Lord Guncer Sunglass wants you to bend the knee. That won’t do. He may be an honorable man, but his bannermen and allies have tried to undermine you at every turn. Aella, Bors, Torth. So many others. You won’t let their deaths be in vain.

“Fealty? I may be lowborn, but even I can see fealty as a contract of sorts. The small fish swears to obey the big fish in exchange for favor… and protection. Tell me my lord, where were you when heathen raiders sacked my shores, burned my sept, and raped my smallfolk? The man who raised me, a common blacksmith, he died defending the orphaned children of the war. Way I see it, that might make him a better leader than any other I’ve met so far,” you say.

“The war put strain on us all. I lost my only son and I do not blame the House Targaryen for his demise,” Lord Guncer replies.

“From what I’ve heard, it might be you should blame them. That king was mad. I ferried his queen to safety, and she’d been beaten. She told me her kingly husband was passionate. Remind me to use that line if I get carried away dealing out justice in the coming months,” you bitterly add. “Point is, I reclaimed Stormgrave. Not the Baratheons, not the Targaryens, not you. I would be betraying my people to turn it back over to those who’ve failed them.”

“You saw the Queen Rhaella? And Prince Viserys?” he asks, still stuck on that point. Either old loyalties die that hard with this one, or he honestly can’t wrap his head around your take on leading.

“Aye, my lord. The little prince only at a distance. He was on another of my ships. The old queen sailed with me. My lady wife was one of her handmaidens. It was by Queen Rhaella’s introduction that we met. My lord should know, the Dragons promised me Stormgrave first. It wasn’t stolen from you for being loyal or disloyal or what have you, it was given to me by your own liege. Both of them. The Stags reaffirmed the contract and added in a bit about my Free Company being beholden only to the crown. Now I don’t know what you think of all that, but I think we can both agree that’s got to be a mess. Even if I swore an oath to you as a knight, I’d still be obliged to follow my king as Captain. You’ve given me some advice, my lord. Let me return the favor. Cut your losses. This goes to trial and I’m asking for more compensation when my claim’s held up. When. The Stags have no good reason not to favor me,” you tell him.

>>4274291
Lord Guncer looks like he just sat in a puddle of his ice water with the discomfited face he puts on. “I shall think and pray on your words, ser… perhaps we may speak further on a more pleasant day.”

“Suits me just fine, my lord. I’ve other matters as well. I did mean it when I said I was here for knights. My lady wife is carrying my heir and I’d see her better protected what with all these dishonorable neighbors I’ve been stuck with, present company excluded,” you say.

“There are some tolerable Reachmen about this encampment along with a smaller number of Crownlanders. You may also find a small number of Clawmen and Kingswoodsmen by the tree line if you can suffer such men. Many are wild and heathen, but they are almost notoriously loyal,” Lord Sunglass advises you in parting.

>Stick to the main camp
>Meet with those by the tree line
>Something else

>>4274293
Do we have to get all five from the same region?

>>4274293
>>Meet with those by the tree line

>>4274293
>>Meet with those by the tree line

>>4274303
I don't see why you'd have to if you want to check out other camps or something. I guess it just depends on how much time you want to spend on it.

>>4274293
>>Meet with those by the tree line
How much exp did we get?

>>4274339
5

>>4274293
>Stick to the main camp

>>4274293
>Meet with those by the tree line
Who cares if Sunglass doesn't like them if they are reliable?

>>4274293
>Meet with those by the tree line

C L A W M E N

Alright, looks like we are going with the Clawme/Kingswoodsmen. Like I said, I'm not going to force you to recruit all 5 right now if you don't want to, so here's a small vote while I get to writing.

>Recruit only 1 knight
>Recruit 3 knights
>Recruit all 5 knights now

>>4274411
>>Recruit all 5 knights now
lets just do this. Fiercely loyal men. I'll take it.

>>4274411
>>Recruit all 5 knights now
Personal guard stats?

>>4274411
>Recruit all 5 knights now

Maybe they'll work together better.

>>4274427
Named secondary characters. Gotta make it worth the destiny point.

Can I get 5 rolls of 5d6 for Status to see what sort of backgrounds these lads come from?

>>4274411
>Recruit all 5 knights now
Here we go

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

>>4274446

Rolled 1, 6, 3, 1, 1 = 12 (5d6)

>>4274446

>>4274446
Here goes

Rolled 4, 4, 3, 2, 3 = 16 (5d6)

>>4274454
>>4274452
We fucking suck.
>>4274446

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

>>4274446

>wife: pls, no one uncouth
>returns with five unwashed clawmen

Rolled 1, 1, 3, 1, 1 = 7 (5d6)

>>4274446

>>4274469
my sides

>>4274456
Aw shit

>>4274469
>>4274460
LMFAO
We picked up a man as big as Vaeron but with the the hygiene worth an entire green troops.
>>4274470
Im fucking dying of laughter here. I am not superstitious but anon. Some times life makes me wonder if you can jinx something. lol

>>4274452
>>4274454
>>4274457
>>4274459
I see these, then read this post >>4274460
then think maybe the 5th roll will--->>4274469

Writing!

Don't worry, it's just for their backgrounds, not their combat prowess.

>>4274469
i'm almost proud of this

“We’re headed to the tree line,” you tell Vaeron when you get back outside.

“Right. So, the fuck just happened?” he asks.

“I talked to Lord Sunglass. His cousin was there, Lady Tysane. You know, the one from Stormgrave way back? Any road, she goes and lets slip that she and her sheepfucker husband were in with Maldon and Massey. Sunglass, the lordly type, he loses it and disowns her just about on the fucking spot. Looks like he’ll be cleaning house,” you summarize for him.

“They’re going to flip back at the manse,” he whistles. “The trial still happening?”

“Not sure. It’s up to Lord Guncer. Doesn’t look good for him, so might be he cuts his losses. We’ll see what he does. A problem for another day… if nothing else, this lot’s camp smells the best,” you remark as the roast pit they’ve set up on the tree line wafts over you.

“Never met a clawman before. Heard they’ve webbed toes,” Vaeron says.

“Just the toes? Not the fingers too?” you ask.

“Think that’s the Sisters. Might be they’re related? Now you’ve got me thinking… would it be easier or harder to grip a sword?” he ponders.

“Easier surely. Stronger grip like how lizards crawl up walls, yeah? Still would make gauntlets a right pain, not to mention satisfying a woman,” you answer.

“Just so. At least these lads fight proper,” Vaeron observes. Rather than jousting or riding at rings, they’ve set circles of stone in the dirt for fighting on foot and coupled that with makeshift stands that were clearly carved from nearby trees. You’re sure they asked permission to fell them.

It’s not a great host assembled out here. Thinking on it, if these folks are really so stubbornly loyal, then a good number of their more prominent knights might still be holed up in a keep somewhere. Still, they’re decent enough fighters… and sharp eyed. Or that might just be the effect of two dragonseeds strolling into a camp such as this. A few even stop fighting to watch as you head to the stands to make your own observations.

>>4274538
“Take note of the sharp looking ones. I’m supposed to be looking for bodyguards,” you tell Vaeron.

“Right Aur… but fuck me that one’s huge,” he nods towards a shaggy looking lad in armor that he must’ve thrown together himself such as it is.

“Aye, I’d wager he could carry my horse back for me if I fancied a stroll. But then Cerelle was going on about them needing not to be ‘uncouth’ as she put it,” you say.

“Look, I get it brother. You’re looking to get your cock wet. That shit you pulled with Sunglass, just mention it after she has her look at what we bring back. That should do it. Or go chat up those lasses that’re eyefucking us over there while I start wrangling this lot. Makes no difference to me so long as we’re bringing that one back with us. I want to see Marq try to armor him,” he says.

Ah, in your blind spot. Hardly subtle, but you turn your head to see what he’s on about. A buxom redhead and a tall, skinny brunette. They’re maybe a year or two younger than Cerelle. You’re not sure if you’d go with eyefucking, more like curious, but who isn’t? Noble born by their dress even if they’re not a richly garbed as your wife and even her handmaidens. Might be worth a chat just to see what they know about the goings on around here.

>Introduce yourself to the two ladies
>Don’t

>>4274541
>Introduce yourself to the two ladies

>>4274541
>Introduce yourself to the two ladies
Why wouldn't Aurion? Has he ever turned down a chance to chat up some ladies?

>>4274541
>>Introduce yourself to the two ladies

>>4274541
>>Introduce yourself to the two ladies
the sunglass lord has a little sister that will yearn for our lions

>>4274541
>Introduce yourself to the two ladies

>>4274549
Ciara and Maeve from the last quest if I had to guess.

>>4274541
>Introduce yourself to the two ladies
>Inb4 Aurion ends up with a proto Fan Club

>Can I get 3 rolls of 8d6 for Charm?

Rolled 3, 5, 2, 1, 1, 5, 4, 4 = 25 (8d6)

>>4274566
ez

Rolled 3, 6, 3, 4, 2, 1, 4, 2 = 25 (8d6)

>>4274566

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

>>4274566

>>4274576
Let the panties hit the floor

>>4274578
Which reminds me boggs, would you say we ended up in atleast neutral with the lord of house Sunglass, at the end of our exchange. Considering the 2 degrees of success + magnetic? Or would we have to have another exchange and try and measure him of sorts?

>>4274554
Good guess.

>>4274592
You're right at neutral with him right now.

Why not? Can’t hurt.

You move over to them with an easy smile. “I’m called Aurion Shryke. Captain, or ser. Whichever pleases my ladies more.”

The buxom redhead gives you a bright smile and introduces herself as Lady Ciara Boggs with her silent companion being a Lady Maeve Pyne. The latter looks more suspicious of you than anything.

“From Crackclaw Point or the Kingswood?” you ask.

The two exchange a glance then they stifle giggles. “You’re not from around here are you ser?” Lady Ciara asks.

“In a sense. I’ve rulership over Stormgrave if my lady knows it, but I’ve been in Essos the past ten years,” you shrug.

“Crackclaw Point. What were you doing in Essos for so long, ser?” Ciara asks.

