File: HouseReynoldHeraldry.png (44 KB, 401x406)

44 KB PNG

Dramatis Personae:

>Ser Mervyn Reynold, 25, Our MC.
Ser Mervyn grew up the son of a bastard hedge knight who did not know his father and a blacksmiths daughter. After his mother passed at the age of 5, his father began travelling the westerlands to sell his sword to anyone who would hire him. Eventually, the man passed away to a pox when Mervyn was 17, but not before knighting his son. He than took his fathers horse and mule and travelled in the same way. Eventually, he heard of a tourney for a young maiden’s hand, he attended and won handily over many much nobler knights. He now serves the Lady of the House, Elleanor Reynold as her sworn shield.

>Alyssa Reynold, 17, Mervyn’s Wife
Alyssa is a pretty young girl who is currently 5 and a half months pregnant. She is driven and tenacious, if not impatient, and she has been reared to be a player in the game by her mother. While not considered beautiful as her elder sister might be, her red curls and sea green eyes certainly make her comely. She has a knack for weaving through the art of noble intrigue and has a knack for remembering heraldry and hose history.

>Lord Titus Reynold, 46
Lord Titus was born Titus Lantell of Lannisport, and grew up to be a knight who swore his sword to the Lannisters. During the Reyne/Tarbeck Rebellion, he was commanded by Tywin Lannister to march with 300 men to confine the Lady Elleanor, than a maiden of 16 years, and prevent House Reynold from aiding the Reynes and Tarbecks in rebellion as a favour to her father, the late Lord Marqus. A relatively oafish man who cares not for the workings of his house, he is not without a degree of cunning and ultimately seeks to usurp his wife as the true head of the house.

>Lady Elleanor Reynold, 36
Lady Elleanor is a woman who remembers. Once betrothed to Ser Reynard Reyne, she endured losing both her father and betrothed in the span of a year at the age of 16, and was subsequently married off to a lowly knight of Lannisport. She endured the dishonour, even providing 6 children to her husband, all in the memory of her father and Reynard. She is the true power in Ember Peak, and seeks to retain control of her house by any means necessary.

File: MervynVisualInspo.jpg (19 KB, 236x354)

19 KB JPG

--- 24/03/281 ---
You tried to stifle a yawn as the meeting dragged on. These meetings happened every month or two, to discuss trade and incomes, defence and upcoming events, and for the most part they bored you out of your mind. Currently, the topic of conversation was the looming wedding, which for some reason was being held in a mere 2 months. An absurd time frame for such an event. Maester Aethan was counselling the use of the dowry to finance a tournament and prize, while Lord Titus was against it, stating that the dowry could be put towards much better things. The talks dragged on before you shuddered awake at the mention of your name.

“-vyn? Ser Mervyn?” Lady Elleanor and the rest of the council looks to you. “Y-yes?” you ask guiltily, having being caught with your mind wandering. “We are curious as to what your thoughts would be towards a tournament and the events? We have no tourney field so we are limited to a relatively small affair, but still, we could perhaps finance a melee of sorts? Or perhaps an archery contest. What re your thoughts on the matter?” the lady of the house asks. You stop for a moment and let out a soft hmmm. A melee would allow you to compete in two events, and a squires melee was always good for morale and would give the younger boys and men something to look forward to. As for archery, well you had no interest in such things due to your lack of ability with a bow…

“Well, a melee would certainly be a way to bring out more men for the event, allow those who prefer to fight on their own feet a chance at glory” you begin thoughtfully. “And I suppose a small melee for the squires and younger men wouldn’t be amiss. A knighthood being the prize so as to keep costs down.” The table looks to you when you say this with mixed reactions of shock and contentment. Perhaps you weren’t just the simple sword that most people made you out to be. “A good idea Ser Mervyn” says Titus Reynold in a surprising display of support. “Perhaps Tygon, or even the young Tyrus could compete in such an event? I’m sure they’d be thrilled to be able to compete for his sisters honour”. Tygon was definitely of an age to compete, and while he was not the most martial of men, there was little reason to not. As for Tyrus however, it was an idea you would have to think about. The boy would be on the very young side of those who would compete in such an event, and the real question was if he had the mettle to compete yet regardless. You let the statement hang in the air before Lady Elleanor interjects. “Well, that is a matter for another day, but the melees seem like a positive idea. Unless there are any objections” she says as she looks around the table “than we shall continue and plan for such an event. The squires melee may take place in the yard I think. And as for the joust and melee, perhaps down by the inn. It was always pertinent to allow the small folk to enjoy the festivities.”

File: mountains.jpg (122 KB, 900x599)

122 KB JPG

The meeting drags on afterwards for what feels like an eternity. Talking of mining quotas, food productions, trade and the like. These things were not your area of expertise. Talk of defensive structures peak your interest for a moment but they quickly dissolve into talks of mine shafts and costs and expenses. Finally the meeting concludes and you stand from your seat and stretch loudly. You escort Lady Elleanor to her chambers, and while on your way there, you broach the topic of gold, both for your own reimbursement and to fund the cloaks for your men…

“My Lady, I wonder if I may speak to you about…matters of coin.” You begin rather awkwardly. The lady offers you a polite laugh and nods her head for you to continue. “Well, there are two things that I would ask of you. Firstly, I wonder if you might reimburse me for coin spent doing your will. I spent some 10 silver stags during the recent wolf hunt, 5 on sheep for bait and another 5 on the good will of the small folk and your image amongst them…” The lady raises an eyebrow at you and gestures for you to continue which you do. “I simply told them the Lady of Ember Peak wishes to see her people cared for through these last few months of winter, and that she knows and understands their struggles.” This brings an honest smile to her face, and she assures you that a matter of a few silvers will be absolutely no trouble at all.

“Well my Lady, perhaps I may be so bold as to ask you a larger boon. I seek to use the skins of the wolves we hunted as part of a uniform for the Loyal Reigns. I wish to send the skins to Lannisport and have them turned into cloaks. I would need money to purchase some additional skins, the cost of transport and the tailor’s fees…I imagine it will cost in the neighbourhood of 10 dragons.” The Lady of Ember Peak regards you, before thoughtfully pursing her lips as she considers your proposal. “And what would the advantage be should I seek to outfit my cavalry in such raiment? Surely it will not benefit you in combat which you must admit is their primary purpose no?”

“This is true my lady, however, such a uniform would no doubt bring prestige and a much more uniform look to House Reynold. And surely with a wedding on the horizon you would no doubt wish to have your men look their best?” This brings an honest laugh out of her, and she shakes her head smiling. “Alyssa is teaching you well I see. You almost talk like a proper knight now, and not some low born hedge knight either I might add, and your eye for politics is starting to open as well I see? Yes, Ser Mervyn, you shall have the gold for this uniform as you put it. Now, I have other matters to speak to you about, matters that you musn’t speak to anyone else about understood? Not even my daughter.” She says this last statement flatly, in a tone that will expect no argument. “Titus and I have been in talks recently, and the oaf is finally seeing right on the issue of expansion. Currently, we receive nearly all of our food stuffs from trade, and I seek to put an end to that need. There are ample grass covered hills to our south along the lesser Mander…”

The sentence hangs heavy in the air. Your wife had mentioned this not a few weeks ago. You had to give her credit, she was an intelligent and intuitive young woman. “Serret lands border on our own, and the Serrets have fallen out of favour in recent times. Expansion seems appropriate. The marriage to the Brax’s will allow us to use their iron to equip our troops with better weapons, as well as additional troops although hopefully such things prove to be unnecessary. I’ve have penned a letter to my cousin, Lord Mathis Rowan, and it is my plan to starve the Serrets out on either end of the river. With no means to export their silver, or receive food or other trade goods, perhaps they will see reason and allow us to annex the lands immediately to our south. The only flaw in the plan being our own food supplies come from the south. Should this bluff not work, or the Serret’s food stores prove more bountiful than I expect, I need you and your cavalry to be ready. Titus has already informed his cousin and other captain, and should they move for war we must be prepared to expand by force. Silverhill is not a populous region, and while they aren’t particularly militaristic, they should not be under estimated. Understood?” You blink back your shock and she continues without skipping a beat. “Now, of course if this move does come to war, I imagine it won’t come to a boil for several months. But, in the mean time, I would suggest preparing your men. Drills, equipment, anything else you can think of. War is not my strong suit, so I leave such matters to you.

File: TheWesterlands.png (457 KB, 510x550)

457 KB PNG

Additionally, if it comes to it, I will be hard pressed to put you in command. Titus…” she pauses in irritation as she attempts to gain her composure. “Titus is using the situation to his advantage, the pondering idiot, and is insisting that Ser Terrence be given command. A veteran he says, and unfortunately, he has to heft with both of the infantry being loyal to him to enforce his demands.” She mutters under her breath and you could swear you heard her say she wasn’t sure when he got so bold, but she continues on before you can comment. “So, while the garrison remains loyal to me, as do you, the archers remains neutral in the matter putting me at a disadvantage in terms of man power.” She pulls her arm away and her steps quicken slightly as she fumes at the thought of losing even a small matter of control of her house.

You follow her until you reach her chambers, where she bids you a cursory good bye and slams her door and locks the bolt on it. You turn and make your way back down the hallways of Ember Peak, with thoughts of war weighing heavy on your mind. Eventually you make it back to your own bed chambers and enter, finding your wife sitting next to the fire place. She smiles as she always does when she sees you and enquires after how the meeting went. You sigh, and she stands up as fast as her condition allows and walks to you to embrace you in a hug and nestles her head under your chin.

“None of that now husband. Surely it couldn’t have been that bad?” she asks with a kind tone in her voice. Little did she know you think to yourself…

--- Conversation with you wife ---

>Tell your wife about the meeting and the private talk with Lady Elleanor

>Tell your wife about the meeting only

>Tell your wife nothing, you weren’t in the mood to discuss it and needed to think

>>3440991
>>Tell your wife about the meeting only

>>3440991
>Tell your wife about the meeting only

>>3440991
Maybe you should write on twitter 4th that thread is up

You sigh and decide to give her information that you were allowed to tell her. You inform her of sums and mining quotas that meant next to nothing to you. You inform her Maester Aethan had told the council that he had no received no white raven, so winter was not officially over yet despite the apparent weather changes. This brings a frown to her face as you knew she had been looking forward to finally starting the work on her garden again. Lastly, you told her of the tourney you were helping to plan, that a melee and perhaps another one for the younger boys to compete in were on the books. She looks up to you and smiles, looking content in your arms. “You’re sure to win I know it Mervyn” she gushes before burying her face in your chest. “I may only be a simple lady but even I can see that you fight like nobody I’ve ever seen.”

