins. You just hope they don’t stick you with someone awful for being a bastard. Seems like a bad way to start an alliance, though. Perhaps it depends on if you’re considered better or worse than just wedding a rich merchant? You’ll need to ask about that.

“Which way?” Yvetta interrupts your brooding.

“North… ish.”

“You don’t know where you’re going?”

“I do so. He’ll be at one of those cheap inns by the gates with the stables.”

“One of? There could be a score of them!” she huffs.

“Then you’d best be on your way!” you shoo her forward.

>>4626068
It does end up taking you several hours to track him down. You’d say a score of inns was an exaggeration, but the masses of tourney knights gathering for the event didn’t help matters. Oddly enough, you’d spotted your brother’s favored horse before you’d spotted him. It’s a fine red coated destrier of the Riverlands, a gift from his sponsor. He’d shown it off once nearly three years ago, the last time you saw him. As for Terrence himself…

“By the gods you look like shit,” you marvel after waving him over from the stables.

“Tris! What—how? I thought you were on a voyage across the sea,” he says. Right, he doesn’t know about the whole smuggling part. You’re not sure where he’d stand on that. He’s a bit more of an idealist than your father. At least he seems in good enough spirits despite his appearance. You’d say your father undersold it if anything. His armor is definitely second-hand and not so gently used. He also—

“This is your brother? He smells like the stables,” Yvetta comments. He does.

“I am sorry if I offend, milady…”

“Yvetta. And not a lady. Well, not a highborn. She has the right parts,” you add, earning an elbow for your troubles.

“Ah. I was not aware you took a… wife?” Terrence tries.

“Not yet. I’m betrothed. Or I’m going to be betrothed. Not to her. She’s a friend,” you say.

“A business partner. Right now, our business is you,” she tells your brother.

“Me?”

“You. You’re not jousting in that. Even I know that’s stupid. We’re taking you to a smith,” Yvetta say.

“This armor has not failed me yet. I assure you—”

“You’re going or your mother will hear of it. She likes me. We have some coin. You’re paying us back after you do your ransomings,” she keeps going on… “and some new clothes too. Something with your colors. You knights like your colors.”

“I need to at least see to my horse first,” Terrence finally relents, sufficiently cowed by the endless nagging. He goes back into the stables. You hear a splash of water and some light conversation. Odd, he’s the only person there.

>>4626070
“He’s talking to the horse,” Yvetta mutters in disbelief. “Now I’m sure he’s your kin.”

“He’s always had a way with animals. He’s quite normal aside,” you shrug.

Terrence comes out with water dripping from his hair but with a bit less dirt on his face. Still smells like the stables…

“Wait. Are you sleeping in there?” Yvetta asks.

“A room in an inn right now costs more than I could ever be comfortable with. The stables are still affordable, and this way I can stop any thieves from stealing my horse,” Terrence says.

“It’s winter,” she needlessly states.

“It is. I have dealt with worse. I had thought to stay at the tavern, but I cannot bring a horse there. This suits my needs. If we are done here?” Terrence keeps walking to towards the markets.

“I need to see about the price of this armor first, then we can see about getting him some clothes fit for the living to wear,” Yvetta says while you both catch up to Terrence.

“Who made you in charge today?” you grumble.

“I’ve seen you haggle. I could bear it if you want to get a head start with a seamstress, but I’m handling the armor,” she says.

>You’ll just run errands together. You want to catch up with Terrence. [Healer]
>You’ll show her haggling. You’re going to the seamstress while she deals with the armor. [Rogue]
>It seems there is a decent chance you’re going to be betrothed to a lady of House Cordwayner. They should have business in the city. You needed a new pair of boots anyway. If you’re going to forced to shop for something that’s not related to your work, then you’ll do it while learning something. [Alchemist]
>Something else.

>>4626072
>>You’ll just run errands together. You want to catch up with Terrence. [Healer]

>>4626072
>>You’ll show her haggling. You’re going to the seamstress while she deals with the armor. [Rogue]

>>4626072
>It seems there is a decent chance you’re going to be betrothed to a lady of House Cordwayner. They should have business in the city. You needed a new pair of boots anyway. If you’re going to forced to shop for something that’s not related to your work, then you’ll do it while learning something. [Alchemist]

>>4626072
>>You’ll just run errands together. You want to catch up with Terrence. [Healer]

>>4626072
Glad to see you back, Boggs!

>You’ll just run errands together. You want to catch up with Terrence. [Healer]
Looking forward to juicing up our little brother. Inb4 we roll low on Bo1 and indeed scare his opponents off with a boner.

>>4626068
Indeed, exchanging one chain for another? Tristan hasn't thought this through well. Hopefully the decision to marry isn't 100% set in stone yet.

>You’ll just run errands together. You want to catch up with Terrence. [Healer]

>>4626224
>Indeed, exchanging one chain for another? Tristan hasn't thought this through well. Hopefully the decision to marry isn't 100% set in stone yet.
Betrothals can be broken, though it would probably be considered poor form to do so, considering our station.

>You’ll show her haggling. You’re going to the seamstress while she deals with the armor. [Rogue]

>It seems there is a decent chance you’re going to be betrothed to a lady of House Cordwayner. They should have business in the city. You needed a new pair of boots anyway. If you’re going to forced to shop for something that’s not related to your work, then you’ll do it while learning something. [Alchemist]
I kinda want to see if we can talk to father and escape the marriage atleast so we can do our fun, I don't know why anons wanted to marry someone this early in the quest

File: 1200px-House_Bracken.svg.png (165 KB, 1200x1320)

165 KB PNG

You ultimately decide to stick together. If Yvetta is so keen on doing all the work, then you’ll take the chance to catch up with your brother. You’ve little more than an inkling as to where he’s been since last spring.

