The Dragon Has Three Heads - ASOIAF Quest

[Lunasmeow]

The Dragon Has Three Heads​

You are the first trueborn son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark. Saved by a maid from the tower, she saw what happened there, was hidden in a closet to keep you safe when the Tower was breached. She saw your uncle, the Lord Ned Stark take your brother, promise to keep him safe from the Usurper, and name him Jon Snow, his own bastard. From what she saw, she knew that if she gave him to you, he would keep you safe for his lady sister, but that you would be raised a bastard... That was unacceptable. And so she kept quiet, told him not of you, and brought you safely away.
​

It was she who gave you your name. Aegon Targaryen. Named thus twice over, once for your dead half-brother, that you might succeed where he failed, and once for the Aegon the Conqueror that you might reclaim that which is yours by right.

That's what you tell people at least. The truth is that the simple cleaning maid, had precious little knowledge of acceptable Targaryen names and so did the best she could with what she knew. Macabre though it may be, carrying the name of your dead half-brother as if you were some sort of replacement, rather than your own person it is an honorable name nonetheless and she could have done worse, cursing you with the name of a commoner rather than one fitting a person of your stature. A fate that apparently befell your hours younger twin brother Jon.

Your stature could of course be better. You have been living the life of an exile with your elder uncle and younger aunt, travelling through the Free Cities begging for scraps of food and drink, sometimes finding simple work to give you enough coin to last the night, other times finding wealthy patrons who were all too happy to take in the last of the Dragon-blooded in the hopes of making use of you no doubt. Unfortunately the few who seemed most trustworthy had to send you away as the madness in your bloodline slowly but surely made itself more and more apparent in your uncle Viserys. Your uncle Viserys. He was once your most trusted friend and ally, loyal, swearing to put you on the Iron Throne and be your greatest general and head of your Kingsguard. But lately...

You currently live in Pentos, under the care of your latest patron Master Illyrio. Viserys once loyal even in the worst of his rages has been looking at you strangely of late, and you've caught hints of him whispering with Illyrio when they think you aren't around. You want to think the best of your uncle, but Illyrio never quite seemed trustworthy to you, and you worry to what ends he will twist your uncle's once strong but now delicate mind. Worse, you have heard Illyrio and Viserys talking of marrying your aunt to a barbarian horse-lord of all things, in order to get an army with which to challenge the Usurper.

As if a bunch of horse lords could challenge a kingdom across the Narrow Sea! For all that they speak of the "Stallion that Mounts the World" not one of them has left their "Great Grass Sea" for longer than the time it takes to ransack a city and collect slaves and tribute. And never have they gone over water greater than a lake or river to do it! Still, Illyrio is nothing if not crafty, and his recent "slips" of getting Viserys "his" army for "his" kingdom are concerning. Moreso the storeroom that has only recently been locked, which according to the servant's rumors holds the wedding gift that Illyrio intends to give the barbarian Khal as if your aunt was something for one such as he to barter with.

Daenerys. Her fate has been up for discussion many times. Whether she was to marry her brother to help keep the dragon bloodlines strong now that there are so few left, leaving you to marry for an alliance or to marry you to keep the main bloodline strong while her brother married for an alliance - marriage was always the end for her, but at least it was to be a to a Dragon who would love her and treat her well rather than some wild man of the plains. And if Illyrio has truly brought some manner of gift all the way from Qohor as a dowry, then this situation is more serious than mere flights of fancy.

But worries about your kindhearted aunt being sold like a slave to some horse-lord barbarian aren't the only problems. Daenerys, once curious and eager to see the world, managing to smile and laugh through even the hard times in the streets when you were without patronage has become quiet and sullen of late. Viserys has yet to raise a hand to you, his king in all but crown, but you have seen him strike his younger sister on occasion. The anger and hatred that has been creeping into his expression more and more since the day he was forced to pawn his mother's crown for money with which to eat has grown steadily worse under Illyrio's influence. You are unsure what state of mind your aunt will be in if she must endure this much longer. But then, what choices do you really have?
​

What do you do? - Choose 3
(Sub-votes do not count against your number. They are details, not choices.)​

[] Break into the storeroom and discover the truth of this dowry. You may be worrying for nothing.

[] Listen in on one of Illyrio and Viserys' not so secret meetings.

[] Confront Viserys about his treatment of Daenerys.

[] Confront Illyrio about the "slips" in speaking of the Iron Throne as Viserys' instead of yours.

[] Sneak away to find your own way in the world.
- [] With Daenerys (Persuasion? You are unsure if she will leave her brother.)
- [] With Daenerys and Viserys (Will require persuasion for Viserys at least. Of that you are certain.)
-- [] Steal some valuables from Illyrio's home on your way out. You need something to start with. He deserves it for causing strife amongst the blood anyway.

[] Try and remind Viserys of who he once was. He was loyal, may even still be such despite your worries, and is your blood besides. Maybe his madness can be... calmed if not cured.

[] Wait and see how this all plays out.

[] Write in. - This choice can always be chosen, and can be chosen as many times as you have choices available. Feel free to do nothing that I suggest and choose your own path. Go out and get drunk. Pick up some whores. Attempt to assassinate Illyrio in his sleep. The choices are yours.​

 

[Lunasmeow]

Rules​

1. No meta-gaming. Voting decisions are made IC. OOC desires choose the vote, but IC explanations explain the vote. No using knowledge the character does not have to support a choice. This is not going to be like one of those Harry Potter fanfics where the MC somehow figures out all the enemy's plots and makes all the perfect moves due to their genius (teenage author with meta-knowledge) and skill. Fuck that. This is a quest. Not a fan-wank "fix it" fic. I hate those even more than I hate meta-gaming.

To be clear, general knowledge about a House's reputation is fine. "A Lannister always pays their debts," for example. Knowledge about a particular member of that House? No. Not unless the characters know them, or have otherwise heard specific things about them. So for example, if your characters have heard false things about people, make judgments according to that false information. Not your personal knowledge to the contrary. If you are unsure whether something you want to use for your IC argument is meta-gaming, post it, but @ me somewhere in there asking if it is or not. I'll give the yea or nay.

2. No rolling unless I say so, and only for what I say so, when I say so. No rolling more than the number of times given by me. Accidentally rolling the wrong die is no big deal, as it won't count. Just make sure to point it out and then roll the correct die, so I don't think you cheated because I didn't notice that the post said the wrong face for the die.

3. No harassing players for their 20s. Debate is acceptable, even encouraged by me, but not harassment. If they say to just leave them alone, leave them alone. You may re-suggest to that same player for a different vote however. Just not for that particular vote where they requested to be left alone, and not every single vote, or every other vote or some nonsense like that. Be realistic. If it looks like harassment, I'll rule it harassment.

4. Time. If/when votes are set up to use days, how many days you have available is obvious. If they are set up in types (Major, Minor, Free) then you will be told how many of each type is permissible. However you may trade down for more types of votes available. Each rank above is worth two below. You may therefore trade a Major action for two more Minor ones, and a Minor action for two more Free actions. You may not trade up however.

5. Morality is an issue in this quest. However in the interests of keeping the quest on track and lessening the potential for "forum wars" we will only discuss the morality of things that are actually happening in the story. Keep real life examples, or even just hypothetical examples that aren't directly tied to the in-story point out of it. I'm trying to avoid everyone becoming Hitler here.

If there are any questions about these rules, ask me. I will punish infractions accordingly. This is one thing where I will not budge. On this, I am QM and my word is law. Anything else is up for debate.
​

Mechanics
​

"Main Archetypes" are like classes and determine base attributes. Knights have more HP and Con, Magi less HP and more Int/Wis etc. I'll be using stats similar to d&d, with Luck as an added stat. The stats and saves are pretty much all that comes from d&d directly though. (Well, maybe some of the treasures!) Feel free to make up an archetype, (so long as it fits the world and character background!) knight is unavailable for now, you could be a "fighter" or "brawler" if you wish, and that can be changed into Knight later should you become one.