You snort and humbly play down her compliments, stating that any man could win come the day. Sometimes skill wasn’t enough to win. Luck would ultimately be the deciding factor. Something you knew to be true. Luck had always seemed to favour you throughout your life. From escaping the mine complex you had been lost in as a child, to bedding tavern wenches, to being in the right place to hear about the tourney for your wifes hand, luck had always been on your side. But any warrior knew that he couldn’t rely on luck forever. Eventually, it would run dry.

Your wife pulls away and casually walks back to her chair and beckons you over to join her. You pull up your own seat and kick off your boots and let them sit in front of the fire place as you try to free the tension from your shoulders. You look over to your wife and see her curly locks that looks almost alive in the reflection of the flames, and she looks up from her book again and smiles in the silence, the only sound being the crackle of the flames. Eventually though, she puts down her book again and gains your attention before asking “Did anything else get mentioned at the meeting today? You seem troubled love…”

Can I get 3D6 for persuasion please.

Rolled 5, 3, 4 = 12 (3d6)

>>3441040

Rolled 2, 4, 2 = 8 (3d6)

>>3441040

Alright just gunna wait for a third roll here.

The above roll isn't for you.

Rolled 4, 2, 5, 1 = 12 (4d6)

>>3441062
Forgot how to roll apparently

>>3441040

Rolled 3, 5, 3, 3 = 14 (4d6)

>>3441040

Me too OP

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

>>3441080
FUCK

Rolled 1 (1d6)

Alright well done so far guys. I just need the following number and I'll get to writing. In the mean time, I'll take another round of 3d6 for will from you guys.

Rolled 6, 4, 5 = 15 (3d6)

>>3441088

>>3441088
Fuck. I totally meant to say deception not persuasion. Alright for this next test i need 2D6, I repeat 2D6.

Rolled 2, 5, 4 = 11 (3d6)

>>3441088

Rolled 2, 4 = 6 (2d6)

>>3441098
You are being very difficult OP

>>3441101
I know I apologize, I've been planning this all day, not sure why my brain suddenly shit the bed.

Rolled 4, 3 = 7 (2d6)

>>3441098

Rolled 6, 6 = 12 (2d6)

>>3441119
nice

Alright shits figured and I'm writing. Ace work >>3441119, you saved the day there.

Wife totally know we are not being entirely honest with her and is now plotting her revenge.

--- Mervyn’s Persuasion (Deception, Fuck me) ---
Roll: 12 against Intrigue Defence: 10
Success of One Degree (Again, sorry guys for mucking this up. I’ll use your solid 3D6’s for the upcoming will test)
You sigh and begin… “No, It’s just the pressure of this event. I’ve never been on this side of a wedding. Organizing such a big affair, all the commotion and bustle. It just seems to never end. I’ve only ever attended as a common born hedge knight. I’d show up, fight, possibly win and than leave as quickly as I arrived.” Alyssa looks to you with kind eyes and offers you a blown kiss from across the room. “Oh Mervyn, welcome to the world of a noble house” she says with a small cute laugh. “It’s not what you imagined growing up is it? All feasting and fun. There are definitely some negatives that come with ruling.”

She looks to you, and you hold her gaze. Almost casually, she pushes her chest out in a languid stretch, before casually pushing her arms together with a shiver, pushing her bust together. In the last few weeks her normally small breasts and begun to grow, and a small line of cleavage pushed out of her bodice. “Are you sure theres nothing on your mind? I would be remiss in my wifely duties if I didn’t help you…relieve your stress.” She says this wife a heavy tone of seduction, clearly not believing your lie and trying to seduce the information out of you. She stands and walks over to you before straddling your lap, and edges her chest towards your face at which point you sigh heavily and your face falls forward. Hands begin to undo laces, and within moments your staring at your wifes naked and pregnant body. Changes were happening. Her breasts were definitely bigger, and her nipples had started to darken, meanwhile her stomach was swelling out with the unborn child that was growing inside her. She pulls you forward with one finger in a come hither motion as she retreats to your bed. She reclines on the pelt of the female wolf you’d slain a few weeks ago as you tear off your own clothing with vigour.

Soon all you can feel is pressure and warmth. The closeness of two bodies and the pounding rhythm of waves coming against a coast. Your hands explore the soft curves of her supple body and your senses are overwhelmed with her. The sound of her gasps and breath fill your ears and her smell fills the air.

“Tell me Mervyn. Tell. Me. What. Troubles you.” She manages to say in between thrusts and breaths. “You. You. Can. Trust. Me. I’m. Your. Wife.”

--- Alyssa’s Seduction ---
Alyssa: 12 against Mervyn: 15
Seduction failed

You silently continue your duties to your wife, ignoring her questions, shutting her up by pressing your mouth against her own. Eventually, release comes and you lay down next to her, both of you breathless from the exertion, and you curl up together and soon fall sound asleep as you always did.

>>3441162
She is just having sex with us to use us!

That harlot!

--- 25/03/281 ---
You strolled amidst the castle with confidence this morning. It had been awhile since your wife and yourself had enjoyed each others company in such a manner, and you your posture and mood reflected your contentment. You head down to find travelling merchant or otherwise reliable man to transport your wolf pelts to Lannisport. Eventually finding a trader with a few carts of ore from Ember Peaks mines. The man seemed to be capable, with three carts seemingly belonging to him, and he had 4 guards for each cart, each armoured in a coat of mail and armed with both a stout spear and a short sword at his belt. When you walk over to him he hails you and bids you good morning, and you inform him of what your needs are. He nods his head and you begin in detail.

“The finest tailor you can find. Gold stitching. Plus, an additional 8 wolf pelts for a complete regiments worth of wolf skin cloaks.” You’ll hand over the coin, informing the man that there will be a bonus for him when he returns with your goods. This brings a greedy smile to the mans eyes, who assures you that he’ll be back as soon as he can. The man was relatively well off by a traders standards it appeared, and clearly knew the value of gaining a noblemans trust. Before he leaves however, you inform him of another task you would have him do. Pressing an additional dragon into the mans hand, you enquire if he knows of anyone who deals in seeds, bulbs or other various plantings.

“Naturally good Ser, I have many connections in Lannisport. I’ve travelled all across Westeros, and have seen and met many people from all over the world. I must ask though, to what purpose should these seedlings serve? Poison? Beauty? Rarity? I can procure needs most anything with enough time my good Ser. So what purpose do you seek?” You frown at the mention of poison, before explaining that you were merely after an exotic or otherwise beautiful flower for your wifes garden. “Nothing nearly so dangerous. I simply seek a gift for a woman who has a love of gardens.” You say simply. The man replies earnestly, “Of course Ser, I know of a Qohori who has a shop near the docks. She specializes in the sellings of rare flowers that grow in the forest that surround that dark city. I’m certain she will have a bloom that is beyond the beauty of any flower this side of the Narrow Sea.”

With that, the two of you part ways, and he informs you he will have two of his guards collect the pelts before he leaves. You were certain you would need to have a gift to give your wife in coming days. She had given you a shrewd look this morning, which you tried to ignore and feigned ignorance of her motives. If things kept up, and the stresses of the upcoming wedding and her pregnancy, a fight was only inevitable. The day was yours though however.

. What would you like to do?

--- What to do with your day? ---

>Head down to the trading inn, assist with the building of the jousting and melee area

>Train and spar with your men

>Train with Tygon and Tyrus, prepare them for the melee

>Something else (Examples?)

>>3441209
>>Train with Tygon and Tyrus, prepare them for the melee

>>3441209
>Train with Tygon and Tyrus, prepare them for the melee

>>3441209
>Train with Tygon and Tyrus, prepare them for the melee
We want them at their best.

Alright, looks like we're going to train with our friend Tygon, and squire Tyrus. Now heres the question, Tygon is obviously going to compete. Do we allow Tyrus, a boy of 14, to compete in the event as well? There is a chance of glory, and should he succeed it will reflect well upon you, however, should he get seriously hurt or seven forbid, killed, it will look real badly on you. If he just loses, it will mostly get chalked up to him being young and brave, but also a little reckless and inexperienced.

Also, I'm going to whip up some food, so I'll be back in about 20 minutes to start writing.

>>3441221
Test him, if we think he will perform well we might allow him to compete.

>>3441209
>Train with Tygon and Tyrus, prepare them for the melee

>>3441209
Fuck I got here too late. Clearly we have been given the task of working on the archer's captain. Don't think Elleanor could have spelled that out any more clearly. We need to spend some time with him.

>>3441221
Think we should let him compete but also pound into his head that gracefully bowing out and yielding if/when he is beat is not a thing and the part of valor given his youth. But everyone has to start somewhere

Alright well, we could offer to spar with him properly and gauge his abilities that way? And in doing so, teach him when to yield as suggested by >>3441306 ?

Also, there will have a chance to meet the captain of the archers soon enough. He might be asking some things of you if you want him to owe you his loyalty.

>>3441315
Yeah for sure. We might not be a proper knight but nothing is stopping Tyrus from going down the path of a True Knight. Teaching him valuable lessons like that early will path of later.

Eh I'm fine with playing some of the lesser politics. Merv needs to get into that game.

Thoughts of the council meeting still remained in your mind. In particular was a comment that Lord Titus had made about Tygon and possibly Tyrus competing in the squires melee that was now being held. And while Tygon was a man of 19, and stood a half decent chance at winning depending on the field that day, the thought of Tyrus worried you. You soon found yourself in the yard with your friend and your squire, all of your armed and armoured with blunted steel. You were going through the motions of combat with both of them, in particular teaching Tygon a way to deflect a hammer off of a shield without allowing the shield to get damaged during the block. And while he certainly wasn’t the most martial man on earth, nor would he ever become a knight of great renown, he was still a man with a mans strength, and was a quick leaner and tried to apply everything that you taught him. As the training continues, you hear Tyrus approach you from behind and he asks bluntly “Ser Mervyn, will I be allowed to compete in the melee as well?” The boy was braver than his brother, and had a more martial bearing and ferocious personality than his brother, but he’d barely been squiring for you for 6 months, and the strength and skill of his arm was suspect.