“The Riverlands, mostly near the Trident,” he says when you voice the question.

“That far? It’s not as if there’s a shortage of work closer to home,” you point out. The Reach has always been relatively peaceful, but you’ve heard stirrings that there are more robber knights about than the usual. Mostly likely a group or three of bored second and third sons with no wars to fight and die in.

“I owe a great debt to my sponsor. I aimed to repay it, at least in part,” Terrence says, a bit too solemnly for your taste.

“Killed some Blackwoods, then?” you smile. His sponsor was a knight of House Bracken.

“A peace has taken hold. You shouldn’t jest of such things, brother,” he chides.

“Then what?” you press on.

“Rooting out banditry. Many a misguided man has been emboldened by this Brotherhood plaguing the Kingswood,” he explains.

“The Kingswood? Sounds like the King’s problem,” you shrug. The subject really isn’t your cup of tea.

“It is.”

…

…

“So, what else?” you finally break the hanging silence. Gods, he’s difficult to converse with. “What of your armor and such? Did you make no coin in your travels?”

Terrence grimaces. “Some, brother. I… lost it.”

“Bandits?”

“Some may say so… it was over a duel.”

“You dueled a bandit? Sounds like a reasonable bandit,” you say.

“No… not quite. It was another knight. In the Riverlands. We dueled over a woman,” he admits.

You very nearly trip. He’s completely shamefaced. He’s serious. “You? I mean, I didn’t take you for the… sort?”

“It was a folly… it was against another knight of better birth and more experience than I. He was courting one of Lord Bracken’s daughters and proclaimed her the fairest maiden by strength of arm,” he explains.

“So, you thought to claim her instead,” you finish.

>>4627121
“No. The Lady Bracken is indeed fair, but I did not feel compelled to intervene until the knight made choice remarks besmirching the beauty of Lady Bracken’s cousins,” Terrence sighs.

“Ah. Your sponsor’s daughter?”

“The very same. Honor compelled me to challenge him. The Seven favored him and I fell. I had the coin to ransom my horse, but I could not afford to also ransom old armor. I left Stone Hedge for home from there.”

You muster up a few conciliatory words, but it is a bit off-putting that he lost a joust to some Riverlander. Apparently, that’s the end of his tale. That or he’s just brooding. You continue on browsing the wares of a few different smiths. You can’t afford to be choosy… but you have to. There’s not enough time for a freshly forged set of plate. You need something close to Terrence’s size that can be adjusted.

“Brother?” he finally asks while Yvetta is arguing with yet another smith. Terrence seemed to favor this one. “Where have you been all this time?”

“Sailing, mostly.”

“I expected that, but where? I must admit, I was surprised to see you with a purse of gold and silver,” he points out.

“Ah, that…” Thankfully, Yvetta takes the moment to wave you over, looking more than a little exasperated.

“As I was telling your wench, I know what’ve got here. Few days an’ there’ll be a heap’ve hedgies this way look’n for new steel, winner an’ loser both. I told your wench the price. I’d be generous to knock off four hundred for those scraps Ser’s wearing,” the smith says.

“We’d still be short two hundred stags,” Yvetta adds.

“I’d not take that much off even for a go with the wench,” the smith snorts.

>Try bartering. Maybe you could sell him one of your potions. [Alchemist]
>Perhaps it would be best to just settle for improving on whatever bits of armor need to be improved. [Healer]
>See if you can get Terrence to do something knightly. The smith did slight Yvetta’s honor, you think. Doesn’t that mean a knight can intimidate him? [Rogue]
>Something else.

>>4626224
>>4626350
>>4627120

You'll have the opportunity to back out if you want.

>>4627123
>>Try bartering. Maybe you could sell him one of your potions. [Alchemist]

>>4627123

I don't know if this is typical of the setting, but would the smith be willing to bargain on the promise of paying back extra assuming Terrence gets some wins? Something like 300 stags as a bonus for the good faith.

To clarify I'm suggesting we try to get the armor at the current price and pay the smith back 500 stags after the events.

>Try bartering. Maybe you could sell him one of your potions. [Alchemist]

The potions could be held as collateral.

Though maybe it would be better just to try to get him to take the potions now... what do other anons think?

>Try bartering. Maybe you could sell him one of your potions. [Alchemist]

>>4627123
>>Try bartering. Maybe you could sell him one of your potions. [Alchemist]
>>4627123

>>4627123
>Try bartering. Maybe you could sell him one of your potions. [Alchemist]
Play on any appearance flaws (or invent one!) of the smith and sell him a miracle solution.

>>4627123
>>Try bartering. Maybe you could sell him one of your potions. [Alchemist]

Honestly I'd have preferred our little bro show some steel but I don't see it happening against 5 other votes.

>>4627538
The guy seems the honourable sort (like Ned Stark). Probably not a good idea to force him to scare someone into selling cheaper to him.

>>4627540
Would he understand that he is doing it to lower the price or he was only defending a lady's honor?

>>4627123
>>Try bartering. Maybe you could sell him one of your potions. [Alchemist]

>>4627158
With collateral backing it up, sure.

