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Post by WildlingKing on Jan 25, 2019 16:51:09 GMT
[Fight the Ironborn] Ah, fuck it, I'd rather Edrick die fighting than be brought back to Faronhall and put in chains. At least it could give the others a chance to escape.
I gotta admit I didn't see the twist of Normund being the Riverborn coming, but I suppose it makes sense. It was also nice to learn more about Reymond's backstory, but man her father's a dick.
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Post by drdestroyer18 on Jan 25, 2019 16:51:27 GMT
[Fight the Ironborn]
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Post by diversegnu on Jan 26, 2019 3:44:17 GMT
[Fight the Ironborn]
They have to at least try, even though I feel like this option would result in Edrick dying.
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Post by GMS Freeman on Jan 26, 2019 12:48:38 GMT
[Fight the Ironborn]
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Post by TheAPlegends on Jan 27, 2019 12:17:03 GMT
[Fight the Ironborn]
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 1, 2019 15:56:13 GMT
The Voting is closed! Edrick is going to fight the Ironborn That is quite a surprising option, given that with Gawayne's reinforcements arriving, the chance of escape is really low. At the same time, it will make for a very exciting next part in his storyline. I hope you look forward for it, because I sure as hell do! The next part should be out today. I am currently writing a Kersea part, though I am left with the choice to either give her one full-length part, or to give another PoV to a character, which will be either Alys or Raenna. Ysilla is also due, but I feel like she likely needs a full-length part. So, last time we saw Kersea, she and Leonard arrived in Oldtown, where they sought help from a former acquaintance of Alysanne, a man who goes by the name of Vitihho, who is apparently one of these people where you can get anything for the right price. Kersea hopes that he can give them shelter and intel during their stay in Oldtown. Arriving at his home, he quickly dismissed them without even fully listening to why they seek his help, to which Kersea chose to be persistent and demand to have a talk. Meanwhile, Alys and Raenna's next parts will bring us back to Merman's Rest and the Wall respectively, where Alys will resume her conversation with Sargasso Saan, who supposedly tried to have her killed or abducted, whereas Raenna will continue her talk with Harren Hoare's brother Harrigon, the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. I try to have the part finished later today!
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 3, 2019 0:40:53 GMT
Kersea For a moment, she hesitated, before she knocked again. Leonard raised an eyebrow. “So, I was right”, he spoke. “You're just going to waste our time by knocking at the door of some guy who wants nothing to do with us” He shrugged, thoroughly unimpressed by her glare. “Yeah, do you mind if I leave to get us some real help?”, he asked. “I'll pick you up later, just wait here and keep knocking” “You can do what you want”, Kersea growled. “But Alysanne trusted this man. If we can count on anyone in this city, it'll be him” Leonard rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I'm sorry if I have no faith in people whom your crazy friend trusted”, he growled and Kersea carefully narrowed her eyes. He seemed to realize he had crossed a line, as he took a step back. “And you can do what you want”, he spoke. “If you think that man can help, go ahead, I won't stop you” She didn't need his permission, but with that said, she turned around, to knock again. “I know you're listening, Vitihho!”, she barked. “And I know exactly whom you are, what you did and what you're still doing” She slammed her hand against the door. “Alysanne told me a lot. How you two used to work together, how even now you're the kind of man one can get anything from, for the right price” For a moment, she paused, listening to any movement behind the door. There was none, yet she was certain the man was listening. “We're here to stop a very dangerous man, one who means danger to this city and the entire kingdom”, she continued, as she knocked at the door yet again. “But we need help. Shelter, supplies, someone we can trust” She sighed. “Alysanne always said you're the type for that”, she added. “And she was many things, but never a liar” There was still nothing and Kersea glanced at Leonard, who was still standing there. “Told you, you're wasting your time”, he replied. “He's not going to open” Kersea shook her head. “Watch this”, she whispered, before she turned back to the door, knocking heavily. “And, yes, I do know you!” She was speaking louder now, her voice echoing through the small street. “I know you sold weapons to Clayton Teryl”, she barked. “And poison, which he used to kill several people over in Raylansfair. So don't even dare to pretend this is all a big misunderstanding, that you're not the man I'm looking for. You're deeply involved in this and you are going to help us fix this mess!” Her next knock did not hit the door. Instead, it got pushed open and Vitihho grabbed her by the wrist, yanking her closer towards him. Kersea managed to suppress a gasp, yet out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Leonard drawing steel in an instant. “Stop screaming, woman”, Vitihho barked. “Aye, you got the right man, but there's people here who don't need to know that. Word on the street has it that Clayton Teryl is working for Butterfly. Not a connection you want to have right now” He glared past her and at Leonard. “Point that at me just one more second and I'll gut you like a pig”, he snarled. There was no aggression in his voice, but the calm confidence of a man who was able to back up his threats. Leonard came to the same conclusion, as he slowly lowered his weapon. “Let go of her”, he ordered and instantly, Vitihho released her. Kersea took a step back, though she remained close enough to the door to prevent him from just slamming it shut. “So, you will help us?”, she asked and Vitihho sighed. “Come in”, he spoke. “There we can talk” He took a step aside and after hesitating for a moment, Kersea entered his house. Leonard followed, though Vitihho held him back. “You draw your weapon in there, I'll kill both of you”, he warned him. “I mean you no harm, unless you start anything funny” Leonard gave him a nod and as soon as he had entered, Vitihho closed the door. They were standing in a dusty hallway that had seen better days, the sort which was quite common in Oldtown these days. It was dark and she spotted cracks in the walls. A small staircase led to the higher floors, but Vitihho led them past it and deeper into the ground floor. The door he opened led into a surprisingly well-furnished room. A generous window allowed light to enter, illuminating fine furniture, of the sort she had seen in Pentos. There was a large sideboard, doors closed, with a polished sword lying on top of it. A set of armour was standing in the corner, the imitation of an old Valyrian steel harness, adorned with the depiction of dragons. Of course, it was merely common steel, but the fine craftsmanship still had to cost a small fortune. “Sit”, Vitihho spoke, as he pointed at generously sized armchairs, slightly dusty, yet nonetheless visibly comfortable. After the long journey, Kersea was all too glad to sink into it. “Water?”, the man asked and she nodded, as he handed her a cup. “Talk then. Tell me what this is about, then I'll decide wether I help you or not” Leonard opened his mouth, but Vitihho cut him off. “She speaks”, he clarified. “She used to run with Alysanne and Clayton. I want to hear it from her” He sat down in front of Kersea, giving her a calm look. “What happened to Alysanne? Haven't seen her in months” Kersea closed her eyes for a moment and as she opened them again, she knew it was enough for him to notice what happened. “She saved my life”, she mumbled. “But she got mortally wounded in the process” For a second, Vitihho seemed genuinely surprised. “She saved your life?”, he asked, in slight disbelief. “Maybe you are trying to bullshit me after all. The Alysanne I knew only took lives instead of saving them” Kersea shook her head. “She was my friend”, she claimed and the man smirked, as if he expected it to be a joke. Quickly though, his smirk turned from amused to genuine. “The Alysanne I knew had no friends. I think I was the closest and I would never describe her as more than an acquaintance. That woman was batshit and unable to have friends or loved ones” He shrugged. “If you're telling me the truth, then I'm happy for her. Seems she changed, before the end”, he stated. “She once told me she was not the type for change, but well, seems she was mistaken” Briefly, the two of them shared a smile, as Kersea remembered her friend. “Clayton died as well”, she spoke and Vitihho sighed, an expression of relief as she realized. “Good”, he spoke. “Alysanne, she had always been a broken woman. I had too much pity on her to hate her. But Clayton? That man was vile to the core and unlike her, he knew how to hide his true self” Kersea nodded, as she tried not to think too much about Clayton. He was dead, that was all that counted. “I'm after the man whom they worked for”, she spoke and Vitihho raised an eyebrow. “Whom you worked for”, he corrected her and she nodded. “Butterfly”, she stated. “His real name is Maron Mullendore” This caused Vitihho to look surprised and unlike the previous reveal, he did not regain his composure as quickly. “Quite brilliant”, he spoke. “It makes sense, but I never would have guessed” “He is in Raylansfair now”, Kersea continued. “Working on something bigger with his ally, Lord Petyr Vyrwel. Together, they can cause unspeakable harm to this kingdom” Vitihho shrugged. “Why should I care?”, he asked. “It's good you told me about Alysanne's fate, may she rest in peace. But beyond that, I don't know why I should help you” This caused Kersea to pause for a moment. “They... as I said, they are a threat to this kingdom”, she stuttered. “The one you live in” Vitihho shook his head. “I wasn't born here and it wouldn't be the first time I'd have to leave”, he replied. “Besides, I am not an idealist. I smuggle dangerous goods for dangerous people. Doesn't sound like a hero to me” “Yet you did good things as well”, Kersea replied. “I know it from Alysanne. You had a family once...” She paused as Vitihho slammed his fist onto the table. “Don't bring that up, girl”, he growled. “If Alysanne told you the full story, she mentioned how I butchered the bastards who took them from me” “She... spared me the details”, Kersea replied, though she vividly remembered the look of fascination in Alysanne's gaze, as the woman had told her about Vitihho's past and his revenge. The man nodded. “She did good in that”, he spoke. “So, this is where we stand. You want my help and frankly, I can help you indeed. If it's supplies you need, I'm the best there is. If it's shelter you need, I have the entire house to myself. If it's information you need, I have informants within the city, even within the Hightower and the Citadel” He tilted his head. “But that is going to cost me and I don't just mean coin. If word goes out that I harbour a girl who used to kill for Butterfly, well that's going to put me on a couple lists” This piece of information caused her to look up. It made sense now. Vitihho was hesitant to help them, because he was afraid to anger the wrong people. But what if he already had? He worked with Clayton's group for many years. It was impossible to tell how many secrets he was involved in, for her and for the man they worked for. Vitihho wanted to survive, but what if his survival was already in danger? What if Mullendore would send a new group of killers to tie up the loose end once he brought the situation in Raylansfair under control. And if that wouldn't work... perhaps she could offer him coin, as it was usual for his service... coin she did not have yet. But Kersea was fairly positive she would be able to lie to the man. Either that, or she could appeal to his survival instinct, trying to convince him that helping them would be the best way he could ensure his own survival. One way or the other, she had to make a choice if she wanted to win his support. [Offer to pay him] [Appeal to his survival instinct]
