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A Sword Without a Hilt: A Song of Ice and Fire/D&D 3.5 Crossover

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Interlude CCLXXXI: Brothers' Oath
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    • Brothers' Oath ​

    Third Day of the Fourth Month 293 AC

    Robb Stark hated it when his parents fought. Though he would never admit it to another living soul, it scared him. The boy trusted his father's quiet wisdom and his mother's cleverness in equal measure, so to see them go cold towards each other, words brief and formal, made him feel as though the world had been turned on its side and leaving him unsteady on his feet. Why had father gone to Castle Black in such a rush with so few men? True, his mother had protested then for the danger of such a trip, yet after the initial relief of his lord father's return she had grown angry with him for some cause.

    The boy kicked a stone across the courtyard, sending it skipping through the mud. If only Asha was here rather than run off to sea flying the dragon prince's banner. He shied away from the thought, from the secret he and Jon had not shared with father... not to mention the other secret, the one they had uncovered, the one no one could know. Perhaps father had confessed it to his lady mother, Robb thought, but then why would she be upset? After all the truth was that he had not dishonored her but protected family. Wasn't that what her words, the Tully words, were about? Family, Duty, Honor.

    A dull ache started somewhere behind his temples as Robb was sure that heir of Winterfell or no, he should not be thinking of such things at barely ten years old. Unfortunately, thoughts weren't something you could just tuck away into a corner for later. They would just keep twisting and turning around in his head until he went to bed, or maybe they would distract him in his practice with Ser Rodrik and the knight would knock him out cold for not paying attention. At that thought, he could feel a smile at the corner of his mouth in spite of himself.

    "Robb..." Jon's voice whispered in his ear, though his brother wasn't anywhere close. He wouldn't be using magic unless it was important. "Meet me in the Broken Tower..." a pause, as though he was afraid to say too much. "She told me somethings you might want to know."

    The young Stark swallowed nervously. There was only one 'she' who might be able to tell Jon important things, his aunt, the dream-weaver, the princess. Talking about her didn't make Robb as uncomfortable as her older brother, but that was not saying much. He was still party to hiding messages to and from an enemy of the Crown from his lord father, but what else could he do? Robb thought miserably. Lay yet another treason on his father's shoulders? It's not like Jon went looking for the girl, she just showed up in his dreams and started talking to him. His brother could no more ignore a lady than Robb himself could. It just wouldn't be right...

    These tumultuous thoughts carried him up the twisting steps of the Broken Tower, paying less attention than he perhaps should have. Thankfully he had learned the way well enough not to slip up regardless.

    "What is it?" he asked slipping though the door. "What did she say?" It was Robb admitted to himself still hard to retain the proper air of caution when faced directly with answers he had been seeking the last three days.

    "They met with... Lord Stark at the Wall, the princess and the dragon prince," Jon explained, and even through his surprise at the news Robb scowled. He'd call Robb 'brother' but would not call father that when it was just them together. The older boy couldn't tell if it was because Jon was upset over the lie, felt he didn't deserve it, or even both at once.

    "What did they have to tell him?" Robb asked. Now wasn't the time to argue among themselves.

    "She said..." He trailed off, eyes jumping around the old dusty room as though he was afraid someone was listening in. "You aren't going to believe this."

    Robb laughed, if a little nervously. "You are a wizard, your father was a dragon, your uncle can actually turn into a real dragon, and your aunt, who is younger than both of us, goes off and has adventures and can talk to you about them while you sleep. I can believe a lot... trust me," the words last two words were said in a far less jesting manner.

    "The Others are coming with next winter's winds. That's why...."

    "Shit," Robb said numbly, all the rest of the day's worries flying right out of his had like they had never been. It was as if he was suddenly standing at the edge of a cliff staring into the Abyss and knowing he would have to jump. It never once occurred to him to doubt Jon, his aunt or anyone really. This was... this was too big to lie about.

    "It's... it's gonna be a long summer, right?" the young Stark had to force words past a lump in his throat. "Maester Luwin says short summers make short winters and the other way around so this one would have to be really long... at least three more years, right?" the thought of his father having to ride off to fight that without Robb being able to help him filled the boy with a cold dread.

    "Probably, she said probably, can't be sure." Jon looked slumped a little in relief that he was so easily believed.

    "Then we'll ride out and face it together..." Robb began confidently, but trailed off at the look on his brother's face. "Jon?"

    "They'll need every sword on the Wall, and that way you, f...Lord Stark wont have to worry about," the other boy stuttered.

