Bound By Oath And Honor - An ASOIAF Hedge Knight Quest

When you woke again, it was already morning and the cart had been left on the edge of a meadow. In the distance, you could see a village and around you a small camp made from tarps, wagons and whatever was handy. It felt strange. After last night, it looked almost peaceful at a glance. But the stench of smoke still clung to your clothes and all around you, the people looked worn and grimy. Around you, a few wounded were laid out on makeshift bedding and you knew what it meant that some had blankets or tarps drawn over their heads.

The dull ache in your head was still there, reminding you that you had nearly joined them.

With no one paying you any mind, you did what you were best at and got lost in the crowd, not even sure where you were going. You began looking through the people in the camp, hoping to see a familiar face, but finding none. When it happened, you were far from home. The shack your parents and sibling lived in was much closer to the docks. Much closer to where the fires started and where the Ironborn came from. Were they alright? A bunch of beggars and day laborers hardly made a tempting target for raiders, but the flames certainly would have found the slum to their liking.

Should you go back? See if they were alright? You hardly spend more than every other night at home these days, but they were still your family.

On the other hand, you'd have to walk into the arms of the Ironborn, perhaps only to learn that... No. They were likely fine. What had the knight said? There was nothing to be done right now. And your mother had always said to not borrow grief from the future. You'd go back in due time and, Seven willing, you'd see them all hale and healthy.

You aimlessly wandered a while longer until you saw a small group approaching the camp. Led by the the knight and a Septon, a few villagers were carrying baskets of food. Even though your stomach was making itself known at the sight of stew being prepared, your attention was entirely on the armored man. Now that he no longer wore a helmet, you could see him to be a graying man with a wrinkled face. He wore his shield on his back, on which you saw silver leaves and acorns on a green field. Dimly, you recalled seeing him before on the tourney grounds.

For a while, you followed him around as ordered people around to organize the camp, unsure what to do. Should you approach him? Thank him again? You had never before spoken to a knight, let alone been rescued by one, so you were not quite sure what to do without giving offence. The highborn, you had both been taught and seen in person, could be fickle at the best of times.

After some time, the choice was taken from you. When the first bowls of stew were ready, the knight took two of them and approached you. "If you meant to follow me inconspicuously, you made a rather poor showing of it," he said as a greeting, smiling despite being very visibly tired. "Come and join me for a bowl. We can talk while we eat."

Then he handed you the bowl, not waiting for an answer, and ushered you to where he had made his camp. His horse was tied to fence, the saddle resting nearby in the grass. He sat down on a stone while gesturing for you to take a seat on the saddle.

"Apologies for not introducing myself properly last night, though I feel circumstances may excuse me." He tried to sound jovial, though he could couldn't keep the weariness from his voice. He must have ridden all night and then spent the morning making sure everyone here would be taken care of. "I am Ser Orton, called The Oak for many a year and hailing from the town of Whiteridge. And who are you?"

You hesitated, still holding the bowl tightly. "I'm..."

[] [Name] Pate
[] [Name] Olyver
[] [Name] Harry
[] [Name] Arlan
[] [Name] Lucan
[] [Name] Wyl
[] [Name] Write-In (Needs QM Approval)

"From Seaguard," you added after a moment and a brief 'Ser' after another. Then you took a gulp from your broth, your hunger finally winning out against the nervousness.

The knight did the same, letting you quickly empty half the bowl before speaking again. "There is something you want to know, isn't there?"

You slowly lowered the bowl, gripping the wood tightly. "You saved me when the Ironborn..." You shook your head instead of finishing the though of what likely was about to happen to you when the Ironborn had struck you down. It didn't matter. "And you came back to that cart later. Why?"

Ser Orton looked up at the sky, weighing his words. "Let me ask a question of my own first. The first time I saw you, you, a boy of five and ten years or so, were shouting at three grown men to not let two Ironborn through the alley you were in. All while fending of a third raider on your own, using nothing but what I presume was a chair leg."

"'twas a torch," you ground out before taking another sip. "It went out when I hit one of them on the shield. And I'm six and ten name days, not five and ten."

"An unlit torch then," he said neutrally. "You are still a boy, not a men at arms or knight. Why did you fight?"

You thought back to last night. To seeing the Ironborn break open houses, not even to plunder, but just to toss in torches to set them alight. Striking people down with swords and axes, dragging off the screaming women and stabbing those who had fallen. You had seen robberies. Even a murder or two. But never something like this. Never seen men kill just for the sake of it. How could you not fight back?

"'twas the right thing to do," you finally said out loud, clutching the bowl tightly as you fought the memories to leave you alone again.

"That it was," he agreed immediately. "And that's why I wanted to make sure you were fine."

