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You carefully regard the aging pirate lord, the true anchor behind Bloodstone’s prosperity and the architect of the closest thing to legitimacy these infamous waters have seen since the Ninepenny Kings. He was the sworn blood brother of your own mentor, the late Captain Zallabar of the Stormbringers, and was always spoken so highly of. He was even honorable or shrewd enough to gift you the sword that belonged to your old captain’s captain a lifetime ago, sealing your own loose alliance in the process.

But now? Never meet your heroes. Those are some words to pass on to Cerion. You see a man past his prime clinging onto a dying dream and caught between two feuding children that he names his equals, both seemingly bent on destroying everything he has built in one way or another. It might just be that they’re the clever ones and not him. Cleo took a leaf out of your book and sailed off to sit behind comfortable stone walls and get fucked and catered to at her leisure… if that’s her play. Elequo, well, at least he’s getting his while the getting’s good. You can appreciate that even if you might owe him a rope.

So, you offer up an easy smile in answer to the old pirate lord’s guarded yet light hearted complaining over the state of things. You do understand his reluctance to cause any more trouble than has been caused already, of course, and you say as much before calling for rum. It’s hardly a lie. You could see yourself getting in a bit of trouble with that emaciated teeth grinder they’ve propped up on Dragonstone if he knew you were consorting as one might do. Seemed like he already was looking for an excuse to string you up next to that sword swallower you so kindly delivered to him as a gift. No, best to keep this light. Shako might not want your pity or your sympathy, but he has it all the same. If your lady wife takes issue with your approach, or even approves of it, she doesn’t make her thoughts known. Instead, she excuses herself to see to Cerion before eventually rejoining you both when you’re somewhere about a flagon deep into your reminiscing.

Cerelle does seem to take a greater interest in hearing Shako go on about his old, shared history with Captain Zallabar. They both were fledgling warriors in the host of the exiled Prince of Qhoqua. Prince Xhobar lost his claim to his ancestral land after being defeated by an up-and-coming tribe during a ritualistic battle. In their Summer Islander tradition, the prince and those Qhoqua who would still follow him were allowed to go into exile. They, at least by Shako and Zallabar’s telling, were quick to prove their worth in the Disputed Lands with their idolized leader taking on the name Ebon Prince.

>>4874367
“I have heard that name before,” Cerelle remarks.

“Aye, lady. You are from the Golden Lands, no? Many a knight from there learned to fear that name. And that sword,” Shako gestures to you and laughs.

“Does it have a name?” she asks, no doubt intent on the legacy it brings your son.

“No,” he frowns. “Name it what you will. Tis not our way.”

“Killing’s not a thing to be worshiped there. Naming swords is making light of it, yeah?” you say, getting a nod from your host in return. You’re vaguely familiar with some of their traditions. It’s their odd approach to warfare and their love goddess that held your attention in the stories you’ve heard.

“Why would you give that to Aurion? I must confess it has been bothering me,” your wife asks.

“Oho, you bring me that gold, boy?” he asks you instead, barely containing his smile.

“Gold? What gold?” she quickly asks. You offer a hapless shrug in return, getting a cold glare for your troubles before you and Shako both burst into a long laughter at her expense.

“It should’ve been Zallabar’s,” Shako finally says after the laughter abates, far more seriously than before. “He was the warrior. I was better with coin. You live long like me, you get regrets. Twas one of mine, that I took it for me when my prince fell. I touched it not once after that, just showed it off. Zallabar, he needed it more. He died with some cheap blade in hand. This one here,” he gestures at you. “I seent him many a year ago, still half a boy but with my brother’s trust. Now, he leads my brother’s company just as the Ebon Prince led us all those years ago. Legacy, aye. That’s what these are for, no?”

“And he wanted me out his hair,” you add.

The pirate lord booms his laughter. “Aye. More, more, more. Those should be your house words, no? You and all the rest. You see Lady Wildfire, with her new house next to your king, you tell her I said that.”

“I will,” you smile. He leaves off not long after, content you’re not about to turn the port into a bloodbath or something equally stupid and clearly relieved so little has been asked of him. Two of his men help the big man down the steps. He might dwarf you, but he drank at least twice your share in rum and didn’t have your sort of thirst to begin with.

>>4874374
And you have other thirsts as well. You end up carrying Cerelle up the stairs against her light protests, fully intent on fucking her for all you’re worth in Cleo’s bed. It turns into something different, though. She pushes away your roaming hands and slowly, almost daintily mounts you, leaning forward and hugging herself to you as if fearful of letting go. After you’re finished much later, you catch her wiping tears away. She insists it’s nothing, and you’re far too perturbed to know what to make of it. Then she wakes up in the deeper night, thrashing about in the silken sheets seeming unaware of where she is. You lay awake for some time after that, far past her settling back in.

“Are you well?” you finally ask early the next morrow when she rises to go make her water and see to your son.

“I want to go home,” is all she wants to provide, so you make good on just that.

The entirety of the Sea Shryke is relieved when your little island finally appears on the horizon a week later. No more trouble plagued you on the route back. The early summer storms were at their nadir and the pirates were likely licking their wounds.

The jubilation of the crew is nearly matched by that of the townsfolk that gather for their peek upon the newly expanded port. It seems many were starting to doubt whether you would return at all. Word by raven gets to be unreliable with how far away you were from home, so you wouldn’t be surprised if this is the first the bulk of them have heard of you since your departure. Sight of your wife and son sets them to further buzzing with even a few whores cooing down from freshly painted windowsills. It’s not long after that you have more official company upon you as Janesa arrives wearing a sandsilk dress as she rides in with her cousin Janoth and a few Qartheen cavalrymen along as escort.

“You look horrid,” she greets you while trying to set her windswept hair to rights after accepting Janoth’s arm to dismount from her horse and somehow not giving you an eyeful of her ladyship in the process. “Not you, dear. Lovely as always. And who is this?” she continues as she sees Cerelle and begins her round of cooing over Cerion.

“Where’re the rest?” you ask, briefly fearing the worst.

“I should hope they are catching up. There are only so many horses and I wanted to see if it was truly you,” Janesa says.

“Good. Vaeron and the lads are well, then?” you ask.

>>4874381
“They are well. Although House Wendwater did send a letter. They seem to believe the men went too far in punishing the deserters,” Janesa delicately puts it. You grimace. Vaeron always has been more direct in his approach to problems and for a good many of your men, this outing was personal. You don’t doubt they got a bit out of hand without giving much care to what some woods knights thought of it.

“Aside from that, we have few concerns worth noting. The town has flourished under my attentions,” Janesa smugly continues.

“You mean my brothels,” you correct.

“You could put it that way if you simply must,” she replies with a twinge of annoyance.

“Oh, I must. I bet the lads were paying triple for the first week at least,” you say.

“It is true there was something of a windfall,” she begrudgingly admits. “But we have many other details to discuss.”

We really do. Here’s three to start with:

Your Military
>Throw a feast for your men to celebrate their various victories. You don’t particularly care if deserters got what they deserved. [Valyrian]
>You’re a lord now. Lords delegate. Whatever mischief the lads might’ve gotten up to can be sorted below your level, but you’ll bring up the letter in a meeting of your subcommanders. You want to strategize with them after your recent troubles at sea. [Sellsword]
>You want to address these allegations of your men’s battlefield brutality and sort out whatever happened in the Kingswood before you go rewarding anyone or talking next steps. [Captain]
>Something else.

Your people
>Hold court in your castle and pass judgement on whatever is important enough to be brought before you. You want to maintain a healthy distance between yourself and your subjects. [Captain]
>Visit your farmlands and the distillery directly. That is where the bulk of your dragonseeds are rooted and where your Qartheen have settled. They are your closest thing to a middle class and generally your most individually important subjects. [Valyrian]
>Hold court in your town around the poorest folk and fledgling merchants alike. You want to get a better sense of how it’s developed and what is needed to make it more profitable. [Sellsword]
>Something else.

Your nobles
>Prioritize establishing roots with who you have. You want to discuss the future of House Lydden/Yew and House Anaris on Stormgrave. You’d like to settle the issue of Cerion’s betrothal and also of Ser Byron’s role going forward. [Valyrian]
>You would rather focus on any word involving your neighboring houses or of King’s Landing. There were several unknowns before you left that have surely been dealt with by now. [Captain]
>All of that can wait. You want to hear their best ideas on attracting fresh highborn blood to bolster your house, especially after your recent losses. [Sellsword]
>Something else.

Finally, as many will take their cues from you on your approach to issues and what you prefer to prioritize, in which order would you like to address everything?

>Military, people, nobles
>Military, nobles, people
>People, military, nobles
>People, nobles, military
>Nobles, people, military
>Nobles, military, people

>>4874385
>>Throw a feast for your men to celebrate their various victories. You don’t particularly care if deserters got what they deserved. [Valyrian]

>>Hold court in your town around the poorest folk and fledgling merchants alike. You want to get a better sense of how it’s developed and what is needed to make it more profitable. [Sellsword]

>>Prioritize establishing roots with who you have. You want to discuss the future of House Lydden/Yew and House Anaris on Stormgrave. You’d like to settle the issue of Cerion’s betrothal and also of Ser Byron’s role going forward. [Valyrian]

>>4874389
>>Nobles, military, people
Nobles need to be our priority given how much we've put off regarding it.

>>4874385
>You’re a lord now. Lords delegate. Whatever mischief the lads might’ve gotten up to can be sorted below your level, but you’ll bring up the letter in a meeting of your subcommanders. You want to strategize with them after your recent troubles at sea. [Sellsword]

>Visit your farmlands and the distillery directly. That is where the bulk of your dragonseeds are rooted and where your Qartheen have settled. They are your closest thing to a middle class and generally your most individually important subjects. [Valyrian]

>Prioritize establishing roots with who you have. You want to discuss the future of House Lydden/Yew and House Anaris on Stormgrave. You’d like to settle the issue of Cerion’s betrothal and also of Ser Byron’s role going forward. [Valyrian]

>Nobles, military, people

>You’re a lord now. Lords delegate. Whatever mischief the lads might’ve gotten up to can be sorted below your level, but you’ll bring up the letter in a meeting of your subcommanders. You want to strategize with them after your recent troubles at sea. [Sellsword]

>Hold court in your town around the poorest folk and fledgling merchants alike. You want to get a better sense of how it’s developed and what is needed to make it more profitable. [Sellsword]

>You would rather focus on any word involving your neighboring houses or of King’s Landing. There were several unknowns before you left that have surely been dealt with by now. [Captain]

It’s time to get a handle on what’s been happening, these seem like the best options to regroup.

Also, new thread stuff?

Really enjoy what you do Boggs, is the Alchemist quest shelved or?

Whoops:
>Nobles, people, military

Given the above choices - but do need to regroup, that pirate attack was suspicious. Anyone who has ascended like we have has assuredly made enemies, we need to develop our intelligence network and allies

>>4874569
>Nobles, military, people
Changing

>>4874385
>You’re a lord now. Lords delegate. Whatever mischief the lads might’ve gotten up to can be sorted below your level, but you’ll bring up the letter in a meeting of your subcommanders. You want to strategize with them after your recent troubles at sea. [Sellsword]
They brutality is normal, they had sworn an oath and fucking broke it.
>Hold court in your town around the poorest folk and fledgling merchants alike. You want to get a better sense of how it’s developed and what is needed to make it more profitable. [Sellsword]
If you neglect the poor they will eventually rebel.
>Prioritize establishing roots with who you have. You want to discuss the future of House Lydden/Yew and House Anaris on Stormgrave. You’d like to settle the issue of Cerion’s betrothal and also of Ser Byron’s role going forward. [Valyrian]
Adds more legitimacy you see.
>Nobles, military, people
The traditional order of business.