    "To hell with southern kings and their bloody thrones!" Robb shouted. "The Others are coming and I want you by my side.... Please Jon." Lords shouldn't plead like that, but Robb couldn't stop himself.

    "I... alright." A pause, then more firmly. "I'll stay as long as you want me, I promise," Jon said, offering his hand.

    "Forever," Robb declared. The two clasped arms and hugged.

    Had there been any watcher to look at the boys then he might have noticed their eyes misting over. It was, of course, all the dust that had gathered in the chamber over the years, nothing more.

    OOC: It's a good thing Catelyn was not listening in on this conversation. I don't think her blood pressure could have taken it right now.
     
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    • TalonofAnathrax said:
    I hated that PrC at first (it's existence, it's mechanics, everything about it) but now I kinda like it. Being in several places at once is a rather unique gimmick (if horribly broken) and it's not like we gave it to Vyserys!

    EDIT: Because that would have been insanely unbalanced, while this is just super convenient behind the scenes and pretty cool.
    Click to expand...
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    I did have to remove.her duplicates' ability to use magic to get DP's approval of the PrC, so it's not as broken as it could be.

    Speaking of, though, @DragonParadox, is Teana proficient with the crossbow? There is a ??? in the weapon proficiences section of her sheet. If she had a crossbow, it would be duplicated for her Shadow Traces, which would give them some minor ranged firepower.
     
    Wait, what? Jon's going to the Wall like in canon? But whyyyyyy???
    [deep breath]
    Okay, it's actually not too bad for us. And it removes his "claim" from the situation if his true birth is revealed later.

    Oh and @DragonParadox there are many typoes in this update, especially commas without a space after them. And some questions don't have question marks. Should I point them all out individually?

    Edit: and you can't "heel a smile" Robb!
     
    Last edited:
    Goldfish said:
    I did have to remove.her duplicates' ability to use magic to get DP's approval of the PrC, so it's not as broken as it could be.

    Speaking of, though, @DragonParadox, is Teana proficient with the crossbow? There is a ??? in the weapon proficiences section of her sheet. If she had a crossbow, it would be duplicated for her Shadow Traces, which would give them some minor ranged firepower.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Oh, right. I forgot about that. Yes she can use a crossbow.
     
    Shit. He told her.

    Can Dany pass a sending stone to Jon, in a pinch? Actually, I'd rather Jon gave it to Robb.

    Robb won't hesitate to use it when his brother is on the line, but Jon might second guess himself.
     
    Crake said:
    Shit. He told her.

    Can Dany pass a sending stone to Jon, in a pinch? Actually, I'd rather Jon gave it to Robb.

    Robb won't hesitate to use it when his brother is on the line, but Jon might second guess himself.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    That might be an extreme conclusion to come too. For all Ned know the secret lives and dies with him and Howland. After all he doesn't know that we know about our little nephew/Rhaenys future playmate.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    Brothers' Oath ​

    Third Day of the Fourth Month 293 AC

    Robb Stark hated it when his parents fought. Though he would never admit it to another living soul, it scared him. The boy trusted his father's quiet wisdom and his mother's cleverness in equal measure, so to see them go cold towards each other, words brief and formal, made him feel as though the world had been turned on its side and leaving him unsteady on his feet. Why had father gone to Castle Black in such a rush with so few men? True, his mother had protested then for the danger of such a trip yet after the initial relief of his lord father's return she had grown angry with him for some cause.

    The boy kicked a stone across the courtyard, sending it skipping though the mud. If only Asha was here rather than run off to sea flying the dragon prince's banner. He shied away from the thought, from the secret he and Jon had not shared with father... not to mention the other secret, the one they had uncovered, the one no one could know. Perhaps father had confessed it to his lady mother, Robb thought, but then why would she be upset? After all the truth was that he had not dishonored her but protected family. Wasn't that what her words, the Tully words, were about: Family, Duty, Honor.

    A dull ache started somewhere behind his temples as Robb was sure that heir of Winterfell or no, he should not be thinking of such things at barely ten years old. Unfortunately, thoughts weren't something you could just tuck away into a corner for later. They would just keep twisting and turning around in his head until he went to bed, or maybe they would distract him in his practice with Ser Rodrik and the knight would knock him out cold for not paying attention. At that thought, he could feel a smile at the corner of his mouth in spite of himself.

    "Robb..." Jon's voice whispered in his ear, though his brother wasn't anywhere close. He wouldn't be using magic unless it was important. "Meet me in the Broken Tower..." a pause, as though he was afraid to say too much. "She told me somethings you might want to know."