Alys Alys closed her eyes, trying to ignore her heavy heartbeat. She was sick of this whole situation, terrified of Sargasso Saan, of this city and every single rotten pirate in it. And here she was, doing the one thing Edward warned her of doing. But he was not around and she knew that he certainly was not always right, nor did he have her best interest in mind. “My name is not Alys Snow”, she spoke. As she opened her eyes, she noticed that Sargasso was now looking at her calmly, in the way a cat would curiously look at its prey. “It's Boleyn. Alys Boleyn. My family is sworn to House Karstark”, she revealed. “And I believe someone has found out” The look of surprise on Sargasso's face was real and for a second, he was too baffled to speak. Then, a brief chuckle came out of his throat. “Someone has found out indeed”, he spoke, placing a hand on his chest. His chuckle returned, this time a bit louder. “Mylady, I expected many things from this conversation, but honesty was not among them” He shook his head. “And here you are, telling me that you are, indeed, not the bastard girl everyone thinks you are”, he mumbled and a steely smirk appeared on his face. “Everyone, but me. I knew something was off about you” “I had to keep it a secret”, Alys spoke and he nodded. “Yes, quite clever”, he complimented her. “Frankly, I thought you'd be more important than that. A Karstark, or maybe even a Stark. The King in the North has a daughter in your age, if I'm not mistaken” He was, as Lyra Stark was less than half her age, but she did not dare to correct him. “Boleyn... frankly, had you just told me the name, I couldn't have told you a thing about your house” “You... you don't know House Boleyn?”, she asked and the very thought was strange to her. She had spent most of her life on her father's lands, where everyone knew whom she was, whom her father was. Even after months on the road, the thought of how big the world truly was baffled her. Sargasso smiled politely. “I hope you don't hold this against me”, he replied. “I can hardly remember every minor vassal house half a world away from here, can I?” She gulped. Was he speaking the truth here? If he didn't even know a thing about House Boleyn... at the same time, he suspected her to be a Stark, didn't he? “I must know who tried to kill me”, she spoke, to which Sargasso raised a finger. “Probably not killed”, he corrected her. “Killing you would send a message to Anturion, surely, but I think you are worth slightly more when you are alive” “Abduction then”, Alys spoke and Saan nodded. “And if it isn't clear, I have no hand in that”, he claimed. “I don't deal in hostages. They are bothersome and costly and when anything happens to them you often make a dangerous enemy” He shrugged. “It's just rarely convenient”, he clarified. “And I have even less dealings with the North” Suddenly, he raised an eyebrow. “Currently, there is only one captain at court who has any ties to that cold, worthless place” She realized immediately what he was hinting at and the possibility scared her. “Manderly”, she mumbled and Sargasso smiled. “Captain Warmond is the only captain around who has an interest in the North. If he learned about your true identity, trust me, he is not above taking advantage over that” Alys clenched her fists. Could this be the truth? Saan's claim made a certain amount of sense and come to think of it, Warmond had been the only one to blame him for sending the thug who tried to kill her. And he did kill the man quickly, before he was able to answer to any questions... Or perhaps that was part of Saan's plan, to win her trust, to sow discord between her and one of the few captains in this city whom she could trust. “Frankly, I don't think he is that smart, though”, Sargasso continued. “He might have his own minor schemes, but like most of the captains, I am certain he fell for your ruse” He shook his head. “No, it requires someone a little more intelligent than that to find out that you are more than you claimed to be” He smirked, as she backed away from him. “No, Lady Boleyn, not me”, he claimed. “At court, there is only one I see as my equal though” This time, Alys narrowed her eyes. “You mean Blacksails”, she hissed and Sargasso flashed her a grin. “Our king is paranoid, it's the only reason he's in power after all these years”, he explained. “But Warmond is a natural choice for an ally. He doesn't want to be king, his sole ambition lies with finding the lost legacy of his ancient house” “But... but Warmond saved my life”, Alys argued, to which Sargasso nodded. “And surely that means he is innocent and above all suspicion”, he replied, his voice oozing sarcasm. “No, mylady, I believe what we have here is a brilliant display of Warmond Manderly's schemes” He leant onto the desk, slightly rising from the chair, as he carefully looked at her. “I told you what Blacksails does, don't I?”, he spoke. “Sometimes, when someone disappoints him badly, he has them killed. It's nothing surprising there, every ruler around this world does it from time to time. But sometimes, oh, sometimes when they still have a use for him, he just punishes them by killing those close to them” “I am not close to Edward”, Alys claimed, her voice weak and slightly shivering. Sargasso shook his head. “No, I believe you aren't”, he spoke. “The ones he is actually close to are out of our king's reach. His brother, the God-King, has an army at his disposal. And his sister, the mad bitch, she's unnervingly good at not being found. But you are the closest he has around and he clearly needs you for some reason” “So... you believe that Aeron Blacksails wants me dead to... to send Edward a message?”, Alys asked and Sargasso nodded. “Smart girl”, he complimented her. “So he enlists the help of Warmond to, well, distract your stalwart protector, so that his killer will have an easy time” He shrugged. “Could have been anyone, even me”, he added, with a wink. “Only Edward would have known for sure. And the message would have been received” Alys took a deep breath, as she leant back into her chair. “But why should Warmond save my life?”, she mumbled, to which Sargasso raised an eyebrow. “Because he obviously doesn't want you dead”, he replied. “Warmond, I think he is out for the ransom money. Can't do that if you're dead, eh?” Then, his smile faded. “Plus, he probably wants to take the chance to blame one of his rivals” His gaze grew stern, cold and, for a second, Alys had to actively suppress the urge to flee. “Is that what he did?”, the pirate hissed. “Blaming me?” He did not need an answer, but this time, Alys backed away from him, pushing her chair back, the moment he jumped up from his. Circling around the desk, he came closer. His anger seemed genuine, but Alys was not sure if she could truly believe his version of the story. “The only thing that doesn't quite fit is your role in it”, he continued. “Why would you come here to tell me all this?” He raised a hand and for a moment, Alys was ready to fight him off, if he'd dare to attack her. Instead, though, he merely placed a hand on her cheek. “Lady Boleyn”, he spoke. “Coming here, believing me to be the enemy” He shook his head. “Truth be told, you don't matter to me at all”, he revealed. “Up until you get in my way, that is” “I...”, Alys began, before she cut herself off, avoiding his glare. “I would never stand in your way” She clenched her fists and bit down at her lip. Warmond was putting his men in position in this very moment. They'd take Sargasso out... but was this truly the best course of action? If what he just told her was the truth, then Warmond was not her friend. Sargasso wasn't a friend either, surely, but perhaps he was more of an ally than Warmond... or perhaps he had been lying to her this entire time, trying to win her trust. “He is making his move, I suppose?”, Sargasso asked and she gave him a nod. “Then I will bring this to the king. Aeron and I might not see eye to eye, but one way or the other, Warmond went against his outspoken orders” He smirked coldly. “And that is something Blacksails never leaves unpunished” He spread his arms. “All that is left to do is to determine how you can help me”, he added. “Well, both of us” “Helping you?”, Alys asked. “Why should I do that?” Sargasso gave her a wink. “Well, mostly because we both have the same enemy. Warmond tried to harm you and frame me for it, that sounds like a good enough reason for us to join forces, don't you think so?”, he explained. “So, what I need you to do is, you and I will take a walk, we will meet King Aeron and you are going to tell him how Warmond tried to have you killed. Of course, Aeron is in on this, but with me to protect you, he cannot make a move. Instead, I believe, he will be more than happy to have someone take the fall for him” But what if it wasn't true? Alys did not dare to say this out loud. Sargasso's claim made sense, but so did Warmond's accusation. As they were speaking, the one truly behind the attempt on her life made his move and he expected her support, but wether it was Sargasso or Warmond, she could not say. Warmond's men had to be almost in position. All she had to do would be to say nothing, continue to stall him and they would take Sargasso out. But was that the wise thing to do? If Warmond truly intended to ransom her, wouldn't it be better to support Sargasso? As long as she could trust him, that is... [Agree to support Sargasso] [Continue to stall him]
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Post by edinosaur22 on Feb 3, 2019 2:41:25 GMT
[Offer to pay him] While appealing to his survival instinct is a good idea too, maybe if there's some compensation he would be more willing.