“You’ll be fighting against other men your brothers age” you state. “Do you truly believe your ready?” you ask without malice. The boy nods his head almost before the words come out of your mouth. “If you want to compete in the melee, you’ll have to prove yourself to me. So I’ll ask you again Tyrus. Do you think your ready?” This time you see a flicker of fear pass through the boys eyes, before he shakes it away and replies with a resounding yes. “Bring out the live steel than.” You command your squire, who hurries off to fetch the weapons. Tygon begins to question you, but you ignore him, only saying that if he wants to fight amongst men he should practice against a man who knew how to fight.

He returns and hands you your hammer, and takes position with his shield raised and sword at the ready, and brings down the visor of his helm with a soft clang. You yourself breathe in deeply, and the world itself seems at peace for a split second. Despite him being over a decade younger than you, a boy and your friend and wifes younger brother, mercy here would serve no purpose. And so it began…

Roll 8d6 for fighting please and thank you,

Rolled 2, 6, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 6 = 37 (8d6)

>>3441378

Rolled 3, 6, 2, 3, 5, 3, 5, 4 = 31 (8d6)

>>3441378

Rolled 1, 2, 5, 1, 6, 2, 4, 5 = 26 (8d6)

>>3441378

>>3441382
O-oh good God I killed him.

Jesus christ. Yeah so that is definetly a wound for young Tyrus. The kid is pretty brave al things considered though. Alright ill take another round of 8d6 please guys.

Rolled 3, 1, 6, 6, 5, 4, 6, 1 = 32 (8d6)

>>3441398

Rolled 4, 5, 1, 2, 2, 5, 2, 4 = 25 (8d6)

>>3441398

Rolled 3, 5, 6, 1, 4, 3, 5, 3 = 30 (8d6)

>>3441398

Rolled 1, 4, 5, 4, 5, 6, 3, 2 = 30 (8d6)

>>3441398

Don't even need a third roll for this. Tyrus is banged up pretty bad and he's about to learn a pretty sharp lesson here. Writing.

Could we not fuck our squire up TOO bad?

--- Spar between Mervyn and Tyrus ---
--Tyrus Fighting Test Round 1--
Tyrus: 15 against Combat Defence: 8
2 Degrees of Success
Damage 8 (Athletics x 2) – 10 (Armor Rating) = -2 (No Damage)

--Ser Mervyn Fighting Test Round 1 --
Ser Mervyn: 31 against Combat Defence: 8
Unnecessary Degrees of Success
Damage 16 (Athletics x 4) – 9 (Armor Rating) = 7 Damage
Tyrus Health: 9-7=2. Injury taken. Final Health= 5
Bludgeon Fighter Activated. -2 Armour Bonus (Shield Destroyed)

The boy was fast and naïve, and he rushed forwards, perhaps trying to take you by surprise he brings his sword in a wide are on your shield side, before stepping and bringing the angle of the strike towards your head. You almost have time to roll your eyes before using the edge of your shield to harmlessly redirect his blow so it ricochets off of the iron banding on the outside of your shield and clangs loudly against your shoulder. You feel the blow but there isn’t enough force behind it to cause you discomfort. You in turn bring your hammer down with a ferocious blow into his shield which shatters apart as if it was made of dried out kindling. As you feel the wood shatter, you can distinctly feel the wood give way to steel as part of his gauntlet gives you and you can hear a scream of pain come from your squire as your sure you had either sprained or slightly fractured his arm.

--Tyrus Fighting Test Round 2--
Tyrus: 11 against Combat Defence: 8
1 Degree of Success
Damage 4 (Athletics) – 10 (Armor Rating) = -6 (No Damage)

--Ser Mervyn Fighting Test Round 1 --
Ser Mervyn: 30 against Combat Defence: 6
Unnecessary Degrees of Success
Damage 16 (Athletics x 4) – 9 (Armor Rating) = 7 Damage
Tyrus Health: 5-7=-2. Wound taken. Final Health= 5
Bludgeon Fighter Activated. -2 Armour Bonus (Half Plate Damaged)

The boy retreats slightly, but he does not drop his weapons. The last thrashing he’d received at your hands had clearly done it’s job and he roars his pain away and charges you fiercely. After shrugging the remnants of his shield off his arm, he’d taken his longsword in a two handed grip and brought it down in a slash as hard as he could towards your knee. Your thoughts go back to you telling him that against a larger opponent, it was always a prudent move to try and take out their knees. Large men could be felled like a tree if you damaged their roots you’d told him. You smiled as you brought your leg out of reach of the blow and brought your shield down to get in the way, further fatiguing the boy. He is still roaring as was his way, but between puberty and being heard through his helmet the voice comes across as high pitched and tinny. You whirl quickly, bringing your hammer in a swift spinning backhanded strike against the boys head. You can feel the steel of his helmet crunch and give way to the mighty blow and the boy falls to the ground in a heap. You stop for a minute, worrying perhaps you’d gone to far, before you hear a groan as he wrenches off his helmet and tries to stand, even though his legs are wobbling. He brings one more stab against you, which you let harmlessly bounce off of your breastplate, and drop your hammer and shield to the ground and place one hand on the boy’s shoulder, and with the other open the visor to your own helmet. “Tyrus, enough. This is finished.” You say the words softly and as kindly as you could manage. You could see blood leaking from his head where the steel had cut him, and the fury of even a battle such as this raged in his eyes, but you saw the rage give way to calm as the adrenaline left his veins. And as the adrenaline retreated the pain began to flood in…

--- Allow Tyrus to compete in the Melee ---

>yay

>nay

--- Send Tyrus to the maester with??? ---

>Yourself?

>Another servant. You still had Tygon to train

>>3441459
>nay

>Another servant. You still had Tygon to train

>>3441459
>>nay
But the squires melee remains a valid option
>Yourself
Better to make the appearance and not appear a heartless monster.

>>3441459
Nay
Yourself

Fuck I'm having a rough day with being clear about things. The melee I'm refering to with Tygon and Tyrus is the squires melee. Sorry if that changes the votes a whole lot. But either way, we'll escort the boy to the maester ourselves. I'll give it a few more minutes before I start writing, but again apologies if I didn't make that clear.

>>3441474
But isn't Tygon a knight already? Hes 19, should be at least. I've my doubts a noble first born son wouldn't be knighted before being wed at 19 years old. Kind of automatically disqualifies him from a squires melee.

And yeah that changes my vote. Thought Tyrus just was trying to punch above his weight class, let him try his hand in the squires melee, not the regular.

>>3441474
yeah im changing to yay in that case.

>>3441486
>yay

>>3441486
Tygon isn't really a very martial person. He never really showed a whole lot of interest in being a knight so it has never come up. He's got a good mind to be a commander, he just isn't that good at fighting. He isn't technically a squire either, just a lordlings son, so I figured I'd throw him in there. The wedding being his however is a good point that I didn't consider. I guess I'll put that out there and ask for some opinions on whether or not he should be competing at all. Good catch!!

I suppose if we wanted we could offer to knight him ourselves before the wedding if we wanted too, which would than allow him to compete in the regular melee. That still asks the questions though if he should be competing at his own wedding,

>>3441496
That seems like a really odd thing to let slip by both his father and mother, just from a purely political standpoint. Using the first born to build relations with another house by means of squiring in their household or hosting a great knight to squire and train him at home seems like something they'd both jump on. Being as shrewd as they are. And not being particularly martial wouldn't matter too much, it's not like he's Petyr Baelish, hes still capable so one would assume he'd at least have recieved a knighthood for simply completing his training. There's a level of prestige and respect there.

Granted, maybe he never did, and that simply isn't his way and that's fine. But I'd imagine he'd lose some serious respect competing in a squires melee at his own wedding. Probably get some less than savory rumors about. So if he isn't going to be martial outright best to keep him away from it.

>>3441507
You definitely arn't wrong. Titus wanted to have him sent to Casterly Rock, or at the very least Lannisport to squire for someone. The problem came from Elleanor. In fact, it took her until her fourth child before she was willing to allow one of them to be fostered. She has a bit of a blind spot when it comes to her children, and can act a bit irrationally. When combined with how her fathered died, she didn't want him anywhere near a sword or armour. Obviously he learned the basics but that was as far as she'd allow. It worked out because Tygon wasn;t ever much of a fighter anyways, but still. It's a grudge between Titus and Elleanor. But time eventually dulls things, and when Mervyn came to the keep, Titus was insisting that Tyrus become a squire. Elleanor used that to her advantage by having him squire to a knight in her household, whom she had seen best many reputable knights. Hence another reason Elleanor is fond of Mervyn.

>>3441518
Alright fair enough then. Nothing wrong with having a more scholarly heir. Different.

But yeah, I'd definitely say he should avoid anything at his wedding then. Thanks for clearing up.

>>3441528
agreed

“You fought well Tyrus. But part of being a knight is to know when to yield. That discretion is sometimes the better part of valour.” As you say this you reach down and pull the long sword from his hand. “I-I yield Ser” he quietly whispers. The sudden change in attitude had you slightly worried and you quickly took him by the arm. Where the boy came by such a fury you had no idea, but when he became a man grown it would surely be a terrifying thing to behold. As you begin to walk the boy to the masters yourself, you get Ser Art’s attention and gesture him towards Tygon, still needing drilling and practice, and you exit the yard, not bothering to change out of your armour. You walk down a long hallways, take a left than a right, followed by another two lefts and begin to climb a tall flight of stairs that led to Maester Aethans domain. Like your own chambers, the maesters chambers were also near the outer edge of the keep, in order to facilitate the ravens. You make it up the stairs slowly, as Tyrus leans heavily on you on account of his shaken legs.