The two of you went silent for a while, the knight drinking his soup while you mostly stared at the remnants in your bowl. There was an opportunity here. One that might never come again. You just got praised by a knight who was travelling all alone.

"You don't have a squire, do you?" you just blurted out without much thought before you found reasons to not say anything at all. "I thought a knight always has one to fetch his things and... do other stuff..." You finished lamely, genuinely not sure what a squire did beyond being a pack mule.

When the knights face turned dour, you regretted saying anything, though he expression was gone as quickly as it came. "You are volunteering, I presume?"

You just nodded, not trusting yourself to say the right thing.

Instead of instantly dismissing you as you had feared, he just quietly looked at you. What he was searching, you did not know and you could only hope that he found it.

After a moment that felt like an eternity, he looked back to his bowl and took a sip. "And why do you think I should do so?"

You swallowed, mind racing to come up with a good argument. "Because..."


Pick two strengths:

[] [Strength] I'm nimble.
Gain: Prowess+, Intrigue+
Gain Trait: Nimble - You have always been quick on your feet, which was quite useful when skulking through the alleys of Seagard, running away from people or when in a scrap.

[] [Strength] I'm hardy.
Gain: Prowess+
Gain Trait: Hardy - Despite not looking the part, you can take quite a few punches before going down and you bounce back easily from injuries.

[] [Strength] I've been in many brawls.
Gain: Prowess+
Gain Trait: Brawler - You know how to fight not with a weapon, but with your fists, knees and feet. Not a very knightly way of combat, but in the thick of a melee, only life and death matters.

[] [Strength] I can scrounge well.
Gain: Trade+, Intrigue+
Gain Trait: Scrounger - Living from hand to mouth since your childhood, you learned early on how to find a quick way to get a few copper, a loaf of bread or something else useful.

[] [Strength] I'm a quick learner.
Gain: Learning+
Gain Trait: Quick Learner - You have an easy time picking up information and new skills, especially when someone teaches you, though mastering them still takes time.

[] [Strength] I've been leading a gang.
Gain: Warcraft+, Leadership+
Gain Trait: Gang Leader - As a boy, you led a few others of your age and younger when committing petty crime. Not a glorious past, but you still have an easy time when interacting with criminals from that experience.

[] [Strength] I'm usually a better talker.
Gain: Diplomacy+, Leadership+
Gain Trait: Fast Talker - Long experience taught you how to think on your feet and have the right lies and deflections on the tip of your tongue at all times.

[] [Strength] I'm pious.
Gain: Learning+, Literacy
Gain Trait: Pious - Despite your less reputable past, you have always been a devout follower of the Seven, even learning how to read the Seven Pointed Star in your youth from a Begging Brother.


You started haltingly, you were not a braggart after all, but he listened attentively as you explained why you thought that this made you suitable to become a squire, even asking a few questions here and there about your past. By the end of it, you felt as if you had revealed far more to him than you meant to, even admitting to some thieving without thinking.

When you finally ran out of things that you could say without admitting to more petty crime, Ser Orton said nothing at first, leaving you wondering if you had already said too much. Instead of judging you for it though, he just nodded gravely after a while. "You had not an easy childhood, that much I see."

If there had been any pity in his voice, you'd like have been angry, but the way he said it as a matter of fact left you uncertain how to feel.

"I wish not to give you false hopes, my boy," he said as he rose, his gaze wandering over the camp. "I barely know you and I'm not sure if I truly wish to have another squire."

"But?" you probed, feeling that it was not an outright dismissal yet.

"War is an ugly thing and once the smallfolk has to tighten belts, those without a home will no longer be quite so welcome." As he said it, he nodded towards the small group of villagers that were still in the camp. They had helped, but you could tell that they were not happy about your presence. "I told the others already that they should move on soon, and you too should leave this place until there is peace again."

"Here is my offer," he said while looking back to you. "You are a bit old for a page, but you lack the training to be a squire. For now, you can travel with me and I will teach you how to be a page. If you show yourself capable, I might consider your request. Otherwise, I'll bring you to a safe place at least. How does that sound?"

There was no true question here. You all but jumped to you feet. "Yes! I'll gladly accept.. Ser! My Lord!"

"Just Ser." He smiled at you. "Don't you call me lord, lest someone think I claim titles not my own."

Then he handed you his bowl. "Bring that back to the lady at the kettle and then I'll show you how to fasten a saddle. We'll be leaving soon. King Robert is not going to let the Greyjoys get away with this and it is a wandering knights duty to be ready for when his king calls his banners. We'll be going..."

[] [Destination] ... to the Twins and offer our services to Walder Frey.

[] [Destination] ... to find a boat to Harroway Town to learn where the King musters his forces.

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AN: When picking strengths, note that the skill gains and usefulness of the traits are weighed up against each other. Really strong traits only give one skill point.