>>4874385
>You want to address these allegations of your men’s battlefield brutality and sort out whatever happened in the Kingswood before you go rewarding anyone or talking next steps. [Captain]
>Visit your farmlands and the distillery directly. That is where the bulk of your dragonseeds are rooted and where your Qartheen have settled. They are your closest thing to a middle class and generally your most individually important subjects. [Valyrian]
>Prioritize establishing roots with who you have. You want to discuss the future of House Lydden/Yew and House Anaris on Stormgrave. You’d like to settle the issue of Cerion’s betrothal and also of Ser Byron’s role going forward. [Valyrian]

>Military, nobles, people

>>4874385
>>4874608
+1

>>4874385
Nobles, Military, People
Valyrian for all three, Fuck Deserters they got what was coming to them, Farmland and Distillery are more important than anything else on the island except for Cerelle/Cerion, also it's best to build on what you have.
Man I love this quest and Aurion's stupidly charming ways, I'd also love to do something to honour the men we lost in the process of gaining the castle

>>4874385
>Throw a feast for your men to celebrate their various victories. You don’t particularly care if deserters got what they deserved. [Valyrian]
>Hold court in your castle and pass judgement on whatever is important enough to be brought before you. You want to maintain a healthy distance between yourself and your subjects. [Captain]
>Prioritize establishing roots with who you have. You want to discuss the future of House Lydden/Yew and House Anaris on Stormgrave. You’d like to settle the issue of Cerion’s betrothal and also of Ser Byron’s role going forward. [Valyrian]

>>4874389
>Military, nobles, people

>>4874385
>Throw a feast for your men to celebrate their various victories. You don’t particularly care if deserters got what they deserved. [Valyrian]

>Hold court in your castle and pass judgement on whatever is important enough to be brought before you. You want to maintain a healthy distance between yourself and your subjects. [Captain]


>Prioritize establishing roots with who you have. You want to discuss the future of House Lydden/Yew and House Anaris on Stormgrave. You’d like to settle the issue of Cerion’s betrothal and also of Ser Byron’s role going forward. [Valyrian]

>>4874385
>>You want to address these allegations of your men’s battlefield brutality and sort out whatever happened in the Kingswood before you go rewarding anyone or talking next steps. [Captain]
>Visit your farmlands and the distillery directly. That is where the bulk of your dragonseeds are rooted and where your Qartheen have settled. They are your closest thing to a middle class and generally your most individually important subjects. [Valyrian]
>Prioritize establishing roots with who you have. You want to discuss the future of House Lydden/Yew and House Anaris on Stormgrave. You’d like to settle the issue of Cerion’s betrothal and also of Ser Byron’s role going forward. [Valyrian]
>>4874389
>>Military, nobles, people

>>4874385
>Throw a feast for your men to celebrate their various victories. You don’t particularly care if deserters got what they deserved. [Valyrian]
>Hold court in your castle and pass judgement on whatever is important enough to be brought before you. You want to maintain a healthy distance between yourself and your subjects. [Captain]
>Prioritize establishing roots with who you have. You want to discuss the future of House Lydden/Yew and House Anaris on Stormgrave. You’d like to settle the issue of Cerion’s betrothal and also of Ser Byron’s role going forward. [Valyrian]

>Nobles, military, people

>Throw a feast for your men to celebrate their various victories. You don’t particularly care if deserters got what they deserved. [Valyrian]

>Hold court in your castle and pass judgement on whatever is important enough to be brought before you. You want to maintain a healthy distance between yourself and your subjects. [Captain]

>Prioritize establishing roots with who you have. You want to discuss the future of House Lydden/Yew and House Anaris on Stormgrave. You’d like to settle the issue of Cerion’s betrothal and also of Ser Byron’s role going forward. [Valyrian]

>Nobles, people, military

Vote is still open for any who missed it. I'm still on for tomorrow night as I stated at the tail end of the last thread. Most of the votes look fairly settled, but I'm seeing a 3-way tie for the People vote.

>>4874562
>Really enjoy what you do Boggs, is the Alchemist quest shelved or?

Thanks. Yes, it's probably shelved. I don't have the time to run two quests at what I at least would consider an acceptable pace, and this quest is my "main" quest. I had some vague plans to run Alchemist to a point where it might intersect with this one in a meaningful way, but my pacing for that quest ended up being way too slow for it to work out without a longer hiatus from Shryke than I felt comfortable with.

>>4875998
We can name our sword right? If so I'd like to put forward Shrykethorn, and we also probably need a name for our ridiculously kickass armour (Sun's Scale, ScaleSun?)

>>4875998
That's a shame, I really liked Tristan and Aemilia.

>>4876455
I'd rather not name the sword due to this conversation:

>"Does it have a name?” she asks, no doubt intent on the legacy it brings your son.

>“No,” he frowns. “Name it what you will. Tis not our way.”

>"Killing’s not a thing to be worshiped there. Naming swords is making light of it, yeah?” you say, getting a nod from your host in return. You’re vaguely familiar with some of their traditions.

Keeping a Valyrian sword nameless lends it its own unique aura of mystery as to why it is not named. I'd rather keep that legacy of the sword.

>>4876492
That is true, but that is also his tradition not ours, plus I think that the sword will either receive a name from our enemies or we'll give it a name first, furthermore I feel like Aurion is enough of a showman that he'll want to give it a name instead of leaving it nameless

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“Details, aye. There’s a few matters I’d like to see sorted before we go feasting,” you tell Janesa.

“Feasting?” she repeats with an arched brow.

“You’ll get lines,” you motion to your forehead.

“Gods, my mother says that,” she mutters in disbelief while doing her best to keep her face still.

“And you’d do well to heed her,” you wag a finger, then glance over your shoulder to make sure Cerelle is out of earshot before adding, “if memory serves, she still has her looks about and then some. I’d fuck her if you catch my meaning.”

She doesn’t appear phased in the slightest. “I am sure you would. I am well aware of your taste for grandmothers. Would you like me to draft a poem for Lady Wendwater in your reply to their letter?”

“No and don’t mention that again. I’ve got Cerelle mostly sorted over it,” you tell her.

“You told her? Truly? And the bastard?” Janesa asks.

“Aye, that too. You wouldn’t believe all the talking over it. I thought it would never end,” you complain.

“You poor thing. And it is resolved, yes?” she asks, caring little for your griping.

“It might be. It’s hard to say. She’s been affectionate in her way, but she’s been… I don’t know. A bit sad of late, I suppose,” you uncomfortably confide.

“Your doing or something else?” Janesa asks with a curious glance back to where a litter is being prepared for your wife and son.

“I’m not rightly sure. She did have a bit of a disagreement with her sister, and I think she misses her family. Then there’s all the attacks. The assassins, the pirates,” you start listing.

“Pirates?” she interrupts.

“We had a spot of trouble passing the Stepstones. I drove them off, but we lost those knights of hers, those Clawmen. It’ll be answered, but that’s for later,” you vaguely explain.

“Gods be good… it is a small wonder that she is even standing,” Janesa sighs.

“She’s not been so much as scratched in any of this. I saw to that,” you point out.

“Aurion… she is… what? Nineteen now, perhaps? Or was it twenty? Regardless, she has hardly seen the outside of a holdfast. She needs a good rest. I will speak to her,” your seneschal goes on.

“Then she can have one. Now give me that horse and go see to your lounging and gossiping,” you tell her, taking the reigns of her borrowed Red Wastes charger. “Ah, and Janesa? The feast. Don’t forget about the feast. Make it… grand. The lads deserve as much. And whores. They could swap out with the serving maids. That’d be a treat, yeah?” you helpfully suggest, only serving to hasten her wordless retreat to the litter.

>>4878455
Your dwindling entourage makes for the castle from there. It’s not a very far journey from the burgeoning port town to the castle. You can see it even from the port, jutting out from its perch upon the cliffs above the farmlands. You are a bit slowed, however, by what passes for a road leading up to it from the town. It’s been carved more from the wear of traveling smallfolk than from any sort of planned design. At least you can see some design in other places. You make just barely make out the new mill further to the east with a second squatter structure a bit closer to your path. You assume that would be the distillery. The thought makes you nearly as giddy as your men must’ve been to see that the brothel rumors were true. There is something satisfying about seeing the fruits of your fighting taking form, even from a distance.

It's even more of a relief to see your oldest friend as he intercepts you a short way’s out from the castle gates. Vaeron looks no worse for wear than when you last saw him and gives you a crushing embrace in greeting just after you dismount. You’re both quick into swapping word of what’s passed, though he gets into a string of curses soon enough.

“I knew that woman was trouble, brother. Now her foes are yours,” Vaeron says. He never has been trusting of Cleo.

“They were mine the moment they sacked the town. That was before I met her,” you say.

“Still think she let that happen,” he grumbles. “Any road, this lot needs to hang.”

“They will… if we can catch and hold them. The oarsmen can’t fight for shit. I’ve never carried a battle so much’s that one,” you say.

“Cause I wasn’t there,” he frowns.

“Might be so. And the woods?” you ask.

“It’s done,” is all he answers. You could do with more detail than that, but his eyes are on the litter. There will be time for it later. Instead, you both walk over to help your respective wives, both of whom are a bit muted after whatever it is they’ve been discussing. It seems Cerion is in a deep sleep as well. No doubt the swaying of the litter worked its charm just as well as the ship. Your son is whisked away up by one of Janesa’s two handmaiden-cousins up to your rooms to be settled in while your wife follows. Cerelle ends up excusing herself to go refresh after the journey while you fish out one of your old bottles and lounge by the balcony.

>>4878456
It's not long before the very same nobles you’d seen below are arrayed in the receiving room of your chambers, the small, half enclosed entryway that serves as the closest place you have to a proper solar. Janesa and Vaeron are of course present, as is Janoth Anaris of your cavalrymen and Ser Byron Yew… but that’s it. You suppose this should feel like something of an official meeting given the weight of what you all need to discuss, but it really doesn’t carry that sense with how small your small council has gotten. Granted, there are other valuable retainers such as your septon and master of arms who just didn’t rate inclusion in these matters, but it’s still telling how few noteworthies answer to you…

“Best get to it, then. First off, I’d like to announce Ser Byron is to wed the Lady Lenore, the same girl who’d served my lady wife til recently,” you start.

“Congratulations,” Janesa offers to Ser Byron, studying the young knight a bit closer for perhaps the first time. He offers an unenthusiastic word of thanks in return. You’re somewhat aware that your knight has some conflicting views on his impending nuptials, though the details escape you. He put on a pleasant enough face when Lenore saw him off in Lannisport, so that will have to do for now.

“There’s more. I’d like to see him seated in that old, ruined watchtower by the port. Gives them some room to grow and should help him with his duties overseeing the town’s watch. I’d thoughts towards making a proper towerhouse out’ve the spot,” you say.

“It could be done, rather easily in fact. We have enough cut stone in reserve to see to it. I had thought to suggest nearly the same project with Auric in mind… it seemed a suitable way to elevate him for a match with your daughter if you had one, or another of similar worth,” Janesa muses. You’re a bit surprised at how well she seems to be taking the decision to pass over her family for Cerelle’s. Odd, that.

“Good,” you nod. Cautiously pleased at how smoothly that went.

“Beyond that, Lord Aurion and I are of a mind to discuss our son’s future. I do believe it is rather early, but there is some wisdom in growing roots in such uncertain times,” Cerelle picks up from there.

“Oh? Is my lady suggesting talk of betrothal?” Janesa perks up.

“We are,” Cerelle answers.

“There are undoubtedly many young ladies who would be pleased with little Cerion. I find myself wondering more on how to narrow down the search… someone who would be a boon to Stormgrave’s trade, perhaps?” Janesa suggests like a cat playing with a meal.

“That’s what we were thinking,” you cut in before the two of them spin this up any further. “Qarth.”

“You suggest my daughter for Cerion?” Janesa asks.

>>4878457
“Aye. Makes good on our earlier words and it’s about even, yeah?” you say. Janesa and Vaeron exchange a look, her all poise and your old friend looking miserable for reasons beyond you.

“What?” you ask, far less inclined to the patience Cerelle shows for the theatrics.

“Janoth,” Janesa nods to her cousin. He gets up for the door, far more somber than you’ve ever seen him.

“Alright, I thought you two would be a touch less… whatever this is about the good word,” you irritably gripe.

“Could we have a moment, ser?” Janesa asks Ser Byron. He looks to you, so you sigh and wave him off. He trades places at the door with Janoth and one of his sisters, Janelle or Janei, you can never tell which. She carries a child in her arms…

“Yours?” you ask while peering at the babe, a girl only a moon or so birthed with Janesa’s dark hair and bright blue eyes like Vaeron. “I hadn’t known…”

“No. Janei’s,” Janesa answers. Her lady cousin’s face goes rust red under the attention. “Thank you. That is all,” she says in dismissal of both of her cousins.

“Last I checked, she wasn’t wed,” you say, still trying to puzzle out the play here.

“Nor is she. Her name is Elenei,” Janesa says.

“You will need to excuse me, but I am in no mood for any sort of game. You are implying that girl, an apparent bastard, is suitable for my son. I have heard some tales over creative attempts to lower dowries, but this far exceeds what I expected from you of all people,” Cerelle tells Janesa.

“I am merely presenting you with an opportunity, my lady. If you wish to dismiss it, then so be it. I will take the girl back with me to Qarth and arrange something for her there as it suits,” Janesa says.

“Hold on. You’re going back to Qarth? And… what? You don’t want a betrothal?” you ask Janesa and Vaeron both.

“We do,” Vaeron answers, looking no less miserable than before. “It’s just… complicated.”

“I have to return, and sooner rather than later. I stand to lose everything if I tarry here another year. The last word I had from my mother expressed as much in no uncertain terms,” Janesa explains.

“And you?” you stare at Vaeron.

“He has yet to give me an answer,” Janesa says for him and to him.

“I assumed this would happen at some point,” Cerelle interrupts. “That is your duty. What I am at a loss for is why you believe a bastard girl is in the least bit enticing to me… unless… who is the father?”

“I think you know,” Janesa quietly replies.

“Elenei, oh by the Mother…” Cerelle sighs.

“For those of us who just like having conversations the normal way…” you cut in.

>>4878460
“Do you remember my time spent in King’s Landing last year, when I was helping prepare for your wedding? Lord Estermont helped arrange for me to meet the new king so that he could sample your rum,” Janesa reminds.

“And he liked it, aye. I brought along more for his own wedding,” you say.

“He did. He also mentioned buying it in bulk. I was keen on seeing that idle thought put to paper, so I pushed for another meeting. It was granted, but I was… indisposed,” she continues. The miscarriage. “So, I sent along Janei with another bottle and my apologies.”

“She fucked the king?” you blurt out.

“If you must put it so indelicately,” Janesa mildly responds.