“Exploring, a bit of fighting too. I’m Captain of the Stormbringers Free Company. That’s what got me the island. My ladies can keep this in mind if they’ve a war that needs winning,” you smile.

“I believe I will,” Lady Pyne smiles for the first time.

“What brings you here? The wedding?” you ask them both.

“A wedding perhaps, but not the wedding,” Lady Pyne answers with little humor.

“Lady Maeve needs to wed to keep her title. I’m here for support,” Lady Ciara adds.

“And yet you are having better luck than I am,” Lady Pyne tells her, only causing the redhead to smile contentedly. She rolls her eyes and turns back to you. “I don’t suppose your friend over there is available? That would make this droll day worth it.”

“Ser Vaeron? He’ll curse me for saying it if he has a look at you, but he’s sadly taken,” you tell her.

“Pity. What brings you here Ser Shryke? We don’t get many outsiders in our camps as you can see,” Lady Pyne asks.

“I’m looking for knights. The loyal sort, more loyal the better. Five would do it. I’ve been told your folk are known for it,” you say.

“And proud of it,” Ciara says.

“Then I’d have to wonder, meaning no offense and all, why’re these ones even here? The die-hards are holed up in and around Dragonstone, yeah?” you ask.

>>4274665
“I suppose that about answers it for you. The strongest houses of our people are still fighting, but there are others who were either left behind or too beaten to keep going,” Lady Pyne answers. “Ser Cave and Ser Myre over there, they’re good men by all accounts, but their kin were mostly kept out of this war. Local problems. And I’m here because my father and brothers all fell.”

“Sorry to hear that, my lady,” you tell her.

“Why? Did you kill them? They died good deaths in battle. That’s nothing to pity,” she shrugs. Her friend pats her back anyway.

“My father fell too. My brother took us out of the mess then left my uncle in charge while he sailed off with his new bride and his natural daughter,” Ciara adds.

“So we’ve Cave, Myre, Boggs, and Pyne. What’s that leave out?” you ask to change the subject a touch.

“Crabb and Brune are strongest. A few Crabbs got nabbed and hauled off to the Wall for defending the city, so they’re in an odd place. Hardy lost a lot of men, but they’re still holding their ground too,” Ciara says.

“Huh,” you comment absentmindedly while you wave for Vaeron’s attention and motion him over to the two Lady Pyne pointed out. He walks over with a couple of others already in tow. One, of course, is the big shaggy lad. “I knew he’d go and grab that one. Does the big lad have a name?”

The two ladies look to each other, but don’t seem to know. “He’s a clawman, but not the sort we’d know. Probably from one of the inner valleys,” Ciara offers.

“Hopefully the Celtigars have a tub big enough for him,” you say.

“The… Celtigars?” the two seem alarmed.

“Aye, friends of mine. Good people.”

“And what precisely did you say you need these knights for, ser?” Lady Pyne asks with suspicion.

>>4274666
“Household guards. That’s why I’m nagging on the loyalty bit. I’ve too many enemies and I’m fond of my lady wife. Best to see her safe when I’m off campaigning,” you answer.

“I do hope she isn’t a Celtigar as well,” Lady Pyne comments.

“A Lydden. What’s wrong with Celtigars?” you ask her. Seems to be a sticking point.

“They’ve been trying to tax and rule our people for centuries,” Ciara explains. “They’re without honor.”

“Well I don’t know about all that. I’ve never met their main branch, just those that keep to King’s Landing. I saved them during the Sack and then their young master ended up wedding an old friend of mine. They had some falling out with the Lord Celtigar ages ago,” you explain.

“If they’re cut off from the Old Crab, then perhaps they do have some sense,” Lady Pyne says approvingly.

You see Vaeron grab a fifth knight. If they meet his picky standards, then they should meet yours. “Looks like he’s got a fifth. This went by fast, but that might just be the pleasant company,” you tell the two noblewomen. “Cerelle’s got the septon, so that just leaves the healer,” you say out loud.

“Healer?” Lady Pyne asks.

“Aye, my lady wife is carrying our first and I’ve no maester, so I’m bringing in a healer on retainer,” you say.

“Oh? Lady Ciara is as good a healer as any I’ve met,” Lady Pyne says.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Lady Ciara says.

“Please, it’s true and you know it. Out of all the times to be modest, this isn’t one of them. Be honest about it and this day might be worth more than Ser Shryke’s company,” Lady Pyne urges her.

Take Lady Ciara on as your healer?
>Yes
>No

That’s it for tonight. A little throwback there. I saw the suggestion last thread and figured why not. I have another healer in mind with the same healing stat if you’re not interested in seeing more of her. I’ll have your new knights up on the secondary character sheet shortly. You’ll be seeing them more next time. Until then, thanks for playing!

God fucking dammit Boggs, keep house Boggs out of this. I don't need a reminder of the quest you murdered while it was getting good.

>>4274667
>>No
And I sure as hell don't want a constant reminder of it.

>>4274667
>Yes

>>4274667
No

>>4274670
Don't be a salty cunt about it. Some of us appreciate a reference or two.

>>4274667
>Yes
Hopefully we don't get dragged into their situation by doing this. Damn, we really had a threesome with Maeve and a Blackfyre, good times!

>>4274667
>No

>>4274667
>>Yes

>>4274667
>>Yes

>>4274667
>No
Pls no more

>>4274667
>Yes

>>4274670
Wow what a nasty reaction. Stuff like this is why QMs burn out. This alone convinced me to go with a yes.

>>4274670
Oh boo hoo stop crying, QM invest his time on making not one but two quests, don't treat him like shit.

>>4274667
>yes

>>4274667

>Yes

Worth it

>>4274667
>No

>>4274667
>>Yes

>>4274667
>Yes

The whiners get what they fuckin deserve.

>>4274667
>No
Just easier to move on, no offence

>>4274667
>Yes
Why not?

Looks like a clear yes to me.

>>4274670
>>4274673
You've said as much in other threads. I'm not catering to temper tantrums or entitled demands. Majority rules. Be more respectful of other players' wishes or find another quest.

We have/had lot of important woman in this quest Cerelle, Janesa, Cleo, Constance, Aella now Ciara

>>4275077
He is an entitled ass.
But funny enough I think you're referring to me. Cause I was the one who got called out for whining about votes.
I wouldnt do this, this is jist plain disrespectful. -_- majority rules simple as that.
I AGREE with you.

>>4275191
Who's Aella?

>>4275452
Vaeron's sister, died saving us from the assassin

Any word on the next session?

>>4275191
Right? I was thinking about that a few days ago. I call it the waifu bowl effect. Just made that up, but it feels scientific enough. It should even out over time. Or should I say the curve will be flattened? I think that's the new buzzphrase. Hopefully I'm using it right. Incidentally, that's why I dislike harem quests almost as a rule. It turns into the MC+ his team of super waifus rather than an exploration of deeper character and relationship dynamics. But you just grabbed five new named knights, so that should be fun. That and I need to stop naming so many characters with C's. I don't know how that happened.

>>4275307
Nah not you, though I know what you're talking about. Thanks for understanding all the same.

>>4276107
Unfortunately... no. That's why I left it open-ended last night. I was expecting family to come stay with me next weekend, but they're going to be here tomorrow instead, so we're stuck with a big question mark until I figure out what the plan is. It might be slower than I'd like it to be over the next week or so. Good news for those of you who follow it (if you don't, you might want to check it out), House Reynold is probably running tomorrow, so there will still be something ASOIAF running.

>>4274665
So since one of them is coming with us as a healer, is it worth strengthening the relationship between us and this region by facilitating a marriage for Lady Maeve? Is the only eligible bachelor we know our wife’s sworn sword cousin?

Maybe our wife has a suggestion for a match? Same for Lady Constance, should try and do some match making that is advantageous for us since we don’t have many allies in our area, and it could help us to have some strong allies against the houses we are looking to wreck (and it might stop her peeping on us and the wifey).

If we go to trial, we should probably try to keep Lord Guncer’s name out of the mud while we trash the others to keep him at neutral (Or are we looking to get restitution from him as well, even though we know he is innocent, simply because he didn’t take our advice to call off the trial?).

>>4279072
All this is meta-gaming. She doesn't know us that well to spell out her troubles to us. Besides, let's leave that for the other quest. A cameo is fine when well done, but this is getting involved too much. The sister wasn't too important to the plot in the previous quest, so let's just take her home and leave it at that. We have plenty of other troubles to get into.

>>4276166
Is Ciara still married to Anders? Is he going to become one of the cadre?

>>4279180
Wtf are you saying?
This where she found anders. But even then, why would be pay a healer and knight unless they came as a pair. But even then that seems difficult.

>>4279072
And we haven’t ever really spoken to the Lady Bar Emmon one on one to use our charm to Stockholm her yet have we? Do we know her disposition yet, is she holding a grudge because we killed her brother, or does she know her brother killed her other brother etc, and we’ve ultimately done her a favor.

Does she still want to go through with her marriage, or is she hoping we’ll get the betrothal cancelled (and dowry returned). If we trash Massey reputation enough that could be grounds for the betrothal to be cancelled without backlash, and Lady Bat Emmon could be our ally (considering Massey troops pillaged her town right?) Getting the dowry back might further hamper Massy if they’ve gone and used it to pay assassins. Hopefully we can match make a suitor for her to our advantage. I think we can help her get what she really wants (marriage for love rather than duty?) and help rebuild her own lands?

>>4279090
I don’t care about the quest thread cross over really, just saying that we need to get some more marriage alliances which isn’t meta gaming really, it is literally what these nobles do to strengthen their positions. If we’re getting a personal guard and a healer from the region then it kind of makes sense, dunno if her family has anything to offer us so might not be worth it.

We should use our time in KL to foster some more allies. It’ll give us opportunities to squire or marry our own kids in the future (maybe).

Still no set time for the next run. Sorry about that, I've just been busy spending time with family. Definitely not feeling burned out in the slightest. I did get up the secondary character sheets as promised. They're on the same sheet as the other characters.