Alright, I don't think there's going to be a sudden swing at this point.

>Can I please get 1 roll of 3d6 to Convince the smith you're not bullshitting him with the potion

Rolled 2, 1, 6 = 9 (3d6)

>>4628007
Actual thing that does things!

>>4628020
>8 vs DC 10, Failed.

You could spend your Destiny Point to activate an environmental quality that I have in mind which would let you succeed the roll with a catch. Otherwise, you could add a bonus die to the roll, meaning a roll of 4 or higher would let you succeed. Or just take the failure. Up to you guys.

If you decide to spend, you will be able to use the Destiny Point again as soon as the tourney concludes.

>Spend Destiny point to succeed on a roll of 4+ on 1d6
>Spend Destiny Point to succeed (with an unknown catch)
>Don't spend, take the failure

I'm going to leave this open until 6pm EST, a little over 2 hours from now.

>>4628040
>Spend Destiny Point to succeed (with an unknown catch)
I think Tristan would like to give his brother the chance at the tourney.

>>4628040
>>Spend Destiny point to succeed on a roll of 4+ on 1d6

>>4628040
>>Spend Destiny Point to succeed (with an unknown catch)
Catches make things more fun.

>>4628040
>>Spend Destiny Point to succeed (with an unknown catch)

>>4628040

>Spend Destiny Point to succeed (with an unknown catch)

>>4628040
>>Don't spend, take the failure

Writing for spending with a catch.

File: Alchemist Link Color.jpg (102 KB, 800x800)

102 KB JPG

That’s fair. Two hundred stags for one lay would be criminal unless she’s a maiden… and you have your doubts on that.

“How about a trade?” you propose, retrieving a stoppered vial of your vitality potion from your belt. “This is worth more than the difference to the right buyer.”

“Yeah? Looks like rusty water to me,” the smith says, peering at the vial.

“Hmm. It does…” you agree.

“You’ve lost me, lad” he chuckles. You hear Yvetta hiss your name as if that will do some good.

“It’s not, though,” you hastily add. “It’s a vitality potion.”

“A wot?”

“Vitality. It raises the spirit among other things. Should fetch a high price to the right buyer,” you explain.

“Aye, lad. Aye. Course it would. Which one’ve you are caring for this’un?” he addresses your brother and Yvetta instead.

“You’ve never met an alchemist before?” you ask the smith, trying to sound more serious. Your hand brushes by your belt. An old habit. You looped your links through it on a whim once and just left them that way. Your links…

You quickly undo your belt and pull off a link of green gold, holding it up triumphantly while everyone is still gawking at you nearly dropping your trousers on a public street.

“Seen one of these before?” you smile.

“Better not be talking of your cock, lad,” the smith frowns. He squints at the link. You hand it over. He rubs at it with his thumb and scratches at it.

“Seven fucking Hells it’s real,” he mutters.

“Oy! Harston! ‘mere and see this. Alchemists’ Gold,” he calls to another smith.

The green gold links are awarded to acolytes for achievements in alchemy. The forging is symbolic of the similarities and differences of the maesters’ art from that of the Guild of the capital. The recipe for the forging is shrouded in secrecy just as the Guild shrouds their arts in secrecy and mysticism, but the process is explained to the aspiring alchemy maesters to show that the art’s future is in methodical knowledge rather than cheap tricks and mysticism. But to a city smith? It’s likely still seen as a spell.

The two smiths confer over it, bouncing ideas off each other on how to get the color before your smith, Larson, finally turns back to you.

“Right, I’ll take the potion and the scraps for the difference. Not every day I see the like,” he agrees. He hands you back the link and spits in his palm before giving your hand a rough shake. You try not to look too disgusted.

While Yvetta is handing over the coin and Terrence is getting sized up by an apprentice, you see to your belt. Always nice to have someone recognize your craft. But Larson wasn’t the only one who recognized you…

“I know you…”

You’re still fumbling with your belt when you turn to the voice. Your smile fades. At least she looks as surprised as you are. For a moment, you think she’s going to drop her bottle of perfume. That would be an awful waste of good glass.

File: Lady Aemelia Clawwater.jpg (26 KB, 360x450)

26 KB JPG

>>4628592
“Ah,” you greet. Eyes of maester’s ink and that silk accent. Lady Aemelia Clawwater. Her uncle was the Lord Clawwater. Her father was a knight. He had a hand in the smuggling…

She ushers you around the corner while the others are distracted. “You’re Bluewaters. You’re supposed to be dead.”

“I am?” you try.

“I saw your head tarred on a pike just this morrow, yet here you are,” Lady Aemelia states, still staring at you closely. You’re not sure if it’s her words or the way she delivers them, but you’re suddenly feeling the winter chill.

“Here I am. It’s Tristan, though. Not sure about a Bluewaters. Odd name, that,” you say.

“Too true,” she deadpans. “You serve House Clawwater. That means you serve me.”

“Do I now? I don’t recall ever—”

“You do. Blue—” she raises her voice. You cover her mouth with a hand in a panic. She doesn’t even try to remove it. She just keeps staring at you.

“Are you finished,” she says when you lower the hand.

“Are you?”

“They are going to separate us all,” she continues.

“Us? Your cousins?”

“Yes. I will not find myself in a tower surrounded by pigs. Two legged and four legged both. You are to get me out of here,” she says.

“How?”

“You have a knack for disappearing acts. Make Lys your next act. I need to catch up to the others. You will find me at the tourney,” she turns and leaves without another word…

“Where’ve you been?” Yvetta asks.