“Indelicately? That’s his bastard she’s carrying around,” you say.

“Oh, you could stand to be less dramatic. I am given to understand he has several others, none of whom have been recognized,” Janesa says before asking Cerelle, “you never told him?”

“As you said, he had a reputation for wenching even when he was the Lord of Storm’s End. It was hardly surprising to me. It seemed to be of no more consequence than idle gossip,” Cerelle tells you both.

“She was late in informing me or it may have stayed that way,” Janesa says. “Even so, the girl is now my responsibility as much as she is my cousin’s. I am sure I will hear no end of it from my mother upon my return… but my proposition was more of practicality than avoiding another lecture. She has her stigma about her this far west, and I have great doubts as to this King Robert making any sort of grand gesture, but I suspect he would at least react more favorably to the rum trade if word were to reach his ear…”

“What of your daughter? What of Janesa?” you ask them.

“She is my heir and will be expected to return with me,” Janesa says. “She cannot learn what it means to be a Pureborn if she is to remain in this castle. I had thoughts for perhaps leaving her here and bringing Auric back to act in her stead—”

“I won’t leave her here alone with the rest of us sailing east,” Vaeron interrupts her.

“—but her father is a stubborn oaf,” Janesa finishes. “That is not to say he and I cannot come to some sort of agreement. Even so, for my part, I am willing to consider your word satisfied and do my part to see trade steered your way if you were of a mind to accept Elenei for Cerion.”

You look around at all the other three with their moods as hard to read as fall clouds at sea. “Right. Out,” you tell your old friends. “Out, out, out. Go on,” you shoo them away. And away they go, Janesa with a huff and Vaeron with muttered apology over the mess.

>>4878462
“What in Seven Hells just happened?” you ask Cerelle when you’re finally alone with her.

She reaches for your bottle of rum and gulps it in a way that makes you fear she’s about to retch it back up. “I believe they made a simple decision far more complicated,” she finally answers.

“You don’t like bastards,” you summarize.

“For good reason. But then this is beyond my likes and dislikes,” Cerelle says.

“You’re considering it?” you ask in surprise.

“It would leave a stain upon this house that I doubt could be washed away. Much less so after everything you have done to get us to this point. I know,” she holds up a hand before you say your part. “You had your reasons. It still does not change that we are pariahs to most of our neighbors. Such a match would either have them gloating or loathing us for the king’s lickspittles.”

“Then why are you considering it?” you ask her.

“She is of Estermont and Baratheon blood, albeit muddied. If our ties are to be so severed with our neighbors to the north, then why not look to the south? In a way, we would be repaying the very same favor to our Lord Estermont as he granted in lending his word to our own match,” Cerelle says. “That it pays back your debt to House Anaris as well… I suppose it feels like a clean slate of sorts… but she is a bastard.”

“So am I, more than like,” you say to her deepening frown.

“Which makes the match that much more of a problem. Their own children in turn would have dismal prospects. If she were trueborn, king’s blood or not, I would leap upon these connections without a second thought. As she is, it is… difficult,” Cerelle admits.

“I thought you liked the young Janesa,” you point out.

“Oh, I do. I believe she will be a clever girl. She is also six or seven years older than Cerion. If he shows any sign of weakness, then she will all but rule him,” your wife says.

“He won’t.”

“You and I have very different definitions of the word ‘weakness,’” she retorts.

“That might be,” you shrug. “What of it?”

To that, she doesn’t muster a response. “I have said my piece. Either of the girls could bring us the trade we need. It is just a matter of who we should be trying to court. Surely you must have a preference?”

>It must be the young Janesa. You liked the notion of her being of Vaeron’s blood and she’s of a higher standing besides. [Valyrian]
>You prefer the bastard girl, Elenei. You were never one to pay much mind to what your seething neighbors think, and you find the potential for exploiting her origins too enticing to pass up. [Sellsword]
>Something else.

>>4878463
>>It must be the young Janesa. You liked the notion of her being of Vaeron’s blood and she’s of a higher standing besides. [Valyrian]

This is a top notch twist on what I expected to be an easy thing. But still, gotta go with the original plan.

>>4878463
>You prefer the bastard girl, Elenei. You were never one to pay much mind to what your seething neighbors think, and you find the potential for exploiting her origins too enticing to pass up. [Sellsword]

This is my favorite option so far desu

>>4878463
>>>It must be the young Janesa. You liked the notion of her being of Vaeron’s blood and she’s of a higher standing besides. [Valyrian]

>>4878463
>It must be the young Janesa. You liked the notion of her being of Vaeron’s blood and she’s of a higher standing besides. [Valyrian]

>Something else

There’s years to go before Cerion needs be wed, let fate open the doors for a suitable match that will advance the house

>>4878632
Ditto, neither of these really seem like good options, also can we start referring to the two Janesa (Janesas? Janesai?) As Sr/Jr or something similar I found myself confused while reading the post

>>4878463
>Something else.
>Let's wait if there are other proposals rolling in.

Just as an Aside, Dany is the exact same age as Cerion and while that's Ooc it might still be interesting to attempt if we ever play as him

>>4878463
>>Something else.
Still a lot of time to decide and plan.

>>4878463
>It must be the young Janesa. You liked the notion of her being of Vaeron’s blood and she’s of a higher standing besides. [Valyrian]

It’s truly not a bad plan

>>4878701
Hhnnnnnngggg

Waiting a few years lost the vote last thread. I'm not undoing votes. This was just supposed to be a subvote to the winning vote of strengthening ties with House Anaris/Qarth. Pick an option or add a write-in that fits.

>>4878463
>>It must be the young Janesa. You liked the notion of her being of Vaeron’s blood and she’s of a higher standing besides. [Valyrian]

>>4878463
>>It must be the young Janesa. You liked the notion of her being of Vaeron’s blood and she’s of a higher standing besides. [Valyrian]

First time post in this thread so I can’t link it but here is some explanation instead:

There isn’t much point in promising our son to an illegitimate child in the future. There will be better opportunities.

We could just offer the mother and child a place in our household to take care of them and help to find a suitable match in the future, but not to our firstborn (and future Lord).

We can re-offer a bretrothal with Janesa Jr and have it as a take it or leave it.

Either way, strengthen ties with Qarth now.

>>4878836
>Waiting a few years lost the vote last thread
yeah, but you have also changed things around now.

Just so I understand fully would Elenei go by Anaris (using the same logic with Vaeron and Jan's kids are Anaris) or the Westerosi fashioned Waters/Storm? Just an optics question.

>>4878936
Virtually nothing has changed with the Janesa option. The only possible change I can think of would be her parents speaking more openly of returning to Qarth, but then that's been discussed on multiple occasions in other threads. There is just an additional option which fulfills the criteria of strengthing Qartheen ties that you can accept or ignore as you wish.

>>4878940
It would have to be Waters/Storm with how the father is so clearly out of the picture.

>>4878977
I kind of figured. Would much rather have the foreign name than a bastard name.

>>4878463
>>It must be the young Janesa. You liked the notion of her being of Vaeron’s blood and she’s of a higher standing besides. [Valyrian]

>>4878463
>You prefer the bastard girl, Elenei. You were never one to pay much mind to what your seething neighbors think, and you find the potential for exploiting her origins too enticing to pass up. [Sellsword]
Closer in age
More easily molded (in theory)
Chad Baratheon genes will certainly cuck the manlet Lydden genes out of the bloodline.
Kinda interested to see this wildcard option play out
Mya a cute

Also 1pbtid... feel free to ignore.

>>4878836
>Janei’s

Making a blood tie to Janessa, effectively a high Senator of Quarth, vs a bastard daughter of her cousin

This vote is being voided by Janessa, not us

Alright, I went back and looked things over again since several of you are more in favor of waiting on Cerion. I strongly dislike revisiting decided votes because it usually seems to be the same people just trying to force their way after losing out the first time which is just obnoxious. However, I am willing to do so here with the condition that the reasons given in the prompt from last thread are still met. This was:

>Janesa and Vaeron's daughter, to make good on your previous promise and strengthen potential trade ties with Qarth.

Telling everyone you've changed your mind and want to keep your options open for your son just doesn't fit on its own. The only realistic way that I can see the criteria being met without Cerion would be if you were to promise, as in you break this and your ties to Qarth are done, your future first trueborn daughter to their son in place of Cerion to their daughter. Promising hypothetical kids is dicey, but House Anaris is on a time crunch right now for deciding which side of the world everyone will be on, so it seems more reasonable with that context. My Robertspawn bait doesn't seem to be hooking enough of you, which is fine, so I'll drop that one and give you the following two options to choose from. It won't be revisited again after this:

>You will promise Cerion to the younger Janesa. Her mother will take Auric back to Qarth with her to act in his sister's stead. Vaeron will remain in Stormgrave with his daughter to ensure she doesn't feel abandoned.
>You will promise your first trueborn daughter to Auric. Auric and Vaeron will remain while the two Janesas return to Qarth to assume their rightful places.

In case there is any confusion, you're not losing your Seneschal holding. A different character (TBD) will take over.

And one quick thing. If this sudden revisiting is out of some desire to play Medieval Dating Sim 9.0 with Cerion down the line, I'll go ahead and say right now that's not going to happen. I hate writing that shit even more than I hate reading it. No magically convenient waifus will be manifesting for him and he will almost certainly end up betrothed to someone by the book era.

>>4879116
Alright so I'll change to:

>>You will promise your first trueborn daughter to Auric. Auric and Vaeron will remain while the two Janesas return to Qarth to assume their rightful places.

But with the caveat that the future plan is for Auric to be landed (likely by us) and become a Knight. We know Vaeron doesn't want to be a landed knight and Jan doesn't have the time but I'm loathe to marrying off our potential daughter to what will amount to only a household Knight even if the trade ties are well worth it. We all know Auric is the lesser prize here but our daughter will be worth more. So we need to get him up to that standard.

>>4879141

Supporting this.

To be sure, Cerion is the rightful heir of our house, need to be judicious about this no matter what our goal is.

>>4879116
>>You will promise Cerion to the younger Janesa. Her mother will take Auric back to Qarth with her to act in his sister's stead. Vaeron will remain in Stormgrave with his daughter to ensure she doesn't feel abandoned.

>>4879116
>You will promise Cerion to the younger Janesa. Her mother will take Auric back to Qarth with her to act in his sister's stead. Vaeron will remain in Stormgrave with his daughter to ensure she doesn't feel abandoned.
I like the second option more, but aside from the risks to our Qarth ties, I can't imagine Cerelle would be too thrilled with the idea of giving birth until we maybe get a daughter.
On the other hand, I don't like the idea of Vaeron being separated from his son, but what can you do outside of some sort of presumptive betrothal between Cerion and Little Janesa that would get nullified upon the birth of a daughter? Unfortunately, I doubt anyone would entertain that at this point.

>>4879116
>You will promise Cerion to the younger Janesa. Her mother will take Auric back to Qarth with her to act in his sister's stead. Vaeron will remain in Stormgrave with his daughter to ensure she doesn't feel abandoned.

You are right. The guy pushing this redo is the same one who was putting the house on an unrealistic pedestal last thread. It's the same bad arguments. Next it will be for trying to weasel out of the daughter to Auric.

I don't like the younger Janesa option simply because one day she too would have to head to Qarth like her mum to assume the family head position, so they'll be a world apart half the time and constantly pulled in two directions. Just wanted to give the son a wife who'll stay with him.

>>4879229

Really? No this is the first thread I’ve voted or commented in, crash read all the archived threads as a fan of the alchemist quest.

No gripe with establishing strong bond to Janessa, Vaeron, and Qarth.

The Bobby B spawn option ticked none of those options, and Anon is right, Janessa the younger is going to have to leave too, and is too old. We are dealing with two shitty choices and the first born son and heir to the house is still swaddled.

That being said, we are getting caught up in the soap opera shot, and there are forces out to get us still.

>>4879293
The plan for that option is for Auric to go back to learn the ropes and act in her stead. She won't have to return to Qarth if she doesn't want to. Their mom is an only child and doesn't have that luxury.

>>4879116
>>You will promise Cerion to the younger Janesa. Her mother will take Auric back to Qarth with her to act in his sister's stead. Vaeron will remain in Stormgrave with his daughter to ensure she doesn't feel abandoned.

>>4879322
Ah ok thought Qarth was matrilineal

>>4879366
There is nothing in canon on it either way, but I have their inheritance as similar to Dorne only with individual house traditions and rituals keeping it from being too stringent or universal. Well, the rituals and tradition focus is canon. It's my take on what a semi-stagnant not-egyptian nepotistic republic might turn into over thousands of years.

>>4879422
I may have missed the explanation but what caused Janesa's miscarriage?

>>4879438
Oh man. I've been meaning to get to that in a story post. Short answer, a horrifying understanding of medicine.

>>4875556
This is me

>You will promise your first trueborn daughter to Auric. Auric and Vaeron will remain while the two Janesas return to Qarth to assume their rightful places.

We can keep Auric close to us and consolidate our power better, as well as keeping a daughter close instead of sending her off to some landed knight or other minor lordling. Grow the influence and keep it under our power.

I'm calling the vote in 30 min.

>>4879116
>You will promise Cerion to the younger Janesa. Her mother will take Auric back to Qarth with her to act in his sister's stead. Vaeron will remain in Stormgrave with his daughter to ensure she doesn't feel abandoned.

