As An Eagle Flies (A House Arryn Quest)

Part 17:

Diplomacy Training Roll:1D100 => 60 +10(Traits)+ 40(Master Linguist, Master Diplomat)=110

Training continued, more or less unimpeded by delays and your other training.

In that time, you learned as much as lord Valyreon could teach you, which was more surprising than anything else… All he had left to teach you, was language.

Reward: You are now a Master Diplomat. Your tutors Master Diplomat trait will no longer affect your training, as there is nothing more he can teach you but languages.

You have learned: High Valyrian.

-[X]Train in Combat: You will learn to master Swordsmanship. Rolled:1D100 => 21+10=31

Without Ser Duncan's Tutelage and guidance, you were lost and did not know where to start.

And your new master Ser Gerold, did not start easy.

Failure.

-[X]Train in Martial (Command): You will study the masters of old, learn their secrets, their strengths and avoid their weaknesses. Rolled: 1D100 => 73+10=83

Strategy came rather easy to you in the form of both commands and exercises. Shouting exercises to strengthen your voice, To practice commanding both signals and giving clear, short orders to relay to your soldiers, and being able to trust your men to follow them.

Reward: You are now a skilled commander.

-[X]Train in Administration (Stewardship): You need to be a good lord. And that means being able to handle coin. Rolled:1D100 => 85+10=95

Counting coin… a habit you remember your father always loved doing to not deal with his court. However it was far more difficult than counting the physical coin itself.

You needed to measure expenses, wages, and savings. Maintenance costs and building supplies. Things were not as easy as they seemed.

But you learned them well enough.

Reward: You are now Skilled at Administration.

-[X]Knightly Virtue: You will change the knights into what they were supposed to be. Rolled:1D100 => 35+10=45

It seemed many of the knight scoffed at your… idealism and want to bring them to respect their most basic vows.

You thought you got through to a few of them, but you were not sure, because you were escorted out by Ser Gerold.

Failure?

-[X]Request to Squire with one of the Kingsguard: You want to become a knight, in earnest now. Rolled:1D100 => 66+10=76

Ser Gerold Hightower was the Youngest knight of the Kingsguard, coming in only last year, after the… well botch name day tourney for Aerys.

He was your master now. "It would be wise to not speak of such ideals to them." He said quietly as you walked the tourney grounds to prepare for training. "They lost sight of them years ago. Don't force them to change. Become one of them, and inspire them to be better."

"And how can they be better if they do not know if they are wrong?" You asked. "Or that they don't care that the vows of knighthood are broken every time their actions cause others harm with no due cause?"

Ser Gerold was quiet. "Speaking of Philosophy, and honor won't help you on the battlefield." He spoke finally as he looked at the practice sword resting on the rack. "Thinking of honor, when an opponent wants to kill you, will not save you. As much as you may hate what knights are in forsaking some of their vows for the sake of their own survival, it's for their survival."

"And what would guide them if there was no vows, no honor?" You asked. "Just a mans barer, basic instinct of strong versus weak? What would that create, if not a chaotic world?"

Ser Gerold was silent before throwing you a practice sword. "Your forms are sloppy. They need to get better." He stated.

From his face, however, you clearly struck a nerve.

Reward: Training in combat and command gain a +20 to their rolls for the remainder of your time in King's landing.

You are now a Squire: A boy training to be a knight. Under Ser Gerold Hightower, the White Bull.

-[X]Betrothal News: It seems your father has betrothed you to someone... Best find out who it is. Rolled:1D100 => 94+10=104

Your father's letter was brief, but informative.

And deeply personal one, without any formalities, or flowery prouses.

It was a letter your father wrote himself.

My Dearest Arstan,

I miss you greatly from our home, but am pleased with the progress in both your studies and your social abilities. It warms my heart that you follow the path that my father chose for me so long ago. It is a long path, and a difficult one for those who lack the aptitude and the focus to learn.