All skills have ranks of 5 minimum, with 100 point tiers. You cannot be higher than Rank 1 in anything that you weren't trained in (except begging, brawling, other street skills) to start off with. If you want to be Rank 2 or higher in something, backstory as to who taught you and why is required. You gain skill points not from leveling up, but from using skills or training them appropriately. Which is why Dany and Viserys have more points than you. Dany was trained by various patrons to be a good catch as a wife, while Viserys has been your guardian and protector for years. He's fought most of the "battles" (read: street fights with urchins and thieves) in order to keep you safe. He also had real training (though only a little) before the Iron Throne was lost.

Skills are much easier to train via a teacher rather than independent study. Imagine a person trying to teach themselves to fight, instead of learning from an actual experienced warrior.

Allowing write-ins for skills because I obviously won't think of every possible skill. But yes, anything can be a skill. If you don't have it, it doesn't mean that you can't perform it, just that you are average.

For example, Aegon will never be as quick at cleaning dishes thoroughly as a person who works in a restaurant and actually does it for a living. Unless you put points into dish-washing of course, but he can still wash a dish.​

Alignment - Not just what you do, but why you do it is important. Please don't try to make up false justifications for what is truly a greedy action so that you can be greedy but not suffer points towards another alignment. If the action really has a good reason behind it, even if the action itself is horrible, I'll let the alignment points go, but if it seems to be just greed or revenge, the points will go towards a shift. I'm putting some trust into you guys being honest on these.

Sometimes if the action is evil enough, even good reasons won't cut it. Because sometimes the steps toward evil are rationalizing away every evil action you take. 40-60 is Neutral. Above is Good/Lawful below is therefore obviously Evil/Chaotic.

The die rolls for Dragon-blooded determine both innate sorcery, and madness potential/severity. Sorcery required 80 or higher, while Madness was a 50/50 chance, with higher numbers increasing severity.

94 on Sorcery for Aegon, 83 for Viserys
44 on Madness for Aegon, 83 for Viserys

Yes, you could have gained the Madness penalty. No Viserys would not have lost his madness if he rolled under 50, it just wouldn't have been as severe. (Well, unless you got really high and he got really low, then it would have been your madness causing you to think him mad, and no I would not have told you. POV is important.) However it seems Viserys' madness comes in exactly the same measure as his sorcery. Perhaps his sorcery and his madness are linked?

Stats I rolled 8d18, dropping the lowest, with scores of less than 3 re-rolled to simulate rolling 3d6 for each stat.

Stats are: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, Luck

Lunasmeow threw 4 100-faced dice. Reason: Dragon-blooded Total: 304

Lunasmeow threw 1 6-faced dice. Reason: Aegon Stats Total: 4

Lunasmeow threw 8 18-faced dice. Reason: Aegon Stats Total: 81

Lunasmeow threw 12 18-faced dice. Reason: Daenerys Stats Total: 89

Lunasmeow threw 8 18-faced dice. Reason: Viserys Stats Total: 83

Lunasmeow threw 8 18-faced dice. Reason: Jon Stats Total: 87

 

[Lunasmeow]

Character Sheets​

Spoiler: Aegon Targaryen

Blessed of Balerion & Meraxes
Shared Grace - Meleys
Main Archetype: Noble
Alignment: Lawful Neutral 60/100

While Aegon was on the path of good, he recently committed murder in cold blood. A justifiable murder in the eyes of many, but murder nonetheless. There were other ways to deal with the problem, but he chose murder because it would be easiest, rather than attempting the good, though difficult path. How this might affect his outlook on things in the future remains to be seen...

Apparently once wasn't enough. While there was much better reasoning for killing all those that may have been infected than for the murder of Bantis, a member of your Faithful and blood of Old Valyria, it still doesn't qualify as "good" or even "neutral" unless you have confirmation of the people you kill being infected.

Aegon has seen the path that his evil ways can lead him down, and despite the power at the end of that path, rejected the rage and hate that came with it. Is being evil the only way to achieve such power? Still, though he rejected it this time, there is no telling what he may do in the future. The path of evil is not so easy to get off of...

New to Volantis, Aegon has run into the first of potentially many laws that he considered to be stupidly convoluted in order to uphold tradition and maintain the status quo. However rather than simply ignore them, he bent his personal feelings to the law. Though he might attempt to change laws in the future, he so far is choosing to obey laws rather than break them. So far.

HP: 24 (-1)
Str: 18
Dex: 10
Con: 9
Int: 13
Wis: 12
Cha: 17
Luk: 12

Bonuses/Penalties:
Dragon-blooded - 100/100 Rank 5/5
******-blooded - 0/100 Rank 0/5
Greenseer - 0/100 Rank 0/5
Child of Destiny - 3x/mo, reroll a failed d20, or force an enemy to reroll one made against you.
Genius - +2 to all int based skills. Advantage on intelligence checks.
Observant - +2 to perception. Advantage on perception checks.
Reactive - +2 to reaction rolls.
Charming - +2 to diplomacy rolls. (Not intimidation or other negative diplomatic actions.)

Skills:
Begging - 50/100 Rank 1/5 (+1)
Deportment - 85/100 Rank 7/5 (+4)
Diplomacy: Deception - 50/100 Rank 6/5 (+4)
Diplomacy: Intimidation - 0/100 Rank 5/5 (+4)
Diplomacy: Persuasion - 0/100 Rank 7/5 (+4)
Diplomacy: Political - 15/100 Rank 7/5 (+4)
Fighting: Archery - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Battleaxe - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Bastard Sword - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Brawling - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Dagger(s) - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Dragonscale Defenses - 50/100 Rank 0/5 (+0?)
Fighting: Dual Battleaxes - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Dual Maces - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Dual Swords - 50/100 Rank 4/5 (+3)
Fighting: Greataxe - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Greatsword - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Lance - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Longsword - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Mace - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Spear - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Staff - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Sword & Shield - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Fighting: Warhammer - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Hunting - 0/100 Rank 2/5 (+2)
Knowledge: Eldritch - 15/100 Rank 0/5
Lock-Picking - 60/100 Rank 0/5
Matchmaking: Political - 0/100 Rank 4/5 (+4)
Mercantile - 40/100 Rank 4/5 (+3)
Politics - 30/100 Rank 7/5 (+4)
Riding: Dragonback - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Riding: Horseback - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Rulership - 15/100 Rank 5/5 (+4)
Sailing - 0/100 Rank 2/5 (+2)
Sorcery: Battlemagic - 50/100 Rank 3/7 (+3)
Sorcery: Scrying - 0/100 Rank 1/3 (+1)
Stealth - 50/100 Rank 0/5
Strategy & Tactics - 0/100 Rank 4/5 (+4)
Wayfinding - 0/100 Rank 2/5 (+2)

Spells Known:
Channel Fire - 25/100 Rank 0/5 - Can be used for small feats. Lighting torches, burning something held, etc.

Fireball? - 5/100 Rank 0/5 - A large gout of flame that (you think?) you can shape. Takes all your "mana" currently, but that may change if you increase your ability with the spell.

Spoiler: Daenerys Targaryen

Blessed of Shrykos & Meleys
Shared Grace - Balerion
Main Archetype: Noble
Alignment: ??? ??? ??/??

Daenerys is finally married to her betrothed. She has that unreserved joy of being newly wed, and will hopefully have it for some time yet. Still unsure about the influence of her future self (selves is unknown to her at the moment) she hesitates to use the power and knowledge available to her by reaching out to it. She recently narrowly escaped becoming a subject of the line "You've met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" from any creepy salsesmen trying to hawk masks on unsuspecting travellers. Were they to see her scarred face and missing/glass eye, this line surely would have been said. Thankfully, that fate has been avoided by a Fierce Deity who traveled through time to protect her.