Our wife will just have to ensure that he can stand up to a strong willed woman

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“I say keep this as we agreed. All else is too cloudy. The bastard girl might bring more trouble than she’s worth and my seed’s far too strong to go counting on daughters to soothe them, so that’s out,” you decide.

“Your… seed? Honestly… who taught you that?” Cerelle huffs.

“Some things’re just known. No one taught me big teats hold more milk and here we are with me half a maester on the subject,” you say while idly playing with a lock of her hair.

She swats your hand away. “Somehow, I doubt a maester would agree with your boasts.”

“Don’t need them to. I’m a lord. What I say goes,” you say as you meet her eyes.

“Yes. Well…” she clears her throat and sweeps her hair back off her neck. You settle back into your chair with a cocksure grin. That’s one of her tells. She likes you kissing up her neck first.

“You’re right on that necklace I got you. Might be too tight. You should take it off. Better yet, I’ll help you with it. That’s the lordly thing to do, yeah? Why, I don’t even need my hands,” you suggest.

“I… we need to settle this. First,” she weakly insists. “Cerion and Janesa. Agreed. They may be wed when Cerion comes of age. A standard dowry would be acceptable.”

“Good,” you say as you yank one of her laces free.

“I am not finished,” she says.

“Not yet.”

“Lady Janesa is leaving. Who will replace her?” she quickly asks.

“Someone else,” you shrug off the distraction.

“Aurion, this is important. She all but ruled here in our absence. We need another capable of the same,” Cerelle says.

“There’s Aerron, the one from Dragonstone. He was a steward there. Why not here? Might keep him from storming off over his pricey parchments,” you suggest.

“I will admit I am curious of his work. He does seem to be rather orderly as well. It is only that I must wonder over his leadership and his birth,” she says.

“He’s not a leader, no. Too mincing. Though I don’t think he’s a bastard. Doesn’t much like them. More like one of those lowborn types who claim relations to near on everyone,” you say.

“Perhaps he could serve. Looking elsewhere would be more reasonable if we only had the connections…” she sighs before looking up to you intently. “Of course, everything would run far more smoothly if I simply assumed the duties.”

“You? Why trouble with it?” you ask.

“When we were still in King’s Landing, you told me this house was mine to run. Since then, I have done nothing more than meekly hide from your enemies. I gave you a son. I suffered what indignities I had to suffer. Now, I would turn this house into something worthy of the respect it so lacks,” Cerelle tells you.

>>4879864
“What of the children? Travel?” you ask.

“If I never have to set foot on a ship again, I will count myself lucky. As for Cerion and any other, I would say Lady Janesa managed quite well with her two children,” she says.

“Right, two—”

“Your crass little jest at the motherhouse hurt me more than you know,” she abruptly tells you.

“… which?” you cautiously ask.

“The one in which you suggested I take a holy vow to become a brood mare for the rest of my days,” she tersely replies.

“It wasn’t meant as an insult,” you wince.

“I do not care. You all but put me in my place. Do you know what my sister said when I was upset over it? She said I had the makings of another Ellyn Reyne, the woman responsible for taking everything from her and my mother. All because I struck her as willful and ungodly for daring to have a spine,” she vents.

“Seems a bit harsh…” you carefully opine.

“That is how I look. I realized it in that very moment. Any lady who has words with her husband looks the shrew, no matter her cause. It is infuriating because you were the one who gave me the hope of something more to begin with… I find myself wondering sometimes if you are not somehow beyond me,” she says while clasping her hands to steady them. “What if I have been played for the fool as I have felt so often of late? What if all of your praise was as empty as the other vows you have broken? What if every sweet word, every seduction, is just your way of keeping me beneath you where you have me?”

“You know what I think? You need a drink. A strong one,” you tell her while trying to make sense of her pent-up heat. If you’re understanding, there really isn’t much to say, only something to do. You just hope it’s what is best for her, you, and the house.

>You like her fire. You like her to be passionate. Have Cerelle assume the seneschal position. You have no doubt she’s up to the task. [Valyrian]
>She should temper her fire and relax a bit. It would be good for her. She shouldn’t trouble herself with it. You want her focused on children, not bookkeeping. Either Aerron or some other should deal with it. They will answer to her anyway. [Captain]
>Something else.

>>4879868
>You like her fire. You like her to be passionate. Have Cerelle assume the seneschal position. You have no doubt she’s up to the task. [Valyrian]

Absolutely the move. Aurion has been on track of keeping to his word the past few I dont see why this is any different.

>>4879868
>You like her fire. You like her to be passionate. Have Cerelle assume the seneschal position. You have no doubt she’s up to the task. [Valyrian]

Her intelligence and fire was why we were attracted to her in the first place. We don’t want some meek doting wife - but a partner.

I’m sure she can manage raising a child and handling some books at the same time

>You like her fire. You like her to be passionate. Have Cerelle assume the seneschal position. You have no doubt she’s up to the task. [Valyrian]

Like there’s anyone around more capable and trustworthy than her. Having her run shit is basically a life hack. Just need to slip a couple more past the goalie tho, and who to look after things when she’s otherwise occupied?

>>4879868
>You like her fire. You like her to be passionate. Have Cerelle assume the seneschal position. You have no doubt she’s up to the task. [Valyrian]

>>4879868
>“The one in which you suggested I take a holy vow to become a brood mare for the rest of my days,” she tersely replies.
Bruh did you really run with the retarded 'vow to bear us 12 kids'? I thought the 'reaffirm wedding vows' option had more votes.

>>4880083
Acting retarded won the vote. I ended up skimming over it because I was getting fed up with writing self-inflicted relationship drama, but yes, that happened. I get that some of those were probably shitposts from self-inserters throwing tantrums about being in a sept or something, but there were too many for me to completely ignore.

>>4879868
>You like her fire. You like her to be passionate. Have Cerelle assume the seneschal position. You have no doubt she’s up to the task. [Valyrian]

>>4879868
>>You like her fire. You like her to be passionate. Have Cerelle assume the seneschal position. You have no doubt she’s up to the task. [Valyrian]

Would have voted for >>4879141 if I was around, shame that didn't get more looks. But I'm happy with either.

>>4880120
I appreciate that you skipped it Boggs. But equally glad you still pointed it out as something that happened. Write ins were a mistake.

>>4879868
>You like her fire. You like her to be passionate. Have Cerelle assume the seneschal position. You have no doubt she’s up to the task. [Valyrian]

>>4879868
>You like her fire. You like her to be passionate. Have Cerelle assume the seneschal position. You have no doubt she’s up to the task. [Valyrian]

>>4879868
>>You like her fire. You like her to be passionate. Have Cerelle assume the seneschal position. You have no doubt she’s up to the task. [Valyrian]

>>4879868
>You like her fire. You like her to be passionate. Have Cerelle assume the seneschal position. You have no doubt she’s up to the task. [Valyrian]
West girl is best girl. We did promise this to her. She’s also smart enough.

>>4880421
We found the self-insert fag

>>4879868
>You like her fire. You like her to be passionate. Have Cerelle assume the seneschal position. You have no doubt she’s up to the task. [Valyrian]
Voting for this under the assumption that the "seneschal position" is a job description and not a sex position....or maybe both...

>>4880421
>can't handle religion in a fantasy setting due to a terminal case of being european
>casts retarded coomer shitpost vote in response
>mild consequences for acting retarded
>noooo! b-bitch!

Esl self-inserters should be range banned.

>>4880623
>>4880672
Cringe coomerfags btfo

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>>4880672

Just ignore him. He's been complaining off and on for over a year now. It's the downside of running here. Some people just can't take a hint.

>>4881042
you guys should just start a private game somewhere

>>4879868
>>You like her fire. You like her to be passionate. Have Cerelle assume the seneschal position. You have no doubt she’s up to the task. [Valyrian]

>>4879868
>>You like her fire. You like her to be passionate. Have Cerelle assume the seneschal position. You have no doubt she’s up to the task. [Valyrian]

>>4880672
>>can't handle religion in a fantasy setting due to a terminal case of being european
excuse me, we europeans invented religious warfare.

Hey Boggs what's the situation with the Faith nowadays? Are we close on getting to the next level and title? Or is that dead in the water with more recent developments?

Next post will be tomorrow night with military stuff. Addressing the pirate issue and figuring out a way to make the majority of your men not suck should be key topics.

>>4881571
I want to say you're about 2-3 years away from the next title at your current rate with the crystal tithe and your septon/castle sept holdings, but I haven't updated that over into the new quest resource. Those titles are meant to be more generational, so the jumps do take some time. There are a couple of upcoming events that could give you a nice boost or end up with you losing your title. We'll have to see how things play out.

>>4881822
>There are a couple of upcoming events that could give you a nice boost or end up with you losing your title.
How will anon shoot themselves in the foot this time, find out next time on House Shryke quest

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You give Cerelle your answer once she’s settled in. It’s the only answer that makes any bit of sense. She’s freakish good with those little details you don’t care for, and Janesa managed well enough with the little ones about. If it’ll keep her from these other thoughts, then all the better. She seems a bit cautious of it, but you get a genuine smile out of her once she starts to let herself believe your words. Sleep takes her right there in her chair, drink half-finished, before you do. Later, then. For the better. You’ll need a good distraction after your next item. You slip down to the hall to see about this Wendwater letter. The script is a bit smudged and overly flowy for your simple tastes, forcing you to carefully squint over the words as you mutter them aloud.

“Barb. ‘Barbarism’. There’s a good one… ‘will not put words to’… then why bloody write of it?” you sigh, then single out a passing Stormbringer. “I want Lieutenant Trios and the sergeants here. Then clear the hall.”

“Why am I getting letters from Wendwater?” you finally address them after pretending to give the parchment a final onceover.

Trios shoots a dirty look to Vaeron. “You said Captain’d not pay it mind,” he accuses. Your friend only shrugs in response.

“I got a letter. I pay letters mind. So… someone was impaled at some point…” you prompt.

“A few someone’s,” Sergeant Marys confirms while some of the others start readying to point fingers or absolve themselves of any guilt.

“It was Hoster’s fault, Captain,” Sergeant Lucien of the Second lazily answers. There it is.

“Hang on. Don’t you go putting it on me now,” Sergeant Hoster Rivers of the First blusters.

“It was your idea,” Sergeant Lucien mildly reminds him.

“I’ve not a single notion of what you’re on about. One’ve those turncloaks was carrying on, so I said he’d look good with a stick up his arse. Dravid runs with it and I’m to blame? Always blame Hoster,” your Riverlands sergeant of dubious origins complains.

“Yours did it too.” Sergeant Dravid grumbles.

“Well, I didn’t see it. And I didn’t do it not once. I just watched is all,” Rivers keeps digging.

“Where were you in all of this?” you ask Lieutenant Trios.

“With Ser Vaeron,” the grizzled veteran crisply responds.

“And where were you?” you ask your oldest friend in turn. He shoots an unsubtle glance to… Lieutenant Janoth now, his… good cousin? Is that a term? The Qarkasheen cavalryman and his own sergeant lean against a pillar with arms crossed, the pinnacle of smugness even amongst sellswords. They straighten slightly, only slightly, at your attention.

>>4883856
“We were at sport, my lord,” Janoth of Anaris answers. You know full well what sport entails. The Heralds have a history of sending their condemned loose, not of any real sense of compassion or justice. Rather, they take the chance to hone their skills in riding the fleeing men down. Coin is often exchanged over who will score a kill and which prisoner will run the farthest. You’ve done a bit of betting yourself on occasion. Somehow, you have doubts that the knights and forest rangers of House Wendwater were as keen on the tradition as your own men. You give them all one last long look before giving the little speech that’s expected of you.

“I don’t give a single shit what’s done to deserters. What I don’t like is getting letters over it. Letters mean griping. Griping means I need to put on a face when I’d rather fucking not. That, my friends, is shit. And shit rolls downhill. Understood?” you tell them.

You get a chorus of ayes in return. “Good. There’s to be a feast. Any whores that may or may not be present are up to your discretion. That is, if you can be discrete if you catch my meaning.”

They all seem to catch it well enough, or they at least pretend to lest they somehow end up with less of their preferred entertainments. You shoo them away with the exception of Trios and Vaeron. “Master Flint and Ser Byron. Grab them,” you tell the two while you go about pouring yourself another drink.

“Pirates,” you greet the four once they’re finally settled in. “War’s done with, and we still have pirates. Not the right sort of pirates neither. That’s going to need to change,” you say, then gesture for them to start giving you some decent counsel.

“We hunt them down and kill them,” Vaeron suggests.

“Yes, but how? If it were so simple, I would’ve done it already,” you say.

“I think recent events show they think you weak enough to attack, my lord. You could use that against them,” Ser Byron says.

“A trap? There’s a thought. Trouble is, we are that weak. You were there,” you tell the Westerlands knight.

“I was down to the port to see about that whole mess and those lads make it sound like you all but won the day yourself,” Warrick Flint, your master of arms, comments.

“They’re not wrong. The ship would’ve been lost had that been a patrol without me and the knights about,” you tell him.

“Hmm. Sounds to me like they need to be in fightin’ shape if they’re to be rowing for warships,” Warrick says.