When you reach the top, you knock on the heavy wooden door and it opens almost immediately, and you find Aethan waiting for you expectedly. Your eyes meet the dark grey of the maesters, which match his grey robes, and he takes the squire off your arm and seats him on the bench. He gets to work quickly, examining the boy’s wounds, quickly binding his sore arm which he assures you is only a sprain, before conducting a test involving him taking a feather and having Tyrus follow it with just his eyes. He mutters to himself at the result, before taking out a needle and thread and stitching up the laceration on the side of his head. Tyrus hisses in pain as he does so, but is otherwise quiet. Maester Aethan chats to you while he does his works, seemingly undistracted. “The sprain is minor, and should find itself healed within 2 weeks even if left untreated. With a splint however, it should be fine within the week.” In and out the steel needle went, methodical and meticulous the master was. Everything about him. From the cleanliness of his chambers, to the way he kept his hair shaved. “The laceration is minor, despite the amount of blood flowing from it. Perhaps a thicker padded coif could be worn in order to prevent such an injury from happening again. However…” he trails off suddenly.

The man originally hailed from the Stormlands. The Marches to hear him tell it. Originally a fourth son to a knight of House Caron, he’d been sent to the citadel to study when she showed an aptitude for letters at the age of 14. “Concussion.” He said plainly. “A matter of the brain moving around in the brain case and contacting the skull. A common enough injury, although it could be prevented again by using a thicker padded coif. He’ll need to be on bed rest for a month I wager. Growing up in Nightsong I saw many boys suffer from them. With your blessing Ser, I’ll keep him here for the next few days to monitor him. It is important that he be monitored.” You consent to the plan and Aethan continues bustling around, and you hear Tyrus ask quietly “Ser, did I pass? Will I be allowed to fight with the other squires?” This brings a laugh to your lips to which you reply “HA!! With the amount of courage and ferocity you show, I damn well might near bet on you to win Tyrus.” He looks back at you with a squint in his eye, the light from the candle Aethan was holding in front of him, but you can see a pained smile on his face and he gives you a weak thumbs up before the maester leans him back into a resting position. You close the door behind you and shake your head in amusement. Had you ever been so reckless in your own youth you wonder….


And I think I'm going to end it here for tonight. I'll be back on Thursday night to pick back up again. Ill post the updates on twitter.

Just want to say thanks again for your patience during my confusion, and thanks again for playing guys. OOC looks like Tygon won;t be competing, That was a good catch though and I appreciate that it was pointed out. Makes way more sense. I'm hoping to get across as we meet the siblings that I can make clear that Titus and Elleanor have(had?) drastically different plans for their children, the relationships between the family reflect that accordingly. Anyways, I'll be around for another hour or so to answer any questions or discuss things.

>>3441543
thanks for running

>>3441543
I evil wife tried to use sex to make us talk.

How often has she done that before ?

>>3441548
Thanks for playing!! If you've got any criticism or comments feel free to let me have it. Obviously not rushing my typing and proof reading my posts will help the flow and prevent fuck ups like I had in the beginning, and to make things more clear like the squires melee and regular melee. BUT ANYWAYS!!

To answer your question, yeah she's done it before. And succeeded. And while she doesn't have any bonus dice in seduction, she still is pretty good at it. 4 Dice is nothing to sneeze at. And the more time she spends with you, the better she'll become at it.

>>3441562
You do seem to make a few mistakes when it comes to "Than" and "Then". Also be a bit better to inform people on twitter you are running

>>3441543
So given Tygon's less than natural aptitude in regards to fighting what are his pursuits? You mentioned he'd make a fair commander, so I assume he still understands and has studied war. But what else? Has he taken on any responsibilities befitting a noble heir?

Regarding our wife.
>She has a knack for weaving through the art of noble intrigue and has a knack for remembering heraldry and hose history

I assume hose history was horse history, maybe? If yes, which is a random pursuit, does she have a favorite, could she help Merv find the best for his cavalry? If no, what did you mean there?

Mentioned it briefly in the last thread but what's canon for your quest?

The odds of our wife dying in childbirth which will result in us carrying a grudge against the child which will bite us in the ass many years iin advance?

>>3441562
Are you really the Father who are too ashamed to show himself but still want to run ?

>>3441565
I'm 100% guilty of then and than. Something I'll aspire to fix in the future. And in the future, I'll try to update 2-3 hours in advance, and once the thread is up.

>>3441567
Tygon has the makings of a pretty decent lord. He has a head for numbers, and perhaps more importantly he's extremely likable. He makes friends and allies of almost everyone he meets. He sometimes sits in on his parents personal meetings, and almost always attends when his mother holds court.

Sorry, that was meant to say house history. Alyssa's two biggest passions are gardening and reading, of which she specifically enjoys reading about the history of the houses of westeros. So she understands alot of house rivalries and that kind of stuff.

And I can't see a reason not to include the other /tg/ and /qst/ houses in the canon. Brachen will definitely make an appearence, and I'd like to perhaps have a cameo appearance with the Malroys eventually. Perhaps pay homage to the other houses through easter eggs and the like.

>>3441568
1/100. When the time comes, We'll roll a D100 for it.

>>3441571
No Sir. That's high praise, but I wouldn't put myself nearly in his league. I'm just an uneducated labourer who used to be good at english when I was in school.

>>3441576
How many children are we planning. 5 ? 7 ?

>>3441588
That's up to you guys. So unless we manage to become a knightly house or Tygon, Joanna, Tyrus and James all die somehow and we become Lord of Ember Peak, there is no influence cost to having children to the sky's the limit.

Love the quest and love our merciless protagonist. Great job, QM!

May I suggest getting to know the archer captain next?

>>3441595
So the play to go for is have 10 kids and somehow help the Reynolds get powerful enough that they make us a bannerman house of theirs? If we have the kids before gaining a title, we don’t spend influence, I think.

>>3441678
Supporting this.

Also, I think having a big family is a good idea. If we have enough kids, along with the other three boys in the family, we could almost be Frey like in our ability to get our hands in every pot.

I think the problem with having a big family with hopes of being landed someday is that if we have even 2-3 girls we're going to be putting out some wealth just for their dowries if we want them to marry even remotely well. A difficult thing to do for a landed knight, and even more difficult for one that is just a sworn sword, which is currently all we are and will be for some time in all likelyhood. And then the possibility of having a lot of boys means we'll have less and less for them to inherit which could cause in fighting and a pressure to find them all places within other households and organizations and hope they're able to marry decently if at all.

I don't think we should try to project beyond our means. Merv seems aware enough of the trials and tribulations that come with being poor and generally seems frugal enough to know what his limitations are. Three, maybe four children, seems to be pushing it we should be aware of that.

>>3442194
The plan is simple. We murder our inlaws.

>>3442198
Quit being Tywin.

>>3442217
What ? The plan is fool proof. Infact, i say we should tell our wife about it. I am sure she will gladly join our ambition!

>>3442194
That's fair, but Robert's Rebellion is coming. Reading the books it seems that wars and battles aftermath tend to breed titles and gifts of land. Who's to say we don't kill some crownlands lord and get given his lands as a result for supporting the winning side? I mean it depends on our role obviously but wars do shake up the social order a bit no?

>>3442385
Except the Westerlands were kept out of 90% of the war by Tywin nursing his grudge and waiting to see who would win. Only marching to war to sack Kingslanding after Bobby B killed Rheagar.

>>3442669
Well. If we take part of the sack we can fill our pockets so that we could probably buy our own land.

>Turns out it was Mervyn that lead the sack of Steadhold killing off the Malroys in the castle

>>3442677
Or we just sack Kingslanding and THAT MOTHERFUCKER ROYCE LED THE STEADHOLD SACKING.

>>3442683
I thought Royce sacked the Malroy property in Kingslanding ?

Either way. If we partake in the sack we will become filthy rich

>>3442687
Yeah he was definitely a part of the Kings Landing mance. Because of the whole raping/scalping Isis and Brynden's mom.

I want to say the culprit of the sack of Steadhold has never been given in quest by Father. But it was specifically mentioned that a Lannister/Westerlander garrison had done it under the guise of peace. That's when Pastorm and Brynden's dad died and stole all the good horses.

Jesus christ Father chill out.

But yeah, strictly speaking, Merv could have something to do with that.

We should totally get some Malroy coursers for our cavalry before the war breaks out though.

>>3442750
We will take them when we sack the place.

>>3442753
But that's meta gaming to the extreme. Not to mention it's in 4 years at the earliest. What we know now is that we're potentially to go to war with the Serrets in the coming year. Good war-trained horses would be a wise investment, even if they aren't Malroy horses.

That being said, Father did place their price at 2 Wealth. So that's what, ~420 dragons? Not impossible to gather ourselves, if we win the melee I'm sure the prize might cover a good handful of it. If we want to go down that route.

Some decent discussion going on here. I don't want to encourage meta-gaming too much here so I'll keep it brief. There is a big event coming in about 8 months. It's fairly obvious what it is, plus if anyone else has read Malroy's House History, you should be able to connect the dots.

>>3443197
We are going to be dumbfounded by Brynden's archery ?

Hey OP. I was wondering what timezone you are in ?

Just so i can match it up with my own. Will help if you also gave a time rather than just "evening"

Yeah for sure. It's not always straight forward because I travel across 4 time zones for my job, but currently I'm on Mountain Standard Time. When I post a twitter update I'll be sure to include the time zone I'm in.

>>3442233
Nah, it'd be easier to plot with Elleanor to kill Titus, and maybe give her the D if she want's it.

>>3443197
Ah the Tourney at Harrenhal. That makes sense. So we'll have a chance to compete against/meet the other Malroys. Thatd be neat. Well we'd be introduced to their horses then, could definitely open up the option.

Idk which Malroy we'd be more likely to compete against, Donold or Pastorm.

>>3443815
Start flirting with Isis.

>>3443821
>flirting with another woman while already married

>>3443843
Its okay if your wife is not present. Its the law. I am sure of it.

Beg the question. I may have missed it before. But does Merv love his wife or merely fond of her ?

>>3443849
He loves her, it wasn’t a political marriage. If I’m remembering right he won a tournament for her

>>3443843
>Not flirting with her to help getting a good price on horses

In the creation thread there was a few comments about being very loyal to our wife, so while they haven't been married for very long, love isn't out of the question. However, harmless flirting....never out of the question.

>>3443849
At the very least, love or not, I feel like Merv is intelligent enough to not mess up a ridiculously good thing.

>>3443913
har har. time to father an army of bastards!

