Winter is Coming: House Stark Quest

You are Robb Stark, eldest son of Lord Eddard Stark and acting Lord of Winterfell. In your veins runs the blood of the Kings of Winter.

Through your mother you descend from the Lords of Riverrun.

None of that matters though, not really. What matters is that the boy king Joffrey Baratheon has arrested your father in King's Landing.

What matters is that you are going to bring him home.

-

A fortnight past, Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer, smashed House Tully's banners at the Golden Tooth. Now he marches some 3,000 horse and 12,000 foot to Riverrun, where your grandfather lies dying. To the south Lord Tywin advances with an estimated 7,500 horse and 12,500 foot. What remained of your father's household likely died with Lord Beric Dondarrion at the hands of the Mountain Gregor Clegane.

The host you have gathered numbers roughly 3,000 horse and 16,500 foot of them cavalry, now that your mother has arrived with the men of White Harbor.

It is not the full strength of the North, but it is the best you can do with the time you have. Further, to march too many men south would harm your countrymen's ability to prepare for the coming winter and leave the North defenseless to potential threats from the north or west.

As for allies… should the Riverlands be liberated it is certain they will join you with what little of their host remains. The Vale of Arryn, the land where your father came of age and where your mother's sister now rules as regent, is not feeling so brave in the face of such odds. House Stark has few friends elsewhere.

Needless to say, the situation is less than ideal.

But the Starks have faced worse odds and emerged triumphant. The time has come to show the Lannisters what they missed as they sat out the last war. Winter comes for them.

-

Before any of that, however, you must see your host cross the Green Fork and enter the Riverlands proper. Which means you need to cross this bloody bridge.

Lord Walder Frey has gathered some 4,000 men at the Twins. They have not marched to join the host at Riverrun, and if your great-uncle's scouting report is true, Lord Tywin's host is only days to the south.

"Four thousand men. Lord Frey cannot hope to fight the Lannisters by himself. Surely he means to join his power to ours."

"Does he?" Mother asked. "I wonder. Expect nothing of Walder Frey, and you will never be surprised."

"He's your father's bannerman."

"Some mentake their oaths more seriously than others, Robb. And Lord Walder was always friendlier with Casterly Rock than my father would have liked. One of his sons is wed to Tywin Lannister's sister. That means little of itself, to be sure. Lord Walder has sired a great many children over they years, and they must needs marry someone. Still…"

Perfect. Just perfect. You must have this crossing. The Blackfish has reported that the river runs too high to be forded. Furthermore, the Kingslayer has smashed your uncle's host and taken him prisoner, and even now lays siege to Riverrun.

Lord Walder and his bridge appears to be your only option. And he'll know that very well.

The Freys have held the crossing for six hundred years, and for six hundred years they have never failed to exact their toll.

What could possibly go wrong?

[] Send Catelyn Stark to negotiate your crossing.

Mother has known Lord Frey since she was a girl. If anyone can guarantee success it is her, but the price of her deal may not be one you are willing to accept.

[] Send someone else to negotiate your crossing.

The Blackfish knows his brother's banners well, even if he has not seen Lord Walder in more than a decade ("Not long enough," he says, spitting). Or perhaps Lord Bolton or any of your banners could go in your name. The negotiations would be rather unpredictable, in either direction. (Write-In).

[] Go in person to negotiate your crossing.

It is a risk, undoubtedly. Mother calls it stupidity. Lord Walder has already shown a flexible concept of honor. But he may take it as an insult if you send someone else. Furthermore, it is the only way to have full control over these coming negotiations.

[] Attempt to take the Twins by force or guile.

Theon Greyjoy has noted that you possess five times Lord Walder's numbers. You could take the Twins, assuming everything went well. The problem is Lord Tywin's advancing host taking you from the rear. Perhaps though, with a clever enough plan… (Write-In).

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