>>4279072
I can't speak for Maeve since you barely know her, but you did promise Eddison to help Constance find some sort of match. Obviously her mother is shopping around too, but she's also 17 and not at that "wait, you're still single?" point.

>>4279180
They've met and there's mutual interest, but no marriage (yet?). He's not one of the five for the cadre.

>>4280055
You charmed her a couple of times when shit was hitting the fan, but you haven't had a noteworthy conversation with her since then, so who knows where her head is?

>>4280276
You're EST correct? I'm gonna go out on a limo and assume you're from Florida or maybe Georgia or the Carolinas.

>>4280925

Are you recalling going out on a limb if you name over half the area and coastline of the east coast buddy?

File: aaf.png (243 KB, 680x709)

243 KB PNG

>>4281067

>>4281067
Since you have 2 limbs, half makes sense right?

>>4281379
>2 limbs
fuck legs

>>4281398
I was actually thinking of legs
I forgot arms are also limbs
My bad

File: Arms aren't limbs.png (411 KB, 750x407)

411 KB PNG

>>4281399

>>4281398

>4 limbs

fuck stick

Rolled 3 (1d6)

Resuming at some point in the coming week, but I might have a post or two up before then. Don't mind the dice.

>>4280925
I'm from florida originally, but I don't live there anymore.

>>4284614
3 PANIC!
>WE ARE DOOMED!

>>4284614
Ha knew it. It was the way you described the smell of rain

Okay, my guests are leaving tomorrow. They drove up rather than flying, so we were playing things a little loose. I'm planning on picking up with a full run on Thursday night (EST). Thanks for the patience.

>>4284753
Hah, interesting. I miss the weather there in all honesty.

Running in about 10 hours.

“I’m a fair hand with birthing, ser,” Lady Ciara admits. “I’ve also some skill with a needle and with identifying a good number of plants and---”

“Yeah I’d say that covers it,” you cut in. “Had a healer on one of the ships who’d solve everything with spirits and hot irons… worked well enough sometimes, but I’d say your take will be better for birthing and all that entails. How’s a thousand dragons’ retainer? I’m told that’s a fair rate.”

Her eyes widen at the offer, but she doesn’t seem to know what to say. Her friend of House Pyne almost literally twists her arm to get her to voice her startled acceptance.

“Good! Now my lady wife will have less reason to complain over the looks of my new knightly friends. You’ve a charming look about you that’ll make up for it,” you say.

“You are too kind, ser,” she smiles then blinks. “You mentioned she is a Lydden. A relation to House Lydden of Deep Den?”

“Aye, Lord Lewys’ daughter. You know them?” you ask.

“Only by reputation. Their lands are near to House Brax’s Hornvale,” she says. “I don’t mean to offend ser, but… his daughter? Not his niece or a cousin of some sort? I thought he had but one.”

“Aye, the daughter. She does keep her cousin about as a handmaiden,” you smile and shake your head. “I keep hearing it’s an odd match, but I’m not well-versed on all of that. That’s for others to concern with. Though it did take a good number of favors to see it done. I nearly had to promise to win this war over it. We met on my last contract. I’m sure she’d tell you the details.”

“Truly? The scale of it is almost amusing. Knights win the hands of lesser daughters in tourneys, but it seems you’ve turned a war into your tourney for a higher hand. Ciara asks because she’s pinning after one of Lord Brax’s sons. He’s baseborn, but I’ve seen worse matches,” Lady Pyne adds.

“Oh? Best of luck in all that. Not sure of your house’s state, but I’d say it looks like you could put up your own dowry now, eh? Ah, here come the knights,” you say as Vaeron brings the five in front of you and announces them.

>>4294264
“Ser Jorry Bywater, third son of Lord Bywater,” a tall, slim knight with close-cropped brown hair in full plate gives a traditional salute.

“Ser Osmund Cave, nephew of Lord Cave,” a hard, lean looking man with a beard and longaxe gives you a nod.

“His friend, Ser Warren Myre,” another hard-looking bearded man, this one with a bit more muscle but wielding a traditional battle axe with a dirk half-hidden as if by reflex.

“And we have Ser Alan of Woodmere, a village in the Kingswood,” this one gives a smile and a bow. None are any older than you, but he’d be the most youthful looking if it weren’t for the prominent scar running from chin to temple. He wields an odd-looking spear with a shield.

“And last but not smallest, Ser Pate Peate of… well, he’s not all sure of the name. Some valley on the Point,” Vaeron shrugs while the massive, shaggy looking lad actually gives you a wave with a big stupid grin. He’s got a ragged looking greatsword that you’d wager he could swing with a single hand. It’s rare to see a man who so obviously dwarves your sworn brother, but there’s no doubt this one does. Still, even you can’t help feeling a bit skeptical of the lad’s sharpness, but you can’t help the nagging feeling of wanting to see just what he can do. At worst, he’d still make for a hell of a deterrent guarding a door.

You great them all heartily in return and bid them join you back at the manse. Lady Ciara accompanies you as is expected, but her friend of Pyne begs off. You get the sense there is some lingering mistrust over the whole Celtigar bit, but the knights don’t seem to care beyond an exchanged look and shrug from Ser Cave and Ser Myre.

You come upon your wife sitting outside with her handmaidens and your hostess. Ser Edger stands behind Cerelle in his full plate, visibly sweating in the summer. The ladies are less disturbed on account of the servants fanning them with what look to be oversized leaves. Really, it’s a bit much and you think you’d only need half a guess to figure out whose notion it was, but they seem to be enjoying themselves all the same. They stop in their conversing at the sight of you and your new motley of companions.

>Bring them forward all at once and get some proper drink flowing.
>Play up the healer part. Join them and drag your new healer along while Vaeron gets the knights cleaned up.
>Hey, where’s the septon? You’ll go get him and leave your wife to make her own judgements of your new companions.
>Something else.

>>4294269
>>Play up the healer part. Join them and drag your new healer along while Vaeron gets the knights cleaned up.

>>4294269
>Bring them forward all at once and get some proper drink flowing.

I mean it would be criminal to get these knights and NOT get Cerelle'e reaction, especially to the big fellow. Jump in with the healer if she frets too much over the knights. Also assuming we can talk to the septon later, just to get a feel of the guy.

>>4294269
>>Bring them forward all at once and get some proper drink flowing.

>>4294269
>>Play up the healer part. Join them and drag your new healer along while Vaeron gets the knights cleaned up.

>>4294350
+1

Drinking as a group it is!

>Can I get 3 rolls of 8d6 for Charm?

Rolled 3, 3, 4, 2, 4, 5, 6, 1 = 28 (8d6)

>>4294420

Rolled 5, 2, 1, 3, 3, 2, 2, 4 = 22 (8d6)

>>4294420

Rolled 1, 5, 3, 4, 5, 2, 4, 4 = 28 (8d6)

>>4294420

“I’ve brought guests as promised! Five good and honorable knights and a charming young lady to liven things up,” you call out to those gawking at you. You beckon Vaeron to repeat the introductions, for your own benefit as much as that of the onlookers. Cerelle’s face could be made of stone by the end while her lady cousin smiles nervously. Ser Edger looks aghast and rubs at his face as if seeing a mirage. Or he’s wiping away sweat, whichever. Cleo openly laughs, not bothering to shield herself in dignity like those better bred to it.

Lady Ciara begins to look a little uncomfortable, but the knights are keener on looking about in curiosity. The display of opulence about this manse is hard to miss. More than like the whole lot of it was acquired at sword point somewhere or another, but what’s the difference between that and taxing? A question for the maesters. Or maybe your new septon, wherever he is.

“Right, let’s get some proper drink flowing! Hope you lads can appreciate something a little stronger than all that grape juice. I brew up my own rum. A sort of hobby, but I’ve got a whole distillery getting raised up now,” you tell the knights. By the looks on their faces, that might’ve been the very best thing you could’ve said. Even the two fearsome axe wielding clawmen break out in their approximations of smiles for the first time.

Your demeanor puts guests and hosts alike at ease except for Cerelle, who still looks to you as if you’re intentionally trying to get under her skin. Vaeron might’ve been, but your heart was in the right place… probably. You move her cousin Lenore over after forcing a cup of rum into her hand and draw your wife in by the waist.

“You’re the curious sort. Aren’t you going to ask what I’ve gotten up to?” you whisper to her.

“I believe I can see precisely what you’ve been up to. Aside from the girl, that is,” she whispers back while nodding towards Lady Ciara who is hesitantly taking her own cup of rum.

“She’s a healer. Just so happens I’ve gotten much and more done while you were getting leaves waved at you. Where’s the septon?”

>>4294571
“Lady Constance offered to fetch him after I mentioned it. She could do with some prayer. A healer? Truly? I do hope she is not one of those dreadful woods witches I’ve heard tale of… although she does look rather innocent if not underdressed. We will have to do something about that… you are sure she is capable?” Cerelle asks, some of the iciness chipping away.

“I wasn’t about to ask for a live demonstration, but others vouched for her. See for yourself. These types are supposed to ah, examine you as it were, yeah? Better her than having an old bent necked man do it,” you say.

“Perhaps you were thinking of me after all. I was beginning to think you were deliberately trying to vex me after my mention of the sort of knights I preferred,” she says.

“Ser Jorry’s from a good family and looks the part. The others are friendly enough even if it might be they don’t look it yet. They’ll clean up with some new armor and a bath in Ser Pate’s case. Any road, I sought them out for their loyalty, not their grooming,” you say, thinking of Lord Guncer’s words on them.

>Mention your run in with House Sunglass here and now where others can hear.
>Don’t, you’d rather keep that private for now.

>>4294576
>>Mention your run in with House Sunglass here and now where others can hear.

>>4294576
>Mention your run in with House Sunglass here and now where others can hear.

>>4294576
>Don’t, you’d rather keep that private for now.

>>4294576
>>Don’t, you’d rather keep that private for now.
we should use this time to get to know the knights and just enjoy our time for today.

>>4294576
>>Don’t, you’d rather keep that private for now.

>>4294576
>Mention your run in with House Sunglass here and now where others can hear.
We are in the clear

I'm getting pretty tired, so I'll open with the tiebreaker tomorrow. Thanks for playing!