[Agree to support Sargasso] honestly there weren't that many suspects in the murder attempt, but maybe having connections with the both of them could be useful.
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Post by WildlingKing on Feb 3, 2019 3:38:24 GMT
[Appeal to his survival instinct] I'd assume bringing up a compensation in form of coin won't be out of the table if we try this first. I mean, Kersea doesn't have the money now, and I feel like this Vitihho isn't the kind of guy you want to be indebted to. Anyway, it's certainly interesting to see how being connected to Butterfly is now almost like a death sentence in Oldtown. Oh, how the tables have turned [Agree to support Sargasso] It's a hard choice, but ultimately I think this is the safer option for Alys. Sargasso isn't trustworthy by any means, but I don't think he is lying here. I'm a bit hesitant about turning against Warmond, but between him and Sargasso I'd say he is the less dangerous enemy to make. But god damn, Alys really needs to make it out of Merman's Rest asap, she's being played like a damn fiddle by all these pirates.
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Post by TheAPlegends on Feb 3, 2019 10:09:51 GMT
[Appeal to his survival instinct]
[Continue to stall him]
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Post by drdestroyer18 on Feb 3, 2019 13:45:11 GMT
[Appeal to his survival instinct] [Continue to stall him]
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Post by GMS Freeman on Feb 3, 2019 15:59:40 GMT
[Offer to pay him] [Continue to stall him]
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Post by InGenNateKenny on Feb 3, 2019 18:52:23 GMT
You guys should all vote for [Offer to pay him] so Liquid has no choice but to cross over Keat and Kersea's storyline into an Ocean's Eleven style heist.
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Post by supersagig on Feb 3, 2019 19:08:59 GMT
[Appeal to his survival instinct]
[Agree to support Sargasso]
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Post by diversegnu on Feb 3, 2019 23:20:27 GMT
[Offer to pay him] [Agree to support Sargasso]
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 8, 2019 15:10:19 GMT
[Appeal to his survival instinct] I'd assume bringing up a compensation in form of coin won't be out of the table if we try this first. I mean, Kersea doesn't have the money now, and I feel like this Vitihho isn't the kind of guy you want to be indebted to. Anyway, it's certainly interesting to see how being connected to Butterfly is now almost like a death sentence in Oldtown. Oh, how the tables have turned [Agree to support Sargasso] It's a hard choice, but ultimately I think this is the safer option for Alys. Sargasso isn't trustworthy by any means, but I don't think he is lying here. I'm a bit hesitant about turning against Warmond, but between him and Sargasso I'd say he is the less dangerous enemy to make. But god damn, Alys really needs to make it out of Merman's Rest asap, she's being played like a damn fiddle by all these pirates. Hehe, oh yes, this is something I most certainly want to show. Even people who weren't directly involved, such as Vitihho, who merely did business with some of Butterfly's killers, have to keep a low profile now. A few months back, many were actually quite vocal with the fact that they support Butterfly, as it gave them a certain power. Vitihho never did that, which is one of the reasons why he can still do his business without being on anyone's radar for the time being.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 8, 2019 15:16:02 GMT
The Voting is closed! Kersea is going to offer Vitihho coin Alys is going to agree to support Sargasso The first choice is actually a tie, so I am going to count the first vote twice here. Quite interesting, as I can already say, appealing to his survival instinct would have worked without any long-term consequences. It remains to be seen if he will do it for coin and if anything comes up if he finds out that Kersea cannot actually pay him. Meanwhile, Alys' choice was a pretty major one. Sargasso and Warmond are about to clash and her support can mean a lot when this is brought to Aeron Blacksails. It remains to be seen if Sargasso told the truth here, though. Even if he was being honest here, this does not mean he knows the full picture and, of course, there is always the chance that he is lying. The next part will hopefully be out today. I am currently writing a Raenna part, but I might be able to include another PoV as well, for either Irae or Lachlan. Last time we saw Raenna, she arrived at the wall, where she met Harrigon Hoare, Harren's brother and supposed white sheep of the family. Raenna was still hesitant to trust an Ironborn, though, especially as it comes to Briar's safety, but she decided to give him a chance. Irae and Lachlan's parts will bring us back to Qarth and Gull Tower, respectively, where Irae will end her visit to the Orlatis household, while Lachlan will start his visit to the court of House Shett.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 10, 2019 22:58:54 GMT
Raenna Raenna paused for a moment, just studying Harrigon Hoare's face. She knew, a man's eyes were the most important part. That was where they were honest. A smile that wouldn't reach them, a careless gaze, the hint of malice, few could hide their true intentions with these small gestures. Hoare, however, looked her straight in the eye, not smiling, but neither glaring. His eyes were the darkest she had ever seen, nearly black and unnerving, yet she had seen more malice, more evil, in brighter eyes. The Lord Commander was a soldier through and through, his gaze hard, harsh even, unyielding, but not unreasonable, nor cruel. “Whom among your men would you trust?”, she asked and Harrigon smiled thinly, his eyes narrowing as he did so. “There's quite a lot”, he admitted. “Sure, we got our bad apples, but if you trust me to keep them away from your girl, I'll do so” He glanced out of the window. “We'll have an entourage from Icemark visiting us within a week. Commander Heatherspoon and fifty of his men, all of them volunteers who have served a decade or more. That'll mean a majority of this castle will consist of good, honest men. Two thousand to keep the four hundred bad ones in check. Until then, I'll hand-pick two men to constantly be by her side. The kind I'd trust on both sides of the Wall” She tilted her head. “If you think it will be enough... do it then”, she agreed, before she hesitated. “Will it be enough though?” Harrigon shrugged. “There's no saying how vile some of these people can be”, he admitted. “For every man I trust unconditionally, there is one whom I wouldn't piss on if he was on fire. They call themselves my brothers, but truth be told, I never was the brotherly type” He shook his head. “The Wall is no place for a child, or for a woman, much less for a little girl. You ever heard of Danny Flint?” Raenna nodded, her fists clenched. “That happened here, did it not?”, she asked and Harrigon shrugged. “They say it did, but we got no proof. There's no Danny Flint in the old records and Coracinus believes that not all of the legends really took place here. It's just easier for the brothers in the other castles if they can blame it all on ours, you get what I mean?” His smirk faded. “But even if it never happened, Brave Danny Flint is a warning”, he admitted. “Your girl shouldn't stay here for too long” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “I'm glad we came to an agreement though. Your trust is not misplaced”, he stated and as he turned away, Raenna grabbed his forearm. “It better not be”, she hissed, giving him an unmistakable glare, to which he raised an eyebrow. “You are bold”, he complimented her. “I can see why Umber keeps you around. But it's not a good quality to have beyond the Wall. The bold ones are those who die first” Effortlessly, he pulled away from her and walked back to the fireplace, where the rest had gathered around the old Maester Coracinus. “Did the deserter talk already?”, Hoare asked and Coracinus nodded. “He intends to bring them to the Swan”, he revealed and Hoare raised an eyebrow. Raenna sat down between Dag and Malina, the latter of whom had Briar sitting on her lap. The Lord Commander remained standing and he glared at Erik. “That is a wildling fairytale”, he growled, as he took a step towards the deserter, towering above him. Erik shook his head. “It is not”, he stated. “Myrla saw her before. She is very much real and I know where she is” Harrigon chuckled coldly. “Bullshit”, he spat. “I always knew you were full of shit, Flowers, but that is low, even for you. You think you can fool them, but me? I know the lands beyond the Wall” This time, Erik met his glare with one of his own. “Trust me, Lord Commander, there is a lot of things you don't know about these lands”, he spoke, his voice calm, but hard. “And neither do I claim to know it all. But you merely fought against the free folk. I lived among them. Picked up a couple secrets along the way. The Swan isn't even all that secret, but of course, you and your brothers never bothered with asking, did they?” Before Harrigon Hoare could reply, Raenna chimed in. “Uh... I'm out of the loop here”, she spoke up. “But who or what is the Swan?” Harrigon glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. “As I