>>3443923
I don’t think a knights bastards are gonna get much. At the very least we need to become a minor house, probably bannermen to the Reynolds.

Anyone else remember House Karben? That was one of my first quests I participated in and it also introduced me to Westeros.

>>3444396
The Tony Stark of Westeros. It was just stupid how rich and lucky that guy got

>>3444432
Did that quest ever get a good ending or resolution? I just remember how Karban was on a fast track to becoming a filthy rich house with women who had large tracts of land

>>3444974
Like most of these kind of quests they just kinda end in the middle.

Late

--- 27/03/281 ---
The sound of hooves striking the stone of the gold road filled your ears as you rode down towards the village from Ember Peak. The wheels of the cart you rode beside rumbled as well, its axles straining under the heavy load of precious cargo it held. Ember Peak was, at least to your knowledge, one of the few places in Westeros where rubies were mined. The mountain got its name after a prospector discovered a cave and had spelunked inside. When he got a fire going, the walls of the cave were said to have glowed red like the embers of a fire, and soon rumors spread of the famous “Ember Mountain”. It was not long after that the original branch of House Reynold was formed, and they laid claim to the peak nearly 350 years ago. The rubies that came from Ember Peak than spread across the lands. The Targaryens desired them for their lustre and colour as it reflected their sigil of the red dragon, as did the Lannisters. The Reynes had also once been large buyers of the precious gems before their annihilation at the hands of Tywin Lannister. Any house who had wealth to spend on jewellery or had red in their sigil desired the gems. But now, most of the rubies mined at Ember Peak travelled down the gold road to Lannisport, to be cut, set in jewellery or otherwise sent away by sea to distant markets.

“Another vein’s been discovered or so says the foreman” the trader says as he tries to spark up conversation. You had been riding alongside the man for the past hour or so in relative silence, although the man had occasionally said a few words in order to try and fill the silence. “I tell ya Ser, talkin’ to those miners, I can’t imagine that mine ever going dry. Seems that every strike of a pick they find more of the stone. Them mines have to look like a rats nest now. I went inside them once you know. Had to talk to Old Stoneguts there, and he wasn’t in the mood to come out and see me, so a miner helped me find him. Took nearly an hour to reach the small cavern he called his own.”

The talk of mineshafts and underground caverns was enough to make your skin crawl and force you to shiver. “Good day” you say impolitely as you give a kick to your mounts sides and take off at a trot. You were riding your palfrey today, a beautiful grey mare you had named Cuirass. She had an easy gait that made riding her a breeze and had a gentle temperament, utterly opposite in every way to your rounsey, Rust. Your mood thus far had been mostly one of irritation today. Your wife had been ignoring you for the past few days, and it had begun to grate on your nerves.

She was an intuitive woman and she knew there was something you weren’t telling her. The fact she had predicted the possibility of war was uncanny to you, reading the political signs as she did, and hiding it from her ate at you. She was the outlet for your confusion and frustration, offering you an open ear and helpful advice as you tried to navigate the ever changing politics of nobility. And so ever since she had tried to seduce the secret you were hiding out of you, and you had managed to maintain your composure she had been irritated with you. Leaving rooms when you entered, or going to sleep without the normal pet talk she so loved. Thinking back to this morning you’d asked her for advice regarding the captain of archers, to which you had been told brusquely that she was certain you could figure it out on your own. Compounded by talk of your deepest fear, your mood had soured and you wore it plainly on your handsome face. Your brow was furrowed and your lips had hardened into a straight line.

Eventually you crossed over the wooden bridge that crossed over the lesser Mander, and your horse slowed back to a walk as you entered the village. The bridge was approximately 150 feet across, and barely 6 feet across. It only allowed for a single cart to cross at a time, and in time of rain there was a risk to crossing as the wood became slippery and the headwaters raged below you. There were stone supports that ran to the bottom of the river, but the main body of the bridge was made of cut lumber. As you rode through the village, you saw the 2nd Infantry regiment patrolling the village in pairs, smallfolk were erecting what looked like a crude sept, and eventually you find the field on the far side of the village where the tourney grounds were being erected. The field was being tilled and cleared, and wood was being stockpiled for the building of stands and a fence to allow for the joust to take place. The smallfolk were busy working, and yet you hadn’t seen a single archer. You called over a man who was hard at work. He looked up form his work and wiped the sweat from his brow before walking over to you. “What can I do for ya Ser?” he asks politely. “I’m looking for the Captain of the Reynold Archers. Might you know where I can find him?”

The man sighs and shakes his head derisively. “You checked the inn yet? Can’t imagine him or any of those under his watch being anywhere else. They don’t work, they don’t train. Just booze, gamble and fight. Not to mention try and get handsy with our wives.” The discussion had drawn a crowd and the few other men standing around had joined in and voiced their own grievances about the archers. You bid the men a good day as you leave, promising to put an end to the issue. As you made your way to the inn, you saw a few men with bows lazily standing on the front porch of the building. You climbed up the steps that led to the entrance and you see one archer rush in ahead of you. You swung the door open to the building that dominated the village and entered into a long hall that served as a common room. Two hearths were set into each long wall, with a fifth at the very far end. You approached the innkeep and asked after the leader of the archers. It was queer that nobody even seemed to know his name you thought to yourself as the man pointed towards a large table of men and you immediately pick out the leader by the man who’d rushed in before you whispering in his ear.

You walked over casually to the table, weaving your way through traders, barmaids and other townsfolk to the main table where the men sat. When you reach the head of the table you see the captain playing a game of dice with one of his men and without raising his eyes from his game asks “N’ who might you be than? The lad mentioned someone was inquirin’ after me.” The mans tone struck you aback. It had been a while since someone had had the nerve to talk to you in such a way.

--- How do you introduce yourself? ---

>Charm (3D6 Please)

>Intimidate (4D6 Please)

>Some other way (Example and 3D6 please)


--- What tone do you take? ---

>Lowborn to lowborn

>Knight to lowborn

Rolled 6, 4, 6 = 16 (3d6)

>>3445860
>Charm (3D6 Please)
>Knight to lowborn

And our wife is being pissy

Rolled 3, 2, 5 = 10 (3d6)

>>3445860
>Charm (3D6 Please)
>Knight to lowborn

>>3445867
Well she is only 17 don't forget. Most girls that age are irrational.

And charming Merv it is. Writing!!

“My name is Ser Mervyn Reynold, formerly Ser Mervyn Hill, and I am a knight in service to Lady Elleanor, and Captain of her cavalry regiment, the Loyal Reins. Who might I have the pleasure of speaking to Captain…?” You let the silence go on until he awkwardly raises his eyes and introduces himself. “Cap’n Fredrick. But the boys all call me Black Feather Fred on account o’ me fletching.” After he says this he leans back in his chair and takes the measure of you, before going back to his game. This brings an honest laugh to your lips and you put a hand on one of the mens shoulders and he gets out of his chair, allowing you to sit down. The mans manner was refreshing after spending so long inside Ember Peak, and you finally felt as if you could speak honestly.

“You fancy yourself a hard man than do you Fred? I figured someone who took pride in his reputation as you clearly do would be training his men instead of spending the day in a tavern dicing?” This brings the mans attention for a brief moment and he regards you with common eyes. “Yeah? The fuck would you know about it?

It wasn’t long ago you would have been brushing shoulders with the man and playing dice in the very same type of tavern. You reached into your pouch and pulled forth 2 of the golden dice you’d had made with your very first allowance after marrying Allysa and place them on the table. “Only that I know what it’s like to be common born and to serve uptight pricks who can’t be bothered to get off their asses to see whats going on outside their castles.” This statement hands in the air, and as you see him about to respond you interrupt with “But I’m not some rich lord, just the son of a bastard and a smiths daughter. What about yourself?” The man looks at you and offers nothing but a sour face. His scruffy beard was brown as were his eyes. But before you have to ask him again, he answers with “You wanna know about me? Use them dice o’ yours. Under 7, Over 7. You guess right, I answer. You guess wrong, I gets ta ask somethin’ about you.”

--- Play dice for information about Black Feather Fred? ---

>Yay

>Nay (How do you react instead?)

(So if we say yay, I’ll need a comment of under 7, over 7, or 7 even, plus 2D6)

>>3445897
>Nay

If you do not wish to cooperate that we will have to find a new captain for the archers

He doesnt get to dictate a thing

>>3445897
>yay
No harm in a little game

Tie split 1-1. I'll wait 15 minutes and if it's still a tie I'll just roll a die for it.

>>3445902
supporting

>>3445902
Going with this

You picked up one of your dice and examine it in your hand. The gold was expertly wrought, and the tiny rubies that were set in it almost glowed. Your eyes went from the die to Frederick and your cheerful demeanor dropped. You put both of your dice back in your pouch and stand. “I’m afraid not Frederick. If you are not willing to answer my questions, then I’ll be seeing to it that we have a new captain of archers within a fortnight.” This causes him to blink back shock, and he mouths gibberish as he tries to gather his thoughts. As you begin to walk away, he calls you back with the information. “Me father was a hunter near Crakehall” he half shouts out to get your attention, and you turn on your heels and walk back to the table. You gesture for him to continue and he does so. “Met me mother in a village, married and had me. Both of ‘em died of a pox. Left home at 14 n’ sold me bow wherever I could. Got picked up hear about three years ago. When the last cap’n died of a bad belly 3 months ago, the lads chose me to replace him.”

This at least explained why nobody knew who he was. “It still doesn’t explain why you aren’t drilling your men. As far as my eyes see it they look greener than goose shit. And men with time on their hands get into trouble. Sounds to me like most of the men in the village want you all gone. Something about their wives and daughters?” This brings a guilty half smile to Fred’s face. “Aye well, it ain’t our fault if them lasses prefer our company to their husbands is it?” Your own face shows no emotion and is a mask of stone when you tell him that “Training will begin tomorrow at dawn. No exceptions. And the next complaint you heard from the townsfolk would result in a whipping done by your own hand. And tomorrow evening, you will present yourself in Ember peak to introduce yourself to your Lord and Lady. Do I make myself clear?”