“Around the corner…”

Lys…

You mull it over while Terrence is getting dragged around the seamstress’s shop. Is that the accent? Her mother, perhaps? Lady Aemelia has the Clawwater coloring, but don’t they all? Do you go along with her or not? You’re not entirely sure if this an opportunity or a pitfall. You’ll have to decide, though…

>It seems to you that there are a lot of people that want to choose your path for you. You’re going to bend this one to your own designs. Seek out your father and see what can be done to turn this to your advantage. [Rogue]
>You’re just going to ignore this one. What’s the worst that can happen? She doesn’t know too much about you. [Alchemist]
>You’ll go along with this as best as you are able. That would cause the least upset all around. Meet her at the tourney as she said. [Healer]
>Something else.

>>4628595
>>You’ll go along with this as best as you are able. That would cause the least upset all around. Meet her at the tourney as she said. [Healer]

>>4628595
>You’ll go along with this as best as you are able. That would cause the least upset all around. Meet her at the tourney as she said. [Healer]
I've no idea what's going on. And that's another pic of my potential characters stolen, you thieving bastard. Are you lifting them directly from my system, now? REEEEE

>You’re just going to ignore this one. What’s the worst that can happen? She doesn’t know too much about you. [Alchemist]

>>4628618
Her spotting you was the "catch"

We briefly touched on it in the first couple posts. Her House was responsible for the smuggling ring. The men are all dead or have taken the Black. The ladies are set to be married off, etc. Pinterest is a wonderful thing.

>>4628595
>It seems to you that there are a lot of people that want to choose your path for you. You’re going to bend this one to your own designs. Seek out your father and see what can be done to turn this to your advantage. [Rogue]

Chomp.

>It seems to you that there are a lot of people that want to choose your path for you. You’re going to bend this one to your own designs. Seek out your father and see what can be done to turn this to your advantage. [Rogue]

>>4628595
>>It seems to you that there are a lot of people that want to choose your path for you. You’re going to bend this one to your own designs. Seek out your father and see what can be done to turn this to your advantage. [Rogue]

>>4628595
>It seems to you that there are a lot of people that want to choose your path for you. You’re going to bend this one to your own designs. Seek out your father and see what can be done to turn this to your advantage. [Rogue]

>>4628618
damn dude, you better start writing before all the pics are gone.

>It seems to you that there are a lot of people that want to choose your path for you. You’re going to bend this one to your own designs. Seek out your father and see what can be done to turn this to your advantage. [Rogue]

>>4629386
It'll never happen. All talk no Microsoft Word

>>4628595
>It seems to you that there are a lot of people that want to choose your path for you. You’re going to bend this one to your own designs. Seek out your father and see what can be done to turn this to your advantage. [Rogue]

>>4629500
>It'll never happen. All talk no Microsoft Word
I did run the Smallfolk quest (Season Unending), though. Somehow we've avoided clashing the character portraits so far. I want to run something else, one-shot or maybe something bigger, but lacking for ideas (and time) currently.

>>4629549
Run a Golden Company invasion.

>>4629549
I have probably a dozen general ideas that I'm never going to use if you want some. I can drop a few generalizations here or give them to you on twitter if you don't want to run the risk of spoiling details.

>>4629549
Well I stand corrected. I quite liked that quest. Well done.

If you want some inspiration, how about a bannerman of either the Blackwoods or Brackens set during the corrupt reign of King Aegon the Fourth. Nothing like a good blood feud to get the action started

>>4629571
Sounds interesting, but I'd have to do a lot of work on handling armies and the intrigue involved with taking on the entire seven kingdoms. The Chronicle system is barely enough to resolve small-scale conflicts, it won't work for a true war. I've seen some quests (not on /qst/) do it with 1d100 rolls with some modifiers to resolve conflicts. So if you're the Golden Company and attacking during Robert's reign, he'll roll a 1d100-20 with DC 60 to see if Dorne supports him. Maybe it could work, maybe not. Interesting to think about when I have time, nonetheless.

>>4629600
If I'm not derailing your thread too much (sorry for that by the way) sure. I can't seem to find the DM button on Twitter (not sure how it works).

>>4629682
Haha, that's a good idea.

>>4628595
>>It seems to you that there are a lot of people that want to choose your path for you. You’re going to bend this one to your own designs. Seek out your father and see what can be done to turn this to your advantage. [Rogue]
I have no idea what's happening

>>4629789
Read this -> >>4628658

>>4629732
>If I'm not derailing your thread too much (sorry for that by the way)
I don't care if no one else is bothered. It's not like we're going to fall off the board any faster for it. I'd probably rather have it in the general if we were shooting around ideas about an anime isekai in space quest, but this is just discussion related to the genre.

I'll drop some ideas tomorrow when I have more time to type them out. I don't keep notes on anything.

>>4629789
I probably should've put in a few more lines refreshing that she was from the backstory house. Sorry about that.

If anyone is curious and didn't already know, House Clawwater is a reference to the old House Karban quest from... really? 2012? Where did the time go? I wasn't looking to directly include characters from that quest (Aemelia isn't featured there), but I liked the idea of giving it a nod since it's what got me into questing in the first place. Archive is here for those looking for something to read: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Game%20of%20Thrones%20Quest

File: Aemelia Clawwater Realistic.jpg (95 KB, 564x846)

95 KB JPG

“Tristan, let’s go,” Yvetta calls out in the midst of your brooding. They must be done with the seamstress. You’re not in the mood to follow along right now.