said, a wildling fairytale”, he explained. “A wise woman, who supposedly lives by herself, somewhere in the Frostfangs. Some call her a wildling witch of incredible powers, who can possess the bodies of animals and heal even lethal injuries” He shrugged. “While there is magic beyond the Wall, none of it is that potent” “And yet, your own brothers saw her”, Erik interjected, to which Harrigon shook his head. “Sometimes, my rangers get missing beyond the Wall. Wild animals and wild humans get them, or the cold does. Some of them, though, manage to survive and to return to us”, he explained. “Over the last decade, four of them claimed to have met a beautiful witch woman, who lives in a cave of everlasting summer. These men, you must understand, were half-mad by the time they returned, the cold having taken a toll on their minds. To them, even a wildling campfire must seem like a place of everlasting summer. None of the four still lives, but whatever they saw beyond the Wall made them unfit for duty in either way” Erik sighed. “Well, to be honest, it doesn't even matter what you believe, Lord Commander”, he stated. “Because I will take them to the Swan” Hoare shook his head. “I don't know where you intend to take them, but I bet it's another wildling trick. Leading them right into the Half-Thenn's ambush, I suppose?” “If he does that, Lord Commander, he will be the first to die”, Dag replied, as he gave both men a stern glare. “Truth be told, if I want my brother back, I have no choice but to go with Erik. This Swan woman, she can help us finding Kory and the Half-Thenn?” To this, Erik shook his head. “Oh no, Horik will be there”, he replied. “I heard Myrla talk about it. He and some of the other chieftains have been called. It's where we were supposed to head after our raid on the Last Hearth, so it is where Myrla and Markus will journey to as we speak” “How awfully convenient”, Harrigon spoke, clearly not convinced. “You freely admit to lead them to your master, who supposedly stays with some wildling legend” He shook his head, as he looked from Dag to Raenna. “Tell me, do you know who the Half-Thenn is? What he does to Southerners he gets into his fat hands?” “I heard enough of him”, Dag spoke, as he narrowed his eyes. “I don't think anyone needs to tell an Umber what Horik Half-Thenn is capable of” Harrigon gulped slightly, before he nodded. “Of course not”, he admitted. “But it means I don't have to tell you to be careful around one of his followers” He glanced at Erik, who shrugged. “Honestly, I couldn't care less about Half-Thenn”, he replied. “The man's a cruel bastard, for all I heard. Never met him and trust me, I am not too keen on changing that. I never served him, I served Myrla” He narrowed his eyes, as a brief smirk flashed across his face. “And truth be told, I've served under worse people than her”, he added, which caused Hoare to clench his fists. “But she left me to die, so the way I see it, right now I serve no one but myself” The Lord Commander glared at him, before he glanced at Dag. “Ser, I will let you pass through my gate”, he told him. “I will even give you some of my people, experienced rangers, who know the wildling tricks and can tell you if Flowers leads you into an ambush” He extended his hand and Dag attempted to shake it. Before they could meet, though, Hoare pulled back. “Under one condition” Dag raised an eyebrow. “What are your terms, Lord Commander?”, he asked and Hoare gave him a thin, stern smirk. “I could demand the deserter, but truth be told, he'd just slip away then, cut your throats in the middle of the night and leave, to join his wildling friends again”, he replied, giving Erik a cold glare. “But I won't do that. He's just one and if your deal with him means he gets to live, I won't get in the way” He raised a finger. “But Flowers... you better stay beyond the Wall and you stay far away from our rangers. If we ever see you again, it's kill on sight” “Understood...”, Erik mumbled and his voice was slightly shaky at the Lord Commander's threat. Harrigon crossed his arms, as he glanced at Coracinus. The old maester straightened his back, then he exchanged a nod with the Lord Commander. “I am afraid, Erik here is not the only deserter we had in the last months”, he spoke. “And he's nothing, compared to one who might become a problem in the future” Erik's eyes widened, as he realized what the two were talking about. Harrigon took over for the old maester. “Don't get us wrong, we always had deserters, but they were overall harmless. Low-lives who just weren't cut for duty. We hunt them down, but it doesn't affect the Watch if they are caught or not”, he explained. “But there is one who worries me. The only deserter who gives me sleepless nights, because with him, I expect more sinister goals than just some forced recruit wanting his freedom back” “Ser Arron Estermont”, Coracinus explained and though Raenna had heard of the house, the name as a whole meant nothing to her. Dag, however, spat onto the ground. “The First Ranger deserted?”, he asked and Hoare nodded. “He's a knight, a volunteer, with a tremendous sense of duty, who has served me for almost two decades”, he explained and Raenna noticed clear anger in his voice. As he glared, his eyes became harder, more like what she expected from a Hoare. “He was the last I would have expected to desert. And yet, he left in the middle of the night, with his squire and a handful of men, but he didn't head south, oh no, he went north” Slowly, Raenna realized. “You believe he joined the wildlings?”, she asked and Harrigon nodded. “It seems to be a popular choice”, he replied, with a brief glance at Erik. “Arron is no ordinary deserter and his motives, as much as I can only guess, are similarly out of the ordinary. He served as my First Ranger for a decade, he has precise information on every single aspect of the Night's Watch, our numbers, where we are strong, where we are weak” “Did he join the wildlings?”, Dag asked, to which Harrigon glanced at Erik. The deserter shook his head. “First time I hear of this”, he claimed. “Estermont was still around when I made my escape. Strict bastard, but not the kind I would have expected to leave” He shrugged. “There's more chieftains out there whom he might have joined, or maybe Myrla just didn't tell me. It's not as if I know all of Half-Thenn's secrets” Dag raised an eyebrow. “So, what would you have us do, Lord Commander?”, he asked. “Hunting down your former First Ranger? I don't think we have the time for that, hard as it might be” Harrigon shook his head. “You are not supposed to hunt him down”, he replied. “But once you are out there, I want you to listen for any word among the wildlings about a traitor crow. This is especially true if you encounter the Half-Thenn or any of the other chieftains” The Umber knight thought about this for a moment. “I think we can do this at least”, he agreed. “If Estermont plans on selling his knowledge to the wildlings, the North might be in great peril” He placed a hand on his heart. “Lord Commander, I swear I will do my best to see this man brought to justice” “Splendid”, Harrigon Hoare stated, as he and Dag shook hands. “You are known as a man of honour, Umber, so I am glad I can trust you in this” He glanced at Erik. “Tell me, where do you claim the Swan to be?”, he asked. Erik sighed. “In the southern Frostfangs”, he spoke. “Myrla hasn't told me the exact location, but she told me how to find it” “Then you have to go through the outskirts of the Haunted Forest”, Harrigon continued. “Cross the Frozen Rivers and then, the most inhospitable mountains any of you have ever seen. The region south of Skirling Pass is treacherous. People can live there, which means the area might be swarming with wildlings, especially if Flowers told the truth about that wildling meeting. You should take only the best for that” “Worry not”, Harrold spoke up. “The best are right here” He grinned and Eon rolled his eyes, though he could not hide a small smirk. “We have come so far, we won't leave you alone now” Jorn nodded. “It is my desire to help as well”, he confirmed. Mace said nothing, he merely placed a fist on his heart in a silent salute. “And I will send two rangers with you. Ozerog Pilaj and Saint Strad”, Harrigon explained. “The former is a murderer, aye, but he redeemed himself by a decade of serving. The latter is a volunteer, a bit on the slow side, but he has a decent spirit and knows how to follow orders” Briefly, Raenna glanced at Gared, who sighed. She gave him a slight smile. “What's on your mind?”, she asked and the man shrugged. “I am not sure where to go”, he admitted, as he exchanged a look with Malina. “I am sworn to House Karstark, to protect the Lady Malina. The journey back to Winterfell might be dangerous and if anything happens...” He cut himself off. “That being said, I'd hate to leave you alone. You need the best and well, I'd say that includes me. I am certain I could help, beyond the Wall” Malina raised an eyebrow. “You are welcome to go where you like, my friend”, she stated. “My father promised help to Lord Umber and I cannot imagine any better suited” She smiled warmly. “Yet if you want to come with me, back to Winterfell, then I would be happy just as well” Gared smiled, though it faded quickly, as he looked to Raenna, for advice. “This might be one of the few moments in my life where I absolutely don't know what to do”, he admitted. [Encourage Gared to accompany you] [Encourage Gared to stay with Malina and Briar]