Recent blessings of her new gods have increased her skills.

Interference from her potential future have caused her to do some "bad things" however, she thoroughly believes they were for good reasons.

HP: 11 (-1)
Str: 5
Dex: 6
Con: 8
Int: 16
Wis: 14
Cha: 18
Luk: 13

Bonuses/Penalties:
Dragon Dreams 100/100 Rank 5/5
Dragon-blooded - 0/100 Rank 0/5
Robust - +5 on rolls to resist disease or to survive death.
Insightful - +2 to insight rolls.
Persuasive - +2 to diplomacy.

Skills:
Begging - 0/100 Rank 4/5 (+2)
Cleaning - 50/100 Rank 2/5
Cooking - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+2)
Deportment - 0/100 Rank 10/7 (+3)
Diplomacy: Deception - 75/100 Rank 7/9 (+4)
Diplomacy: Persuasion - 0/100 Rank 6/5 (+4)
Diplomacy: Political - 0/100 Rank 9/9 (+4)
Empathy - 50/100 Rank 3/5 (+2)
Fighting: Brawling - 38/100 Rank 1/5 (+1)
Fighting: Sword & Shield - 50/100 Rank 1/5 (+1)
Knowledge: Eldritch - 15/100 Rank 0/5
Matchmaking: Romantic - 0/100 Rank 2/5 (+2)
Politics - 50/100 Rank 8/7 (+3)
Precognition - 0/100 Rank 2/5 (+2)
Rulership - 50/100 Rank 5/5 (+3)
Seduction - 0/100 Rank 9/7 (+2)
Sewing - 50/100 Rank 2/5
Sorcery: Battlemagic - 0/100 Rank 1/3 (+1)
Sorcery: Compulsion - 0/100 Rank 4/9 (+3)
Sorcery: Scrying - 0/100 Rank 3/5 (+3)
Sorcery: Protection - 0/100 Rank 6/9 (+6)
????????? - 0/100 Rank 1/2 (+1)

Spoiler: Viserys Targaryen

Main Archetype: Noble
Alignment: Lawful Good, ???? (Madness affects this.) 98/80
A recent decision to give his life for his family caused a shift from Neutral to Good.
HP: 27 (+3)
Str: 18
Dex: 13
Con: 16
Int: 13
Wis: 12
Cha: 6
Luk: 5

Bonuses/Penalties:
Dragon-blooded - 3/100 Rank 3/5

Madness - 3/100 Rank 3/5: The power of insanity causes higher damage in battle, but reduces defenses and lowers abilities in skills requiring mental awareness or diplomacy. Skills shown are the base amounts, not those as affected by bonuses or penalties.

Skills:
Bartering - 50/100 Rank 2/5
Begging - 50/100 Rank 1/5
Brawling - 50/100 Rank 2/5
Deportment - 50/100 Rank 3/5
Diplomacy: Deception - 0/100 Rank 2/5
Diplomacy: Intimidation - 35/100 Rank 2/5
Diplomacy: Political - 50/100 Rank 1/5
Fighting: Bastard Sword - 50/100 Rank 1/5
Fighting: Longsword - 50/100 Rank 1/5
Politics - 50/100 Rank 1/5
Sorcery - ?/100 Rank ?/5

Spoiler: Jon Snow

Main Archetype: Bastard
Alignment: ???
HP: ?? (+4)
Str: 14
Dex: 10
Con: 18
Int: 14
Wis: 11
Cha: 9
Luk: 6

Bonuses/Penalties:
Warg

Skills:
???

Assets, Allies, Associates, Enemies & Prestige​

As of now you and your family have a rather ridiculous amount of money available, more befitting a small to medium sized kingdom rather than a noble family. You can thank your ancestor Jahaerys for his insight in storing 1/4 of the treasury in the Iron Bank for that. Still, wars are expensive, so if you seek to dominate as a Dragon should, you will need to create sources of income.

Making good investments, owning lands and collecting taxes, starting merchant companies, raising mercenaries and other such endeavors can suffice. Even the greatest of windfalls can be squandered if you spend without a way to replace the spent funds. Entire kingdom's have gone bankrupt after all.

You live in the Dragonlord Estate in Volantis. You are unaware of the state of your properties in Braavos, though you hope they are well. You still have much to learn about your new home however...

Spoiler: Assets

Currency
10 CW=1SD
20SD=1GD
78GD & 8SD=1GT

Copper Wyvern = Iron Shaving
Silver Drake = Iron Chip
Golden Dragon = Iron Mark
Golden Talon = Iron Bar

Currency in the Iron Bank: 100,000 GT, 77 GD, 4 SD, 45 CW Lost to the Dothraki.
Currency on hand: 3 GT, 100 GD, 50 SD, 0 CW
Currency in the Dragon Bank: 14,803,225 GT, 30,180 GD, 4,030 SD, 0 CW

1 Short sword. (Shorter Rapier.)
1 Longsword. (Rapier.)
1 Bastard sword. (Westerosi style.)
1 Set of light chain-mail.
1 Valyrian Steel Shield.
1 Ancient book written in High Valyrian along with a list of names.

Targaryen Vaults containing various books.
Small gem encrusted statues and other items from Illyrio's storehouse valued at 2967 GD.

3 Dragon Eggs - Petrified from age. Petrification is currently 100/100 Rank 5/5 - Apparently if the burning is not continuously done, the petrification will return over time, just as it originally occurred. The recent burning has brought it back to where it was before. You might want to just set up a dedicated fire chamber in your home so these eggs can burn continuously.

3 Large Dragon Eggs - "Petrified" from age. The types of "petrification" are different, considering that the eggs are of three different types of dragon. Normal petrification for the large Fire Dragon egg, a substance similar to coral on the Sea Dragon egg, and a strange crystalline substance on the Frost Dragon egg. These eggs were left to you by your ancestors in the Last Temple of Valyria, hidden away in a mountain cave near Braavos. They are no doubt ensorceled, with lost magics of old, and supremely powerful. Their obvious coloration shows which of the Dragon Deities they represent. Urrax, Vermithor, and Serwyn.

Special Books:
Blood & Fire
The Fires of the Freehold
Dragons, Wyrms, and Wyverns: Their Unnatural History
Dragonkin, Being a History of House Targaryen From Exile To Apotheosis, With a Consideration of the Life and Death of Dragons

Future assets:
200 Dragons/year on the 5th month - Horse sales Lost due to the sacking of Braavos.
5 Dragons/year on the 5th month - Flower sales Lost due to the sacking of Braavos.

Current Businesses

Spoiler: Volantis

A trading/shipping company. Does not currently have it's own dedicated ships, and thus utilizes your fleet. Should war come, the ships out on business will either be lost to the war effort, or if they are too far away to return in time, your navy will be that much weaker until they do. Hopefully they even can return instead of dying to a naval blockade. Perhaps you should get this business its own ships in the future...

An investment company. You are going to abuse insider trading and Dany's scrying/precognition magics as much as humanly possible. Hopefully this idea catches on and the nobles make you rich with their money. What better money to risk than someone else's?

A fishing company. This business has its own dedicated fishing boats, though you neglected to take the whaling option. A shame, because that business is booming, and others will no doubt step in to take the stakes that you have refused. By the time you decide to get in on the whaling business it might well be too late.

Spoiler: Allies

None yet.

Spoiler: Prestige

Volantis (Valyrian Faith) - 250
Volantis (R'hlloran Faith) - -250?

Future Prestige Gains:
Braavos +140 - 5th month, year 298. Braavos is a smoking ruin.

Spoiler: Employees

Jaehaelyx and Saenera - Husband and Wife couple from Lys. Grateful to you for your employment after they escaped the slave city. Living happily in the manor, but won't be able to continue to do so if they have a child... unless you give them the room meant for your own children.