4D6 for intimidate

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

>>3445962

Rolled 2, 2, 2, 4 = 10 (4d6)

>>3445962

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>3445966

For the attractive quality, re-rolling the single 1 we are allowed. ( In the future, I think I'm going to do this behind the scenes if it's alright with you guys.)

someone please roll better than us

Rolled 4, 3, 6, 1 = 14 (4d6)

>>3445962

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

>>3445962
we have a lucky reroll if we fuck up right?

>>3445985
You do, but you don't need it.

>>3445981
I rerolled your 1, the result was a 5. So our result is 15. Good job fellas!!

>>3445988
damn we are awesome

--- Persuasion (Intimidate Test) ---
Roll: 15 against DC: 12
One Degree of Success

(Threatening his position and not playing his shit brought this down from a 15 so good job!!)

Your sky blue eyes stare into his common brown ones and a stand off begins. It feels like an entire age has passed before he finally blinks and looks away and mutters "Alright alright, we'll start tomorrow. And I'll be up at the castle 'round supper. I'll make me way after we're done trainin'." You keep up your stare before uttering a curt "Yes, you will." before turning and walking with purpose out the door.

As you exited you thought about the exchange. As impertinent as the man was, there was something you liked about the man. Maybe it was that he reminded you about a simpler time in your life, or perhaps it was because of his blunt honesty. Either way, it was a relief to see him accept your leadership. It would have been a shame to have to kill the man for insubordination before you got to properly got to meet him. Not to mention killing or replacing their captain would most likely have not gone over well with the men under his command. All in all the encounter would have to be considered a success. Tomorrow perhaps you might try and make something of a friend of the man. Mend his pride a tad, and get him on your side. Lady Elleanor had hinted to you that she wanted the man loyal to her and not Titus, so that was what you intended to do.

--- 28/03/281 ---
You were armed and armoured when you brought Captain Frederick to meet with his Lord and Lady. You can smell the stench of sweat on him, and his voice is hoarse, from what you hope is him drilling his men all day. The meeting goes as graciously as could be expected from someone common born, something you sympathized with, and bread and salt are given, oaths of fealty are made and the man stands as you are bid escort him out. As you walk down the halls together, you question him about the days events. “So how green are the archers under your command Captain?” The man looks at you with a stare that said it all. “Most of ‘em just joined up for regular meals n’ all that during the winter. ‘Alf useless after a range o’ 50 metres or so. But dun worry, I’ll get the lads fixed up proper.”

You walked on in the castle and the echoes of your armour rattled off the wall. When he’d first laid eyes on you, they had widened as if in shock that you’d been telling the truth. That someone who’d been born a Hill could have risen so high. You allow him to continue to speak. Be comfortable in silence your wife had said. Always try and let your opponent speak first, or fill the silence. “And as fer equipment, well, the bows me n’ the lads got might as well be made o’ driftwood. And we ain’t got no armour to speak of. ‘Ows we supposed to be a regiment if we ain’t even got basic kit? You answer me that knight.”

The fact he refused to call you Ser was becoming increasingly obvious. Whether from an honest lack of etiquette or him just being a cunt, it was something of a trend you were noticing. He had M’lord’d and M’lady’d enough, but as soon as you were out of ear shot the courtesies vanished. But the man made a valid point. Sometimes the promise of a good bow was enough to buy a mans loyalty, being the most expensive thing many a man could realistically dream of owning. And armour had a way of making a man feel safer. And owing your safety to someone was bound to bring them to your cause…
--- Break ---
Okay so if there’s enough interest I’d like to take a minute and discuss a bit of a strategy here. A tourney is coming up, and we have the chance to win a total of 3 wealth (2 from the joust, 1 from the melee). Additionally, we could always petition our lord and lady for equipment as it is technically their duty to supply their own men. Promising to use your own funds would make a bigger impact on the man and make him more loyal to you than either Titus or Elleanor, but it also means spending some of the potential wealth you could earn on the archers instead of yourself and the Loyal Reins. Any thoughts here, or a particular direction we want to take. Open to suggestions as always.

In short, we're going to either need to beat Frederick down and break him, or make him a promise of either funding the archers ourselves or to petition Elleanor or Titus on his behalf. Unless you guys can brainstorm another way to win him over.

>>3446021
Fine with ourselves sponsering him

>>3446031
Ditto, maybe we can make some connections during the tourney to get cheap (but still good) bows

I like the idea of having him loyal to us. Support using our own funds,

You ran your hand through your hair and sighed before beginning. “Aye, I can understand your frustration. My own men are in need of better equipment.” This wasn’t even part of the game in truth, only facts. You often dreamed of seeing the Loyal Reigns bedecked in shining grey and gold plate, the new wolf skin cloaks hanging from their shoulders. Castle forged swords in their hands, and mounted upon the finest steeds money could buy. And while you weren’t sure if he had such grand dreams for his own men, he obviously wanted them better equipped. “Have you heard of the tourney that’s to be thrown in the coming months? In order to celebrate and honour the young lordling Tygon and his betrothed?” The man looked at you with a wary eye, suspecting some kind of trap but you continue on. “I’ll be competing in both the joust and the melee Frederick. There are some sizeable prizes for winning…” Silence once again fills the air. That cold awkward silence, broken only by the sound of footfalls on stone.

“Yeah? And what good does that do me? I ain’t a fighter I’m a bloody archer.” You stop and face him, before looking directly into his eyes before saying “You and I are similar men Frederick. We both come from humble origins, and yet here we are. In command of men in service to a great and noble house. So believe me when I say I understand your troubles. But this is something I can promise you. Should I win, I give you my word that I will personally pay to see that your men get quality bows, and arrows. Solid ash I think. Or at the very least good oak. I’ll have to consult with you before making such a purchase, I’m out of my depth when it comes to the bow. Never did have knack for the weapon if I'm being honest.” You offer out your hand and the man looks at you warily before slowly reaching out to grasp it. You pull away just before he grabs your hand.

“Theres one condition behind this offer Fred.” The man looks at you like a dog whos just been kicked and is helpless to avoid another one coming. He nods and appears to almost flinch away from your words. “You’ll have to start calling me Ser” you say with a broad smile. "I can't have someone, even a captain such as yourself, go around without observing such protocol. I'd never hear the end of it from both my wife and good mother if I allowed someone to speak to me without calling me Ser. A nervous chuckle comes out of his chest soon turning to genuine mirth. “When me and the lads got us some new bows, on me honour, I’ll call you Ser as often as you like it.” And with that, the two of you shake hands firmly and he is out of the castle, walking down towards the village. As you watch him, when he thinks he’s out of ear shot, he lets loose a yell of excitement, or perhaps it was just nerves. Either way, it brought a smile to your lips before you headed to your own chambers, where the thought of facing your wife soon turned your smile into a scowl.

And I think with that I'm going to call it quits for tonight. I'll be back tomorrow morning and we'll pick up with trying to make up with our wife, and than we'll skip ahead a bit to a week or so before the wedding. I'll be around for a little to answer questions as usual. Thanks for playing in this short little session guys, much appreciated.

>>3446071
Thanks for the run. Will see you tomorrow

>>3446071
Too late to participate, but fantastic storytelling. Loved the bits about the mine, our wife and interaction with Fred.

>>3446073
Thanks for playing!!

>>3446077
Thanks for the compliments!! I noticed you comment the other day as well, just forgot to say thanks. Honestly, I feel my writing is super rusty as I have written anything in 5 plus years, but I'm glad your enjoying it. I'm really having fun myself.

Liked where the story is going just wished I could have participated but fell asleep.

File: yellowredorchid.jpg (89 KB, 550x441)

89 KB JPG

--- 26/04/281 ---
You had awoken just at the crack of dawn today, dressed and left your wife sleeping soundly. You look back just as you are about to leave the chamber to admire her sleeping form. The past month had taken it’s toll on her, both physically and mentally. Her body was changing, and the stress about the preparations for the wedding were taking her patience away. As she turns fitfully and her hand goes to her belly, you close the door and walk out to face the day. You made your way towards the yard, as you’d gotten word that the trader who had taken your wolf pelts to be made into cloaks had made it to the Sleeping Lion Inn last night, and you were eagerly awaiting to see the man and his cart rolling up the Gold Road. As you pace the main battlement of the castle, you finally spy three carts rolling up the hill and you make your way back down to the yard to meet the man as he rolled through the gates.

The crook backed trader hails you as he enters through the gates with his main cart. The other two had been sent to the other side of the pass towards the mine, but the trader, who now introduces himself as Tom, hops down off his cart and throws off the tarp that covers the back of the wagon. He opens the lid to a large box which reveals a beautiful set of fur cloaks. Gold stitching held warm wool on the inside of the skin, and the skins had been expertly tailored and cut. You run your hands over the soft fur, which was easily the most luxurious piece of clothing you had ever owned. “Just wait now Ser, just wait” says the man as he searches through the box looking for something specific. Eventually he pulls forth a magnificent black fur cloak, the skin of the large alpha you’d killed. Included with the cloak was a beautiful ruby clasp cut in the shape of an eagle.

“Well done man!!” you exclaim wholeheartedly clapping the hunch backed trader on the shoulder. When the man goes to return the left over change you turn it away, allowing him to keep the silver as a reward for his good work. “Now, how did you make out regarding the other matter?” you ask hopefully. A gift such as new flowers would likely do a great deal to make up with your wife and would hopefully give her some joy to lift her out of her stress. The man smiles and you see the glint of a gold tooth in his smile. “Of course, Ser. I had some small amount of success with the Qohori. She drives a hard bargain, but I managed to wrangle her down to a more reasonable sum. The man throws back his own cloak to reveal a small pouch which he opens into his hand, revealing 5 small bulbs. “Orchids Ser. From across the narrow sea. Beautiful flowers if the truth be told. She insisted that they would blossom into a delicate yellow flower with red stripes and spots. She called them “Blood Vein Orchids” Ser.” He puts them back into the pouch and hands them to you, as he gets two of his guards to unload the box which you have them unload at the armoury.