Irae For a moment, Irae hesitated. Nobody gave gifts to a warlock, not without expecting anything in return. She hadn't asked for this. And yet, there was real gratitude in Naela's eyes. The only thing the girl wanted was for Irae to take what she so freely offered. She carefully gazed at the necklace. A warlock did not wear jewelry, or any sort of finery, with the exception of Master Garraman. And yet, the craftsmanship was temptingly beautiful. “Thank you”, she spoke and a grin flashed over Naela's face. “See?”, she replied. “Suddenly you're not all scary anymore” She gave the warlock a wink. “Make sure to wear it, maybe people start warming up to you”, she added. To Irae's surprise, she replied with a smile, though the result was likely not as pleasant as she hoped it to be. Naela sighed. “Well... we are going to work on that”, she stated. “What are the next steps for my father?” The two women walked through the entrance hall of the Orlatis mansion and Irae slightly placed a hand on Naela's back. The young woman tensed up only briefly. “He will need a lot of rest”, she spoke. “His body is weakened by the ordeal, so what you can do is to make sure he won't do too much by himself. Even once he feels better, he should remain resting for as much as possible” Naela saluted and though the gesture was a mocking one, there was honest appreciation in her eyes. “You can count on me”, she spoke. “Will you be checking up on him though?” Irae nodded, as she stepped through open front door and out into the sun-bathed front yard of the mansion. From there, she could see the market of Qarth, swarming with countless of people despite the heat. “Of course”, she spoke. “I'll return in two days. By then, we should also discuss the nature of your compensation” The girl sighed. “I'm not going to like that, am I?”, she asked and Irae shook her head. “The order will demand something for their service”, she explained. “From experience, I know it is rarely pleasant. But you knew what you would be getting into” Naela nodded. “And I am ready”, she said. “Just... don't keep me waiting for too long. I lie awake all night, thinking about what lies ahead for me. I... I get nightmares from the uncertainty” Irae raised an eyebrow. “Nightmares?”, she asked. “What kind?” That was something she had learned under Master Moros, a nightmare could have a deeper meaning. Most of the time, it was just that, a bad dream, a reflection of ones inner fears, but with Naela, hardly anything should be ignored. She had a part to play in the things to come and Irae would guide her through this safely, but to do this, she had to pay attention to the details. “I dream of blood”, the girl revealed, now tensed up, not even directly looking at the warlock. “There is blood and death in my dreams. Sometimes it's all I see, but sometimes, there is more” She gulped. “Sometimes, there are a hundred thousand hooves, trampling this city into the dust. I... honestly, sometimes it feels as if I'm loosing my mind” There was more to it, but she remained silent. Irae decided not to pry this time. Naela looked horrified enough, just remembering her dream. Pushing her now might ruin what little trust she had for her and Irae would not risk it. In time, she had no doubt the girl would open up about it. That being said, the content of her dreams were... concerning, to say the least. Blood, death, a Dothraki horde... it seemed the Blood Witch truly had a connection to the girl. She had to wonder if a ghost could dream- The warlock council would surely be interested in this development, but Irae was mainly worried about what this meant for Naela. “Sometimes, bad dreams are just that”, she tried to reassure the girl. “You will sleep easier if you don't expect a conspiracy behind every corner” Naela gave her a slight nod. “We have to work on your lying skills”, she mumbled, though she managed a weak smile. “Thank you for everything, Irae. I truly mean it” Irae gave her a nod, followed by another attempted smile, before she walked out of the building, heading away from the mansion without looking back. Her left hand was still clenched around the necklace. She supposed it'd take some time before she could get used to jewelry. And she had no doubt the council would disapprove, but frankly, she did enough for them and she felt terrible enough about it. She deserved at least a little bit for herself. During this time of the day, Irae preferred to stick to the shadows. The heat that came down upon Qarth at noon was almost unbearable, especially for someone like her, who was more used to the dark, dusty rooms at the House of the Undying. It always surprised her how many Qartheen had no choice but to head out during these hours, as the city was busy as always. It was undeniable, Naela's dream worried her. A Dothraki horde, ready to trample the city to the ground, it had to be concerning even for the girl herself, but for Irae, who knew of the Blood Witch and her words, it was admittedly terrifying. She had to wonder, how would Naela react if told the truth? Now more than ever did Irae agree with the warlock council, who feared that she would not be able to handle it. At the very least, she doubted that Naela would willingly face her nightmares. “Warlock!”, someone called out for her and Irae stopped. Most people went out of their way to avoid her and few would go as far as to willingly talk to her, so she stopped at once, quite surprised by this interruption. She was halfway between the Orlatis mansion and the House of the Undying by now and she did not expect anyone to be bold enough to stop a warlock. A few feet away from her stood a young woman. She had a light brown skin tone, the hint of a tan, as well as raven black hair, which fell down to her shoulders. Though a beauty for certain, there was something harsh about her, with an intense glare coming from her eyes. The left one had a hazel colour, the right one was a bit darker, going into a full emerald green. She was clad in leather, with a short cape covering her upper body. “We need to talk”, she spoke, her voice smooth and surprisingly charming, which clashed with the observant glare in her eyes. Irae raised an eyebrow. “Delaying a warlock brings great misfortune”, she spoke, to which the woman smirked. She slightly raised the cape, revealing a pair of daggers, not drawn yet, but Irae had no doubt she knew how to use them. “Not talking to me brings even greater”, she replied, as she pointed at the narrow alleyway right next to Irae. “Deja, please”, a male voice spoke from there and Irae glanced to the side. A slightly taller, broader figure stood there, clad in a black coat, the hood pulled deeply into his face. His lower face was hidden beneath a piece of cloth, a dark mask, which covered everything up to the nose. “There is no need for threats just yet” He gave Irae a nod. “We indeed just want to talk and mean you no harm” Irae crossed her arms. “Talk then”, she spoke. “Maybe you should tell me who you are first” She did not like the way these two just stopped her. The woman was armed and though the masked stranger had no visible weaponry on him right now, she had no doubt that he was just as dangerous. He placed a hand on his chest. “Of course”, he replied. “You may call me the Mask” “Not your real name, I suppose”, Irae replied and he nodded. One of his hands moved up, lifting the cloth just barely enough to reveal a pale, yet surprisingly handsome face with a dashing streak to it. Certainly not the kind anyone should have to hide. “I believe names are irrelevant in most situations”, he explained. “The Mask is what you may call me now” “For the record, I don't agree with him on this”, the woman said. “I am Deja and I got no problem with telling you that much” She raised a hand, as if to prove that she had no intention of drawing a weapon. “But he is right with one thing. We mean you no harm, none yet” She gave her a nod. “We know you are Irae of the warlock order. We've been watching you for days now” Irae glanced down at the woman, her way of standing and how she was always ready to draw a weapon. “And you two are... hired killers? Assassins?” The Mask shook his head. “An ugly word”, he spoke in return. “Assassin makes us seem like murderers, which, I must insist, we are not. Instead, we offer our services to take down someone else's enemy” He followed her alarmed gaze and a small, polite chuckle came from beneath his mask. “No, not you, don't you worry” And there, Irae understood. “This is about Kareq Orlatis, isn't it?”, she hissed, to which Deja nodded. Unlike the Mask, with his mocking politeness, the woman had something firm and direct about her, which was somewhat refreshing. “Indeed it is”, she admitted. “The Tourmaline Brotherhood hired the Mask to kill Kareq Orlatis, after their best alchemist surprisingly failed to achieve this” “Naturally, I quickly realized that the warlock order was involved”, the Mask took over. “So, I, in return, hired one of the few people in this city who are not afraid to make a move against them” He gave Deja a nod and the young woman crossed her arms. “Kareq Orlatis was poisoned by the best alchemist the Tourmaline Brotherhood has at their disposal. That man never failed before, so I take it that a warlock of