“No. Go without me,” you tell her.

“What’s with the—” you don’t let her finish, taking to the street instead.

You’re getting tired of dancing to everyone else’s tune. You spent your best years doing menial tasks for maesters by day and studying by candlelight at night. You then found yourself sucked into the whims of a cocksure smuggler captain. How many times did you broach the subject of cataloging the herbs of the Summer Islands to the response of, “another season, friend.” How many times did you desire to seek out true masters of your craft in strange ports only to be told to stay with the ship in case there was trouble? “You’re reliable,” Roland would tell you. Opportunity comes at last for a clean break and what happens? Yvetta seemingly tries to claim ownership over you. Your parents scheme to see you wed to someone… responsible. Now you have a lady of an attainted line, silky voice or not, presuming to give you orders.

It’s time to make your own path.

You rap on the manse’s gate with the flower shaped knocker. A guard strolls over from one side of the thick hedge surrounding the manse itself. “State purpose,” he lazily demands, shifting from one foot to another.

“I’ve business with Ser Terrence Cuy,” you tell him.

“Who’re you, then?” the guard asks, barely stifling a yawn.

“His son.”

You’re forced to wait several minutes while the guard walks back to the manse. Eventually, he returns with your father, who looks as if he hasn’t slept in some time.

“Tris? What’re you doing here?” your father asks, still buttoning up his doublet.

“I’ve an important matter you will want to know of. A private matter,” you say.

His frown only deepens. “Come along, then. You’ll need to be quick about it. I expect your uncle will be here in the next couple hours.”

He leads you through the gardens to the two-story structure. There are probably some nobles with larger holdings in the city, but this one is nonetheless impressive with its collection of marble statues and sprawling gardens. You’d like to see it all in fairer weather. The view is bittersweet, though. A reminder of what you couldn’t have in your youth. You’ve only been here once before, and your mother has never been allowed entry. Apparently, your late lord grandfather made your father swear to it upon his deathbed. Your father’s support of your mother caused great strain upon his relationship with his own father. Luckily, your lord uncle doesn’t seem to give a fig one way or the other.

>>4629985
“Right, what happened? You catch word you’re dead or something?” he says, motioning for you to take a seat by the hearth. You can already feel the needle pricks in your hands from the warmth.

“I did… are you well?” you ask.

“Just need to catch up on some sleep. Had a busy night. Me and the lads scooped up a known smuggler and planted his head on a pike at the High Tower. There’s your Bluewaters, dead man,” he snorts.

“A known smuggler? And you just knew where to find him?” you ask.

“Course. Half the scum loitering round the docks at night are known smugglers. Do you think we’re keen on catching them all? Half the wenches and little ones of the district would be out with begging bowls and the other half would be down at the market cutting purses. But if an example needs to be made…” he shrugs. “Not the first time I’ve done it and it won’t be the last.”

“Well… my thanks?”

“Don’t mention it. Truly, don’t,” he tells you.

“I was recognized earlier by a lady of House Clawwater,” you admit.

“How’d you manage that?” he sighs, sinking deeper into his chair.

“I was bartering at the market for Terrence’s armor and she took notice. She called on me to take her to Lys,” you explain.

“And she recognized you? Did anyone else see this?”

“No. Terrence doesn’t know either.”

“Lys… why bloody Lys? Does she want for a pillow house?” he grumbles.

“Hmm. I think her mother may hail from there. Her father was Ser Hector Clawwater,” you say.

“Ah. I remember him. Died fighting when we moved on the ring this side of the channel. Nasty fucker, he was. Someone else must’ve seized the womenfolk. Do you have a name?” he asks.

“Lady Aemelia. I’ve seen her in passing before. She came with her father to a couple of meetings,” you say.

“Surprised the man let his daughter around your lot… though I’d know if he had a son, so I suppose there’s something practical to it. You think the ring had connections with Lys?” he asks.

“It’s hard to say… I was largely kept in the dark. Ships from Essos did pick up drops on occasion…”

“Hmm. You did well, bringing this to me. This Lady Aemelia… how old is she? Is she wed?”

“Twenty? Thereabouts. She’s unwed, complained about a plan to see her and her cousins carted off to some tower or another,” you say.

>>4629991
Your father sits in silence for some time, staring into the crackling hearth. “She’s a walking liability. If she finds out who you are, then she will have leverage over this House. Doesn’t matter where she goes. Family in Lys could use it to disrupt our wine trade before it takes off. Make us look like more than friendly competitors to the Arbor.”

“Seems like a stretch,” you say.

“Doesn’t need to be proven, just needs to be voiced. You don’t know how these circles think, Tristan. Everything is about appearances. You would do well to learn that… if she stays here, then we’re set up for some up jumped hedge knight she’s stuck with to come knocking demanding favor for silence. Or going to a rival… I cannot allow that.”

“What will you do?”

“I will have her taken here under guard. Her mother too if she is still about… fucking Hells, my brother is coming… alright…” he runs a hand through his beard. “They are the Lysene connection.”

“They may be…”

“No. Listen to what I’m telling you. They are, even if they’re not. Lord Benifer will need to hear that if he’s to take this seriously. You will wed this Aemelia. Bind her fate to yours and she’ll keep her mouth shut if she has a single wit. Both of you will go to Lys and establish legitimate trade with your lord uncle’s wine. With her mother’s family or someone else’s, I care not. With the Arbor Gold cut off, someone there should be getting thirsty right about now.”