“They’re oarsmen and only passing at that. Their type don’t fight alone. They run or they give up. There’s places out east with oarsmen just as good as line infantry, but this lot’s mostly what we could sweep up for sailing west,” Vaeron says.

>>4883859
“So, we make ‘em fight as good as the easterners or tell ‘em to find work on a trading galley. Simple as,” your master of arms nods.

“Short of bleeding them out on the seas, that’s easier said than done,” you point out. “We don’t have the funds to proper train the crew of four warships.”

“Two’ve those warships are useless any way you cut it, m’lord,” Warrick says. “Those galleys with the cheeky names. They’re not like to run down a pirate’s ship any weather. More as like to be lost once they lose sight of coast.”

“They weren’t my first choice,” you admit. “Just needed something to get us over here and those were it.”

“Some copper pinching fool’d take them off your hands to move cargo. I’d reckon you get another ship like the Sea Shryke for it’s worth,” Warrick suggests.

“The Sea Shryke was nearly captured as well,” Ser Byron says.

“Aye, but that’s the crew again. Word’s they never seen pirates that good before. Might be them fluffing it up for the docks, I’ll grant,” Warrick adds.

“No, they’ve the right of it. The pirate crew was excellent. All those prizes they’ve poached over this war has got them bold and experienced,” you say.

“Then we’re right back to your crews being useless in a fight, m’lord,” Warrick says.

“Stormbringers can augment,” Trios finally speaks.

“That could serve for a trap as well. I would pity the crew that boarded their ship,” Ser Byron says.

“Why pity the dead,” Trios says before adding, “could spread across ships. Ships are Company. One Cohort to a ship. Two to big one.”

“Integrate?” you ask your lieutenant.

“Why not? We have before,” he says.

Soldiers and Sailors
>A backbone is useless without the rest of the body. Integrate your Stormbringers by cohort across the ships. You will see to it that every ship flying your banner is a battle ready as they can be. [Captain]
>You don’t want to spread your best men too thin, but you’d use them all the same. You’ll plan to have them in force aboard one of your ships, laying in wait for the right chance to make the pirates think twice about attacking you. [Sellsword]
>You will make no changes on your current arrangement. Your crews will have to sink or swim. If they get in enough skirmishes on patrol, then those who are left will be worthy of respect. [Valyrian]

Ships
>Your old galleys can’t go toe to toe with a galleas on the high seas and that’s the bulk of what you need them for. Exchange the two of them for another light galleas like your Sea Shryke.
>You like your galleys as is. Two ships is better than one so long as they at least look like warships. [Sellsword]

>>4883861
>>A backbone is useless without the rest of the body. Integrate your Stormbringers by cohort across the ships. You will see to it that every ship flying your banner is a battle ready as they can be. [Captain]
>Your old galleys can’t go toe to toe with a galleas on the high seas and that’s the bulk of what you need them for. Exchange the two of them for another light galleas like your Sea Shryke.

So crunch wise this is what I'd like to do l, I'm not sure how best to vote for that. We "sell" our two galleys and get a return of 6 Power and dissolve one of the Oarsmen crews to receive another 5 Power back for a total of 11. Then "buy" another light galleas for 5, crew it with the leftover Trained Oarsmen and have a reminder of 6 Power left over. Convert 2 of our 3 Glory to Power and turn the Sea Shryke and new Light galleas crews into Oarsmen+Infantry for 8 Power.

Functionally our navy would be the two faster ships capable of boarding actions with improved fighting capability as the forward ships. With the backbone of Harvest having the Syormbringers integrated there.

>>4883861
>>A backbone is useless without the rest of the body. Integrate your Stormbringers by cohort across the ships. You will see to it that every ship flying your banner is a battle ready as they can be. [Captain]

>Your old galleys can’t go toe to toe with a galleas on the high seas and that’s the bulk of what you need them for. Exchange the two of them for another light galleas like your Sea Shryke.

>>4883955
Effectively having a detachment of Marines on board. Would also support a detachment of crossbow men or archers in the rigging to shoot the enemy missileers, and shot down on their decks

>>4883921
Would this work QM?

>>4883921
I could get down with this if it's legal

>>4883921
So, adding 2 Glory for:
Galleas with Trained Sailors and Elite Heavy Infantry primarily riding along? with:
Light Galleas with Veteran Oarsmen+Infantry
Light Galleas with Trained Oarsmen+Infantry

If that's what I'm understanding, yes, it can work. I guess a lot depends on majority support for swapping the ships. Otherwise, it's practically mandatory to spread that 14 power heavy infantry around the crews.

Spreading around the unit more evenly would look like some variation of:

Galleas with Veteran Sailors+Personal Guard
Light Galleas with Veteran Oarsmen+Infantry
Light Galleas with Veteran Oarsmen+Infantry

Alternatively, keep the ships as is and just spread the unit around by spending 2 Glory on Infantry keywords for all 4.

Also, mixed units are versatile and useful, especially for a house like this, but they fight at 1 training level below their norm. So, Trained Oarsmen+Infantry are fighting like Green Infantry. That's not as bad as mixed units used to be before I standardized the ability ranks and made the dice pools less prone to power creep, but it's still a penalty that might be worth factoring into builds.

Depending on how the votes go, particularly the ship one, I'll put some options up tomorrow on how to finalize the breakdowns.

>>4884042
The first one is what I was suggesting yes. I don't really want to fully integrate the Stormbringers into the crew. Just be the nasty surprise on our backbone ship.

And yeah I did note the step down with your new standardized rules but I'd happily take a 3D Fighting crew against what is likely a lot of 2D Fighting Sailors and Oarsmen they'd go against.

So it looks like a vote for?
>You don’t want to spread your best men too thin, but you’d use them all the same. You’ll plan to have them in force aboard one of your ships, laying in wait for the right chance to make the pirates think twice about attacking you. [Sellsword]

>Your old galleys can’t go toe to toe with a galleas on the high seas and that’s the bulk of what you need them for. Exchange the two of them for another light galleas like your Sea Shryke.

Is my best bet with a breakdown of specifics tomorrow?

>>4883861
>You don’t want to spread your best men too thin, but you’d use them all the same. You’ll plan to have them in force aboard one of your ships, laying in wait for the right chance to make the pirates think twice about attacking you. [Sellsword]

>Your old galleys can’t go toe to toe with a galleas on the high seas and that’s the bulk of what you need them for. Exchange the two of them for another light galleas like your Sea Shryke.

>>4883921
>>4884053
I like this option. Supporting.

>>4883861
>>You don’t want to spread your best men too thin, but you’d use them all the same. You’ll plan to have them in force aboard one of your ships, laying in wait for the right chance to make the pirates think twice about attacking you. [Sellsword]
>>Your old galleys can’t go toe to toe with a galleas on the high seas and that’s the bulk of what you need them for. Exchange the two of them for another light galleas like your Sea Shryke

And seconding >>4884053. I like the flavor they'd get too

>>4883861
>You will make no changes on your current arrangement. Your crews will have to sink or swim. If they get in enough skirmishes on patrol, then those who are left will be worthy of respect. [Valyrian]

>Your old galleys can’t go toe to toe with a galleas on the high seas and that’s the bulk of what you need them for. Exchange the two of them for another light galleas like your Sea Shryke.

>>4883861
>You will make no changes on your current arrangement. Your crews will have to sink or swim. If they get in enough skirmishes on patrol, then those who are left will be worthy of respect. [Valyrian]
>>Your old galleys can’t go toe to toe with a galleas on the high seas and that’s the bulk of what you need them for. Exchange the two of them for another light galleas like your Sea Shryke

>>4883921
+1
It's a good idea.

>>4883861
>A backbone is useless without the rest of the body. Integrate your Stormbringers by cohort across the ships. You will see to it that every ship flying your banner is a battle ready as they can be. [Captain]

>Your old galleys can’t go toe to toe with a galleas on the high seas and that’s the bulk of what you need them for. Exchange the two of them for another light galleas like your Sea Shryke.

>>4884153
Still slinking in to vote after being a cunt. Pathetic lol

>>4884524
You dont think women should vote?

So what we naming this new ship?

>>4884667
Name it after the wifey since we're a good boi now

>>4884691
Nah you name a majestic flagship after the wife. Not the new screen.

Hey Boggs are we going to get to choose who we do business with in selling the galleys? Or is it more of a fluff handwave to get past the crunch?

>>4884799
Lyseni Chastity, Perfect name for a ship

Call it 'The Lady Dorea'.

I'm partial to some variation of Northstorm/Northern Storm myself. After our Stormgrave and being the now northernmost point of the Stormlands.

>Law of the Tides
>Bloodied Water
>Cerion's Coming
>Stormrider
>Sea Dragon
>Merwench

Just a few suggestions to throw in the ring

>>4885086
>Red Wake
>Lady Vengeance
>Elenar Anogar (I think this translates into Blood Tide or somesuch in valyrian)
Or name it after some lady we know, Constance or Cerelle's mom for example

For the ship, I'll go with whichever name has support.

>>4884799
I'm probably going to just wrap the ship trade into dealing with Bravos since the prominent shipbuilders this side of the sea hate you right now. It's the only viable option that comes to mind.

>>4884153
I'm confused. I thought you were making your own private game somewhere with blackjack and hookers?

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Final unit vote with full breakdown:

>Option 1. Weak main ship and one support ship is middling but maintain the flexibility of having the Elite Heavy Infantry in support.
Galleas with Trained Sailors and Elite Heavy Infantry primarily riding along
Light Galleas with Veteran Oarsmen+Infantry
Light Galleas with Trained Oarsmen+Infantry
Requires 2 Glory* spent, 1 remaining
>Option 2. Well-rounded core of veteran ships and fighting men but without the Heavy Infantry in support.
Galleas with Veteran Sailors+Personal Guard*
Light Galleas with Veteran Oarsmen+Infantry
Light Galleas with Veteran Oarsmen+Infantry
No Glory* spent, 3 remaining. 2 Power remaining to be spent or to be banked for House Fortunes.
*Glory can be exchanged at a 1:1 ratio for any Resource such as Wealth or Power.
**Personal Guard don’t take the -1 training penalty and allow you to give orders to surrounding ships while fighting, so I added that to the main ship.

Open until tomorrow.

>>4885567
>Option 1. Weak main ship and one support ship is middling but maintain the flexibility of having the Elite Heavy Infantry in support.
Don't want to merge/dissolve the Stormbringers.

>>4885567
>>Option 1. Weak main ship and one support ship is middling but maintain the flexibility of having the Elite Heavy Infantry in support.

Feel like this isn't the optimal build but I just don't want to dissolve the Stormbringers.

>>4885567
>>Option 2. Well-rounded core of veteran ships and fighting men but without the Heavy Infantry in support.

>>4885567
>>Option 1. Weak main ship and one support ship is middling but maintain the flexibility of having the Elite Heavy Infantry in support

>>4885567
>>Option 1. Weak main ship and one support ship is middling but maintain the flexibility of having the Elite Heavy Infantry in support.

>>4885567
>Option 1. Weak main ship and one support ship is middling but maintain the flexibility of having the Elite Heavy Infantry in support.

>>4885567
>Option 2. Well-rounded core of veteran ships and fighting men but without the Heavy Infantry in support.

I don't want to lose a new ship right after we get it because muh elites.

>>4885567
>>Option 2. Well-rounded core of veteran ships and fighting men but without the Heavy Infantry in support.

>>4885567
>Option 1. Weak main ship and one support ship is middling but maintain the flexibility of having the Elite Heavy Infantry in support.

Any preferences on ship names or no?

>>4885086
This is me if my ID changed.

>>4886363
One last suggestion for names being Cerion's Storm.

>>4886363
>>4886367
Cerion's Bolt? The Dragon's Fin? The Mermaid's Rock? The Badger Botherer?

>>4885086
Bloodied Water sounds dope

I like
>Sea Dragon
>Red Wake

From above. Or
>Lady Badger

>>4886363
Vengeance

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“I agree on the galleys,” you tell your war council. “They were a means to get here and’ve served their purpose. Even I wouldn’t want to take them out patrolling blue water.”

“Which port should we seek trade, m’lord? Last I hear, the Velaryons and their lot’d sooner see you dead than go selling you ships,” Warrick Flint asks.

“More like they’d sell me driftwood from the storm. I don’t want their hulks. No, I’m thinking Bravos,” you say.

“You would trade with them, my lord?” Ser Byron asks.

“Aye. And they will trade with me. I’ll have the finest new galleas out that harbor or I’m like to truly start taking offense,” you say.

“An’ the crews?” Warrick Flint asks.

“Take the most able of them and drill them. Prioritize the lighter ships, the Sea Shryke and the newer one. The Stormbringers will assist you in drilling as needed, but I won’t have them broken up and scattered round the fleet. They’re best as a unit,” you decide.

“Drill them…” your Master of Arms frowns behind his bushy mustache. “Aye. I’ll drill them. Can see them outfitted better with some work… you want honest counsel, m’lord? They might serve ‘gainst the dregs of the Stepstones, but they’ll still be shit in a fight. They need veterans and those veterans you have think they’re too good to mingle with oarsmen.”

“Cause they are. They’d roll right over the lot of those crews and any other besides. That’s why I pay them more and that’s why I like them the way they are. They’ve gotten me this far,” you tell him.

“This far has you with a fleet outclassed by bloody pirates of all things, m’lord,” Warrick grumbles. “That don’t look ripe for changing at this rate.”