>>4294576
>Mention your run in with House Sunglass here and now where others can hear.

Further spread our knowledge of our nature of problem solver and generally being capable.

>>4294576
> Don’t, you’d rather keep that private for now.

I would rather use our time now to try to get more info about what Cleo and hubby are scheming, it was alluded to in and earlier run, but we voted to take the conversation a different way.

I’d prefer to talk about house sunglass later in a more private setting with our wife and our ward/prisoner, and see if we can’t charm her to Stockholm syndrome. We need to know how she feels about 1) us killing her brother 2) her brother killing the other brother 3) her brother organising a marriage with a house who pillaged her town 4) does she want to go through with the marriage or does she want an alliance with us. It’ll help us know how to move forward regardless if we go to court or not with house sunglass.


however if we talk about house sunglass now then I’d still like to pursue the other conversations sometime soon in this “downtime”[\spoiler]

Ok. Still tied. I'll leave it open for a bit for any discussion/additional votes. Otherwise, I'll flip for it later.

>>4294576
>Don’t, you’d rather keep that private for now

>>4294576
>>Don’t, you’d rather keep that private for now.

You opt not to bring up the complexities of your ever-shifting relationship with your ex-overlord turned rival turned enemy turned tentative acquaintance. Instead you opt to sample one of your “reject” brews. It’s still quite good, just a touch less refined than where you wanted it, but none seem to have a complaint. Especially the knights who are soon happily toasting their second mugs to your health, for which you join them. Your hand slides lower down Cerelle’s waist as you enjoy the moment and you give her arse a hearty squeeze causing her to stifle a gasp and grab your hand. You hear her cousin Edger let out a dramatic sigh as he goes about finding a less objectionable angle to stand guard from, so you call out for him to have a drink instead. Whatever objection he might’ve thought to raise is stifled by the splashing mug thrust into his hand by the cheerful Ser Pate.

“I do have another surprise of sorts for you later,” you whisper in Cerelle’s ear. No doubt she’ll be pleased with your handling of House Sunglass.

“I should think I would know what you mean by now,” she responds, fingers lightly drumming on your hand.

“Think so? We’ll see,” you give her a smug grin that sets her to trying to puzzle out your meaning. Knowing her, she’ll be trying to unravel it in her mind until you finally tell her. Until then, you’re of a mind to go for another round of drinks. You’ve some time to learn more of your companions before they get too deep in their cups to function. It seems they’ve broken off into small conversations. You see Cleo speaking with Lady Ciara, drinks half-forgotten. Odds are it’s on some bookish nonsense that would put you to sleep, but you’re more keen on finding out what sort of scheming your piratical host has all but dangled in front of you like choice bait. Beyond that, you see Ser Edger and Ser Jorry are getting on well with a vacantly smiling Ser Pate hanging onto whatever their engrossed in by a thread, more content to drink and listen than contribute. Then there’s the two Clawmen, Sers Warren and Osmund speaking with Ser Alan. They have a more serious air about them at the moment despite the high spirits. The topic of conversation?

>Reel Cleo in and press her on whatever she’s scheming. Seeing her this smug is unnerving.
>Get to know Ser Jorry Bywater and probably Ser Pate a little better with their lighter topics.
>The other Clawmen and the Kingswooder are more serious, maybe it’s about the war. Find out more.
>Something else.

>>4295748
>>The other Clawmen and the Kingswooder are more serious, maybe it’s about the war. Find out more.

>>4295748
>>Get to know Ser Jorry Bywater and probably Ser Pate a little better with their lighter topics.

>>4295748
>>The other Clawmen and the Kingswooder are more serious, maybe it’s about the war. Find

>>4295748
>>The other Clawmen and the Kingswooder are more serious, maybe it’s about the war. Find out more.

>>4295748
>The other Clawmen and the Kingswooder are more serious, maybe it’s about the war. Find out more.

You move down to the end of the table to bring some levity to the seriousness of the Clawmen and Kingswooder. “What’s got you lads so dour?” you ask.

“Not so much dour as catching up on the goings on, ser,” Ser Osmund says.

“Aurion’s fine. Save the ser’s for the formaler lot elsewise we’ll be stuttering on them by the bottom of these cups,” you tell them.

“Fair nough. We’re much the same but southron’s like their titles,” Ser Warren nods.

“Aye, seems I’ve got a few now. One would be easier now that I’ve no pressing need to pick up a tavern wench,” you say.

Ser Alan of Woodmere laughs. “Speak for yourself. To tavern wenches!” he calls out to the table to predictably mixed results.

“Fair enough,” you shrug. “So, what’s new? I’ve been busy fending off my neighbors and the like, so it might be I’ve missed a thing or two.”

“Osmund and Warren here don’t much fancy this Brune lot,” Ser Alan prompts. Ser Warren spits to the side and Ser Osmund’s face fixes into what seems to be a natural frown.

“Not fancying don’t begin to cover it,” Ser Osmund says. “Greedy shits squat on House Cave’s rightful lands.”

“Least they’ve still got some’ve theirs,” Ser Warren says. “The Myres’ve been sort of shifting round ever since the last scuffle.”

They take turns catching you up on some sort of border dispute gone bloody a few years back. House Myre seems to be a very minor house that was loosely allied with House Cave, who bit off much more than they could chew over some perceived insult done by the apparently much larger Brunes.

“Sounds like a raw deal,” you agree. “So, what brings you here? Looking to see if this king might be more favorable?”

“Meaning no disrespect an all, but I’d rather go diving for squishers than go ask King Cuckold for favors. All this trouble’s over his woman liking the taste of prince better than him. Seems right unmanly to ask that sort for favors. Might’s well slap on some perfume and go for a good prayer at the sept while we’re at it. We were just down here for a bit of fun an looking to see if there was a better cause to lend axe to what with our lot lazing about and those tieving cunts coddling up with the little dragon king. Sheer bloody luck we find you,” Ser Warren explains.

“An the gods course,” Ser Osmund adds.

“Aye, them too,” his friend agrees.

>>4295992
“What’s stopping Lord Cave from acting if his enemies are elsewhere?” you ask.

They both hesitate with a shared look until Ser Warren defers to Ser Osmund. “Fine. Guess it’s my good name an all for what’s worth. Thing is, my uncle’s right fuckin mad. My coz, his oldest boy, he’s a ward. That an his oldest girl running off drove him right over. Da used to talk sense to the old fool, but he went and got an axe to the belly so now dear old uncle takes his advice from shadows on the cave walls.”

Ser Alan whistles. “Put it like that and my worries seem small.”

“Kingswood worries?” you prompt.

“Aye. My home of Woodmere’s a village deep in it. I’ve not been back for a fair while now, but I’ve heard tale of trouble out that way. I was off levied with the rest when my regiment broke and scattered in an ambush after Stoney Sept. Was where I got this pretty scar,” he points to the side of his face with a grin at odds with his words. “We that were left got pushed back east. I found a new horse after a fashion, but it was mostly hitting and running and keeping my shield up that’s kept me in one piece since. Think I might’ve ended up near the Tumblestone at some point, but it’s hard to say. Just sort of wandered back this way after some miller told me the fighting’s done.”

“Right, yeah. That’s fuckin worse. You win,” Ser Osmund says.

You feel like this is probably not the point to boast about all the rewards that’ve been heaped in your lap for little else than being in the right place and on the right side at the tail end of all of this. So, you stick to swapping stories and jests for a time. They’re the likeable sort once you get them talking and they lower their guard a touch. Simple needs and tastes. Funny how that works, the ones with the hardest lives ending up with the simplest tastes. You can relate. Seems like all three made for fine guerilla fighters at one point or another, but you can see how that might transfer over to guard work with their sharp awareness of their surroundings.

>>4295996
The word of “trouble” about in the Kingswood does cloud your thoughts a little. Or that might just be the rum. Still, Lord Estermont… you think it was him… made a comment or two of the Kingswood having a bigger bandit problem than usual. You’d assume some banditry is typical of such a large swathe of loosely ruled forest, but it must be bad to make the rounds in the Red Keep while bigger problems were afoot. The deserters from your company were rowing out in that general direction…

But that would have to wait until you get back to Stormgrave and gather up your men. If it’s truly your problem at all. You glance around to more immediate concerns, such that they are. The sun is nearly set and Cerelle is heading back inside the manse with Lenore. You’re pretty sure her cousin is supposed to be helping her rather than the other way around, but the girl must’ve polished off a cup. She just doesn’t have the build for your sort of drink. No doubt your wife is lecturing her on much the same. Ser Edger and Ser Jorry are flagging hard too, and Ser Pate might actually be sleeping in his chair, but it’s hard to tell with some of his bushy mane in the way. Some poor bastard is going to have to cut it if he’s to look and smell even remotely presentable. You could leave them to their early evening table nap and seek out one of the women you’ve questions for, or you could wait here until that septon shows up. As much as you’d like to say otherwise, even you aren’t immune to your rum and it’s definitely catching up to you.

>Wait here for the septon to arrive.
>You want answers from Cleo.
>You haven’t seen Lady Bar Emmon all afternoon and she has much to answer (for?) besides.
>None of these things seem like a good idea right now. Retire early.
>Something else.

>>4296009
>>Wait here for the septon to arrive.

>>4296009
>>You haven’t seen Lady Bar Emmon all afternoon and she has much to answer (for?) besides.

>>4296009
>>You haven’t seen Lady Bar Emmon all afternoon and she has much to answer (for?) besides.
We should see what she is feeling before we present wht her family has done. Now that we know more surrounding her predicament.

>>4296056
+1

>>4296009
>You haven’t seen Lady Bar Emmon all afternoon and she has much to answer (for?) besides.

Bar Emmon it is. I'll have the post up tomorrow, hopefully earlier. Until then...

>Can I get 3 rolls of 4d6 for Awareness?

