Pieces in Motion
Third Day of the Third Month
Telling Clansmen to find a secluded valley is much like telling a woodsman to find a good game trail or a fisherman a good fishing spot. The answer comes in a form that if written down could make a book, each nook and cranny with its own chapter. Unsurprisingly, they are also quite taken with the darkenbeasts, being in their own way creatures of the Old Gods and beasts to be feared. The surprise is that the Darkenbeasts have taken to a few of them.
If nothing else, any of them who take wing for the legion won't be causing trouble on the ground, but you suspect the drill instructors will be working and probably drinking overtime dealing with warriors of the high peaks and ridges.
The Dornish were no less swift to find the roost you asked for, a narrow gorge near High Hermitage that opens into a green spring watered vale that could fit a small town. The place could probably feed the Darkenbeast company on game alone, though the local lords are quick to offer sheep and cattle instead. An attack into the marches brings memories of old scores to settle aplenty.
By contrast, Harenhall is not found in the best of states by your engineers. Even without the specters and old evils, the marks of the keep's past are still clear upon it. It's not just the Kingspyre Tower and the Tower of Ghosts that threaten to collapse under the weight of neglect, but the Widow's Tower also.
The mage-smiths sent along to wield the Titan's Tools suspect that its curse might actually have been helping to preserve the ancient stones against the ravages of time, as a tombstone of sorts of Harren the Black. In its current state it might collapse in a matter of years. Fortunately, you have magic of your own to shore it up with.
Harenhall in worse condition than anticipated: Refitting slowed.
Later that day, you are surprised to hear the familiar whisper of silk and the firm knock upon the door. "Lady Melisandre," you nod. You had assumed she was preparing for the battle against Ymeri.
"I came to wish you luck, Your Grace... and apologize for not noticing the faults your engineers noted in Harenhall," she notes sincerely, you would judge.
"There is nothing to apologize for, my lady," you shake your head. "It's late master was distraction enough for anyone, and even were that not the case I would have no reason to assume you would be an architect or siege engineer to judge the quality of walls and towers."
"Then fare thee well and may His Light be upon you in your battles. I shall return before your coronation at month's end," the priestess proclaims with utter certainty before vanishing into shadow, though this time a swarm of dancing sparks linger in her wake.
That leaves one other thing to do. You reach out with a thread of thought to Bloodraven and ask of him a service as you have done twice before.
"See Robert Baratheon dead by the hand of his Lannister Queen."
"And her bastards, it is likely to be utter chaos once he is dead. Given the state of the city, the eldest at least will be crowned or dead within the day, or even more likely both, one after the other."
What is to be the fate of Queen Cersei's bastards?
[] Varys should try to keep them alive but in play, give Cersei the chance to damage her position as much as possible
[] Remove all three of them from King's Landing after Robert's death, they will be safer in your care from any fools who might try to curry favor with the heads of children
[] Write in
OOC: The Harenhall thing was actually rolled at the time, one of the few notes from the action, but since Mel failed the check you guys would not know until someone took more of a look at it. Wasn't expecting it to be in the middle of the invasion. Not yet edited.