outstanding skill got personally involved in curing Orlatis” Deja was right with this. Master Vator had personally created the ointment that cured Kareq of his poison and Irae knew that no alchemist this side of Asshai was capable of creating something he could not cure. “Perhaps”, she replied. “But if you are hired to kill Kareq Orlatis, then why are you telling me? I can stop you with ease” “You are welcome to try”, Deja hissed. “But this is not just common courtesy. We want to know why you are helping the man. Your order never does anything out of simple kindness. You want something from him and we want to know what that is” Irae raised an eyebrow. “Would that change a thing?”, she asked. “Maybe”, the Mask replied. “See, warlock, I don't consider you an enemy. In that case, I'd hardly be talking to you. Orlatis and the Tourmaline Brotherhood are enemies, yes, but you and I, we have simply been hired by opposite sites. This is strictly business from my perspective” He leant forward, looking at her out of his dark eyes. “It is clear your order has a certain interest in the man, else you wouldn't have saved his life. Neither of us is afraid of your order, but similarly, neither of us is foolish enough to get in their way if it can be avoided”, he spoke. “But to be frank, I am not going to compromise the job for some warlock's pet project” “In short, we want to know why you are helping Orlatis”, Deja explained calmly. “If we decide it is too much to get involved in, we might talk to the Tourmaline Brotherhood about abandoning the hit, or maybe postponing it until you got what you need. There is no need for bad blood between us” “And if you decide that it is not important enough to spare his life?”, Irae hissed, narrowing her eyes, a gesture Deja immediately reciprocated. “Then you can consider this a polite warning”, she replied. “Try to help him if you want, it matters not. Be near him at your peril. And most importantly, tell him to take care of his worldly affairs, because if we decide to go through with the hit, then he will die. It will happen quickly and painlessly, but it will be very soon” She shrugged. “Unless you tell us what this is really about, the full truth. There are warlock matters we don't want to get involved in and I am pretty certain neither does the Tourmaline Brotherhood” Irae tensed up. Polite assassins? That was something she didn't think she'd ever see. However, she could see where they were coming from. It was unwise to anger the warlocks, especially the council and they were involved. She had no doubt that this would count as a reason to abandon the hit on Kareq Orlatis. But what if that was all a ruse? A trick, played by the Tourmaline Brotherhood, or others even, simply to find out what she knew? In that case, she'd play right into their goal with this. She didn't want Kareq to die, but could these two truly be convinced to give up on their mark?
[Tell Deja and the Mask what you know] [Refuse to share any information with them]
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Post by edinosaur22 on Feb 11, 2019 2:26:25 GMT
[Encourage Gared to stay with Malina and Briar] Not that I distrust Harrigon or his trusted men, but better safe than sorry. While The Swan must likely is a skinchanger, her other powers are a complete mystery for now.
[Tell Deja and the Mask what you know] I doubt the Tourmaline Brotherhood knows or cares about the Blood Witch, so maybe knowing can keep them away fro Orlatis for a time.
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Post by GMS Freeman on Feb 11, 2019 11:44:14 GMT
[Encourage Gared to accompany you]
[Tell Deja and the Mask what you know]
MASK!!!
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Post by drdestroyer18 on Feb 11, 2019 12:25:22 GMT
[Encourage Gared to stay with Malina and Briar] [Tell Deja and the Mask what you know]
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Post by TheAPlegends on Feb 11, 2019 13:13:08 GMT
[Encourage Gared to accompany you]
[Refuse to share any information with them]
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Post by diversegnu on Feb 11, 2019 13:30:21 GMT
[Encourage Gared to accompany you] Things are definitely going to go south beyond the wall, so we need all hands on deck.
[Tell Deja and the Mask what you know]
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Post by WildlingKing on Feb 11, 2019 21:36:46 GMT
[Encourage Gared to stay with Malina and Briar] Idk, I feel like numbers aren't necessarily going to make the difference beyond the Wall, a bigger party might even be a hindrance in some way. Plus it'd good to have someone we can truly trust to stay with Malina and Briar as well. Anyway, this Swan seems quite an interesting character, looking forward to meeting her.
[Tell Deja and the Mask what you know] Even if this was a ruse by the Tourmaline Brotherhood to learn what the Warlocks are up to, I'm not sure that would compromise the mission. I mean, even if their motivations are selfish, the Warlocks are ultimately trying to save Qarth from destruction and I don't see the Tourmaline Brotherhood disagreeing with that goal. Whereas refusing to speak will make it much more likely that Kareq is killed, which could definitely compromise the mission. All that said, I have a feeling that the Mask and Deja are actually being honest here. So, even more of a reason to be honest to them in return.
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Post by aliscot on Feb 14, 2019 7:19:06 GMT
[Encourage Gared to stay with Malina and Briar]
[Tell Deja and the Mask what you know]
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 16, 2019 16:42:33 GMT
[Encourage Gared to stay with Malina and Briar] Not that I distrust Harrigon or his trusted men, but better safe than sorry. While The Swan must likely is a skinchanger, her other powers are a complete mystery for now. [Tell Deja and the Mask what you know] I doubt the Tourmaline Brotherhood knows or cares about the Blood Witch, so maybe knowing can keep them away fro Orlatis for a time. Aye, the skinchanger thing can be seen as confirmed. After all, that is not exactly unheard of beyond the Wall. The rest of her powers though... well, that is a big mystery. After all, the only accounts Harrigon has are from his own men and they can be hardly seen as reliable after being driven half-mad by the cold. What they said could either be the truth or it could be a severe exaggeration. Harrigon believes in the latter, but the Swan will appear eventually, giving you a more defined idea of what she can and cannot do.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 16, 2019 16:43:24 GMT
[Encourage Gared to accompany you] [Tell Deja and the Mask what you know] MASK!!! Hehe, told you he'd appear soon ^^ I certainly hope you enjoyed him in his first part! This definitely won't be the last we've seen of him and Deja in this chapter, they are going to have quite a role to play in the things to come
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 16, 2019 16:56:15 GMT
The Voting is closed! Raenna is going to encourage Gared to stay with Briar and Malina Irae is going to tell Deja and the Mask the truth The first choice was a very important one, as it will massively influence Gared's role in the things to come. He could have been a major help beyond the Wall. However, similarly, he can be quite involved in an upcoming storyline at Winterfell, which is where we are going to see him next. Irae's choice meanwhile will also be important, but maybe not in the way you expect. It was the one I was hoping for, as it will make some things quite a bit easier for me towards the end of this chapter. The next part will be out today. It will feature PoV's from Lachlan and the Hawk, therefore bringing us back to the Vale of Arryn. Last time we saw Lachlan, he arrived at Gull Tower, where he, Osborn Royce and Kyle Coldwater, wish to investigate in Sterling Shett's involvement with the mercenary army that has landed near Gulltown. Orson seems to believe that Sterling is secretly plotting against him. Once there, the trio got into a conversation with Sterling's captain of the guard, Ames Howard, who hinted at a previous history between Osborn and Sterling's only child, Octavia. Noticing how uncomfortable this made Osborn, Lachlan decided to change the topic. Meanwhile, the Hawk and the three companies made camp near Gulltown. Overseeing it, the Hawk first spoke to his spymaster Sharako, before receiving a visit from the Pig. Both leaders are convinced that this is going to be their last war and the Pig spoke about his successor. He also asked the Hawk about who would succeed him, a highly delicate matter, considering that the Hawk has led the Company of the Hawk for over sixty years. Likely candidates were his second-in-command Montoya and his squire Hazar, but the Hawk, unwilling to make this decision just yet, told the Pig that he has not decided on this yet.
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Post by aliscot on Feb 16, 2019 22:37:14 GMT
[Encourage Gared to accompany you] [Tell Deja and the Mask what you know] MASK!!! Hehe, told you he'd appear soon ^^ I certainly hope you enjoyed him in his first part! This definitely won't be the last we've seen of him and Deja in this chapter, they are going to have quite a role to play in the things to come I loved the two of them, eager to see more.