“I don’t think she will like this. And what of House Cordwayner?”

“Your mother told you already? Hmph. We have terms for the leather and marble already worked out. Lord Benifer wanted to sweeten the deal to help move his wine, but this works out just as well. And I don’t bloody care if she likes it or not. This is better than she deserves. Give it some time and you’ll be making a lot more coin than some knight counting sheep from a towerhouse.”

>You’re satisfied with this plan. You like that it came about from your own initiative. [Rogue]
>You’d rather pose the choice to Lady Aemelia first. [Healer]
>You’d rather wed the House Cordwayner lady if that’s still possible. [Alchemist]
>Something else.

How old is the MC again? The character sheet doesn't say. Also, damn, all the marriage decisions so soon.. I'll read the thread again before voting.

>>4629994
>>You’d rather wed the House Cordwayner lady if that’s still possible. [Alchemist]
She seems rather kooky desu

Just feels weird that we're choosing between a lady we haven't met and a lady who's talked to us exactly once, that too lording over us as a servant.

>>4630070
Welcome to the life of a medieval noble

>>4630040
23 would fit with the backstory I've put in so far, so I'll stick with that.

>>4630040
>>4630070
Arranged match won the vote.

Which suits me just fine. The purpose of the quest was meant to be exploratory and mercantile in nature with gaining alchemical knowledge as a driving motivation for the MC. Once the decision was made to do so through legitimate means, a political and/or economic marriage became the most reasonable means to get you out into the world.

>>4630087
Alright, that makes sense. I'm not complaining at all, btw, I just want to make an informed decision. And unfortunately we have very little information to go on right now. If we take the wine business, will we still be able to pursue our alchemy on the side? I'd imagine we would have less time to do it compared to the Cordwayner marriage.

>>4629994
>You’re satisfied with this plan. You like that it came about from your own initiative. [Rogue]

>>4629994
>>You’re satisfied with this plan. You like that it came about from your own initiative. [Rogue]

>>4630097
>If we take the wine business, will we still be able to pursue our alchemy on the side? I'd imagine we would have less time to do it compared to the Cordwayner marriage.

Both marriages lead to you on the water. It's mentioned here for Cordwayner: >>4622796 >>4622801


Perfecting/exploring alchemy and the healing arts is going to be the main focus either way. Aside from making some deals at the ports you visit, I don't expect the wine trading to take up much of your time at all. It's just a solid IC reason for you to travel and perfect your craft. Lys, for example, is known for its alchemists specializing in the more advanced poisons of the setting. That, and there is some crossover with perfumes. Aemelia may know a thing or two about the latter as seen here >>4628592

>>4630110
Damn, somehow I forgot about that bit. That's why I wanted to read the quest again before voting, I have the memory of a goldfish. Sorry for the bother. And damn, how has no one made the connection between Benifer Cuy making his own wine as a family legacy and Aurion doing the same with his special Rum yet?!

>>4629994
>You’re satisfied with this plan. You like that it came about from your own initiative. [Rogue]

>You’re satisfied with this plan. You like that it came about from your own initiative. [Rogue]

>>4629994

>You’re satisfied with this plan. You like that it came about from your own initiative. [Rogue]

>You’re satisfied with this plan. You like that it came about from your own initiative. [Rogue]

When will we drink too much 'vitality potion' and have to call in Yvetta panicking that our manhood hasn't gone down for hours xd

>>4629994
I am not satisfied with this plan, why don’t we hire a Faceless Man?

>>4630995
Who do you think you are, a Hightower?

>>4631115
I’m the son of a man who has trading relations to Lys. One more sail and I’m in Braavos. Lady Aemilia is probably not the person she claims to be. Even if she is, her assassination wouldn’t fetch a high payment.

>>4631191
Lys and Braavos are pretty distant from each other (other side of the continent) and a faceless man is going to be very expensive, no matter who the target is.

>>4631191
Even King Robert was concerned about the cost of hiring a Faceless Man to assassinate the Targaryens.

Although you do have something there. What's stopping our father from just straight up murdering her and calling it collateral damage or staging it as a mugging gone wrong, Boggs? Is he too honourable for that?

>>4631231
>What's stopping our father from just straight up murdering her and calling it collateral damage or staging it as a mugging gone wrong, Boggs? Is he too honourable for that?

A lifetime of social conditioning, mostly. Would he do it if he felt he had absolutely no other choice? Probably. But as it stands, there are cleaner options on the table that solve other problems for him at the same time. From his perspective, marrying enemies to make them into allies is practically tradition.

>>4631231
We could just poison her easily ourselves. We're an alchemist, we can make untraceable poisons.

>>4630995
>>4631191
Is this bait? It's coming out of nowhere and the faceless man thing makes no sense

>>4631333
With what ingredients

I don't get the sudden shift to murderhoboing if it's not shitposting.

File: poisoner.jpg (43 KB, 564x564)

43 KB JPG

“I do like the sound of that. You know, Lys has quite the reputation for alchemy—”

“Aye, I’ve heard of Tears of Lys,” your father cuts in. “Bloody poisoners.”

“The difference between a poison and a medicine is usually just the dosage,” you say.

“Huh… so you’ll wed her or not?”