Promising to use him again if you had need of a trader’s services and bidding the man a good day, you find a couple of servants and have them carry the pelts with you to the Loyal Reins barracks. You find the men beginning to take their breakfast and when they see you walk in with a wolf pelt in each hand, they laugh and cheer at the sight of the beautiful cloaks. You hand each man his cloak, all beautiful pelts of either grey or greyish brown. They also compliment you on the beautiful black pelt you called your own, with Ser Orcar Algood going so far as to say that you “almost looked like a proper captain now”. Cheers and jeers rung through the hall and you sat down with your men and dined on eggs, black bread and thick cut bacon. Sausages also made their way around, along with mugs of thick dark beer to wash down your breakfast. After the meal, you made your way out, promising to return to choose men to accompany you to Hornvale. Lady Elleanor had insisted you choose three men to accompany the honour guard that was being sent to Hornvale to escort the Lady Andrea to Ember Peak.

As you made your way back to your chambers to visit your wife and give her your gift, Ser Terrence Lantell nearly ran into you in his haste. You can hear him mutter “Fucking up jumped bastard” under his breath and he continues on without so much as an apology. Eventually you make it back and come across your wife breaking her own fast at a small side table, still in her night gowns and she was devouring bread and fresh butter, along with a small plate of salted fish. She looks up from her food with a blank face, before continuing to tuck into her food. You walk over to the table and sit down across from her…

--- Making Up with your Wife ---
--How do you wish to talk to her? –

>Apologies, then flower bulbs

>Sympathies, then flower bulbs

>Just gift her the flowers and make small talk

>>3447075
>Sympathies, then flower bulbs

An apology can go a long way but only if you're being truthful. No doubt she'd see through an apology and then take a chance to figure out what's going on again

>>3447075
>>Sympathies, then flower bulbs

>>3447075
>Just gift her the flowers and make small talk

>>3447075
>>Apologies, then flower bulbs
But why is she mad again?

>>3447199
Because we didnt share information that our lady told us not to share, she then also failed her seduction roll on us

>>3447075
How about
>Explanations, then flower bulbs
Tell her we have been given orders that cannot be discussed with her. We can't tell her what they are yet but she can trust us that they are for the best.

Sympathies it is. Writing here.

You grab your wifes free hand and intertwine your fingers in hers and she looks up at you. You find yourself staring into the sea green depths of her eyes and find yourself momentarily lost before coming back to reality in a sudden snap. “How are you?” you ask with meaning. “I know these past weeks have been hard. Stress, changes… I can only imagine how you feel right now.” Her clothes were beginning to not fit her at all, neither accommodating her growing belly or bust, and her feet were swollen and sore. All the typical woes of pregnancy were plaguing her. She looks at you and you can see that she wants to take solace with you, and you also notice her eyes look to be heavy with tears that are just waiting to fall. You reach down to your belt again and pick up the pouch and hand it to her. She looks at you and than the pouch, before opening it and letting the bulbs roll onto the table. This lets loose a few tears and she covers her mouth and nose with her hands to prevent herself from crying.

“Those are orchids from the forest of Qohor. I had the trader I sent with the wolf pelts pick them up in Lannisport. He said they’ll bloom in yellow and red flowers. The colours of your ho- Our house.” You corrected yourself and this brings a happy smile through your wifes tears. You silently pondered to yourself what strange beings women were, and how your father had always commented that your mother, 7 save her soul, was as good and honest a woman as could have been hoped for, but even she was still a woman and had her eccentricities. Between the stress of everything, added onto her trying to hold a grudge against you, it was all to much and she broke down and was letting all of her pent up emotions out. You, unsure of what to do in such a situation, continued on talking about the bulbs.

“They’re supposed to be rare. Blood Rain Orchids or something he called them” not quite exactly remembering the same. “And seeing as it’s nearly spring, perhaps we can plant them together soon.” She looks up at you with red and puffy eyes, and laughs a small, innocent laugh before saying “Merv. You’re an idiot. But you’re my idiot. Blood Rain” she giggles softly. “If these are from Qohor, then they’re most likely Blood Vein Orchids, and they need to be planted sooner than later. A small pot to start, in order to keep the bulbs alive, with fresh loamy soil. And you might be an idiot, but you are my idiot.” She stands from her seat, comes over and sits on your lap and cuddles up to you. “Do you still think I’m comely?” she said in the most immature, childish tone you’d ever heard her use.

You pull away from her and look her up and down. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes had gone red. She looked half a mess in her nightgown, and there was a small crumb of fish hanging from the corner of her mouth. Her breasts, belly and feet had all swollen. And yet, she looked beautiful to you nonetheless. She was pretty under normal circumstances, if not beautiful, with strong andal features. But that wasn’t what made her so beautiful to you. She was the reason you were living in a castle. With a soft feather bed at night. She was the mother of your unborn child. She was the reason you were no longer Ser Mervyn Hill. A trueborn, common son of a bastard. You were now Ser Mervyn Reynold, Captain of the Cavalry. A knight of Ember Peak. And so you take a deep breath and begin. “You are the most beautiful woman in Westeros. Any man who gazed on you would name you his queen of love and beauty.” This brings a small cute smile to her face and you wipe away a tear on her cheek before give her a long kiss. When you break apart, she looks you in the eyes. “Not many noble girls can say they got to marry someone they love. But I love you Mervyn. With the gods as my witness, I love you.”

--- Big Questions with Allysa ---

>Say it back

>Do not

(So as was mentioned earlier, there was talk of making us unconditionally loyal to our wife. This vote is to decide if we are or aren’t.)

>>3447247
>Do not

Just kiss her to avoid the answer.

>>3447247
>Say it back

>>3447247
>>Say it back

Say it back.

The fact shes the reason for our position should be a strong incentive to be loyal to her plus red hair and green eyes is straight waifu material.

>>3447247
>Say it back
I can’t think of a good reason not to.

Kind of surprised it went that way, but looks like Merv is in love. Writing now. And just because I'm taking a real slow start to the quest and not giving out a whole lot of experience, I'm going to give you guys 1 Bonus die under Will (Dedication) .

>>3447247
>>Say it back
Dornish thots can go fuck off.

You look into her eyes once more. They’ve changed from the angle of the light, looking like the rolling blue of the sea. You kiss her once more, long and hard, before telling her you loved her too. The to of you embrace for what feels like an eternity, content in each others embrace, but a knock on the door interrupts the moment, and when you both say “come in” with irritation in your voice, a servant walks in and informs you that Lady Elleanor had a need of your presence immediately. You wave the man off, give your wife a kiss once more, before following the servant out the door.

You follow the man to Lady Elleanor’s personal chambers and find her sitting at a large table, pouring over details of papers and other things. She looks up when the servant presents you and beckons you forward. “Ser Mervyn, sit down please.” Before gesturing to the servant he is no longer required. “Now as you may have noticed, this wedding is barely three weeks away. As I told you upon our meeting last week, I would like to send you as part of the honour guard to escort House Brax to Ember peak. A round trip will likely take two weeks, and so I wish for you to depart tomorrow. You will put yourself at Both Lord Andros and his daughter, Andrea’s service. Is that understood?” You nod your head in the affirmative, and she informs you of who else will be going. “Ser Terrence Lantell, and 20 of his men will make up the rest of the escort. I would like you to choose 4 knights, in addition to yourself to accompany them. In addition, Tyrus will accompany you. He should be able to ride by now no?”

The boy was shockingly resilient you had to concede. The maester had cleared him to begin minor activities again, and you supposed there was no reason horse riding couldn’t be included in that. Aethan had also said that he should even be fine to compete in the squires melee if he kept recovering at his current rate. “Of course, My Lady. Is there anything else?” you ask politely. “As a matter of fact, yes there is. I have heard your men have received their cloaks I paid for. Be sure whoever you choose to accompany you wears them, along with yourself. Ensure your men look their best, and fearsome.” And with that you were dismissed out of her chambers and were off to meet with Ser Art.

You found Ser Art in the yard as you often did, drilling a few of your younger men in the ways of sword craft. The two of you lock eyes, and he nods his head before continuing to give Merrick and Derrick instruction before leaving them to it and wandering over to you.

“Have you any recommendations Art?” you ask hopefully. This was your first true “noble” task you had received and you had no desire to much it up. The man looks you up and down and frowns. “Well, it’s a big fancy wedding isn’t it? Important people to be escorted around. I reckon there are three ways to go about it. The first is you could take the best fighters from the Reins. If your escorting a pretty bride through the mountains at the end of winter, your going to want men who can fight. Desperation does queer things to peoples minds, which I don’t need to remind you of do I Ser Hill?” He grins at you before continuing on. If you go that way, your best off taking myself, Ser Erenford, Ser Tyler Terrick, Ser Tybalt Hill and Ser Remiel Rambston. Good fighters all, and the young ones, they’re all eager for glory.” He says this contemplatively. However, if your meeting with uptight stuck up lords, maybe it’s best to take the men with the best heritage. And by all accounts that’d be Ser Mullendore, Waxley, Grandinson and Garner. They’re all well bred men, second and third sons of prominent lords and knights. Certainly look good if the Brax’s are as haughty as their sigil.

Lastly, you could always take your most trust worthy men. Men you know to be reliable and men you can trust not to cause trouble. Sneaking after kitchen wenches and what not. Ser Flowers and myself are obviously in that. Along with Sers Algood and Dunn. Honourable good natured men. Ser Art leaves you with your silence and your thoughts, barking at Derrick and Merrick about the proper way to parry a blow. These decisions could drastically affect the outcome of your escort. So who do you choose?

--- Choosing men for the Brax Escort ---

>Take your best fighting men, you never knew when you’d need a good sword

>Take your best bred men, they’d be the best men to impress and socialize with the noble family

>Tale your most loyal men, you knew they’d do as you commanded them and wouldn’t make trouble

>>3447453
>>Tale your most loyal men, you knew they’d do as you commanded them and wouldn’t make trouble

>>3447452
>Tale your most loyal men, you knew they’d do as you commanded them and wouldn’t make trouble

>>3447453
>>Tale your most loyal men, you knew they’d do as you commanded them and wouldn’t make trouble

>>3447453
>>Take your best bred men, they’d be the best men to impress and socialize with the noble family

You eventually decide on your most loyal men. All of the men under your command could fight to at least a reasonable degree, and all of them were knights. Upbringing and heritage be damned. You went around and informed the men that were coming along, and began preparing for the week long journey through the mountains to Hornvale.