    The young Stark swallowed nervously. There was only one 'she' who might be able to tell Jon important things, his aunt, the dream-weaver, the princess. Talking about her didn't make Robb as uncomfortable as her older brother, but that was not saying much. He was still party to hiding messages to and from a enemy of the Crown from his lord father, but what else could he do? Robb thought miserably. Lay yet another treason on his father's shoulders? It's not like Jon went looking for the girl, she just showed up in his dreams and started talking to him. His brother could no more ignore a lady then Robb himself could. It just wouldn't be right...

    These tumultuous thoughts carried him up the twisting steps of the Broken Tower, paying less attention than he perhaps should have. Thankfully he had learned the way well enough not to slip up regardless.

    "What is it?" he asked slipping though the door. "What did she say?" It was Robb admitted to himself still hard to retain the proper air of caution when faced directly with answers he had been seeking the last three days.

    "They met with... Lord Stark at the Wall, the princess and the dragon prince," Jon explained, and even through his surprise at the news Robb scowled. He'd call Robb 'brother' but would not call father that when it was just them together. The older boy couldn't tell if it was because Jon was upset over the lie, felt he didn't deserve it, or even both at once.

    "What did they have to tell him?" Robb asked. Now wasn't the time to argue among themselves.

    "She said..." He trailed off, eyes jumping around the old dusty room as though he was afraid someone was listening in. "You aren't going to believe this."

    Robb laughed, if a little nervously. "You are a wizard, your father was a dragon, your uncle can actually turn into a real dragon and your aunt, who is younger than both of us goes off and has adventures and can talk to you about them while you sleep. I can believe a lot... trust me," the words last two words were said in afar less jesting manner.

    "The Others are coming with next winter's winds. That's why...."

    "Shit," Robb said numbly, all the rest of the day's worries flying right out of his had like they had never been. It was as if he was suddenly standing at the edge of a cliff staring into the Abyss and knowing he would have to jump. It never once occurred to him to doubt Jon, his aunt or anyone really. This was... this was too big to lie about.

    "It's... it's gonna be a long summer right," the young Stark had to force words past a lump in his throat. "Maester Luwin says short summers make short winters and the other way around so this one would have to be really long... at least three more years, right?" the thought of his father having to ride off to fight that without Robb being able to help him filled the boy with a cold dread.

    "Probably, she said probably, can't be sure." Jon looked slumped a little in relief that he was so easily believed.

    "Then we'll ride out and face it together..." Robb began confidently but trailed off at the look on his brother's face. "Jon?"

    "They'll need every sword on the Wall and that way you, f...Lord Stark wont have to worry about," the other boy stuttered.

    "To hell with southern kings and their bloody thrones!" Robb shouted. "The Others are coming and I want you by my side.... Please Jon." Lords shouldn't plead like that, but Robb couldn't stop himself.

    "I... alright." A pause then more firmly. "I'll stay as long as you want me, I promise," Jon said offering his hand.

    "Forever," Robb declared. The two clasped arms and hugged.

    Had there been any watcher to look at the boys then he might have noticed their eyes misting over. It was of course all the dust that had gathered in the chamber over the years, nothing more.

    OOC: It's a good thing Catelyn was not listening in on this conversation. I don't think her blood pressure could have taken it right now.
    Click to expand...
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    @DragonParadox

    Grammar. There ya go.
     
    Also anyone know Jon and Rhaella,s birthdays? So far we haven given a gift to every Targaryen, even the dead ones (summerhaul) so maybe them too?
     
    TalonofAnathrax said:
    Wait, what? Jon's going to the Wall like in canon? But whyyyyyy???
    [deep breath]
    Okay, it's actually not too bad for us. And it removes his "claim" from the situation if his true birth is revealed later.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    No he isn't, he promised Robb:
    Robb: "To hell with southern kings and their bloody thrones!" Robb shouted. "The Others are coming and I want you by my side.... Please Jon." Lords shouldn't plead like that, but Robb couldn't stop himself."

    Jon: "I... alright."
     
    IIRC he doesn't have anything against namedays in general. He specifically dislikes celebrating his own because it rips directly from memories of the Red Keep and casts the lavish celebrations and the willfull indulgence of the courtiers of his father into a negative light.

    Basically anything that reminds him of childhood puts a damper on his mood, since he can't remember being a kid without being reminded of how wrong he was about... pretty much everything.
     
    Okay no birthdays but I still want to poach Jon if only to make sure Catelyn doesn't do more damage to him. Nothing against her just damaged Targaryens are dangerous Targaryens and all targs are damaged in this generation
     
    You guys are worried about a wicked step-mom, but I think we should be more worried about the helicopter ghost-mom in his head.
     
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