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

>>4296130

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

>>4296130

Rolled 3, 6, 1, 5 = 15 (4d6)

>>4296130

It nags at you that you’ve paid so little mind to a potential threat in your midst… not Cleo, but Lady Cassandra Bar Emmon. You haven’t been alone with her since escorting her from Sharp Point’s beacon tower. She seemed well-disposed to you at the time, but it’s also clear that she hasn’t been forthcoming with much else other than some vague agreeableness with what Cerelle had already uncovered from the parchments you made off with. So you stagger to your feet and splash some cool water on your face from a fountain on your way back inside.

She answers her door after a couple of knocks, her hair flowing loosely but not in her nightwear yet.

>Rolled 16 vs DC 16 for Awareness. Success, 1 degree.

Her surprise quickly passes if it was ever there at all and she returns the smile you give her. A nervous smile. Excited even? Not the look of one expecting to be called out on anything.

“Ser Aurion. I was wondering when you would pay me a visit,” she greets you.

Still definitely not the tone of one complicit in seeking your death. More mischievous than anything. Constance spoke of her boasting of her “rescue.” That interpretation might’ve been colored by some jealousy, or maybe not. Whatever moments she’s been thinking of were out of practicality on your part. A little sweet talking to make her pliable in your escape, nothing more. But it might’ve been more to her.

>You’re here for her. Or at least you want her to think you are. (Seduce)
>Have a level conversation on why the circles she’s been dragged into are a bad idea for her. (Convince)
>You’re done playing games with all of this. You want the whole truth. Now. (Intimidate)
>Something else.

Continuing in a few hours.

>>4297076
>>Have a level conversation on why the circles she’s been dragged into are a bad idea for her. (Convince)

>>4297076
>>Have a level conversation on why the circles she’s been dragged into are a bad idea for her. (Convince)

>>4297076
>You’re here for her. Or at least you want her to think you are. (Seduce)

>>4297076
>Have a level conversation on why the circles she’s been dragged into are a bad idea for her. (Convince)

>>4297076
>>You’re here for her. Or at least you want her to think you are. (Seduce)

Ok. Can I get 3 rolls of 7d6 for Convince?

Rolled 3, 5, 3, 3, 1, 1, 1 = 17 (7d6)

>>4297203

Rolled 6, 2, 4, 3, 6, 3, 1 = 25 (7d6)

>>4297203

Rolled 5, 1, 5, 3, 1, 2, 5 = 22 (7d6)

>>4297203

>Rolled 24 vs DC 18 for Convince. Success, 2 degrees.

“Lady Cassandra. May I?” you prompt. She opens the door further and invites you in. You see she’s procured some wine of her own from somewhere. Just as well, you don’t want to be the only one who has indulged.

“I had missed you outside. We had a fine celebration of sorts,” you tell her.

“I could hear. I was loath to join with that woman afoot,” she says with some bitterness.

“Which woman, my lady?” you ask.

“That pirate that calls herself a Celtigar now. She had the gall to all but threaten me earlier. She said ladies such as me should tread carefully lest they share the fate of their menfolk. She is a horrid woman,” Lady Cassandra complains.

This woman will be the death of me. You think as you try not to let your annoyance show. For one holding such an inherently political position, Cleo could do with learning to show some subtlety just once in her life. “Ah. You’ll have to excuse her, my lady. Social graces are a bit beyond her at times. She’s well-meaning, really. Honestly, she may have been trying to help you in her own way.”

“Help me?”

“Aye. The thing is, we’re a little worried for you. See, your house is one of the last to bend the knee and not freely at that. As much as it pains me, the crown will no doubt levy heavy punishments upon my lady and what’s left of her holdings,” you say.

“But House Massey---”

“Will be attainted as well, I’m afraid. Arranging secret betrothals under war banners? Conspiring to assassinate one of the crown’s foremost generals?” You might be heaping the praise on yourself a little high with that touch, but you’re pretty sure a barrister could make the case using your contract alone. “Not to mention the matter of that little muster I had to break through just to retrieve you. Ah, and the letters going back and forth. Let’s not forget those. Not good.”

>>4297253
Now she definitely looks nervous hearing it all stacked up like that. “Whatever my brother and Ser Lorton were up to does not concern myself or Lord Dustin,” she counters.

“Ser Lorton Massey? The one my sworn brother killed, yeah? When Lord Dustin was given word of his brother’s death, do you think he raged about the evils of Ser Vaeron the Stormbringer or rather was it Aurion Shryke he cursed? I think we both know how this works, my lady. No one cares about the pieces on the board. It only matters who plays the game. The trouble with dead men is they can’t play. Robert Baratheon can’t punish ‘Lord’ Maldon or Ser Lorton, but I’d imagine Lady Cassandra and Lord Dustin, the war’s most unlikely couple, will make for a suitable replacement for his wrath,” you tell her.

She fidgets and frets before settling on toying with the hem of her dress and throwing you what you think was supposed to be a seductive look. “You said you were concerned for me, ser. I was never one for the courts myself, I preferred to be off with my harp… but perhaps you could speak on my behalf? I’m sure we could come to some sort of arrangement?”

Too true. Under different circumstances you might laugh or at least find the sloppy attempt endearing, but something irks you.

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

Rolled 3, 2, 2 = 7 (3d6)

>>4297254

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

>>4297254

Rolled 5, 1, 6 = 12 (3d6)

>>4297254

>Rolled 12 vs DC 15. Failed.

Something in her words… but as much as you turn them over, you can’t quite place what it is. Is it that she thinks you’re so easily swayed by spread highborn legs? No, that sort of distain usually just washes over you. Too used to it. Besides, it’s true enough that you’ve done some insane things for women in the past.

Curious.

>Let it pass. You’re not going to sour relations over a hunch. Talk of this arrangement of hers.
>You need to know what you’re missing, and the most direct path is right in front of you. (Intimidate)

>>4297275
She won't like it but
>You need to what you're missing

>>4297275
>>You need to know what you’re missing, and the most direct path is right in front of you. (Intimidate)

>>4297275
>>You need to know what you’re missing, and the most direct path is right in front of you. (Intimidate)
>>4297278
agreed. we need info

>>4297275
>You need to know what you’re missing, and the most direct path is right in front of you. (Intimidate)

>>4297275
>>You need to know what you’re missing, and the most direct path is right in front of you. (Intimidate)

Alright.

>Can I get 3 rolls of 6d6+2 for Intimidate?

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

>>4297293

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

>>4297293

Rolled 4, 1, 2, 2, 4, 5 + 2 = 20 (6d6 + 2)

>>4297293

Rolled 4, 1, 1, 5, 3, 6 = 20 (6d6)

>>4297293

these were some particularly subpar results for our specialty.. like wow.

>>4297305
>>4297306
>>4297307
>>4297309
ouch

>>4297315
I will say, it's still a pretty decent roll giving who we are up against, and how she has seen us slain men she cares for mere feet in front of her. Clearly we don't mind getting some blood on our hands. So I wouldn't be surprised if we hit 2 degree's just 3 degree's might be a stretch to say the least.

Post is almost ready, DC was 20 btw, so right on that second degree.

>I could use 3 rolls of 4d6 for Awareness (Empathy) for one part.

>>4297352
Whoops, I meant DC was 15...

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

>>4297352

Awared

Rolled 1, 4, 2, 4 = 11 (4d6)

>>4297352

Rolled 4, 2, 4, 1 = 11 (4d6)

>>4297352

>>4297356
Solid thank you anon

You let your smile drop away as you stare at her. You nod to yourself when you see her smirk falter as well, and then you cross the room to help yourself to her wine.

“Bold move, really, stealing off with a bottle of red from a notorious poisoner. You know she even poisoned me once? A story for another time. Suffice to say I’m hard to kill. I wager it’d take something more direct if it’s possible at all,” you say as you take a drink and glance back at her as she stands around with a wary look. “What I’m getting at here is I know you’ve lied to me. Your dowry for one. House Massey holds it. Or they did at least. Small wonder you’re so attached to a widower.”

“I have made no moves against you, ser. I am not your enemy,” she says cautiously, but only wilts further at your flat, mirthless stare. You’re the sort that lesser men and women seek to please. The things many would do to see that smile return… it might just be worse than a flashy display of anger.

“I don’t see why I should believe you. You’ve already lied to me. That much is obvious. Now what’re we to do about it?”

Her lip quivers and her eyes well up with tears. “Please, ser. Have more faith in me.”

“Why? You repaid my kindness with lies. What reason do I have to treat you any differently than those men in your hall?”

She flinches at that. It has to be a raw memory still. You remember it vividly and it was hardly your first fight. For her it would go much worse, you’d think. “You—you wouldn’t. You care about me. I know you do. And you can’t hurt me. Your wife is down the hall and she is too soft. She would never allow it. One scream…”

“Hmm. Might be you’re right. Scream then. I’ll wash my hands of you and let Lady Cleo find out what you’re hiding. That would be easier for all of us. Well, except for you…”

>>4297391
She drops to floor with a look of shock and what might be betrayal as her tears run freely. “I never meant you any harm. Truly, you must believe me. I only thought… well…”

“Say it,” you command, starting to lose your patience.

“Icouldmakeyoualord,” she blurts out.

“What?”

“I could make you a lord. A true one. Honest,” she practically babbles.

“How? I’m a man wed and you’re hardly in a position to---” you stop and look at her as it falls into place. Such surety from an unsure girl. You hear the pounding of drums in your ears as old words come to mind unbidden.

“Who told you of the dowry?”

“Lady Cassandra did… who else could have known?”

“Then why has coin crossed the sea, my sea, to those who take coin for but one purpose?”

“Right. Introductions. This is the Lady Cassandra Bar Emmon. My lady, this is my wife---”

“Lady Cerelle Lydden. We have met before in passing. At court.”

“Ah. Good. Saves some trouble then.”

You feel genuine dread as you jolt back to the present.

“The assassin. The one bought with your dowry. That’s not for me, is it?”

She shakes her head. “I told you, I mean you no harm… I overheard them talking of it and--- are you well? Ser? What are we to do?” she calls to you as you stride from the room, leaving her on the floor.

“Pray.”

>That’s it for tonight. Thanks for playing! I’ll be running again on Monday night.