“I will. I’ve at least had a look at her. Granted, it wasn’t the most pleasant conversation…”

“That comes with time. If she’s too much a bother after your first voyage, then leave her behind before your next one. She can braid someone’s hair at Sunhouse,” he barks out a laugh at his own jest.

“So… how does this work?” you ask. You really don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing.

“How does what work?”

“This…” you absentmindedly wave your hand through the air. “This wedding business. What am I supposed to do?”

“They don’t teach you where to put it at the Citadel?”

“Strictly speaking… I think it was covered… but I was more concerned with the timing?”

“Hmm. She’ll be taken here immediately. She wanted to catch ship with the tourney going on, did she not? I’ll not risk her getting any other flighty notions. Past that, I couldn’t give a fig so long as it’s settled in the next few days. Hells, I could have this done with tonight if you’re keen to get on with it. This city doesn’t lack for septs and septons. It’s not as if we’re to host a feast over it.”

“Mother might like to see it, right?” you ponder.

“Right… Hells she’s ripe to be weepy either way. Still doesn’t need to be made into a big affair for what it is. If you want to stay here a while longer and settle all this up with your lord uncle first, then your mother can meet us at a sept this evening. He’ll want to discuss routes and goods at the least. Elsewise, I want you at the opening events for this tourney the day after next. We have a box set aside.”

>You’re fine with getting all this over with now. Less chances for trouble that way. Wait here for Lady Aemlia to arrive. [Alchemist]
>You think it’s fair to at least give everyone a couple of days to prepare for this. You’ll leave now and meet up with your noble family members at the tourney. [Healer]
>Well, you’d like a feast all the same. Try to delay for longer. [Rogue]
>Something else.

>>4631545
>>You’re fine with getting all this over with now. Less chances for trouble that way. Wait here for Lady Aemlia to arrive. [Alchemist]

Seeing as a marriage will require consummation to really 'bind her fate to ours' as it were, and I can already see her resisting, I'm worried if this will end up in rape...

>>4631599
I'm not writing a rape quest, especially when I came into this one specifically saying I'd go for a comfier vibe.

>You think it’s fair to at least give everyone a couple of days to prepare for this. You’ll leave now and meet up with your noble family members at the tourney. [Healer]

>>4631682
Well marrying a woman on the spot without any regard for her consent, and then consummating that marriage isn't exactly comfy, is it?

>>4631682
To elaborate, Aemelia is a Clawwater. Her word counts for fuck all in the Reach. There is no one that would take her claim seriously if she tried to claim it wasn't consummated, even if she's telling the truth.

>>4631545
>You’re fine with getting all this over with now. Less chances for trouble that way. Wait here for Lady Aemlia to arrive. [Alchemist]

The longer we drag this out, the more likely we will have retards kneejerking causing drama for no reason.

>>4631682
yes, this isn't a rape quest, it's just a revenge quest
on a more serious note forced marriage is not particularly comfy, but whatever, medieval marriage bullshit, I don't particularly mind

>>4631754
>on a more serious note forced marriage is not particularly comfy

Fair point. I wish people would wait to see how things go before jumping to conclusions, but I can see how my perspective can be skewed when I'm going on with a fairly good idea of how the characters will react to the various options.

>>4631545
>>You think it’s fair to at least give everyone a couple of days to prepare for this. You’ll leave now and meet up with your noble family members at the tourney. [Healer]

>>4631545
>You’re fine with getting all this over with now. Less chances for trouble that way. Wait here for Lady Aemlia to arrive. [Alchemist]
>>4631599
Fuck off

>>4631691
She’s climbing up socially, this marriage is a serious hush money

>>4631823
I didn't even think about that. Good point. Do we take her name, though? With the Cordwayner girl we were going to take her name if I'm reading this correctly: >>4621619
>I get the name, she gets my wit, the Houses get their alliance. Everyone profits… that’s it? I needn’t do more?”

Or maybe we were going to be legitimised as a Cuy? I'm not clear.

>>4632470
Also, I agree. Let's get this over with.

>>4631545
>You’re fine with getting all this over with now. Less chances for trouble that way. Wait here for Lady Aemlia to arrive. [Alchemist]

>>4632470
>Or maybe we were going to be legitimised as a Cuy? I'm not clear.
Not unless you curry favor of King’s Landing

>>4632506
So that line meant we would be taking our Cordwayner wife's name, right?

>>4632514
>So that line meant we would be taking our Cordwayner wife's name, right?

I guess that would've been possible, but I don't think House Cordwayner would have been so on-board with it right away. Some may think it would start to tread into that grey area of a bastard pretending to be of legitimate noble birth.

But the context of "I get the name" was for the "Sunflower" write-in idea. Your father stated the house would only support his use of that name if he was doing his part to further the house's trade interests through an arranged marriage.

That doesn't ennoble him, he'd still be a bastard, but it is an honor of sorts because it shows that he is favored by his father's house. And it benefits the house for him to conduct trade on their behalf with some semblance of clout behind him.

>>4632535
>But the context of "I get the name" was for the "Sunflower" write-in idea. Your father stated the house would only support his use of that name if he was doing his part to further the house's trade interests through an arranged marriage.
Makes sense. That logic still holds for marrying Aemilia, right? We can finally be Tristan Sunflowers..

>>4632619
>That logic still holds for marrying Aemilia, right?

Yup.

I'm going to call the vote here so I can chip away at this.

>Can I please get a roll of 2d6 for Charm and a roll of 5d6 for Awareness (Empathy)?

Also, I dropped some quest hooks in the general thread for those interested in that sort of thing.