“We’ll see,” you tell him before turning to Lieutenant Trios. “You’ll need to shore up the Harvest. It’s the biggest ship and the worst sailed end of day.”

He nods, so you give the rest a onceover. It’s plain as day Ser Byron and Master Warrick both don’t agree with your decision while Vaeron and Trios either couldn’t give a fig or are in support of it. You’re not particularly surprised. Neither of the newer comers are Company, so they’re not like to understand the weight that carries with you. Still, those two are the thinkers of this group and Warrick especially is supposed to be counseling you on just this sort of move as your Master of Arms. You wish you could prioritize both Fleet and Company, but one had to be favored and you’re still Captain at the end of the day. You just have to hope the fleet doesn’t suffer for it.

>>4887299
“My lord? On Bravos…” Ser Byron reminds.

“Right. We’ve a guest about here somewhere, do we not? Guests, that is. Captain Riccaro and his surviving Solemn Flames,” you address no one in particular. “He and I have an agreement of sorts that should give all the introductions needed for acquiring a new ship and offloading those old galleys on someone more… deserving of them.”

“There’s about threescore of them left after some passed from battle wounds. They’ve the west wing of the barracks to themselves. Been quiet enough all said. We let ‘em stretch and what not, but town’s off limits,” Warrick explains.

“Good,” you nod. “They’ll be returning to Bravos… should be a small ransom involved.”

“Will you be escorting them in person, my lord, or would you prefer to stay here?” Ser Byron asks.

That’s a trickier one. Without your pushing, Cerelle will likely decline the trip in favor of staying here and sorting out whatever needs sorting, but you also can see how putting a personal touch on this has its merits. Your wife did mention demanding the bankers supporting Massey and the sellswords show face here instead, but that’s bound to go back and forth across the sea a few times before those mincing bankers agree to meet outside their little haven. Is it worth waiting that long?

>You will go to Bravos yourself. This is the sort of trip you don’t want to leave in the hands of an envoy, and you don’t want to put any unneeded delays upon acquiring the ship. [Valyrian]
>You will go, but you want to convince Cerelle to come along as well. She’s not strictly needed here until Janesa has to leave and you’d like to turn this into a good time if you can. [Sellsword]
>You will delegate this to an envoy, likely Janesa. You’ve been away from Stormgrave for far too long and don’t wish to be an absentee lord, at least not completely. [Captain]
>Something else.

>>4887303
>You will go to Bravos yourself. This is the sort of trip you don’t want to leave in the hands of an envoy, and you don’t want to put any unneeded delays upon acquiring the ship. [Valyrian]

Pretty sure the missus would refuse to set foot on a ship for a while

>>4887303
>>You will go to Bravos yourself. This is the sort of trip you don’t want to leave in the hands of an envoy, and you don’t want to put any unneeded delays upon acquiring the ship. [Valyrian]
It'll be fun. Even if we might die as per usual.

>>4887303
>>You will go to Bravos yourself. This is the sort of trip you don’t want to leave in the hands of an envoy, and you don’t want to put any unneeded delays upon acquiring the ship. [Valyrian]
I think the delegating we're doing here is having Cerelle run the show. Best to let her get to work while Aurion takes care of his side of business.

I miss when we had multiple updates per session :(

>>4887303
>You will delegate this to an envoy, likely Janesa. You’ve been away from Stormgrave for far too long and don’t wish to be an absentee lord, at least not completely. [Captain]

>>4887468
>wants more of a qms time
>won't even take the time to vote

>>4887303
>>You will delegate this to an envoy, likely Janesa. You’ve been away from Stormgrave for far too long and don’t wish to be an absentee lord, at least not completely. [Captain]

>>4887303
>>You will go to Bravos yourself. This is the sort of trip you don’t want to leave in the hands of an envoy, and you don’t want to put any unneeded delays upon acquiring the ship. [Valyrian]

>>4887303
>>You will go, but you want to convince Cerelle to come along as well. She’s not strictly needed here until Janesa has to leave and you’d like to turn this into a good time if you can. [Sellsword]
i want to spend intimate time with the wife.

>>4887468
The votes roll in too slowly for me to justify giving any more of my limited free time to multiple updates a day. I can't wait around for hours to find out what I'm writing.

>>4887303
>You will go to Bravos yourself. This is the sort of trip you don’t want to leave in the hands of an envoy, and you don’t want to put any unneeded delays upon acquiring the ship. [Valyrian]

I would like to use Janessa while we still have her, and Stormgrave needs her Lord.

>You will delegate this to an envoy, likely Janesa. You’ve been away from Stormgrave for far too long and don’t wish to be an absentee lord, at least not completely. [Captain]

>>4888046
You could set a timer. That would also spare us from samefags like these
>>4888242
>>4887608

>>4888321
Kick rocks. My ID changes all the time.

>>4885086
This is me.

>>4880135
>>4887608
This is me.
>>4888321
And you're almost as retarded as the anons who keep commenting without voting.

>>4888338
>>4888372
Whatever you say samefag

>You will delegate this to an envoy, likely Janesa. You’ve been away from Stormgrave for far too long and don’t wish to be an absentee lord, at least not completely. [Captain]

>>4888477
It's spreading

>>4888535
Low IQ in these threads? Agreed.

>>4887303
>You will delegate this to an envoy, likely Janesa. You’ve been away from Stormgrave for far too long and don’t wish to be an absentee lord, at least not completely. [Captain]

We need to spend some time at home

I'm seeing a tie vote, but I'm inclined to go with the Valyrian with all the non-linked 1 posts for Captain. 11 votes isn't a high number for an overnight vote, but this seems only fair when all of the Valyrian votes are from multiple post IDs. I'll close the vote in 1 hour to give people time to link back or lurkers (why are you lurking?) to finally vote.

>>4889070
Probably late, but:

>>4887303
>You will go to Bravos yourself. This is the sort of trip you don’t want to leave in the hands of an envoy, and you don’t want to put any unneeded delays upon acquiring the ship. [Valyrian]

>>4888477
>59ME7IIK

FFS this is me. Enough with all the BS, Boggs is gonna dump this thing if we take the gun out of it. Agree with the idea for time limits on votes.

Is there more reason to go to Bravos than to buy boats? Would go to Estermont before this I think

>>4889411
*fun

Phone posting is phone posting

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“It’ll need to be me. Elsewise these bankers are like to give us the runaround and drag this out longer than it need be,” you tell your war council. “I want the Solemn Flames on the Harvest with the Stormbringers watching over them. The galleys will sail in escort til they can be exchanged. The Sea Shryke will remain here. Seven know they could use a rest.”

“Have you been to Bravos before, my lord?” Ser Byron asks.

“No, I went east instead if north. Dragonstone might be the most north I’ve ever been. Any road, Captain Riccaro has all the contacts I’ll need there. Least he’d better,” you say. “If there’s nothing else?”

You dismiss the council from there, though Master Flint lingers a moment longer. “Jus’ thought I’d pass along world from Marq, m’lord. Know he’s not much a talker. He’s been fast at work seeing the iron smelted, but now he’s wondering what m’lord prefers with his armor smithing. Says he can push out as much’s he’s able or can focus on finer sets for lordlings and the like. Quantity or Quality. Ah, and he says he might be able to do both had he the workshop and prentices to help,” Warrick says.

“Which’d be more coin I don’t have,” you smile and shake your head. “My thanks, Master Warrick. I’ll pass along my decision later.”

“Aye. As you say, m’lord,” Warrick nods and takes his exit, leaving you alone with Vaeron.

“So…” he clears his throat.

“Cerelle wants the original betrothal. Janesa and Cerion,” you finally tell him.

“That’s… gods,” he laughs. “Good. It’s good.”

“I thought you’d be more pleased instead of acting like a maid over all this,” you say.

“I am, brother. Might be it’s just not hit me yet. It’s more I’m thinking of what’s to come. Janesa… my wife, mind… she’s been trying to get me to come back to Qarth with her. Been trying to convince me since you left for Lannyport,” Vaeron says.

“Lannisport. And what’d you tell her?” you ask.

“Told her it depended on the betrothals. Can’t just go leaving a child back here while we both go off to Qarth. Well, we could. They’d have plenty of family round with my kin on the farmstead, but Janesa doesn’t see them that way. That’s why she came up with using the bastard girl. Thought that way I’d have no good reason to stay,” he explains. “Truth? I like being home. It’s passing awkward with my kin, specially after Aella… but it’s still home, yeah?”

>>4889421
“It is…” you agree, somewhat. It still hasn’t fully felt that way for you, but then what did you come back to? A sacked town, an empty castle, and all those you knew and loved either dead or missing. “Haven’t caught sight of your kin in ages… they’re well, then?”

“They’re getting old, and Ma’s been a mess since Aella, but other’n that,” he shrugs. “I did take one of my nephews on as squire. Jon’s boy. He was set to prentice at the smithy, but I offered to see him with spurs down the line. See if he can do a bit more for himself. Didn’t think Jon’d agree in truth, but here we are.”

“I was meaning to take on a squire myself,” you say.

“Yeah? Who’d you have in mind?” Vaeron asks.

Your Squire
>A local lowborn like yourself to show good will to your people and as a reminder of your roots. [Valyrian]
>Cerelle had mentioning knowing of a boy from Lannisport that might be a decent fit for you. Those types are all rich and you’d like to keep your foot in the door for a ripe chance at a contract if it ever comes to it. [Sellsword.
>You were thinking of putting a call out with your neighboring houses to see if it might act as a bridge of sorts. [Captain]
>Something else.

Your Armorsmithing
>Quantity over Quality. The extra armor produced mean more chances at trade. [Sellsword]
>Quality over Quantity. You want your armor to have a reputation for excellence. [Valyrian]
The end worth is the same, but the different directions mean different opportunities for trade/sales.

>>4889411
>Would go to Estermont before this I think

He sources his ships from Redwyne who also hates you. The joys of picking the winning side when the losing side makes all the ships.

>>4889427
Ah, wasn’t truly thinking about the ships as much as our alliance. We need to sit down with Cerelle, and plot on what our opportunities are, and which houses are waning and what houses are up and coming.

>>4889422
>>You were thinking of putting a call out with your neighboring houses to see if it might act as a bridge of sorts. [Captain]
This but with tempered expectations. Like Stonemonts or Tudbury tier.

>Quality over Quantity. You want your armor to have a reputation for excellence. [Valyrian]

>>4889422
>You were thinking of putting a call out with your neighboring houses to see if it might act as a bridge of sorts. [Captain]

We’re spurred most chances to make good with our neighbours - this is a low stakes one we should take up

>Quality over Quantity. You want your armor to have a reputation for excellence. [Valyrian]

>>4889422
>>A local lowborn like yourself to show good will to your people and as a reminder of your roots. [Valyrian]
i'm tired of owing shit to other people. if we go cocksucking for a squire it's going to be some kind of negotiation and noone is friendly.
>Quantity over Quality. The extra armor produced mean more chances at trade. [Sellsword]
We need money.

>>4889422
>>A local lowborn like yourself to show good will to your people and as a reminder of your roots. [Valyrian]
I want a dragonseed squire.
>Quality over Quantity. You want your armor to have a reputation for excellence. [Valyrian]

>>4889422
>You were thinking of putting a call out with your neighboring houses to see if it might act as a bridge of sorts. [Captain]
>Quality over Quantity. You want your armor to have a reputation for excellence. [Valyrian]

>>4889422
>You were thinking of putting a call out with your neighboring houses to see if it might act as a bridge of sorts. [Captain]

>Quality over Quantity. You want your armor to have a reputation for excellence. [Valyrian]

>>4889422
>A local lowborn like yourself to show good will to your people and as a reminder of your roots. [Valyrian]

Because it's starting to get weird how much we've neglected the same people we grew up with. We aren't highborn.

>Quality over Quantity. You want your armor to have a reputation for excellence. [Valyrian]

>>4889422
>>You were thinking of putting a call out with your neighboring houses to see if it might act as a bridge of sorts. [Captain]

>Quality over Quantity. You want your armor to have a reputation for excellence. [Valyrian]

This is Westeros. What’s the point of it if not house to house infighting and intrigue? We are a social climbing upstart. Now that the war is over and with Bobby B’s ostensible favor we are sort of safe, but otherwise we’d be a juicy target without alliances and blood ties indicating that we have forced that will move to our aid if we are attacked. This is what establishes a future for our house abd name

>>4890179
We spent the entire war burning bridges with our neighbors and it just ended a few months ago. I could've maybe agreed with looking to the south but anons votes to go dick around in bravos instead of running the house so here we are. Better off doing something right by our people for once in this quest.

>>4889427
Why not go to White Harbour? Iirc we got on fairly well with the Northmen no?

>A local lowborn like yourself to show good will to your people and as a reminder of your roots. [Valyrian]
>Quality over Quantity. You want your armor to have a reputation for excellence. [Valyrian]

>>4888338
This is me

>>4889422
>You were thinking of putting a call out with your neighboring houses to see if it might act as a bridge of sorts. [Captain]
>Quality over Quantity. You want your armor to have a reputation for excellence. [Valyrian]

>>4890238
>Why not go to White Harbour? Iirc we got on fairly well with the Northmen no?
I like this idea. Could also let us establish new connections.