However, I must inform you of the next great burden that is now being placed upon you. I have made a betrothal contract with another house, binding you, my son, to the daughter of another. Cruel as it may be, politics and duty must take precedence over personal feelings. You may not see the great agony that conflicts my heart as I write this to you, but know that I am agonizing over the details.

I want you to learn to love like I did your mother before the gods took her away from me.

So I have left the list of suitable candidates for you to consider before I make any final arrangements and agreements.

Please write to me as soon as you can.

Your Father, Jon.

The list of names offered to you was both not extensive… but very, very important.

[]Princess Rhaella Targaryan: Wow… Rae was out on the marriage board for the lord's? You thought she would be married to Aerys for sure? What changed her father's mind to allow her to marry… only you? No other candidates were offered for her hand for political alliances? The prince only asked for you or no one else? Quite confusing. Her love of books, gentle attitude and being quite the looker would have made her the ideal marriage piece to bind the other great houses.

[]Lady Joanna Lannister: A more… well, politically obvious marriage. A lady from a great house marrying a man of another was hardly… well, it wasn't common, nor uncommon. She was a good friend and you doubted that being married to her would change that… however, the fact that she has both the eyes of Tywin and Aerys vying for her affections is cause for concern, if only because they are not… the most graceful of defeated companion in the arena of love?

[]Lady Janna Tyrell: Little more than a babe... There is nothing else known about her, other than that she's a Tyrell and therefore marriage material to a great house. You will need to wait half a lifetime, however, to finally meet her

[]Lady Ceriella Hightower: A lady from Hightower, she is by all means… a safe economic match between your father and another house of Westeros. The Hightower's wealth and connections may help your father build up the Vale in ways that may not be available.

[]Lady Selyne Grafton: A lady from the Vale, born and True, she is one of the more… well, correct choices amongst the Vale Nobility. She is quite a beauty, and her father's newfound influence of the Valien fleet may be of importance, even if it isn't fully built yet.

[]Lady Jenna Corbray: The daughter of Lynol, and brother to Griffon, a boy older than you by three years, she is without a doubt interesting… They say she killed a mountain clansman during a raid with Lady Forlen when her father was sick and indisposed in his tent during a trip to the Fingers. She is without a doubt interesting… but she is rather plain and the rumors circulating that she does not like men are...well… circulating.

[]Lady Tyea Sunderland: Tions daughter is a woman of her home and feels closer to the North than she does to the vale. Cold, blunt, despises the more womanly arts for comfort and well, scheming. Whether it be for snacks or gold, she will plot and plan and work with anyone to get what she wants.

[]Lady Walda Frey: Walder Frey's… gods, twentieth daughter, and fifth trueborn daughter at that from his lady wife. Rumors… well, she's fat, which is not always the best thing to be known for, but she is still a child, so she may grow out of it. That's it really. Why your father would even consider some house like Frey's is beyond you?

[]Ask your father for the other batch: You know father has another list of names.

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What do you do:
Choose 6 Actions

[]Train in Combat: You will learn to master Swordsmanship.

[]Train in Martial (Command): You will study the masters of old, learn their secrets, their strengths and avoid their weaknesses.

[]Train in Administration (Stewardship): You need to be a good lord. And that means being able to handle coin.

[]Knightly Virtue: You will change the knights into what they were supposed to be.

[]Go to the Library: You want to read some books.

[]Request an Audience with the King: You want to speak to the King, in private hopefully. About duty, and knighthood… And why the hell his Master of Whispers missed that plot.

[]Spend time with Joanna: The Other Lannister was much more... social, less cold and calculating.

[]Spend time with Rhaella: she is your friend and loves reading… maybe… wait, she wants you to help her find a book?

[]Spend time with Nymeria: The Dornish girl has that idea she wants to tell you about.

[]Spend time with Steffon: Steffon the Brave he is being called. He likes it far too much.

[]Spend time with Tywin: Well, he is certainly an interesting fellow to talk to.

[]Spend time with Aerys: Areys is… devoting himself to his studies... best to see how he is doing.

AN: A few made up for the sake of… well, adding to the list. Quite a few unnamed people given names.

Plan format please.