File: 81F81550-C1BF-4A74-906B-9(...).jpg (15 KB, 454x417)

15 KB JPG

>>4297394
This bitch right here

>>4297394
Such a harebrained plan. She's about to be deep in debt and spends her dowry on Faceless men to kill our wife, so she can marry us instead, why? We're even poorer than her. What does she get out of this? Whatever happened to that by the way, I don't remember. Did we beat off the faceless men? Did we intercept the dowry? How are we still safe?

Also, if we were playing a stone cold bastard instead of a family man, I would've have taken her up on the offer right here.

>>4297394
>>4297427
Also we should tell our wife right away and warn her of this. We had to talk about the Sunglass issue anyhow.

>>4297427
>>4297428
Depending on how the faceless men issue is handled, maybe we can throw her under the bus and annex some of her lands as compensation. Maybe the position is reversed and her lands become a knightly house and ours a lordly house. That may be aiming too high, but certainly an avenue to explore.

>>4297413
Is that an actual shrike meme? Neat.

>>4297427
I could've been more clear on a few parts. It's not her plan, it was enacted by Maldon/House Massey just before she took the reigns. She just kept her mouth shut, content enough with letting things play out. That's what she meant by overhearing. I'll leave the why for another time.

One more little note before I forget. Part of the giveaway IC was in her so readily recognizing Cerelle but Cerelle not knowing her. (What I was getting at with Aurion putting things together in the post). Cerelle has the Eidetic Memory benefit, so she's not one for forgetting faces, yet Cassandra was able to name her instantly. Normally Cerelle might've been quick to take notice... but her drawback was kicking in and she didn't catch it (Fear of Loss, fretting over your hypothetical injuries).

File: Vlad the Shriek.jpg (46 KB, 674x428)

46 KB JPG

>>4297442
Talking of shrikes, should we start impaling our enemies?
though one could argue that what we have been doing to Cassandra at present is kinda metaphorically keeping our kill fresh for later.

Dorne quest when?

>>4298456
Maybe after all the main plot events currently relevant to this quest are tied up. I'm not exactly set on Dorne either. If I were to run another quest, I would want to do something that plays different than what I've already done. Probably more action and a little less intrigue. I'm a little concerned that I would naturally gravitate to more of the same with a Dorne quest. Or maybe that would depend more on the MC. A traveling Dornish tourney knight could be a good amount of fun. Honor optional. Maybe even toss in the Mute drawback for extra shenanigans and misunderstandings. Now you've got me thinking.

>>4299478
Maybe you could do it during the dance of dragons? Don't know how much you would want to do it but more perspective shifts with a second MC?

Living the food poisoning dream. I'll have a post up in the morning.

>>4299504
I'll have to think about the start point. I do prefer this general era for flexibility and tie-ins, but I'm not going to keep starting at the same point either. POV shifts... now that's where it gets tricky. I would say this goes for pretty much any quest. They're great for a change of pace and for a lively story so long as you don't get stuck on Namek with them, but they can stunt things from a gaming perspective (which is a big part of what this is). It can lead to overspecialized characters that are expected to plug eachother's weaknesses, which is just powergaming and unexciting. You see a little bit of that with nods to Vaeron as reasons not to worry about combat. Granted, that's sort of the point of him, but it can trivialize things if left unchecked. On the other hand, the Janesa POV is a great example of a good shift, at least to me, because it allowed everyone to experience and influence what they would've otherwise missed but it didn't lend an undue advantage because she wasn't any more persuasive than the MC. TLDR I would only do a shift for fun rather than for gameyness (no intrigue/combat monster tag teams, etc).

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Assassins and spies. You’re not exactly a stranger to such. In Qarth they were considered fair play and were almost expected on occasion. Even so, you never personally employed them, preferring to leave such concerns for others. Meeting your enemies face to face across a battlefield or negotiating table tended to better suit your style of warfare. But those were simpler times when you had little and less to lose. Now with so much to lose, you’re increasingly finding that the underworld of warfare cannot be so readily ignored and dismissed.

Nor can your anger. It’s the Dragon’s Blood, you’ve been told. Your lineage is that of passion and intensity. It’s led your people to great things. Great things… and terrible things… enough musing. What a stupid girl. Had she come forward sooner, you could’ve acted with confidence. Now you’ve no sense of how far along this dishonorable little plot has progressed.

>Go to Cerelle. You could use her calm right now.
>Seek out Cleo instead. You’re not keen on telling your wife of a blade hovering above her neck.
>Find Vaeron. You already have a sense of what he’s going to say, but it might be you’ve relied too much on subtlety of late.
>Something else.

>>4300430
>Go to Cerelle. You could use her calm right now.

>>4300430
>>Go to Cerelle. You could use her calm right now.

>>4300430
>>Go to Cerelle. You could use her calm right now.

>Cerelle

Shes carrying out child and needs to at least be aware of the danger

>>4300430

>Cerelle and Cleo

I agree that the most pressing person to speak with is Cerelle, and I understand that Cerelle ain't so fond of Cleo.

That being said, I think it would be a mistake to exclude Cleo from this conversation. She's by far the most well versed in this shit out of anyone we know. I doubt her input would make the situation worse.

>>4300430
>>Go to Cerelle. You could use her calm right now.

You seek out the one person that deserves to know the most. The one person that won’t let you enact even half the whims of violence and vengeance that keep coursing through your mind. She’s in bed reading by candlelight when you enter. After a second glance your way, she sits up with a concerned look.

“What is it? Did something happen below?” she asks.

“Below? The feasting? No. Would that it was so simple,” you say while pacing. “We need to talk…”

You fill her in on what you’ve learned in detail. She can’t seem to settle on whether to cover her mouth or her belly, but otherwise keeps her composure throughout. However, when you go to give her comfort you find she’s completely stiff. She leans into you on the bed, but she doesn’t let you coax her into further resting herself.

“I need to think about this… we both do. What this means…” she takes a deep breath. “What do you know of these Braavosi assassins?”

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

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

>>4300839

Rolled 5, 2, 2 = 9 (3d6)

>>4300839

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

>>4300839

>>4299865
Now that you're bringing up tag teams, I'm imagining a Dorne quest with dual MCs. Adventurous knowledge hungry lady and her tourney knight hubby. Less focus on intrigue and more on exploring the myths, legends and stories of this world. Reading old tomes, talking to maesters, occasional trips to the Essos, some fighting and child rearing. Perhaps we are searching for a valuable artifact or a Valyrian sword. Could be fun.

>Rolled 11 vs DC 9 for Knowledge. Partial success.

“I’ve heard tale of the Faceless Men, who in Essos hasn’t? Killers who can change their look with magic. They will kill any man for the right price, but their prices are famously hard to bear,” you say.

“Or any woman…” Cerelle mutters. “What else? There must be more.”

You frown, pondering it. “It’s a cult of sorts. Or a religion. There’s not much else I know… I went south then east. Braavos is north. I only know they are the best that can be bought,” you see her wince at the last and hastily add, “but we don’t know they’ve been bought!”

She mulls it over. “I suppose it is a rather large city from what I have heard… there could be others. If you know nothing more, then I suppose we will have to decide how to proceed.”

“Cleo might know more,” you offer.

She makes a face. “That woman offers nothing freely and is as fickle as the weather. For all I know, she may see advantage in my death just as that dimwitted girl did.”

“Just a suggestion,” you shrug. “Failing that, I know what Vaeron might suggest.”

“For the two of you to swagger down to the docks, wave down the nearest ship, and personally go to Braavos with swords in hand. Yet another reason I am glad you are not the target,” she says.

The last gives you pause and forces you to reign in your emotions yet again. “How could you be glad of this?”

“I don’t want to see you die,” she says simply.

You hold her for a long while, lost in thought. Your arm is numb by the time sleep finally claims her while you remain awake and still even if you’d like nothing more than to move.

>Just wait on things for now until you have more information.
>Speak of this with Cleo. She will likely have a price in mind for further aid beyond what she has already agreed to (having her contacts ask questions in Braavos).
>Damn the wedding, you’re not needed there. You’re going to Braavos as soon as possible.
>Something else.

>>4300887
>>Speak of this with Cleo. She will likely have a price in mind for further aid beyond what she has already agreed to (having her contacts ask questions in Braavos).

>>4300887
>Just wait on things for now until you have more information.

>>4300868
I like it. Magic and poisons are underutilized in asoiaf quests.

>>4300887
>>Speak of this with Cleo. She will likely have a price in mind for further aid beyond what she has already agreed to (having her contacts ask questions in Braavos).
Sitting on our ass isn't helpful.
We have our Cadre. To help protect us.
If need be, we should try and send Janesa and Vaeron to help deal with this while we stay at home as safe as we can.

>>4300887
>>Speak of this with Cleo. She will likely have a price in mind for further aid beyond what she has already agreed to (having her contacts ask questions in Braavos).

>>4300887
>>Speak of this with Cleo. She will likely have a price in mind for further aid beyond what she has already agreed to (having her contacts ask questions in Braavos).

>>4300887
>Speak of this with Cleo. She will likely have a price in mind for further aid beyond what she has already agreed to (having her contacts ask questions in Braavos).

>Inform the Cadre that there is a credible threat on our wife’s life and they should be very watchful regarding her safety. Don’t give them details of who though

Writing!

>>4300939
I'll work the write-in into one of the next few posts.

>>4300868
That would be along the lines of what I'd be cool with tag teaming if we were to go that route. I should add for everyone, I'm more talking in hypotheticals at this point. As much as I like brainstorming new ideas, I'm by no means bored of writing for this quest and I don't intend on dropping it.

>>4300899
Agreed.

>>4300899
>Magic and poisons are underutilized in asoiaf quests.
poisons are seen as a womanly act of killing in westerous. And magic, this isn't really the age for shit like that to happen. If we as players/a QM wanted to we could play in a difference age that has nothing to do with the GoT books. And the QM would have free reign to add as much magic as the players wanted. We could even have stats with 7, but no one ever wants to pick blood of hero's for good reason but still.