Jorah Mormount - Ex-knight. Self-exiled after his life was forfeit for participating in the slave trade. Goes out at odd hours.

Boromun - Day shift guard. Ex-Pirate who turned Braavosi Navy for unknown reasons.

Matalarr of Lys - Night shift guard. Ex-gladiatorial slave who is a master of wielding dual blades. Ladies man, flirt, all around rogue.

Spoiler: Associates

Magister Illyrio of Pentos - A wealthy former patron of yours, Illyrio was planning to get you back on the Iron Throne. Or at least, that's what he was supposed to be doing. He seemed to be planning some other trickery, but it is unconfirmed as of yet. You robbed his storehouse, and was safe to assume that he is now an enemy, but he may not be from his current actions. You aren't quite sure what to consider him as at the moment.

Spoiler: Enemies

House Baratheon - Distant cousin or no, the Usurper has stolen your throne and slain your kin. Not merely the adults in battle, but the children. This atrocity cannot stand. Your blood will see his destroyed or die in the attempt. Seeing as he has ordered all "Dragon Spawn" dead, even going so far as to strangle babies with their own umbilical cords, the feeling is mutual.

House Lannister - Tywin Lannister had Elia Martell slain, as well as the two children she bore Rhaegar Targaryen. He will pay for his crime with Fire and Blood. As he is the head of House Lannister, it is safe to count all of that House as your enemy.

Sealord of Braavos - While he isn't a personal enemy, he hates all Valyrians, and you are not only Valyrian by blood, but a worshiper of the ancient Valyrian gods. He is undoubtedly an enemy at the moment, though how he will act based on that you are not sure. The previous Sealord is dead, and you do not know the new one. However given that the prior one's death implicated the Valyrian faithful, and that Braavos in general hates all Valyrians, it is likely that the new one is no better. There is no Sealord now.

The Dothraki - While the Dothraki are not a single unified nation, instead many tribes called khalasars, one has grown impressively large recently, swallowing all others it comes into contact with. If this continues, then it is possible that the nomadic hordes will finally be united under one ruler. Khal Drogo. The man who seeks Dany as his wife, and will stop at nothing to get her. No matter where you run, he will follow. You must find some way to deal with this horse lord, or you will regret leaving him be.

Spoiler: War Assets

Fleet
35 Carracks, 64 Frigates, 37 Galleons, 1 Flagship (The Newborn)

Household Guard
250 Exceptional Unsullied, 500 High Class Unsullied, & 250 Mediocre Unsullied - These are your household guard, but can be leveraged into use in war in a pinch if needed, especially if that war is against your home city. Even so-called "mediocre" Unsulled are extremely good warriors due to their incredibly punishing training and exacting standards. "Low Class" Unsullied being roughly equivalent to a knight. Unsullied have a reputation for never losing for a reason. (Unreasonably lopsided battles aside of course.) Exceptional Unsullied can be given leadership positions and become "generals" of their brethren if you do not already have someone set for the position.

Spoiler: People of Interest

Trianna Belaryes - Descendant of the 40?
Malaquo - Triarch
Nyessos - Triarch
Doniphos - Triarch

Lunasmeow threw 3 100-faced dice. Reason: Relic of Westeros Total: 171

Lunasmeow threw 2 20-faced dice. Total: 15

 

[Lunasmeow]

Winning Votes:
1. Confront Viserys about his treatment of Daenerys
2. Try and remind Viserys of who he once was. He was loyal, may even still be such despite your worries, and is your blood besides. Maybe his madness can be... calmed if not cured.
3. Sneak away to find your own way in the world. -With Daenerys and Viserys. -Steal some valuables from Illyrio's home on your way out. You need something to start with. He deserves it for causing strife amongst the blood anyway.​

Illyrio simply cannot be trusted. Over the years you've seen your fill of greedy and manipulative noblemen who want nothing more than a puppet they can prop up onto the Iron Throne, and you will not be a puppet. Not only that, but his willingness to take advantage of Viserys' madness is even worse. You have to leave this place. For a time you think of leaving with only yourself and Daenerys, as Viserys is getting more and more dangerous and you can't stand the way he has been treating Daenerys of late. However you also can't stand the thought of just taking her and leaving your beloved uncle behind. You know all too well the dangers of Targaryen insanity, tales of your grandfather are warning enough; but not all insanity is equal. Are there not madmen in the streets who believe themselves gods? Perhaps you can tame Viserys' insanity into something harmless or failing that, channel it towards your enemies rather than your family. A mad warrior on your side is better than one against you after all. But first you'll have to remind him of who he is. The honorable captain of your Kingsguard (only member though he may be at present) and loyal uncle, loving brother.

It takes some time to get Viserys alone, Illyrio's servants are all throughout the mansion and you never know which are his spies and which are merely servants. For all you know they could all be spies, though you doubt that. Both from the expense, and from the amount of gossiping they do. Still, you find a moment of privacy to speak with your uncle. At first you think to approach the subject obliquely and with subtlety, but you are also going to try and remind him of his loyalty to you. Best to approach him as a king to a subject then, to further reinforce the position.

"Viserys," you say, hoping that being direct works out "what is going on with you and Daenerys? I've seen altercations between the two of you, and I'd rather mediate if needed than see the two of you fighting needlessly."

For a moment Viserys' face burns with naked fury. You stand before him imperiously, but also kindly. Eventually the rage leaves him and clarity comes into his eyes. Clarity that grows ever more rare these days. His arrogant posture returns to that of simple pride, pride that all those of the Dragon's Blood should have, rather than the posture of one speaking to his lesser. "Nephew," he says, shadowed with worry. "I fear... I fear my father's curse may be upon me. I can no longer trust myself to remain... myself." Viserys looks troubled for a moment before his eyes widen in realization. He looks around before getting closer and whispering so as not to be overheard. "It isn't safe here for you Nephew. Illyrio plans to poison you, marry Daenerys off to the Dothraki, and use her as a puppet to win the Iron Throne. I... I think I was helping him. You have to leave. Both of you. Tonight, before the madness can overtake me again."

You aren't sure just how you got to the real Viserys behind the madness so easily, but you certainly won't waste the opportunity. "Not without you uncle. We need you with us. Come with us, we can help you," you speak earnestly, trying with all your ability to emphasize compassion, forgiveness, and acceptance. "Grandfather got as bad as he did because no one would stop him. Trust us. We can stop you if you start going too far."

Viserys has hesitation in his eyes, but after several moments of whispered argument he finally relents. "Very well nephew. Tonight we leave, all three of us."

For the rest of the day you start looking through the mansion. You've been here for a while, but now you are specifically looking for things that are small, valuable, and easy to sell. Unfortunately wealthy as Illyrio is, most of his wealth is spent on large opulent displays of his wealth and power. Not small easy to carry jewels. However... there is a box of jewelry that belonged to his late wife. Given how Illyrio accepted being barred from the palace to marry her however, stealing these would earn you his ire and considering you already have the Baratheons after you, another wealthy and powerful enemy may be one too many right now. On the other hand, you could try to break into that storehouse and steal the dowry for the Dothraki horse-lord.

What do you choose?
[] Steal the jewelry of Illyrio's late wife Serra.
[] Break into the storehouse and steal the dowry - it is for Daenerys wedding anyway.
[] Steal something else. Larger things like golden statues will be harder to fence, but are worth more than jewelry and won't cause as much anger as the jewelry.
[] A mixture - Choose two of the above. (Increases risk of failure.)
​

I had a whole long argument ready for you and Viserys. Then you guys crit succeeded on the diplomacy roll to remind Viserys of who he once was and to confront him about how he's been treating Daenerys. I rolled only once for both choices because they would obviously be in the same conversation. You then rolled an 18 before bonuses on convincing Viserys to come with you. Well done. Do notice that I'm not telling you Viserys' rolls. I won't tell the rolls of others unless it is after I reveal their actions or if I need to explain an action.