We're totally visiting the Courtesan in Braavos right?

>>4890238
Canonically the north doesn't begin building a fleet until the War of the Five Kings. The North hasn't had a true fleet since Brandon the Burner and overall doesn't have much of a naval tradition due to not being a major trade power and the expense of maintaining a navy. It has been noted that anytime a northerner needs ships they usually end up having to hire sellsails, a Lord Manderly in the past having done so, amusingly from Braavos. Now I'm sure they have some ships, especially the Manderlys, but strictly speaking they are less likely to have the goods that Aurion wants than Braavos would.

>>4890240
O no... He's still voting.

>>4890253
And it already begins.

>>4890265
This. Didn't they get friendly with is because we had ships and they didn't?

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>>4890253
We are a champion of the faith, we have no time for hoes

>>4890273
Our wife is a hoe

>>4890273
Kek saved

>>4890280
Our hoe. In training. We’ve made an honest woman of her

>>4889422
>You were thinking of putting a call out with your neighboring houses to see if it might act as a bridge of sorts. [Captain]
>Quality over Quantity. You want your armor to have a reputation for excellence. [Valyrian]
We should try finding allies near us, do we even have any nearby allies besides estermont?

>>4890324
Genuinely, no. Massey's Hook hates us from the Wendwater to Sharp Point. Wendwater might have been moving forgiving prior to the shit show with the Stormbringers. The Valyrian Houses to the north hate us for obvious reasons and thats not even getting into Stannis. King's Landing is a pit if vipers and people continue to overrated our relationship with the Crown. Our only real relationship there being the Celtigars of King's Landing which honestly we've not even remotely done a good job of maintaining between mistreating Cleo and not keeping up our end of the bargain with regards to Constance.

Our closest allies are our liegelord, the Estermonts, and they are a few days sail away at best. And any ties we have to the West are a continent away. The House is in an incredibly precarious position. No one would bat an eye if House Sunglass got it in their head they wanted the island back.

>>4890273
Based post.

>>4890357
The west ties really make no sense with the distance. We should be doing something to fix ties with the celtigars. Isn't Constance a jeweler? Turning those crystals into something better would be a nice boost to the faith ties and could make us look like less of a degenerate.

>>4890357
To be fair cleo wasn’t super helpful with the assassins and we didn’t really have much to offer aside from a son who we already had plans for. That said the celtigars need to be locked down as allies. Ties to bobby b would be nice and are a potential avenue but as is we have barely interacted with him

>>4890269
so?

>>4890479
So you talked shit for no reason and then said everyone should find their own game. Then you go on like you didn't act like an ass. You don't think that's weird?

>>4890511
>So you talked shit for no reason
nope
>then said everyone should find their own game
nope
>Then you go on like you didn't act like an ass. You don't think that's weird?
nope

>>4890515
>>4878936
>>4880962
>>4881052
And that deleted post where you sperged out and called the qm a bitch for saying a majority vote is canon. Then you pretend you weren't acting like an ass and go right back to voting without an apology.

>>4890382
Our deal in regards to Constance was finding her a suitable match not turning her into a wealth holding. You want to spend 10 wealth on Constance becoming an artisan craftsmen holding? I think not.

>>4890552
Oh right. Would've been nice to set her up with a local knight and snag the jeweler holding at some point but we are fresh out of knights now. Ser Edger could work? Cerelle's cousin. Or is the deal it has to be someone with land?

Our Clawmen Knights, are we obligated to notify their families of their deaths and our incipient revenge? Also, did we spend to recruit them? Cadre or not, we should be thinking about replacing them.

>>4890357
Good post

Our Clawmen Knights, are we obligated to notify their families of their deaths and our incipient revenge? Also, did we spend to recruit them? Cadre or not, we should be thinking about replacing them.

>>4889422
>You were thinking of putting a call out with your neighboring houses to see if it might act as a bridge of sorts. [Captain]
Potential alliances.
>Quality over Quantity. You want your armor to have a reputation for excellence. [Valyrian]
We can never field quantity so we want quality.

>>4889422
>You were thinking of putting a call out with your neighboring houses to see if it might act as a bridge of sorts. [Captain]

>Quantity over Quality. The extra armor produced mean more chances at trade. [Sellsword]

>>4889422
>A local lowborn like yourself to show good will to your people and as a reminder of your roots. [Valyrian]
>Quality over Quantity. You want your armor to have a reputation for excellence. [Valyrian]

Nice to see the discussion picking up again.

>>4889498
That would've been the plan if Aurion had chosen to stay here rather than go to Braavos.

>>4890238
They aren't in the ship trade aside from small river galleys.

>>4890253
No.

>>4890324
House Tarth and the Knightly House Tudbury are in league with you and House Estermont. Past that, you mostly have enemies.

>>4890560
It wasn't necessarily for someone with land, just someone suitable for her. There was an opportunity to do so with House Stonemont that was passed up. It's entirely possible Eddison will just find a match for Constance on his own to whoever suits him, regardless of whether or not that's to your advantage. Doesn't mean that's to spite you. It's more that he's not hurting for dowry gold with his new rich wife. Antagonizing Cleo by treating her like a lesser after she warned you of the assassination plot in the first place was a ballsey move, though. That could be taken any which way depending on her moods.

>>4890614
They were basically homebrew bodyguards acquired via Status test that gave a +3 to resisting enemy House Spy/Saboteur/Assassin actions. Lord Bywater will need to be informed of the death of his 3rd son, but the rest either didn't have a close next of kin or they were beneath notice if they did exist. I waved the Destiny Point investment a while back because I don't feel the investment scales well at the Lordly level.

I will be doing the same with the Cohort benefit as I am following the 5 benefit cap in play in other quests and you are 4/5 without it. I would like to leave room for the last benefit to shape Aurion in a meaningful way, whether that's hard into Intrigue for a more diplomatic bend, the seafaring Captain benefit, something combat related to complement Berserker, or even Pious if the whims take everyone that way.

>>4890515
>>4890547
I really don't care unless it's going to be a problem again. Going forward, I will ignore all votes from shitstirrers. I don't need anyone policing up votes in my threads and I certainly don't need any more obnoxious spergouts. I can't be kind about this anymore. Shitty players have derailed too many quests that I used to enjoy following and have sapped the fun out of this one for me a few times now. Act like adults or fuck off to akun or something.

Post will be tomorrow night. Should be one more update at home then to Braavos after that.

>>4891120
>They were basically homebrew bodyguards acquired via Status test that gave a +3 to resisting enemy House Spy/Saboteur/Assassin actions.

So they were just reskinned Guard Dogs from OOSP? The lose is concerning, especially given Cerelle's recent ptsd (I assume) episodes.

I assume the Cadre benefit plays better when they're treated like a Power unit like the text suggests they can be with the, "The cadre may be all guards, but you may also derive their statistics from any unit in which your House has invested." and are more akin to a group of tertiary characters with a secondary character leader. Being able to auto reorganize and rally at the start of warfare is pretty invaluable and worth the DP. But being played as just the Lady's personal guard is underutilizing them. Aurion with his personal cohort at his back at all times would be pretty powerful in warfare situations and in the smaller scale combat we find ourselves in on ships.

On Cohort I remember way back when during House creation the idea was Vaeron would be the wrecking ball to Aurion's silver tongue. A second primary character who gains exp at half the rate alongside the MC is great in concept but I can't recall any time we actually spent Vaeron's exp so that sort of hampered the function of the Benefit. Besides that the further Aurion pushed into Vaeron's territory with his own acceptable combat prowess the more he felt devalued. That one is chalked up more to the players needing to have their all arounder MC but that's another conversation. Unfortunately I think Cohort, value wise, only would work in this format as a male and female hyper specialized tandem where they don't compliment one another, they balance each other. And it'd probably be a multi POV situation. Which honestly seems to be more effort than its worth. Personally I'd like to see Aurion really delve into his seafaring side with the Admiral benefit.

Are the Kingsguard an example of a Cohort, something attached to the MC or house that once achieved may gain and lose members, but is not destroyed as an entity?

>>4889498

If we can convince Cerelle to go to Bravos with us, def some strategery, if not, asap

>>4891329
I'd say the best example of a Cohort would be the Hound to Joffrey in early AGoT.

The Kingsguard are likely a very extreme version of a Cadre. Whereas a lesser known Knightly order such as the historical Order of the Green Hand, which was eventually wiped out aka losing the benefit/DP or the newly founded Brotherhood of Winged Knights would be better examples of a cadre. The ebb and flow of membership is probably up more to the QM and how the players deploy the members of the Cadre in dangerous situations. I think the benefit can be played like that, but mechanically they seem to be more of a power unit rather than individual characters.

>>4891120
nobody likes to be called names, i get it.
at least i never change my ip and samefag votes and quests to death

>>4891317
The trouble with Cadre and... well, a good chunk of the benefits, is that they were all designed for a party of plucky adventurers and not for a game of lords. A lordling in a party with his benefit giving him 10 bodyguards is huge, just as it would be for a villain or rival. For a lord? Who cares? So, I made it more relevant with the house-scaled rule application after I realized what I'd opened up.

For Cohort, we did spend the exp a couple of times. Fighting 5 to 6 was the big one I can remember offhand. It's probably not something I will ever use in any future play. Past the desire to see the last benefit used in a more compelling and developmental way, I felt it was getting out of hand with the meta decisions to build Aurion up around the assurance of always having a combat monster fallback. Building him more like Stannis or Tywin would've been perfectly valid and reasonable, but I don't think that path should be taken because of a pocket monster assurance. It was also a little silly how over-optimized and one-dimensional Vaeron was becoming due to being treated like a tool in Aurion's inventory rather than a character with his own wants/needs. Maybe that's more on me for not giving him more opportunities to express his own goals to be factored in. In hindsight, it might've worked a lot better if I had given him the 3 characterization keywords like Aurion and used those to determine how to spend the experience.

>>4891334
She won't be going to Braavos as that only got 1 vote out of the 12 or so cast. I'll be working some of that into the post tonight before you leave for Braavos, though.

>>4891336
This is a good explanation of it.

>>4891416
Reynold? That's coming back soon.

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“I’d thoughts to doing much the same as you. Snatch up some lad from the docks with too much piss in him and make him of worth,” you sigh. “But I’ll have an earful from someone over it. Might as well toss a bone out and see if there might be someone in the sea not keen on killing me this moon.”

“If you say so,” Vaeron grunts. “I’d not bother with those nonces, but then I’m not a lord, am I?”

“It’s a bother at times,” you say.

“Don’t take the piss with me. You love all this shit,” he accuses.

“Aye, you have me,” you smile.

“Least you see it. Jan keeps saying she don’t like the attention and importance and I know she does. It is cultured she says strutting in all of a silk scarf,” he goes on.

“Which you have no problem with,” you point out.

“… and now you have me,” he laughs, then frowns. “Not for my daughter, though. This’s all a weight off, really. You know those slimy Pureborn types we’d see some time or another in Qarth. Hated them, and I know what they get up to in their palaces. Jan’s told me. Thought my girl’d end up with one cause of the tradition and what have. Your boy at least will be proper mannered like a highborn with your wife seeing to him as she does.”

“I’ll need to tell her of Braavos. Here’s hoping this won’t have her cross all over again,” you say.

“She’s going with you?” he asks.

“She’ll stay here. She’s been a bit… off of late,” you say.

“Off how? This over that camp wench?” he asks.

“No. Though she wasn’t exactly thrilled over all that, I’ll grant. More like… I don’t know. Restless, distant. Snappier sometimes,” you explain, leaving out the nightmares. She might just get around to poisoning you if that gets around.

“Are you fucking her right? They can get like that if you’re not fucking them right. You should bring her to Braavos. Buy her something nice. Some necklace made of seashells or whatever tripe they’re peddling. Feed her an oyster or three, Jan says those are good for her getting stirred up, some wine to wash it down. Then go use your lordliness and snag a courtesan off one of them barges. Or take a ride on the barge. Don’t know the custom there… Any road, just take turns with the courtesan really going at her. Just don’t fuck the courtesan or you’ll never hear the end of it. Trust me. You won’t be able to muster it if you’re doing it right. And that’ll give her a clear head for awhile. It’s work, but sometimes it’s what you need to do,” he advises.

“That… is either the worst or best notion you’ve ever had,” you slowly say, letting your mind wander.

>>4892405
“It’s not my idea. That’s all Jan,” he says.

“Fucking Hells,” you mutter.

“Look mate, you have your tastes and I have mine. You wanted the proper one cause you like the chase. You always do. Me? I keep it simple. I found myself a right degenerate and locked her down quick’s I knew what I had,” he says.

“She wouldn’t go for it,” you say, more to yourself than to him.

“You know her better,” he says. “Hang on. You told her of the camp wench? Dorea?”

“Aye. Nearly needed a crossbow spanner to talk her legs back open after it, but she’s mostly past it so long’s I don’t do it again. Made me swear vows on it,” you say.

“All that work over setting her up for nothing,” he shakes his head.

“She’ll need to be checked on,” you pointedly tell him. “Sometime soon.”

“Aye… best send Ser Byron. He’s subtle like. Wendwater’d spot me out the moment my boots hit the docks… giving him a towerhouse, then?” he asks.