You wake with the sun, unsure of when you managed to nod off. You leave your wife sleeping in as she’s wont to do and go wandering about to find your hostess. She’s not in her room or the kitchens or any of the common areas, but you eventually spot her coming back in from a side entrance concealed in the hedge walls.

“Now I know why you looked so tired yesterday,” you call out to her.

“Unrelated. What do you want?” she demands.

“We’ll see. For now, to talk,” you say.

“Fine. Do so while I eat. The food where I’ve been isn’t fit for dogs,” she walks off to the kitchens without another word.

“You’re going to eat all of that yourself?” you ask, eying the slab of coral colored fish with the generous helping of yellow sauce drizzled on top.

She looks up to you reproachfully. “This is salmon from the Kingdoms of the Ifeqevron, acquired from New Ibbish. It was spawned in the Womb of the World and is said to have great powers of fertility. The sauce is saffron and coconut because I detest salmon. You may look upon it if you wish, but you will not have a single bite no matter what platitudes you are prepared to conjure up at this godless hour. Have some grapes.”

“Cerelle is the target, not me,” you say, skipping over her poor taste in fish. It’s wasted on her, really.

Her chewing slows to a stop. She frowns and scoops up another helping of sauce to finish her bite. “How do you know this?”

“Lady Bar Emmon told me last night. Her brother and Massey plotted it,” you say.

“Oh? This I did not know. Why would she say? Were you fucking her and she offered to put a lordly little crown on your head?”

“No. This is serious. And lords don’t wear crowns… least I’ve never seen them in one,” you tell her.

“They should. How else does one know them? This is the reason magisters like their hats. Angry eyes this morning is it? Have you killed her? I just had those rooms refurbished and I expect you to pay for the damage,” she points her fork at you.

“Far as I know, she’s still sulking in the room just fine,” you say.

“You may want to change that… or not. There are worse things than weak neighbors. What is it then? I told you I would look into this matter, yes? Ships do not sail faster because Aurion Shryke commands it,” she goes back to her food.

“Actually, they---”

“Yes, yes. Very good. Now what do you need me for?”

>>4300985
“I know of the Faceless Men. Are they the only killers worth a few thousand dragons’ coin?” you ask.

“They are worth far more than that in some cases. They never fail to kill, and they only kill who they intend to. Death may come by the next meal or in a decade from now. Whichever and whenever their god decides, so it is said,” she explains.

“Can’t they simply cancel their contract?” you ask. That sets her to playing with her food more.

“Hmm. Who can say? I have my doubts, but never hearing of a thing does not mean it doesn’t happen,” she says when she looks up. Then her icy eyes narrow in thought again. “You are aware your wife is with child, yes?”

“I’d hope so…”

“Good. I said they are exacting with their kills. I’d wager they wait for the child to be born first. I have my doubts they paid for one life. Two? No,” she says.

Your shoulders sag in relief. “That’s something.”

“If it is them at all. Others would take the coin. Many others at such a price. It is said it is cheaper to hire an army of sellswords than a Faceless Man. There are minor guilds… and who is to say they do not seek favor with a magister or another captain such as yourself? You say that girl didn’t plot this. How does she know her kinslayer brother did not only speak of pushing your plump little wife out a tower after an invasion?” she asks.

“She’s not plump just cause she’s got bigger teats than you. Any road, I crushed their invasion plans and my army remains in place. They were skittish about getting in a scrap without me busy sacking their neighbor and that would’ve been after the coin got shipped off. They hired sneaks or they wasted their coin,” you say.

“Fine. Enough guessing. Your choices are simple. You wait for me to learn more as agreed or you go charging in blind as you seem to enjoy doing. Or… you simply wait… don’t give me that look. If you love her then ignore me. I do not listen to your pillow talk. I do not know if you dote on her because she is your trophy or because she is something more. If you don’t love her… valar morghulis,” she shrugs.

>Wait for the Braavosi contacts to report back.
>Go now with Vaeron. You won’t leave this to others.
>… wait.
>Something else.

>>4300988
>>Wait for the Braavosi contacts to report back.
We came to attend the wedding. Attend we shall

>>4300988
>Wait for the Braavosi contacts to report back.
I have my doubts on faceless men or maybe Lady Bar Emmon is telling us that because that's what she wants us to think. We need to wait for more information.

>>4300988
>...wait

>>4300988
>>Wait for the Braavosi contacts to report back.

>>4300988
>Go now with Vaeron. You won’t leave this to others.

Weddings are gay and I like the idea of getting a rep for being unpredictable.

>>4301005
+1

I'll leave this open overnight since it's going to have a major impact on the next session. See you tomorrow and thanks for playing!

>>4301011
Problem with that is that, we then don't get to chill with the king and share this day with him. Even as much as he doesn't like this marriage. We could be a bright point on his shity marriage day. With our rum, we also have all the politicking to do with our ward, and seeing about making new contacts.
But that is sunken costs thinking. So if you can convince me otherwise im happy to change.

>>4301022
Those all sound like nice things. If we get to do all that. Every brownnoser in the realm is going to be wanting attention from the king so I don't have my hopes up for spending time with him. This goes double if cersei is still a jealous bitch over that stuff with the mirror gift at our wedding. I don't know what's worse between having to sit at the cuck table at the back or having to swallow our pride and ask daddy in law for a better seat. It might not be as bad as all that but I don't have my hopes up.

Moving past all that. I just don't like picking the lukewarm option all the time. I'd rather go gank fantasy WOPs while cerelle mingles with old friends.

>>4301028
>ask daddy in law for a better seat
Pass wouldn't be getting to that point at any point. That being said, this is our strength anon. Smoozing with people. Making ourselves known. Swinging our dick making people give us a wide berth. We haven't been able to really show our worth other than at our wedding. And even then it was a small gathering.
But I may be getting ahead of myself. I'd say making sure our wife doesn't die is worth much more. Since she is our wife, and her dying would be a terrible joke. And we would be the punch line, while also straining the already shit relationship with dear ol dad by letting his daughter die in our care.

>>4301044
Let Cerelle have the kid, do nothing, let Faceless Men kill her, marry Cassandra Bar Emmon

>>4301049
Man I want to do an edgelord quest so badly where we're fucking and betraying everyone to come out at the top. Might head over to Questionable Questing for that.

>>4301044
>but-but what would people think?

Thanks. I needed that to help make up my mind. Changing my vote to
>... wait
And I like this:
>>4301049
That's how done I am with lukewarm votes and caring about brownnosing.

>>4300988
>>Wait for the Braavosi contacts to report back.

>>4300988
>>Wait for the Braavosi contacts to report back.

>>4300988
>>… wait.

>>4300988
>Wait for the Braavosi contacts to report back.

>>4300988
>Wait for the Braavosi contacts to report back.
But have our boys on high alert.

Did our septon arrive (wasn’t a previous option that we were going to wait up for him?)?

>>4301403
Those knights aren't gonna do anything against a real assassin holding unless there's plot armor afoot. She's gonna wind up dead anyway with all these half measures.

>>4300988
>Wait for the Braavosi contacts to report back.

>>4300988
>… wait.
If it's really faceless men then she's dead no matter what we do desu.

>>4300988
>>Wait for the Braavosi contacts to report back.

>>4300988
>Wait for the Braavosi contacts to report back.

>>4301051
Dude, our character goal is Family/Love and his fear is Loneliness. Sorry but i don't think this will be that kind of quest.

>>4301797
That's what I don't get. If we are really sticking to that then where is the rush to go put an end to the plot in Braavos? It got no votes since I changed mine. To me that means some combination of:

1. Aurion doesn't truly love Cerelle and is okay with losing her so long as he keeps the kid.
2. No one seriously thinks Boggs will gank the waifu despite the assassin rules in the PDF being highly lethal.
3. Brownnosing nobles is somehow such a high priority that it takes precedent over primary character goals.
4. Anons haven't thought this through and are defaulting to the middle of the road option like they tend to do.

Am I missing something?

>>4301837
5. going to braavos now will realistically accomplish absolutely nothing and being by the side of our wife gives us a higher chance of saving her

>>4301844
You're relying on the QM giving her plot armor because by that same logic waiting on contacts to give the name of the employed is equally useless. At least going there ourselves feels like doing something proactive. A professional assassin could poison her food or drink, sabotague her horse, shank her while she dresses, shoot her from afar. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination. Or in this case the QMs which is probably worse. What exactly do we accomplish by being around her other than getting a great big whiff of some Baratheon booty like >>4301044
is so desperate for?

>>4301865
>You're relying on the QM giving her plot armor
You're relying on us going to Braavos suddenly stopping the faceless men
>At least going there ourselves feels like doing something proactive
Ah, you're just doing it for the feeling. Fair, but I have the feeling that being by our wife's side to protect her is better.
>What exactly do we accomplish by being around her
What do we accomplish by leaving her now, while realistically the assassins will already be leaving Braavos? We'll unknowingly pass by them on a ship and that's that.

>>4301876
We don't know it's faceless men and if it is we were just advised they would probably wait to kill her. Either way that might give us time. I guess I never saw this as a sitting on thumbs type of MC, but here we are. Oh well. We made our bed. Now Cerelle can die in it. I hope Bobby B gives us a nice head pat for the trouble.

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>>4301887
Absolute doomer

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You glare at her for a few long moments. “You might think about being a little kinder to her. You’ve decided you want to be a mother now so you should see better than me what a shit way to go this might be. If you’ve so completely forgotten sympathy, then you might consider she’s your spawn’s best open door to these little highborn games. Tell me when your sneaks know more,” you tell her as you leave her to her fish.

You angrily stride out to the yard, passing by a couple of the knights still passed out on the benches. You’ll be talking to the whole lot of them, arranging some sort of shifts or the like. There’s six of them counting her prat cousin, so they can go in twos around the clock. Those Clawmen might well prefer night duty any road. Or maybe it’d be fairer to rotate them? Why should you deal with this? One of them can lead.

Who would you have lead your knights?

>Ser Edger Lydden. Ambitious sort and Cerelle’s cousin.
>Ser Jorry Bywater. He looks the most put together and you think he’s technically the most highborn.
>Just wrangle Vaeron into their group and have him do it.
>Let them figure it out themselves.