Also, for succeeding in diplomacy against someone not only more skilled than you in diplomacy, but also diplomancing past insanity you gain 5 points in diplomacy.

Oh, you guys want to steal from Illyrio. Targaryen's aren't thieves generally. Write-in arguments you give to Viserys and Daenerys as to why you should steal from Illyrio, or else you have to steal things alone. (You'll be able to take less.)​

 

[Lunasmeow]

Winning vote - Break into the storehouse and steal the dowry - it is for Daenerys' wedding anyway.​

297 AC, Fourth Month, 13th Day
We're Just Couriers​

Night falls and despite the many hours, the maddened look has yet to return to Viserys' eyes. You and Daenerys have a "fight" with Viserys and go to bed early, with Viserys staying up talking with Illyrio. Daenerys has not been told of the plan yet, to better ensure she plays the part. However after any fights with Viserys it is not uncommon for her to seek refuge from his wrath with you for a while before going to her own room. This gives you the needed time to fill her in on the recent fight, and that it was an act to give you an excuse to go to sleep early so that you will be fully rested for your nighttime excursion.

While Daenerys is glad to know that this fight was merely staged, she worries over where you will go next. You have all but run out of places to seek shelter, and while you suspect Houses Velaryon and Celtigar are still loyal to the Targaryen name, two houses alone cannot stand against House Baratheon and all the allies they may call into play. Sheltering with them would be a great risk, one too great for such strong allies.

If you were Aegon in truth and not merely named after him Dorne would have sheltered you, as it is you are merely a reminder of the cause of Elia Martell's death, and the death of her children. You dare not reach out to them as you otherwise may have. For a time there was talk of betrothing Viserys to Arianne Martell, but once the Dornish discovered you were not actually Aegon but rather another child of Lyanna, that fell through. They do not blame you for Elia's death, a child could never be responsible for the actions of his father, (though you are unsure if they carry that sentiment from their own morals or simply by merit of not wanting to be compared to the Usurper) but they can't fully get rid of their anger either. There were hints that perhaps with time they might be able to consider an alliance by marrying you or Viserys to Arianne, but it is still too soon to consider. And with Viserys going insane, it would be you that would have to marry her. A bitter pill for them to swallow no doubt.

Still, you must consider where you will go once you leave this place. Will you flee Pentos and head to another of the free cities? Valerian features are no stranger to these lands, which is why you came here in the first place. The better to hide from the assassins of the Usurper who are no doubt still following you even now. Will you stay here in Pentos, hoping that Illyrio never thinks to look so close to home for those who robbed him? You already know you are going to take the dowry after all, and a Dragon's dowry is no cheap thing, throne or no. Or will you flee the free cities altogether, taking your chances in another land? You'll have to get provisions and a method of travel, but whatever the dowry is should be enough to gain such things. These thoughts turn over in your mind again and again as you weigh the possibilities and dangers before sleep overtakes you.

You wake in the deep of night, Viserys' hand on your shoulder. Daenerys is already dressed and ready, standing beside him. As they go to get their coats, you slip over towards the storehouse and attempt to pick the lock. You've practiced this before, having been reduced to thievery on rare occasions when times were hard and you were unable to beg for enough to get by on, and you worry that this lock will be beyond you. The lock is of high quality, better than any lock you've ever attempted to pick before, and you only have one improvised lock-pick. Hardly the best options for this, but Illyrio keeps the key on him at all times, and you have no skill at pick-pocketing.

Somehow, despite all the odds being against you, you succeed. With a gentle click, you feel the last tumbler slide into place. And at the sound Viserys approaches you. "What are you doing?" he hisses in your ear, quietly as the mansion is guarded by Unsullied, and it would not do to be caught breaking into Illyrio's storeroom.

"Illyrio has decided that he is to be Daenerys guardian? Fine. The dowry inside then belongs to one of us. She'll be wed to a Dragon or none at all," you declare, knowing full well that you would accept other possibilities, (again houses Celtigar and Velaryon come to mind) but that a Dothraki barbarian would never be one of them. Either way, you'd just be couriering the dowry to whomever it ended up going to. Still, that wouldn't help your argument so you keep it to yourself. "Besides, he agreed to become our Master of Coin, and his word is binding whether we currently sit the throne or not. He has sworn himself to the position, and we agreed. We need coin. It is his duty to provide it."

"You don't intend for him to have that position any longer and you know it!" he whispers back, frantically trying to pull you away from the door without making any noise.

You hold your ground however, and though Viserys is stronger than you by far, moving you by force would be a loud endeavor and draw the attention of the guards. "No, but he was the one who dealt falsely with us first. Justice says he should get back what he gave in equal measure."

"Targaryens are not thieves!" Viserys whispers back, glancing around the room to see if any Unsullied patrols are coming. "We are leaving, not stealing."

"Think of Dany! You know we nearly starved last year out there. I don't like stealing either, but desperate circumstances call for desperate measures uncle." You say, trying to convince him to go along with this plan.

"Dany has her own pride as a dragon, as should you! No, I'll have no part of this." he turns to leave, headed back to Dany. You know that you'll not be able to carry away as much on your own and make one final attempt to convince him as he is walking away.

"My father had pride as well. He fought the Usurper in a duel instead of letting his army crush him. Pride must be tempered by wisdom, or it only leads to ruin."

At this, Viserys' back stiffens. His fists clench, and he whirls around almost as if to strike you. For an instant you see the madness creeping into his eyes. You tense realizing that you may have pushed just a little too far, but then the moment passes and the madness recedes. He relaxes his hands and his stance slumps with sorrow. "As you say, my king." Viserys has never spoken to you thus, always calling you nephew. The reminder of his elder brother must have hit him especially hard.

Daenerys having finished getting her cloak and coat on comes over to see what is taking you so long. You motion for her to follow you and Viserys into the storeroom. You are greeted by:
​

Choose 1 OR Choose 2 - See notes below for details.​

[] Gold, Silver, and precious jems. Good, this will be easy to sell and will help you survive the times ahead.
[] Three large oddly shaped stones. Why would these be precious? Still, they must be worth something if Illyrio hoped to use them as a dowry.
[] Small gold, silver, and bronze statues, with gems embedded inside them. Easy enough to carry, more expensive than the base materials due to their craftsmanship but harder to fence.

No write-ins accepted this time. You don't get to pick your treasures. You'd just write in all three as one idea. The "stones" are too large for anyone to carry more than one without some sort of bag or other carrying case. I'm sure there are bags around, but if you go looking for them you have to risk running into Unsullied. If you do go get bags, you can pick two of the treasures if you want to risk getting caught by the unsullied when leaving, if you only take one you'll succeed in escaping the mansion. I've already rolled that. I haven't rolled for if you'll succeed with extra treasure slowing you down.

You rolled VERY badly during the diplomacy with Viserys, crit failing caused him to begin to leave, but he then crit failed against your mention of Rhaegar and Robert's duel. Lucky, because even if you'd passed that last desperate attempt, with a crit fail he would have left without helping anyway.​

Adhoc vote count started by Lunasmeow on Aug 14, 2017 at 7:21 PM, finished with 12 posts and 10 votes.

• ---

  10 people have voted

  [X] Three large oddly shaped stones. Why would these be precious? Still, they must be worth something if Illyrio hoped to use them as a dowry.

  • Night_stalker
  • Mr Apollo
  • Ghostdevil
  • Lucienz
  • StarkDemise
  • Taylor Mcfee
  • Japanime
  • Saevin23
  • MasterDrakus
  • NakedFury

  8 people have voted

  [X] Gold, Silver, and precious jems. Good, this will be easy to sell and will help you survive the times ahead.

  • Night_stalker
  • Mr Apollo
  • Ghostdevil
  • Lucienz
  • StarkDemise
  • Taylor Mcfee
  • Japanime
  • Saevin23

Adhoc vote count started by Lunasmeow on Aug 14, 2017 at 7:22 PM, finished with 12 posts and 10 votes.