“Cerelle wanted it for her cousin. I’d thought to give it to you—”

“Don’t want it. My daughter’s place is here, not in some towerhouse. What am I to do? Sit in it with her up here?” he says. “Better question. Where do you see me, brother?”

>(Acquire Cohort Benefit) His place is by your side as always. He’s the only one you fully trust to have your back in a fight. [Valyrian]
>(Save Destiny Point) His place should be with his daughter acting as her advocate and her protector as the future Lady of Stormgrave. She needs him more than you do. [Valyrian]
>(Acquire Cadre Benefit) His place is with his daughter as above. He’s a singular fighter, but you’ve a company of skilled fighters. Perhaps it’s past time you gave a few of them a chance to shine at your side. [Captain]
>Something else.

Note: you are currently at 4/5 Benefits before this investment.

I was thinking things over after my posts and decided this might be the most reasonable path forward with Cohort/Cadre. Earlier failings aside, I think I can do a better job working them into Aurion’s characterization rather than writing them off as a non-option. Either one will grant you a second Fighting roll with the Attachment rules at the unit level scale, provided they are fighting alongside you. Defensive uses for those benefits as they were used before, like say for Cerelle or someone else, will need to be invested by those NPCs or through actual holding purchases. While these two are powerful benefits, I know there are some looking towards other good picks like Admiral. A quick note on that one if one of the above options wins out, there is a Personage holding called Fleetmaster that also confers the same bonuses as that benefit. Just noticed it doesn’t have a blurb in the homebrew holdings dock outside the mention under the Flagship quality for ships.

>>4892409
If we vote save can we effectively give Janesa the Younger the Cohort benefit?

>>4892448
Yes, she would pick it up for herself.

>>4892409
>>(Acquire Cohort Benefit) His place is by your side as always. He’s the only one you fully trust to have your back in a fight. [Valyrian]
Love my boy Vaeron, just want my buddy

The one day I post early...

>>4892409
>(Save Destiny Point) His place should be with his daughter acting as her advocate and her protector as the future Lady of Stormgrave. She needs him more than you do. [Valyrian]

>>4892409
>>(Acquire Cohort Benefit) His place is by your side as always. He’s the only one you fully trust to have your back in a fight. [Valyrian]

>>4892409
>>(Acquire Cohort Benefit) His place is by your side as always. He’s the only one you fully trust to have your back in a fight. [Valyrian]

>>4892409
>>(Acquire Cohort Benefit) His place is by your side as always. He’s the only one you fully trust to have your back in a fight. [Valyrian]

Not feeling the splitting up of his family tho, how to reconcile this?

>>4892409
>>(Acquire Cohort Benefit) His place is by your side as always. He’s the only one you fully trust to have your back in a fight. [Valyrian]

>>4892409
>>(Save Destiny Point) His place should be with his daughter acting as her advocate and her protector as the future Lady of Stormgrave. She needs him more than you do. [Valyrian]

>>4892409
>>(Acquire Cadre Benefit) His place is with his daughter as above. He’s a singular fighter, but you’ve a company of skilled fighters. Perhaps it’s past time you gave a few of them a chance to shine at your side. [Captain]

>>4892409
>(Save Destiny Point) His place should be with his daughter acting as her advocate and her protector as the future Lady of Stormgrave. She needs him more than you do. [Valyrian]
Family first, she’ll need her dad more than we need a wrecking ball. He’ll still be on Stormgrave for us to talk to

>>4892409
>>(Acquire Cohort Benefit) His place is by your side as always. He’s the only one you fully trust to have your back in a fight. [Valyrian]

>>4892409
Is cohort “gain service of devoted ally” and cadre “gain veteran squad”?

If so then I like this option (to keep him around as support for his daughter, and also to give him some buddies - and some more characters for us to get to know.

>(Acquire Cadre Benefit) His place is with his daughter as above. He’s a singular fighter, but you’ve a company of skilled fighters. Perhaps it’s past time you gave a few of them a chance to shine at your side. [Captain]

>>4892409
>>(Acquire Cadre Benefit) His place is with his daughter as above. He’s a singular fighter, but you’ve a company of skilled fighters. Perhaps it’s past time you gave a few of them a chance to shine at your side. [Captain]
Cadre is more useful and versatile imo

>>4892409
>(Save Destiny Point) His place should be with his daughter acting as her advocate and her protector as the future Lady of Stormgrave. She needs him more than you do. [Valyrian]

Tough choice but I want to see something more for Aurion for the benefit.

>>4892640
>>(Acquire Cadre Benefit) His place is with his daughter as above. He’s a singular fighter, but you’ve a company of skilled fighters. Perhaps it’s past time you gave a few of them a chance to shine at your side. [Captain]

Changing, realize that Cadre is Shrikeguard

>>4892409
>(Save Destiny Point) His place should be with his daughter acting as her advocate and her protector as the future Lady of Stormgrave. She needs him more than you do. [Valyrian]

>>4893235

Is the Cadre an inherited item, to be passed on to Cerion?

>>4893277
It's a Benefit, so it's only passed on if Cerion wants to invest in it. A more permanent fixture like a Knightly Order would be getting into Power investment territory.

>>4892997
>Is cohort “gain service of devoted ally” and cadre “gain veteran squad”?

Yes.

>>4890238
This is me

>>(Acquire Cadre Benefit) His place is with his daughter as above. He’s a singular fighter, but you’ve a company of skilled fighters. Perhaps it’s past time you gave a few of them a chance to shine at your side. [Captain]

>>4892728
I'll change to Cadre because it's rather that than Cohort and save is clearly going to lose.

>>4893514
Works for me too. At least that keeps with the leader archetype
>>4893184

>>4892409
>(Acquire Cohort Benefit) His place is by your side as always. He’s the only one you fully trust to have your back in a fight. [Valyrian]
I just like having a trusted brother on our side always.

>Cadre 7, Cohort 5, Save 3.

Cadre it is. One man from each of your heavy infantry squads just got a nice promotion. Vaeron will take on a more defensive role as his daughter takes the Cohort benefit. Should be good for her.

Ok, I need a few housekeeping rolls before I forget.

>5d6+12 for the Yew Towerhouse construction
>2d6+6 for the Yew Retainer benefit to take effect
>6d6+4 for Status (Reputation) to recruit a squire (you'll need to roll high)

Rolled 2, 5, 2, 5, 1 + 12 = 27 (5d6 + 12)

>>4893815

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

>>4893815

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

>>4893815

>>4893815
3 or one rolls for each Boggsy?

>>4893824
27 months until the towerhouse project is complete, so that'll be when Ser Byron Yew and Lady Lenore Lydden's wedding takes place. Maybe you'll have enough wealth to spare for a tourney or festival then.

>>4893841
11 months for Ser Byron's retainer bonus to start kicking in.

>>4893847
This is a 24 (4d6+2b+4). A minor Narrow Sea house will take a chance on you with a squire.

>>4893863
Just 1. Everything should be Bo1 now, though I had the house management stuff at Bo1 even when the characters were rolling Bo3. House Fortunes is the aspect most prone to becoming trivial under Bo3.

One last thing, for Ser Byron's Retainer (Sworn Sword) grants a bonus of +1 to Power or Law for House Fortunes gains. He is effectively the commander of the town's garrison, so I could see him being an asset to recruitment or cracking down on crime as needed. It's up to you which he'll be.

>+1 to Law
>+1 to Power

>>4893947
What are iur current stats ?

>>4893947
>>+1 to Law

>>4893947
>>+1 to Law

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52 KB PNG

>>4893948
Ignore the trade goods. I'm still updating those.

>>4893947
>>+1 to Law

>>4893961

Also should have Iron/steel at some point?

>>4893947

>+1 to law

>>4893961
That wealth and power score is totally borked lol. I wonder what number do you have in mind for a major house like Lannisters and Baratheons? >1k Wealth and Power?

>>4894050
The iron is converted to the Armor on there now that the smelter is up and running. I need to add the rum now that the distillery is completed, and I need to double check my numbers on what the house should have for all those resources so it doesn't turn into a pile up later. Same with the Faith generation. There might be some room for wringing out more goodwill since the tithed crystals are now processed with the smelter.

You will need to invest in the Trader's Warehouses at the Port to start establishing regular trade. That's only 5 Wealth and 1d6 months to complete. Fairly tame as far as holdings go. The hombrew doc normally requires the Marketplace, but I think Port+Trader's Warehouses should be enough of a total investment at 15 Wealth to get trade going for an island house. The 10 Wealth Marketplace should be the baseline for mainland houses.

>>4894067
Yeah, that's part of why I don't even bother looking at those wanky resource table descriptions in the book. They make zero sense in the context that the game was designed around minor houses. Wealth and Power are bound to get bloated over play. Wealth especially. This house's Power is abnormally high, but over half of that is in the ships. Most houses wouldn't keep more than a unit or two in the way of standing armies. The Baratheons and Lannisters would have some absurd numbers for sure. The Crown being millions of dragons in debt to the Lannisters by the book era is insane when 1 million dragons = 5000 Wealth.

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“I see you by your daughter’s side. That’s why you’re staying, yeah?” you tell Vaeron.

“I’m staying for a heap of reasons… though she’s at the top of the list, aye,” he nods. “You still need someone to yank you back when you’re too deep in it. I can’t watch Janesa and you both. You go running off too much for that.”

“You’re good for that, aye. None better… but the children are more important. If I die, that’s how it is. It’s always been just that. Simple as. I’m not highborn like her and my boy. Cerion, I’ve got a good feeling about the lad. Loves teats as much as me and I don’t know, he’s got a clever look about him, no?” you say.

“If you say so,” he shrugs.

“I do. They’ll build a future here. Me? I’m not much one for building. Those lordlings on the Hook, what’s left of them, they’ll toast to that,” you laugh.

“I don’t doubt they would. Doesn’t make busting through battlelines any more a shit plan than the last few times you’ve done it,” he points out.

“Fair. Brings me back to the Company. This lot we have left, they’re some survivors just like me and you. All cocksure about it too. Prestigious after a fashion. I like them like that. Might be I get more gold for them next time a lord needs swords that’re not all rusted. I’m thinking lean on it, pull one from each cohort and puff them up a bit more. Like an honor guard. Captains look good with that. Hells, so do lords. Should’ve seen Cerelle’s father. Had a whole table of knights and lords all eager to fondle his balls. I want that without the fondling,” you say.

“So, five of them. One from each is good. They get uppity about favorites elsewise,” Vaeron mulls. “That peacock Lucien should be one. He’s a shit sergeant but fights well with you. His second’s better for the cohort. Who else… not Marys if you don’t want to be fondled.”

“Sergeant Marys likes women. I know, the name, but I’m sure of it. Seen him with one before… or that might’ve been someone else… any road, he’d be fine if he weren’t a sergeant too. Can’t have two sergeants or they’ll measure piss too much. Bumping Lucien up’s worth the laugh cause everyone will say we came to them over promotions and he promoted himself,” you grin.

“Point,” he laughs. “Right, I’ll sort the other four or see if their sergeants have thoughts. Least I should do if I’m to spend the rest of my days braiding hair.”

“There are worse fates, brother,” you pat his shoulder. “Now, let’s drink.”

>>4894244
You slip into your bed chambers much later in the evening to find your wife already fast asleep and the room in some disarray compared to how it’s normally kept. It seems she’s wasted no time diving into her role as the lady of the house again. You just hope she paces herself…

Of course, she is already at her parchments the next morrow when you awaken with a rainbow of light from the stained-glass windows beating down upon you. Not your earliest morning. You rise and rub your eyes through idle thoughts of curtains in place of the ornate windows… or better yet, stone. Gods, of all the thoughts… are you becoming domesticated? Can’t be.

“I’m sailing for Braavos,” you tell Cerelle after her muttered good morrow. She’s still in her bed robes with a shawl draped about her shoulders to ward off the morning chill of the castle.

“… I had a feeling it would be difficult to keep you here after recent events… when?” she asks, finally looking up from her parchments.

“Soon as all’s ready,” you say. “I want to sort out these bankers and see about a bit of restructuring with the ships.”

“What do you mean by restructuring?” Cerelle asks.

“The galleys. They need to go. They’re dead weight in high seas. They’d be caught or sunk. I want to see about getting another ship like the Sea Shryke instead,” you explain.

“Which was also caught,” she points out to your chagrin.

“Shouldn’t of happened. It’ll be sorted,” you assure her.

“If you insist,” she allows, though she hardly seems convinced. “I have spoken with Lady Janesa on what has transpired in my absence. With that, I had several items planned… if you were to stay. There were some townsfolk wishing audience over that awful road, or lack thereof. A few passing merchants have lamented the lack of storehouses at the port. The distillery would like you to bless their first batch…”

“Well, hold on now. I think I might be able to find time for that last one,” you interrupt.

“I am sure you could manage,” she says with a sly smile. “But they may wait. In any case, we have no buyers yet. Master Aerron has been asking after you as well. I would imagine he will be bringing up the subject of his place within our household.”

“Right, right. He’s a picky sort. Rare scrolls this and lineages that,” you say.

“Nevertheless, he will need an answer. It is unbecoming and reflects poorly upon us to keep retainers who are not truly on retainer. We have heard his offerings… for my part I should add it was at great length. Now we must pass judgement on his place or bid him good fortune elsewhere. No more empty promises,” she pointedly tells you.