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Post by LiquidChicagoTed on Feb 17, 2019 3:57:01 GMT
Lachlan Lachlan forced a smile. “Well... say, Ames, how long have you been in Ser Sterling's service?”, he asked, to which the guard raised an eyebrow. He smirked, glancing at Osborn, who was visibly relieved by Lachlan's decision. At the same time, he was certain there was a lot the heir to Runestone hadn't told them and in due time, he'd have to. But Lachlan was a patient man. There was no need to rush Osborn into an uncomfortable situation. Ames chuckled, before he shook his head. “Way over a decade now”, he spoke. “Closer to twenty years, I think. I've been a green boy when I joined his household, freshly kicked out of some small sellsword company. Probably for the better, as all of them died against Volantis. Sterling's a good man, treated me decently and gave me a chance to show my worth, to become a better man” He winked at Osborn. “Your friend here might be the better jouster, but I have kicked his ass anytime in the meelee” Osborn made a sour face. “You got lucky”, he hissed in return. “In a fair duel, you'd never stand a chance” Ames shrugged. “Well, ain't that a reason to never have a fair duel against you?”, he remarked. “Don't get me wrong, mylord, I don't shy away from a fight, but I never understood these men who rushed into a losing battle” “Which is why I appointed you my captain of the guard”, a voice spoke and the four men looked into the direction it came from. Down the stairs, behind Ames, walked two men, one of them being the one who had spoken. He was not too old, perhaps in his late forties, with the early hints of grey showing at the sides of his otherwise raven black hair. Warm, blue eyes, sticking out of a sharp, pale face. He was lean, not much of a knight in terms of build, looking more like an administrator, a maester perhaps, than the Knight of Gull Tower, though the fine tabard he wore left little doubt for speculation. Behind Sterling Shett walked an older man. Where Sterling was lean, he was gaunt, safe for a round, fleshy face. The right half of it seemed almost numb, with one eyelid hanging low and the mouth pressed into a permanent sneer. The only remnants of grey hair left on his otherwise bald head was a thinning circle around it. A moment passed, as Osborn and Sterling looked at each other. Then, a wide smile formed on Royce's face, as they gave each other a warm hug. “I knew guests would arrive in time”, Sterling said. “But I never expected you. It is good to see you again, my boy” He patted him onto the shoulder, before he turned to Lachlan and Kyle. “But allow me to introduce myself. Sterling Shett, knight of Gull Tower” Lachlan bowed slightly before him. “I am Ser Lachlan Keding”, he introduced himself. “And this is my cousin, Lord Kyle Coldwater” Sterling raised an eyebrow. “Quite some entourage you have with you, Osborn”, he spoke, as he glanced at each of the three men. “I take it this is not just a courtesy visit, yes?” His smile was thin, almost reluctant and he sighed mildly, as Osborn nodded. “I'm afraid you're right, my friend”, he confirmed. “My father wants to send word to each of his bannermen. Houses Coldwater and Keding already know of what is going on, so I volunteered to bring the news to you and Torgold” Sterling raised an eyebrow, just for a second longer than what would have been inconspicuous. “I... see”, he spoke, as he glanced at his companion, as if he just now noticed him. The man made a sour face in return, his sneer getting slightly wider. The right side of his mouth didn't move at all. “Otho Wayland”, he introduced himself, his voice deep and booming, even if it was spoken in a strange mumble, with one side of his mouth being almost completely unmoving. “High Judge of the Order” He announced his title as if he expected the visitors to immediately recognize it and looked visibly pleased as Lachlan and Kyle took a bow in front of him. “I am surprised to see a member of the Order here in Gull Tower”, Kyle replied, repeating what they had practised during their journey. If Viera was correct and Otho had a hand in the current events, then he had to be kept oblivious. Otho nodded, his sneer growing a bit smaller. “Times are changing”, he stated. “The Order has stayed passive for too long. But that is in the past now. I am travelling around the Vale, trying to reactivate some of our old contacts” “Such as Sterling?”, Osborn brought up. “I never knew he had connections to the Order” Sterling shook his head. “That would have been my father”, he stated. “Though I am all too happy with hearing Ser Otho's request” This caused Lachlan to raise an eyebrow. “His request?”, he asked and Otho nodded. Before he could explain, though, Sterling continued to talk. “Now... Osborn, you wanted to tell me about your father's message, yes?”, he remarked. “Perhaps we shall discuss this in private, while Otho explains the nature of his visit to your companions. I believe they will be much more interested in what he has to offer either way” “So be it”, Osborn agreed, as he rose from his seat. “It might be better if this stays between the two of us for now” He glanced at Ames and Otho, both of them clearly realizing this was directed at them. While the captain of the guard merely chuckled, Otho Wayland looked downright insulted, though he said nothing towards Osborn's comment. Osborn and Sterling walked towards the staircase, leading towards the upper floors of Gull Tower. That hasn't exactly been what they discussed, but Lachlan could see how it might be better if Osborn gets an impression of their host first. He knew him best, after all, and Lachlan had trust in his ability to uncover the truth in this situation. “I think he doesn't really trust me”, Ames remarked. “It really hurt his pride when I talked about the Lady Octavia, didn't it?” He chuckled to himself, as he leant back. “Anyone want some ale?” Kyle nodded at this. “Seven, yes”, he agreed. “Now we're speaking the same language” He grinned, giving Lachlan a nudge with his elbow. “Come on, cousin, you could use a stiff drink”, he remarked and Lachlan sighed. “Yeah, I'll take one”, he agreed. That being said, while Ames left to fetch them some drinks, Lachlan immediately turned his attention back to Otho. “Your...”, he began, before he paused, smiling with slight embarrassment. “Forgive me, mylord, how do I adress you? You don't belong to a noble house, if I am not mistaken” Otho rolled his eyes. “Your excellency would be acceptable”, he stated. “But titles shall not stand in the way of successful negotiations” “Negotiations, huh?”, Kyle spoke, his voice unable to hide his . Lachlan knew of his cousin's opinion on the Order, one he shared to some degree. Otho nodded. “I know of nobles who rejected the Order. They consider us rabble-rousers, who want nothing but to bring pompous noblemen to their knees” He shook his head, giving them a crooked half-smile. “You want no such thing?”, Lachlan asked and Otho chuckled coldly. “What many don't see is how the noble houses of Westeros can benefit from the Order's guidance”, he explained and Lachlan did not like the way he pronounced that last word. “Tell me, Lord Coldwater, you know of the situation in the Riverlands. Why, I ask you, is it that King Harren has such tremendous problems with his subjects?” Kyle genuinely thought about this for a moment. “He is cruel tyrant”, he answered. “The people hate him, because he...” He paused and his eyes widened. “I see where you're going with this”, he merely stated and Otho nodded. “King Harren and his brood are among the worst in all Westeros. They rape, steal and murder whatever and whomever they desire, but as far as I can tell, he is finally getting what he justly deserves”, he explained, before he shrugged. “All that could have been avoided, had he just cared for upholding the law, instead of finding more and more ways of breaking it” “That's not all there is to it though”, Lachlan spoke. Yorick, House Keding's maester, was from the Riverlands and even though it had been two decades since he left them to study at the Citadel, his passion for his home was unmatched. Through him, Lachlan prided himself with knowing quite a lot about the Riverlands. “They hate him because he is an invader to their lands. Because his Ironborn subjects are sometimes even worse than him” Otho nodded. “Of course, you can never satisfy everyone”, he replied calmly. “But do you truly think that he would have to face a proper rebellion, if not for his cruelty?” Kyle raised an eyebrow. “So, in a way, you're saying all this could have been prevented, had he just followed your ideals?”, he asked, a bit sharply, to which Otho smirked. “If only he would have followed the law”, he spoke. “The same law he himself installed. That is all we really ask for” “Under your guidance, I presume”, Kyle replied, to which Otho nodded. “Naturally, but it is to our mutual benefit. The Order cares for the people and shouldn't that be a ruler's primary desire as well? A peaceful land, lawfully ruled, results in quiet, satisfied people. In the end, this is what should truly matter. The Order offers a way for any ruler to keep an eye on what his people truly want” Finally, he managed a smile as he looked at Lachlan. “You are the heir to Phoenixfall, am I right?”, he asked. “And you speak with your father's authority” Lachlan gave him a nod. “Why do you ask?”, he replied. Otho raised an eyebrow, as he looked from him to Kyle, who had his arms crossed. “Simply because I would like an opportunity to show you what we are doing”, he explained. “Why the Order can help you and why your prejudice might be unfounded. If you allow it, I would like to visit your father's lands” His words were calm and seemed genuine. However, Lachlan could not shake off Viera's warnings. If the old woman was right, then Otho might have a role in whatever happened in Gulltown right now. Could he truly allow such a dangerous man on his lands? At the same time, maybe keeping him close was an opportunity to figure out what Otho truly wanted... [Invite Otho to Phoenixfall] [Tell him to stay away from Phoenixfall]