• ---

  8 people have voted

  [X] Gold, Silver, and precious jems. Good, this will be easy to sell and will help you survive the times ahead.
  [X] Three large oddly shaped stones. Why would these be precious? Still, they must be worth something if Illyrio hoped to use them as a dowry.

  • Night_stalker
  • Mr Apollo
  • Ghostdevil
  • Lucienz
  • StarkDemise
  • Taylor Mcfee
  • Japanime
  • Saevin23

  2 people have voted

  [X] Three large oddly shaped stones. Why would these be precious? Still, they must be worth something if Illyrio hoped to use them as a dowry.

  • MasterDrakus
  • NakedFury

 

[Lunasmeow]

297 AC, Fourth Month, 13th Night
Like Thieves In the Night​

Gold, silver, and gems of all types are found in the room. Rolls of various silks, dyed in rich colors are arrayed inside. Far too much for you all to carry away, but more than enough for you to get a substantial amount of starter funds going. You and Daenerys start gathering what things are light enough to carry, while Viserys leaves and returns with some sacks that from the kitchen. You never expected to carry wealth like it were fruits and vegetables, but at least it won't make you look like you're carrying anything worth stealing. Good part of the city or no, it is the dead of night, and you still have to find lodgings and a place to sell your ill-gotten gains. Provided you manage this heist of course.

It is while stuffing your bags full of coins and gems that you see three strange looking stones. You didn't pay them any mind at first, but your eyes keep getting pulled back to them no matter how much you try to ignore them. You keep ignoring it until Viserys brings up that he's noticed you staring. "I can't keep my eyes off them either," he says. "There's something strange at work. I'm still not sure about taking the gold, but I... I want to take these. I need to. These... these are ours not his." His body practically vibrates with the need to take the stones, and as he talks of his feelings for them, you can feel the same feelings echoing within yourself. Before you realize it you have taken one of the stones and placed it into a bag, are holding the second, and Viserys has the third.

The stone is strangely warm to the touch, and growing warmer the longer you hold it. You don't know what it means, but it somehow just feels right to have it. Your eyes meet Viserys' but before you can speak you hear the sound of an Unsullied patrol passing by the room. The three of you freeze, hoping that they don't notice that the small lock is merely hanging in position rather than actually closed. After a few tense moments you let out a sigh of relief as the patrol moves onward through the house. You don't have time for this. You and Viserys can figure out the mystery of these stones later. You put the second stone away and finish shoving what coins and gems you can into the bags.

You also find:

Choose One
[] A glass candle.
[] An amulet made of dragon-glass.
[] An ancient book full of text and imagery of what looks like Old Valyria written in High Valyrian alongside a list of names. (You don't have time for further examination.)

Leaving the house is a tense affair. The unsullied aren't ordered to keep you inside as far as you know, but you don't want to risk getting stopped. You'll already have to deal with the two at the main gate, better to not have to raise any fuss until the last possible moment. You manage to get through the main building without any trouble however. Living here for the last few months and raiding the kitchens at night, or staying awake late into the night with Daenerys and Viserys (the latter when his mood permitted) has given you insight into their patrol schedules. Outside it is touch and go as you never had reason to be outside during the late hours, but the three of you manage to creep from bush to bush, tree to tree, as you work your way through the outer gardens towards the main gate that leads into and out of the estate.

Here is where the true test will commence. If the unsullied have been ordered to keep you in, then you and Viserys will have to try and fight your way out. If they have no such orders then you can just walk out free, no questions asked. The unsullied won't care about the bags you carry unless they are given reason to care after all. There were silks and such in the storeroom as well, which in a moment of inspiration you thought to take to pad the bags to minimize the noise of clinking metals and gems. The unsullied have no way of knowing that there are valuables inside and not just clothes or something equally normal, and even if they give the bags a cursory glance they'll only see silks on at the top, expensive clothing and linens for highborn people. Only if they look deeper will they see the true value of what you hold.

Once you are within sight of the gates you stop your furtive movements and walk down the path normally. The guards make no visible changes at your approach, and you take this as a sign that Illyrio never quite expected you to leave like this. As you pass between the two guards you hear a distinct 'clink' of coin from Daenerys' bag. 'Fuck.' You tense slightly, ready to swing your gold laden bag at the head of the nearest guard, but either they did not hear the sound or they did not care, and you pass through unchallenged. 'Thank the gods for that.'

You follow the road straight a ways, then take a side path and lose yourself in the many streets of Pentos.

Four choices lie before you:

Choose One
[] Head into the city proper. Perhaps you can wake an innkeeper and get a room for the night, then find your way in the early morning.
- [] Leave Pentos in the morning with a merchant caravan.
- [] Do not leave Pentos. Illyrio will look everywhere except right under his nose.

[] Head into the slums. You'll run the risk of getting robbed, but you've dealt with street thieves before, and Illyrio will be less able to find you there.
- [] Leave Pentos in the morning with a merchant caravan.
- [] Do not leave Pentos. Illyrio will look everywhere except right under his nose.

[] Head into the temple district for the night. Who would look for a thief among the gods?
- [] Leave Pentos in the morning with a merchant caravan.
- [] Do not leave Pentos. Illyrio will look everywhere except right under his nose.

[] Leave Pentos, immediately. You'll have to either hope someone is leaving with a ship tonight, or wake someone. You'll already be paying them more for getting them to leave on short notice, and doubtless even more for waking them at such an hour besides. If you fail to find anyone however, you'll need to take shelter elsewhere. (The vote will defer to whichever of the other two options won.) You decide to try and take a ship to:
- [] Braavos - It is a city of merchants and your newfound wealth could be put to use there becoming one. You will stand out here more than in Lys or Pentos, but here everything has a price.
- [] Lys - The blood of Old Valyria still runs strong here. You could blend in very easily and lose any pursuit from both the Usurper and Illyrio. However, slavers are a constant danger. Until you've gotten yourself some of your own for protection anyway. You have a fortune now, and flesh is cheap in Lys.
- [] Write-in

[] Write-in

You gained an unknown amount of wealth. You'll need to get it all counted (coins) and appraised (gems and jewelry) before you can tell how much you have. You do know however, that you have at the very least a small fortune, perhaps a middling one.

You were not supposed to get that lock open. Masterwork gave it +5 to difficulty, while an improvised pick (made basically from a hairpin or the relevant equivalent) gave +5 to difficulty. You only really had a chance with a real pick, and so you were just going to have to find another way to get the dowry if you really wanted it. (Seems unfair, but really, an amaeteur picking a lock the likes of what someone of Illyrio's wealth would have? They're supposed to keep out all but the greatest of thieves!)

But you crit. You really are going to have too much money for your current position in the game, but I don't nerf treasure just because players pulled off the impossible. Which is why I like low-magic worlds so much. You can get lots of treasure, but still can't just go and buy all the magical things and instant win. And even with this sudden wealth, yeah you can get a house or something, but without a way of sustaining your way of life, if you don't invest properly or something, you'll go right back out on the streets.

This really just makes the beginning road easier for you as you won't have to struggle so much just trying to survive, meaning you'll have time to make plans and figure out how you're going to support yourselves in the long term. You lucky bastards you.

Also, these "segments" will get longer once you have a more steady lifestyle. A home, work, plans, etc. For now in the early campaign every decision is important. I also need to see how Aegon tends to react to various situations before I feel comfortable just writing responses to minor issues and only leaving you guys with major choices.

 

[Lunasmeow]

Winning Votes

An ancient book full of text and imagery of what looks like Old Valyria written in High Valyrian alongside a list of names.