If I stop posting I'm not dead. Probably. There are thunderstorms and these dumb northern states like to put their power lines above ground amongst trees. It's bizarre.

>>4301924
>Ser Edger Lydden. Ambitious sort and Cerelle’s cousin

>>4301924
>Ser Jorry Bywater. He looks the most put together and you think he’s technically the most highborn.

>>4301924
>>Ser Jorry Bywater. He looks the most put together and you think he’s technically the most highborn.
Let's not let the Lynden boy get to big for his britches

>>4301924

>Ser Jorry Bywater. He looks the most put together and you think he’s technically the most highborn.

Clawman gotta lead the Clawmen.


I think cultivating Ser Jorry as a leader would really augment the strength of our Cadre, increasing the return on a big investment.

>>4301942
>>4301947
>>4302009
>>4302020

I'll get to writing for Jorry. He's technically more of a Kingswooder with his family's holdings right on the outskirts of it, but he's the most persuasive of the 5 cadre so that helps.

That Ser Jorry should work out. Third son of Lord Bywater, so a man of at least some note compared to the others. Edger and Osmund are nephews, but nephews don’t count for much as far as you know. They might badger… heh… a tower out of an uncle if they’re good enough and there’s enough stone lying around or, more likely, they’ll end up hanging on in their slightly luckier kin’s personal guard. You didn’t get to talk with Ser Jorry overmuch during your impromptu drinking marathon, but he seemed the most put together of the bunch, so to speak. Shiny plate armor and well-spoken especially next to Ser Pate’s backwater garble. You’ll have to give him the good word when next you see him.

But right now, you’ve your eyes fixed on a different sort. Curious. A man with an impressive salt pepper beard and close-cropped hair sits watching the rising sun on one of the benches with a horn of ale. He’s arrayed in a studded leather jerkin with a blunted steel ball mace at his side. He catches sight of you and beckons you over with a wave. Seeing no reason to ignore him, you join him on the bench.

“Well met lad, here to catch the view?” he greets.

“Can’t hurt. Well, not til it gets a bit higher at least. Who might you be? You don’t look like the rest of Cleo’s guards,” you point out.

“Aye, decent enough folk, but I fear only the Most Devout get to look half as flamboyant. I’m called Septon Boremund,” he says with a toothy grin.

“They didn’t give me a name, but I wager you’re hear for me. Ser Aurion Shryke. Proctor or Captain or whichever,” you introduce.

“Ser’s easier. Well met,” he gives you a firm shake.

You look him over again, most pointedly at the mace. “You don’t look like any septon I’ve ever seen.”

“Hah. You don’t look like any ‘ser’ I’ve ever seen, begging your pardons and all. Even so, the Smith makes us all what we need to be, eh?”

>>4302100
“Just so, but I didn’t know septons carried weapons,” you say.

“See I keep hearing that. And why not? The Warrior is one face of Seven. Still, some of my brothers get prickly about it. Way I see it, it’s written in The Seven-Pointed Star that spilling blood can be a sin but let me tell you I’ve not found one mention of breaking bones. Flocks sometimes need more tending than prayers and these are hard times,” he says.

“I’ll take your word for it, you’re the septon,” you grin. “So long as you’re not bringing it into confession.”

“They told me you’re a crafty one with words,” he chuckles. “Might be that’s why they inflicted me on you. That and I hear your folk keep the Storm Gods close.”

“Aye. It’s always been that way. They’re one and the same,” you confirm.

“Good. Should keep things simple. I hail from the Rainwood originally. Spent a good amount of time walking those shores in years since. From the sound of it, your folk aren’t much different than mine old kin. To heathens!” he toasts and passes you the horn.

“I bet you gave Lady Constance a start,” you laugh.

“Ah, a sweet girl. She was no trouble at all. Spent a good amount of time praying, but we’ve all got our troubles… what of you ser? You didn’t come out here for my humble company such that it is,” he asks.

>Speak to him of your troubles of late.
>You’d rather not.

>>4302104
>>Speak to him of your troubles of late.

>>4302104
>>Speak to him of your troubles of late.

>>4302104
>Speak to him of your troubles of late.

>>4302104
>>Speak to him of your troubles of late.

>>4302104
>>Speak to him of your troubles of late.

“I’m sure you’ve heard a tale or two in your day, but I’m not sure you’ve heard one like this,” you smile without your earlier warmth.

“Try me lad. You’re not the first warlord I’ve shared a horn of ale with,” he puts down the drink and gives you his full attention.

“As you wish,” you catch him up on the various intertwining plots and intrigues swirling about your life. It takes some time, enough to earn some curious looks as the manse comes to life with activity for the day. He’s pensive throughout, interrupting only to ask questions of the various people involved.

“And that’s all?” he asks.

“Aye. What say you septon?”

“It’s not my place to judge you. That’s for the Storm Father. You want advice? I can do that much, but this is just me speaking. As far’s I can see, you’ve a bunch of tangled strings with a simple answer. You wouldn’t be here if you weren’t a man of action, so it feels right strange to tell you this, but I will all the same: stay true. Don’t get dragged down in the muck with those who’ve fallen from their paths. Drag them back up to your level or send them off to judgement,” he says.

“That… well, it sounds right murky really,” you tell him.

“Hah. Aye, might be I’ve spent too much time dealing with murky villagers of late. Here’s the simple of it. You’ve got a good, brave woman by your own reckoning. You might even be one blessed with love. If you are or aren’t the answer’s the same. Stay true to your vows. I’m not gonna tell you how to hold onto her because I can’t read fates. What I can tell you is these ‘sneaks’ as you call them, they’re not worth it. Yours or theirs. All you can be sure of is yourself. If you’re half of what you seem to be, then I’d not trust any other to keep this woman safe, but that’ll take more than holding her close. These others? Drag them into the light one way or another. It’s a kindness to end their suffering if need be. That goes for this highborn Lord Massey, your friends inside, and these heathen killers. I take it you’re here for this mummer’s farce of a wedding?” he adds.

“That was the main point of sailing out here,” you confirm.

>>4302186
“Half the Stormlands is starving, and their lords will all eat a pig apiece,” he mutters. “So, you’ll be amongst friends and enemies alike and both will be smiling as they’re wont to do. If L-King Robert hasn’t been changed too much by this war, he might be a good ear to talk around of all this. Sounds right presumptuous and it is. If you don’t want to go bothering him, then take it to all the old bearded men that I’ve no doubt like to judge what’s worth the lad’s time. But look at me saying that, hah. Let this Lord Massey confess his sins and damn the consequences. I’d wager you could find a few good honest men in that hall with a bright enough candle and they’ll respect you all the more for it. The rest with their rules and decorums, aren’t worth it any path. Remember they’ve no right to judge you. He above still holds onto that last I checked,” he says with a gesture to the cloudy sky.

“You know, most my advisors urge caution. I’d not have thought a holy man would urge action,” you say.

“Do they? Can’t blame them for it. They’re advisors cause they follow. Leaders are the ones that take action or should any path. At least that’s what I’ve been told a time or two,” he shrugs.

You thank him for his time and return to the manse. You could use some sleep, but you’re not sure you’d be able with all the noisiness. All the womenfolk are up and about fretting over dresses and the like. To little surprise, a good half are studiously avoiding your gaze for various reasons. It seems the wedding is on the morrow and all want to catch at least a glimpse of it in or around Baelor’s Sept. That or be glimpsed themselves in at least a couple cases. Most won’t be at the feast itself as that’s by invitation. You and Cerelle both received one, so you can bring a guest each. As for who, that’s another matter.

Vaeron’s the best fighter you have and you do like to make him suffer through these with you, but he also stands out a bit more than some might like if that’s a thing worth caring about. Ser Edger would no doubt be overpleased to attend. Or Ser Jorry. Or even Septon Boremund. That might send a certain sort of message and his mace can’t hurt. Well, it can’t hurt you. Then there’s the womenfolk. There are worse things than having your new healer on hand and presenting Lady Bar Emmon as a sort of extra wedding present has its own appeal. Decisions, decisions.

>Pick any 2 of your people to attend the wedding feast. Open overnight. Thanks for playing!

>>4302188
>Septon Boremund and presenting Lady Bar Emmon
The priest was already killed and this is the faceless man who will kill our wife once she gives birth.

>>4302188

> Lady Bar Emmon is along as well, a sort of extra gift for the wedding… but you’re more interested in your shield at present.

So we may as well bring Lady Bar Emmon along, that is why we brought her to KL.


A pity Janesa isn’t with us to help us sell rum at the wedding, guess old mate Vaeron should come along instead

>>4302188

>Septon Boremund

Love the character plus a holy man fits in great at religious parties.


>Cassandra Bar Emmon

To me, just seems like what Aurion would do. Dude loves making a unique splash.

Can anyone think of a better option in terms of garnering support/leverage for the (possible) trial?

>>4302188
>Septon Boremund
>Lady Bar Emmon

Septon Boremund is so obvious. He's likeable and sticking a septon nearby might help with any crying about the premarital sex. Vaeron looks too much like a targ. Gotta say, I think it's weird as fuck to sit Bar Emmon with us through a wedding feast since we and Cerelle both know full well she was willing to sit back and watch our wife die. I'm voting for it anyway just because she's walking evidence and I'm not opposed to starting some shit.

>>4302188
>Septon Boremund
>Lady Bar Emmon

Should've brought Janesa along.

>>4302188
>lady Bar Emmon
as said earlier it's why we brought her
>Septon Boremund
Robert will probably love a clergy man with a blunt weapon.

Septon/hostage it is. Life is getting in the way of me writing/posting and we are on page 8 anyway, so I'm going to call the thread here.

We have a total of 15 exp to work with. Would you like to spend 10 of it to up a rank 2 ability to rank 3 or pick up a bonus die in something? If not, you can bank it for later. What will it be?

>>4304534

>Bank it

>>4304534
#Learn2read

>>4304534
#Learn2read

>>4304750
+1

>>4304750
This

>>4304534
#Learn2Read

>>4304534
#learn2write

>>4304534
>#Learn2Read