The Hawk Reluctantly, the Hawk shook his head. “I don't think I have made my mind up when it comes to this, my friend”, he mumbled and the Pig shrugged. “Well, you shouldn't wait for too long, my friend”, he spoke. “I itch for a fight. Hopefully it won't be too long until we can do what we're best at” He smiled. “But that is your business. The Company of the Hawk belongs to you and I will not tell you have to do” “Thank you”, the Hawk spoke, as both men stared down the walls of Gulltown and onto the place where the three companies built their camp. Together, they were a formidable force, as it had always been. Each by their own had their flaws, would be nothing more than another small company out of the hundreds that littered the Disputed Lands. It was quite likely that without their union, they wouldn't have survived as long. The Hawk sighed, as he looked down at his hands. The left was resting on the wall, calm and steady. The right one, though, was shivering slightly. Tensing up, he opened and then closed the fist, which put a frown on his face. It hadn't been that long, has it? He sighed, as he realized that it would be time to visit Hadrax, once again. Luckily, the Pig hadn't noticed his sigh, nor the uncharacteristic shaking of his hand. What the man was much rather preoccupied with was the figure rushing up the stairs. Tall and wiry, his dark skin making him stand out from any crowd, Maldar the Quiver approached. The Summer Islander was the best archer the Hawk had ever seen in his life, which meant quite something, so it was no surprise that he was the one in charge of every archer within the three companies. “Pig!”, he yelled to his leader, even before he reached them. His melodic accent and the deep, smooth voice turned even a word as simple as that into a small song. “Pig, you need to have a look at this”, he continued, as the Pig straightened his back. “What's going on, Maldar?”, he asked, somewhat impatiently. Unlike the Hawk, the Pig had little love for the day to day business of his company. He was still good at it, or at least good enough for the company to manage, but it was clear that it gave him no joy. Maldar shot him a wide, bright smile. “Jorario sent me”, he revealed. “He and Agar have fallen into a bit of a dispute on how to handle the zorses” The Pig rolled his eyes. “The zorses are Jorario's duty”, he growled. “Why is Agar getting involved” He paused, placed a hand on Maldar's shoulder, before he sighed. “You know what, bring me there. I'll teach him to meddle with Jorario's business” He turned to the Hawk. “Well, seems like we have to cut this one short”, he spoke, giving him a brief grin. “You know, in moments like this I'm glad I never married that lass from Qohor. Can't imagine how much worse it'd be with a nagging wife and a nagging company” He chuckled at his own joke, as he gave the Hawk a nod. “Another time, my friend”, he added, before he narrowed his eyes. “You alright? You look, well... don't get me wrong, but you look old. I mean, you look your age” The Hawk forced himself to smile thinly. “Offence taken, Pig”, he stated sarcastically, trying to overplay that he was feeling a little light-headed. He had to ask himself, how much of how he felt was due to actually frailty, and how much was just the fear? Yes, by every god willing to listen, he had to pay Hadrax a visit soon. “Uh... Pig, before you go...”, the Hawk added and the Pig, already down the first couple steps, turned around, raising an eyebrow. “Do you know, by any chance, where Hadrax is?” The Pig shrugged. “He's one of yours, I don't keep an eye on them”, he said. “If he's not in the camp, then he probably accepted Arryn's offer. Not sure what you'd want from him, though. Something about that man is off, I'm telling ya” The Hawk smiled coldly. “No need to tell me”, he clarified and with this, the talk was over. The Hawk remained up there, glancing at the Pig, who was dragging his massive body down the stairs. He himself waited until the man was out of sight, before he began to follow. Usually, the climb was no problem for him, but today, it was different. He took it slow, there was no need to hurry and still, as he reached the ground, he was out of breath. In moments like this, the Hawk felt his age. Truth be told, he would have likely succumbed to it years ago, if not for Hadrax' assistance. But there was no doubt about it, his body was getting weaker. A life could be prolonged, given the right methods, but death couldn't be cheated forever. It was a topic he had always avoided in his talks with Hadrax, but looking down at his shaking hand, perhaps it was time to address it. And perhaps the Pig was right. A new Hawk had to be chosen at some point in the future. He grabbed his right forearm, clenching it tightly until the shaking stopped. Then, he took a deep breath, as he calmed down from the effort it took him to climb the stairs. He was a warrior, had been one for all his life. No, he would not allow something this simple to slow him down. Forcing a defiant smile on his face, he began to walk away from the wall. Hadrax... all he had to do was to find Hadrax. “Ser Hawk, a word”, a familiar voice called out for him and the Hawk suppressed a sigh. Perhaps Hadrax had to wait. Though with him feeling a bit better already, perhaps the man could wait just as well. Zeth Arryn was approaching him. Unlike virtually any other nobleman the Hawk had ever meant, Arryn walked without any guards in the city. He kept his rapier by his side, unmistakably able to defend himself, but it still revealed a lot about the confidence with which he moved through the city. “Mylord Arryn”, the Hawk greeted him, sporting a slight smile. He took a bow, nothing too deep though, as the man was not his employer. “I take it everything is fine at your mansion?”, he asked and Zeth gave him a nod. “The Rat and his private guard have settled in well”, he spoke. “I find myself surprised that he is getting along with Torgold. Such a small man, yet he has a taste for a good fight” “We love what we can never have, mylord”, the Hawk replied. “For the Rat, it's being strong, being a fighter. He has the mindset, but for all his intelligence, what he truly desires is to be a man like Lord Tollet, a warrior through and through” He smiled. “I am glad he is settling in well though. Few accept the Rat as he is” “Lady Octavia recognizes his value”, Zeth assured him. “That goes for all three of you. You will be crucial in the war to come” The Hawk nodded. “I have men who cannot wait for this war”, he spoke. “But frankly, I have seen enough bloodshed for a lifetime. The sooner we get this over with, the better” He narrowed his one eye. “But I won't get my wish, won't I?” Zeth pressed his lips together, before he shook his head. “Everything is pointing towards a more lengthy employment”, he admitted. “At some point, we have to wait for Orson Royce to make a move and by the gods, that man knows how to be patient” The Hawk grinned without any joy in his expression. “Sounds like the kind of man I'd never want to play Cyvasse with”, he admitted and Zeth was polite enough to laugh. “Or any sort of game, for that matter, Ser Hawk”, he added. The Hawk raised an eyebrow, over the orb of dragonglass that replaced his missing eye. “What leads you here, mylord?”, he then brought up. “We're not having a chance little meeting on the streets, haven't we?” Zeth shook his head. “Truth be told, I don't come here very often”, he revealed. “The docks are more my world. Seeing the ships come and go, hearing their tales of faraway lands. The walls however? Eh, I cannot see much beauty in them”, he explained, before he took a slight bow. “No, I come here because I want to invite you over for dinner. You've stayed away from the mansion for a few days now and Lady Octavia is eager to discuss your next steps” This caused the Hawk to grimace. He hadn't been at the mansion for a few days, yes, and that was already enough for Octavia to invite him over? He had worked with the controlling kind before and it had never been enjoyable. Did she worry he would distance himself? Was the Rat not enough to represent the three companies? The Hawk had his reasons to stay with his people and now more than ever was he convinced it was the right choice. “Dinner, yes?”, he asked. “Who will be attending?” Before Zeth could reply, he cut him off, as the twitching returned to the fingers of his right hand. With a frown, he grabbed the forearm again, which the nobleman noticed with slight surprise. “What I mean is, I am looking for one of my men, you might have seen him”, he spoke. “Clad in black, he's blonde and fair-skinned, looks a lot younger than he actually is” To his dismay, Zeth shook his head. “No, I am afraid I don't know this man”, he admitted. “It seems he must have stayed with the rest of your company. Your man Montoya is the only one who has chosen to reside within my mansion” The Hawk smirked. “And we both know that is so that he can try to charm your Lady Octavia”, he replied, to which Zeth laughed, this time genuinely. “You are probably right”, he admitted. So, no Hadrax at Zeth's mansion. This put the Hawk through a difficult decision. He could not postpone his meeting with his most important underling for much longer. No, his help was not just appreciated, it was mandatory. And yet, he just received an invitation for a dinner with his employer, who had proven herself to be both, impatient and controlling. Perhaps he could wait, just a little bit longer, before meeting Hadrax, so that he could attend Zeth's dinner without offending the Lady Octavia. Perhaps... [Accept Zeth's invitation] [Decline and visit Hadrax]
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