Leave Pentos, immediately. You'll have to either hope someone is leaving with a ship tonight, or wake someone. You'll already be paying them more for getting them to leave on short notice, and doubtless even more for waking them at such an hour besides. If you fail to find anyone however, you'll need to take shelter elsewhere. You decide to try and take a ship to Braavos. It is a city of merchants and your newfound wealth could be put to use there becoming one. You will stand out here more than in Lys or Pentos, but here everything has a price.

Late Night Trips Are Expensive​

The streets of Pentos are quiet this night. You have to pass near to the slums to get to the docks, (though not into the slums) and this late there is every chance of being set upon by some drunken sots or thieves looking for easy prey. You get stopped once by a man thinking that two children on the cusp of adulthood and one young unarmed man would be easy prey. The "fight" that ensued when he tried to rob you could barely be called that however. He swung at you from the shadows, probably thinking to take out the younger of the males with one surprise attack then deal with the elder alone, but your violet eyes caught a flicker of movement and you only just managed to get out of the way of his short sword.

Dany surprisingly, was the first to react, and react she did. With a surprising show of strength and hostility, (frankly the most emotion you've seen out of her in weeks) she swung her bag of treasure at the man's head and from the hollow thunk that resounded, it seems as if the stone inside was what caught him. The would-be thief went down and you and Viserys finished him off rather easily. After looking at Daenerys with a surprised expression on your face, to which she doesn't respond. Her face has returned to its normal passive expression, but there is a subtle hint of determination in her eyes that wasn't there before. You can only hope this has, in a backhanded sort of way, helped her and that she'll come out of the shell she's hid herself in soon.

The docks are supposedly one whole section of the city, but they are "unofficially" broken into two segments. On one end the "respectable" captains dock, vetted captains who have a reputation and can be trusted not to give into temptation on the seas and rob their vulnerable passengers. On the other end; well every port city has its smugglers and pirates. So long as they pay their docking fees and don't pirate the ships of Pentos, they are... tolerated. After all, if the wealth of other cities somehow finds its way to Pentos who's to say how it got there?

Since there are only three of you and in spite of her actions tonight, both you and Viserys would prefer not to have Dany in a situation where she might have to defend herself, you head for the more respectable side of the docks. The trip will be more expensive of course, but also you'll be riding in relative safety. While both sides of the docks tend to be captained by former members of Pentos' navy, and thus know their way around both ship and canon; those in the respectable quarter tend to be the members who retired honorably, while those in the "common" quarter were more than likely kicked out for some infraction or other.

As you prowl the docks looking for ships that are hanging lower in the water (you hope that means that they are full of cargo and are thus ready to leave) you spy one ship about to leave port. You hail it and are surprised to find that it is headed to Braavos, your chosen destination. Your luck is holding this night, it seems. The captain is a no nonsense type and tells you straight. I've only one extra room, and it isn't the best quality. It'll hold the three of you and your things however. For 50 silver steeples, you can have the room. Another 5 each for food and drink if you aren't carrying your own in there.

You and Viserys agree to the prices and are allowed on board. The captain will want his money before he casts off though he is willing to give you time to go through your bags and "find your moneybag" that your sister "accidentally packed with the clothes". Once you get into the small room, you take a look around.

It is bare, as expected. There are two beds and small desk. Enough open space to move around comfortably, and a small stand that Dany can use to change behind when she needs to dress. Viserys gathers some coins and heads back out to pay the captain and talk with him for a bit, telling the two of you to get settled and that he'll guard the door for the night. He still wants you to bar it though. Respectable part of the port or no, there's always the chance that a new member of the crew might not be so unscrupulous as the captains in this part of the docks, and he'd rather you had time to wake and be prepared to defend Dany if the worst should happen and he is unable to deter any thievery.

You'd prefer that he remain in the room behind the bar with the two of you, but he will not be deterred. "I'm the head of your Kingsguard, nephew. In situations like this, I give you orders. I'll guard the door." Seeing that he won't relent you sigh in resignation and agree. You drift off just as you feel the ship beginning to move out of port. 'Safe,' you think to yourself. And you hope you'll remain that way for some time.

Lost 65 Silver Steeples from your unknown small to medium fortune.

The journey from Pentos to Braavos will take 1-2 weeks depending on the winds. What will you do with your time on the ship?

Choose Three
[] Talk with Dany, try to draw her out of her shell.
[] Practice your skills with Viserys
[] Write-in

I'll need at least two/three different write-in btw. Also, the map I'm using for the campaign is here.​

 

[Lunasmeow]

Winning Votes
Practice your skills with Viserys.
Talk with Dany, try to draw her out of her shell.
Study the book you borrowed stole from Illyrio. (No running from that fact I'm afraid.)

297 AC, Fourth Month, 14th Day
Loss​

The small "window" in your room is open. You feel the sun shining on you, warming you from the outside in as you lay in your bed. The sea breeze smells of fish and salt, but is refreshing, and you hear a few gulls calling. However none of this is what wakes you from your slumber. Rather, a far more disastrous sound is what breaks this peaceful morning. The sound of Daenerys' tears.

For a moment you are confused, then your eyes open and you start to sit up to find out what is wrong. Dany is already climbing into your bed and collapses into you for a hug. While you have no problem showing affection to your aunt, you also are checking the door to ensure that it is still barred, that no one somehow got in and harmed her in the night. Seeing the door barred, the room undisturbed you are confused as to what is the cause of Dany's tears until she hands you a piece of paper.

"This was slid under the door," she says through her soft sobs. "I found it when I woke up. It must have been there all night." Looking down at the paper, you see what is unmistakably Viserys' flowing script.

Aegon Targaryen, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, Protector of the Realm,

I am deeply sorry nephew, but I am afraid that I am forced to resign as your Kingsguard. I can feel the madness now, can tell when it is coming upon me. Several times today I nearly lost myself to it, and I cannot be your protector if I cannot trust myself. I instructed the captain to set sail without me, and will remain here in Pentos. I shall do my utmost to give Illyrio a merry chase. When he hears word that I have been sighted in various districts throughout the city he will undoubtedly assume that the two of you are still here with me.

I should be able to avoid him for quite awhile on my own. Even should he manage to capture me, he will assume the two of you are here and be hunting for you. Thankfully I had the sense to have you do the talking with the captain, so I do not even know to which port you are bound. Even if Illyrio resorts to torture, I shall not be capable of revealing your location. By the time he figures out where you are, you will have had the time to get yourselves settled in and hopefully are well protected.

I know we spoke about me coming with you, and I am sorry that I misled you. I could tell that you weren't going to accept no for an answer, and I couldn't in good conscience travel with you and be a danger to my own blood. Please, for my honor and for our family, do not come looking for me. I will either master this issue on my own, or I am lost to you. If I do manage to overcome this, unlikely though it is, I will find you. I will reach out to House Martell, Celtigar, or Velaryon. Some of them bow to the pretender, but most of them would still be loyal to our House.

I know it will be difficult on your own, but you must look after yourself for now. You have enough gold and silver to find a home, hire quality guards, and start any sort of venture that you might begin amassing enough wealth to become a real power in the free cities. Keep safe, look after Dany, and whatever else, never forget that you are the head of House Targaryen, last of the Dragonlords. We are of the blood of Valyria, and we shall not disappear amongst the sands of time.

Be safe, and be certain to get yourselves some armor and weaponry. Much as I would like my little Daenerys to never need to fight, with only the two of you we can no longer risk her needing to take action and not knowing how. Besides, if the way she took down that thief is any indication, she may have some natural aptitude for it. We are no strangers to women warriors in our bloodline. Be safe, and tell Dany that I am sorry and that I love her.

With no regrets, your uncle,
Lord of Dragonstone,
Viserys Targaryen​

The reason for Daenerys' tearful sobbing is abundantly clear. After losing her family to war, she has lost her brother to madness. Viserys writes of "overcoming" the problem, but we both know that while Targaryens have gone from being sane to being mad over time, none has ever done the reverse. In all reality, Viserys has put himself on a suicide mission in an effort to buy us time to escape the area of Illyrio's influence, and now the two of us are all that is left of House Targaryen.