Rolled 1, 1 = 2 (2d6)

>>4632692

>>4632711
RIP, charming as a clyster tube

Rolled 3, 1 = 4 (2d6)

Rolled 5, 3, 6, 5, 4 = 23 (5d6)

>>4632711
Lmao. Crit-fail.

File: hold the door.jpg (311 KB, 1024x576)

311 KB JPG

>>4632711
I actually have something for this.

And we continue our streak of understanding EXACTLY what is going on inside people's heads, but butchering our responses to it.
Heh.

>>4632711
This is the kind of 1/36 odds I read quests for

Hey, at least with Aemilia being Tristan's wife instead of the Cordwayner girl, we can probably still keep Yvetta around.

Rolled 4, 5, 4, 5, 3 = 21 (5d6)

I'm going to open roll your father's persuasion test here (4D+1b). I think I'm going to do that more often for NPC rolls, including enemies, when it's appropriate. There's little reason not to with best of 1.

File: Oldtown City Watch.jpg (22 KB, 308x400)

22 KB JPG

“Tonight is fine with me, father. I’d sooner get this over with,” you decide.

“Good. A man should face these matters head-on. I will have the Watch collect this Lady Aemelia and bring her here. Until then… Lizbeth didn’t make you this outfit, did she?”

“I bought it myself,” you smile.

“I can tell… right. My steward will see you dressed in something more appropriate,” your father says. You’re soon ushered away by an elderly man who tsks away at your appearance. He eventually finds something near to your size amongst your father’s wardrobes. You don’t quite fill it out, but it’s comfortable enough. The steward then makes a valiant attempt at trimming and taming your hair, muttering to himself all the while.

“Good enough,” your father nods when you’re presented again. It’s not much longer before the manse has more guests. These are of the feminine variety and escorted by a handful of your father’s guardsmen. By the Gods is that her mother?

You recognize Lady Aemelia readily enough… and she you, judging by her confusion giving way to a scowl. As for the other slightly older lady… you can perhaps see some resemblance if you squint hard enough? She looks like a royal portrait given life. That is, if a painter ever had the stones to paint a royal portrait with a look of such poorly contained indignation…

“You are the Lady Aemelia?” your father asks after dismissing the guards.

“I am,” your apparent betrothed responds, eyes still fixed firmly on you.

“And you are…?” he asks the woman with the silver gold hair. He gets no reaction from her. She simply continues to look around the room.

“My mother. Lady Aelesendra. She does not speak your tongue,” Lady Aemelia answers instead. “What is this? Whatever he’s told you, I—”

“She’s of Lys, yes? You’ve family there?” he cuts her off. She decides to stay silent and keep glaring at you instead.

“Fine,” your father says. “Introductions. If you hadn’t already guessed, I am Ser Terrence Cuy. I’m told you’ve already met my son.”

“You are of House Cuy?” Aemelia interrupts, addressing you instead. She looks more surprised than when you saw her in the streets.

“After a fashion?” you answer her.

“You are a bastard,” she realizes.

“This is true. Do I tell her or is this still your part?” you ask your father. He just waves you on, already looking exasperated with the conversation so far.

“Tell me what?”

“We’re going to Lys, but there’s a bit of a complication of sorts. Well, not a complication. It’s simple, really… it’s just that you have to wed me tonight,” you explain while fidgeting with the button on your cuff.

>>4633354
“You cannot seriously…” Lady Aemelia furiously starts. She loses her words when your father simply nods his head... until her mother starts fluttering away in that smooth tongue with a concerned look.

Lady Aemelia distractedly answers her in kind, setting the foreign lady into a fury. She goes into a tirade of… well, you’re not sure what. It’s all in the Lysene tongue. Honestly, this is the most pleasing a rant has ever sounded to your ears. Not knowing what you could possibly say, you just offer her a smile in response. That only sets her off into more of a fury to the point where her daughter is even trying to calm her. She takes a step closer to you. For a moment you think she’s going to strike you, but—

You let out a loud, uncontrolled sneeze that actually startles the irate mother. And another. And another. “Gods what is that horrid stench?” you interrupt, wiping at your eyes and nose with the cuff of your borrowed clothes.

“Perfume,” Lady Aemelia answers when she finally puzzles out what is happening.

“Perfume? Perfume should be pleasant. I have breathed poisonous cauldron fumes less irritating,” you sniff.

“Then you have poor taste. This fragrance is desired all over the—”

“Poor taste? I agreed to wed you,” you say as you wave the offending air from your face.

“You insolent—"

“Enough.”

Everyone turns to your father. “I should throw you two traitors to the Silent Sisters and make you a septon,” he says, pointing at the Clawwaters and you in turn. “You will listen, or you will become the Gods’ problem.”

Lady Aemelia wilts under his glare. She speaks in that silky tongue and her mother also takes a breath to calm herself. “We are listening, ser.”

“Good. Better. You know my son, do you not?”

“I do, ser,” Lady Aemelia answers.

“Then it seems to me, my lady, that you’ve dug yourself into yet another hole. My understanding was the womenfolk of your wretched House knew nothing of the treasons. Now I’m hearing otherwise. Answer my question. Do you have family in Lys or not?”

“We do. My lady mother is of House Morelleon, ser,” she answers.

“Good. Are they of means?” he continues. The two ladies briefly chatter back and forth.

“Somewhat, ser. They trade in perfumes and wines,” Lady Aemelia says.