--- 27/04/281 ---

The group of men left Ember Peak at dawn. Ser Terrence and his infantry, along side you and your 4 other knights, and a small baggage train to carry food, supplies and canvas tent materials. The journey continues on as you turn off of the gold road and head onto a small track where only three horses could walk side by side. This was the road to Hornvale, and it cut through staggering peaks and valleys alike.

You discussed the Loyal Reins with Ser Art, and chatted about hunting and women with Ser Jeremy. Ser Algood and you chatted about all he knew of the houses of the westerlads, and Ser Dunn would chime in about chivalry and the code of conduct in the reach.

When you made to make camp, your knights and Ser Terrences infantry mostly kept to themselves, ignoring each other for the most part. As you all sat around the fire, you took in the state of your mens armour and reflected back to the conversation you'd had with Black Feather Fred. Perhaps if you won enough gold at the coming tourney you could put it towards upgrading your mens equipment. The wolf cloaks that now draped over your mens shoulders looked wasted when paired with the splint and brigadine armour they currently wore. Your mind fills with the though of half plate, smoke grey, with a gilded gold line that ran up the middle of a breast plate. The dream put you to sleep easily enough, and the night stayed silent except for the crackle of fire as you drifted off to sleep.

File: Hornvale.jpg (342 KB, 1000x667)

342 KB JPG

--- 04/04/281 ---

The journey had been uneventful, apart from a minor stand off between yourself and Ser Terrence. There had been an argument over who was primarily in control of the party, and while the Captain of Cavalry would be considered more prestigious by many, he and his men outnumbered you 4 to 1, and so you had conceded him the minor victory.

You came to a singular mountain in a large open valley and atop that mountain lay the castle of Hornvale. Even from here, you could see it was a beautiful and deadly castle. Trying to storm the castle would certainly take a heavy toll on any army who tried to besiege them. When you come to the beginning of the path that led up the mountain, you were greeted by a gatehouse bedecked by two white banners with the purple unicorn that was the sigil of House Brax. You find the portcullis closed, and when you get closer, you hear a voice call out “Who goes there. Identify yourself before the Lower gate of the Hornvale.” You begin to speak, but Ser Terrence beats you to it, identifying you and your men as the escort sent from Ember Peak, along with himself as Ser Terrence Lantell, originally of Lannisport. The portcullis is raised, and you make your way up the path. The path was heavily defended, using both natural defenses and man-made battlements all along the road.

Eventually you make your way up to the main castle after climbing the mountain for the greater part of the after noon, and are welcomed into a splendid courtyard and garden. There you are greeted by Lord Andros himself. The man was large, and approximately 40 years old by your estimation. His hair was leaving him and was prematurely going grey, but had once been a rich brown, as were his eyes. Unlike the common brown of small folk, these were the intelligent amber of those of first men origin. He meets you attended by what is clearly his oldest son and squire, who he introduces as Tytos Brax. The lad looked to be about the age of 17, and took after his father in most physical attributes, although he lacked his fathers impressive height.

“Sers. May I humbly welcome you to Hornvale. Please, accept this offering of bread, salt and wine, and make yourselves at home. Hornvale is at your service.” Servants come forth bearing platters of dark bread sprinkled with salt, and goblets of good red wine from the reach. The Brax's were an old house, and clearly valued old ways. “Now, he says once you’ve completed the ritual, your men may find beds and meals in the barracks, a servant will show them to where they will be staying.” He addresses Ser Terrence before turning his attention to you. “Ser, your knights will be given rooms inside the main castle itself.” He claps and another 2 servants come forth to show both parties of men to their rooms. Finally, he invites both Ser Terrence and yourself to dine with him in his solar, to which you both gladly accept, and the three of you make your way into the castle proper.

The three of you dine on some of the finest food you’d ever eaten. Roast boar ribs flavoured with molasses and vinegar, served with roast mushrooms sprinkled with salt. Fine wine flowed freely and three courses had come before business was talked about. “Now, good knights, to business…” the Lord of Hornvale begins. The escort is much appreciated, and myself, my wife and Andrea are honoured by the showing. Ser Terrence pipes up that the both of you were honoured to be at his service. Lord Andros smiles at this and nods his head. “Indeed, Ser. Now, we are looking to leave in 3 days or so. My party will consist of Andrea, my wife, my three sons as well as myself. Along with perhaps a score of my house hold knights and a regiment of my infantry. We have been having some banditry problems near Hornvale recently.”

You and Ser Terrence look to each other and nod slightly, both thinking to perhaps offer to help root out the bandits before you left. Lord Andros continues on however, talking about his baggage train and the like, inquiring about accommodations at Ember Peak, and other such things. It was enough to make you glad that Ser Terrence had insisted on being in charge of the party.

Eventually, talk begins to take a more personal note, with Lord Andros asking about Ser Terrences history, battles he’d fought in and the like. You listen politely, despite your boredom listening to Ser Terrence relive his old glory days. This only lasts until Lord Andros turns to you, and begins to ask about your own history.

“Tell me Ser, what is your story? I’ve heard rumours that you were bastard born, and won your position at a tourney? Is there truth to the rumours?” You frown slightly. You didn’t enjoy talking about your past with those of high birth. “I was true born my lord. Born to Ser Orlik Hill, a bastard from the northern westerlands and his wife, Tansy, a blacksmiths daughter. So whilst I had a bastards name, I’m no bastard my Lord.” The man looks at you with a blank face and seems to beckon you to continue. “And as for my position, I won the hand of the Lady Allysa Reynold at the tourney held for her 16th name day. But as for my position itself, I earned it through the strength of my arm.” This brings a wry smile from Lord Andros. “This is good to hear Ser. There should be hope for my own bastard than. The boy is no more than 12, and is currently fostering with the Jasts. But if a man such as you can rise so high, I see little reason my own bastard couldn’t reach for such lofty heights.”

The conversation continues on for an hour or so, before talk once again turns to bandits, and Ser Terrence offers to help track them down and eliminate them, to which Andros smiles and says there was no need to help track them down, as his scouts had already done so. When asked why he hadn’t exterminated them the Lord shakes his head. “They’re in a dangerous place for an army Ser. They’ve hold up in the hills and only come out at night to steal what they need. And the mine they were occupying was old, and the potential for collapse made it to risky to march an army into it.” The conversation continues on around you, but one word keeps running through your head. The mine….
And break. I'm going to call it here for today. I might be back later tonight, but I dont want to promise anything. When we do pick up next should be a pretty fun session. Well, thanks for playing guys, and as always, criticism, questions or scene suggestions are always welcome. Cheers!!

>>3447717
Waiting with bated breath for the next session. Great run as always.

File: Screenshot_20190422-23203(...).jpg (1.36 MB, 1080x2220)

1.36 MB JPG

>>3447717
I've been enjoying the quest a lot, it's a really good read. Focusing on a smaller character in the fold of a great house is really fun and a different lens than we're used to.

That being said I did want to bring up a few things for your consideration:

Picture related. During the House creation thread the "Comfortable" Standard of Living was chosen during Wealth purchases. To be noted specifically for a few reasons.

First, the bottom most section regarding being able to purchase or acquire items less than a gold dragon based upon the characters monthly stipend or credit, etc. I believe the most accurate statement in regards to Mervyn is wage, considering his position as a Captain amongst the cavalry and having married into the family and taken a name. I believe the scene with asking Lady Elleanor for our money back was superfluous because it should simply be something readily available for him to draw upon, being as it was below a dragon.

If that is not the route you'd wish to take then instead I'd suggest you establish a monthly wage/ stipend that Mervyn recieves and we can utilize those funds in our ways. Such as paying the farmer or in other instances, purchasing new equipment or hiring retainers like a stable hand or a handmaiden, or purchasing the wolf cloaks. Smaller scale purchases and monthly money handling would be interesting imo while we can maintain the weapons upgrades for the archers or the plate mail upgrades for the cavalry to larger scale wealth and glory acquisitions.

I would like to know more clearly the status of our funds. I feel as though the character sheet does a poor job of it currently. Basically more information is better and I feel it could add a lot of depth to the quest if you gave us something to manage like our funds and incomes so Merv can expand beyond just being the fighting guy.

Just my two cents.

>>3455485
I actually forgot we took that holding when I wrote that scene so in reality we could have just used the allowance we had to replenish our funds, but thats all hindsight now.

Going forward, I'm working on a house history and a sort of "miniature" wealth holdings" sheet that Mervyn is going to be able to spend his monthly allowance on. Things like nicer clothing, stable hands, better quality horse feed, a gardener or handmaidens and the like. They'll provide various small bonuses and the like, and hopefully still give us the feeling of running a household, just on a much smaller scale. I'll hopefully have those posted up on the twitter by wednesday or thursday.

I appreciate the comments though, and hopefully in the next thread or two I'll work on making Mervyns section of the household more complete. Cheers!

Just posting this to gauge interest, since this is the only GoT quest currently up, would people be interested in a quest using some homebrew for playing an Essos based family from a Free City? Couple of custom rules, military focus on sellswords, and a split between City and Land Holdings.

I ran the House Blacksand quest from about a year ago that's archived (Ended due to moving house, combined with illness shortly after moving house leading to burnout) and am at a point where I can look at doing something like it again.

>>3457716
Would prefer if you continue the Blacksands one. I loved it.

>>3457716
I mean I'd be interested. Concept sounds fun

>>3457716
I'd play any Got quest here, but I prefer a return of house blacksand

>>3457716
I dont remember anything about Blacksand. But i gladly have more GoT quests.

Also OP. When next thread `?

>>3457716
I for one would be interested. I enjoyed playing as Lissara, but I don't think an Essosi has been done before. I'd be excited to play either.

>>3457818
I'm thinking I'm going to run this weekend. Probably either Friday night or Sunday afternoon. (Or Both). I'll post on the twitter when I know for sure.

Right, since there seems to be a fair amount of interest both ways, I'll do both. Friday I can run the Family generation for Essos, then over Saturday and Sunday run both quests.

>>3458581
Lovely. I like Lissara and Carth and the new quest sounds great too.

>>3458986
Now i remember Blacksand.

Poor Carth's penis.

>>3457716
>>3457867
I kinda like this quest, I suggest you to stick with this one.
You'll make things confusing if suddenly bring the other one back

>>3460737
Different people

>>3457867
Thanks for running, joe.

>>3440967

Do