I hold Dany close, squeezing her tightly as she whispers "Please don't leave me," over and over again. "Never," I swear to both her and myself. Never will I leave her behind.

I thought I'd convinced him to stay, but apparently I'd only convinced myself that I could ever talk Viserys out of doing something he truly thought needed doing. I had plans for this day, but this changes everything. Today I will stay here, with Daenerys, leaving only long enough to use the privy, or to get our food from the mess. Today is a day to be with family and naught else.

Your trip will take 1-2 weeks based on the wind. What do you do for the duration?

Choose up to three
[] Stay in the room with Daenerys. She needs me now more than ever, and leaving to do other things would be inappropriate.
[] Talk with Dany, try to draw her out of her shell.
[] Study the book we stole from Illyrio.
[] Observe the sailors as they do their duties and try to learn from them.
[] Spend time with Dany assuaging any concerns or nervousness she might have.
[] Talk to the captain of the ship after making sure that you have a strong alibi. Rehearse your story with Dany first.
[] Exercise. You are now Daenerys' sole protector, and you are not strong enough for the task. You need to be stronger and faster.
[] Write in.

So, to explain. Way back when you first confronted Viserys, you rolled an 18 to convince Viserys to come with you. He crit.​

 

[Lunasmeow]

Winning Votes
Study the book we stole from Illyrio.
Talk with Dany, try to draw her out of her shell.
Exercise. You are now Daenerys' sole protector, and you are not strong enough for the task. You need to be stronger and faster.
Aegon - Improve Strength
Viserys - Improve Wisdom​

​

297 AC, Fourth Month, 15th Day
Weighty Decisions Determine Future Days​

Yesterday was quiet. Dany eventually was able to stop crying, and we talked about many things. Viserys and how he always took more upon himself rather than burden us, our life on the run, and how one day we would repay those that caused us to be in this situation to begin with. As sorrow gave way to anger and promises of retribution I saw the dragon within Daenerys begin to stir. This life may be tempering her into something to be feared. I suspect that palace life would have left her a happy carefree princess that would bring nothing but laughter and joy. This life though... where others would falter (as I suspected she was for a time) Daenerys seems to be getting stronger. Whether you encourage that righteous rage to drive her to become stronger or whether you try to remind her that the world isn't always terrible and maintain some of that playful happy girl is something you'll have to consider.

Choose One
[] How do you guide Daenerys?
- [] Fire and Blood, our enemies will be repaid at least twice over for what they have done. House Targaryen will carve its Words into the annals of history once more.
- [] Fire and Blood will be brought to our enemies, but we must take care not to lose who we are in doing so. While her anger was better than her depression, it would be sad to never see Dany smile as she once did.

The conversation you have with Dany goes well. You feel relatively certain that she has taken your words to heart and is going to try her best not to let you down. Family has to stick together after all, especially in situations like this. You give her a hug, and she promises to try and socialize more. You feel a little guilty though, because you suspect that she is doing this more because she doesn't want you to be disappointed in her rather than because she understands that her depression was unhealthy. You worry that she might be a bit eager to please you in order to keep you around so that you don't leave like everyone else. Part of you hopes that you are merely overthinking things.

Having decided to move forward, the two of you go out at eat in the mess with the crew of the ship. Daenerys quickly ingratiates herself with the ship's chef, hoping to add more recipes to her repertoire. The chef takes a shine to her instantly. It turns out that his wife is from Lys, looks something like Dany. His wife is barren though, and so he'll never have children to pass his skills onto. He's glad to share what he knows with such an eager pupil. When she looks over at you to see if you approve, you flash Dany an encouraging smile. 'Good. She needs this.'

For yourself you find that somehow over night your strength seems to have increased significantly. Everything seems to weigh half as much as it once did, and your lingering baby fat has somehow become ropy cords of muscle. Confused, but not one to spit in a dragon's maw, you offer thanks to the gods.

Choose One
[] To Whom Do You Pray?
- [] The Seven. Despite the treachery of your cousins, the Mercy of the Mother has kept you and Dany safe.
- [] The Old Gods. Your mother followed them, your twin brother follows them, so shall you.
- [] The ancient gods of Valyria. Your house has fallen on hard times, and it seems that the degradation started once Aegon the Conqueror converted to the worship of these Westerners. Dragons grew smaller until they no longer hatched, madness appeared in your bloodlines, sorcerous abilities and dreams of the future were lost, and now the last of the lines of the Dragonlords is nearly extinct. Perhaps honoring the Dragon Deities of your forefathers will see a return to prosperity. Fire and Blood are your Words for a reason.
- [] R'hllor. You don't know much about this Lord of Light, but his religion is strong in this part of the world. Perhaps the powers of the gods grow in areas where they are worshipped and weakens in areas they are not. You could benefit from honoring the local customs. Aegon the Conqueror did, and became Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, despite not having conquered them all.
- [] None. You will carry on despite the whims of any gods. They say that the godless are cursed to have a more difficult life than any other, but you will challenge all and overcome it. You can hardly be any worse off now can you?

You strike up a conversation with the crew and start asking them about their duties on the ship. Some of them are irritated, your questions slowing them down and distracting them, but a few are amenable to conversation. They have you climbing the rigging and tying off sails and you are surprised at the manual dexterity needed to tie off knots in the wind and rain. The winds often snatches the line from your hands and you have to grab it quickly or start from the beginning. After two weeks of working at this you find that you are more able to react to such things.

----------------------

Well, so much for typing this up during my lunch hour. So many things just blew up today... But good news, there will be another post in a few hours since I get off work in 10 minutes. So get these votes in and I'll finish off the day afterwards. +2 to Dex for Aegon.​

 

[Lunasmeow]

Winning Votes
Fire and Blood will be brought to our enemies, but we must take care not to lose who we are in doing so. While her anger was better than her depression, it would be sad to never see Dany smile as she once did.

The ancient gods of Valyria. Your house has fallen on hard times, and it seems that the degradation started once Aegon the Conqueror converted to the worship of these Westerners. Dragons grew smaller until they no longer hatched, madness appeared in your bloodlines, sorcerous abilities and dreams of the future were lost, and now the last of the lines of the Dragonlords is nearly extinct. Perhaps honoring the Dragon Deities of your forefathers will see a return to prosperity. Fire and Blood are your Words for a reason.

297 AC, Fourth Month, 15th Eve
One Last Eve Upon the Waves​

Your days have been filled with working with the crew, your nights with drawing Dany out of her shell and studying the book from Illyrio's storeroom. From what you can tell it seems to be a book from Valyria itself. It tells of the great sorcerers of Valyria and the magic they once wielded. For some reason though the book hints at there being instruction within on how to perform the ancient spells, nothing you see tells you. You have a feeling of utter certainty that there is more within, like when there is a word you can't remember, and it is sitting on the tip of your tongue. With a whispered curse you slam the book shut, pushing it aside for further study at a later date.

Dany jumps slightly at your reaction, then smiles when she sees what set you off. This has been a common occurrence on the journey. "Go to sleep Egg," she says. "It's getting late. Maybe you'll figure it out in the morning."

You've noticed that she never goes to sleep before you, always staying up until after you've fallen asleep yourself. You aren't sure if she's up to something at night, or if she's staying awake to make sure you don't disappear like Viserys did. You hope that it's the former, that she isn't developing a delusion, but there isn't much you can do.

You've tried to stay awake while feigning sleep to see what she's up to, but Daenerys always knows when you're doing it. Every time you've tried it, without fail, she simply climbs into your bed and cuddles up to you until you fall asleep. You know that she knows because she never does that when you aren't trying to stay awake, and she's never there in the morning either. Every time you wake up she is in her own bed, so she isn't merely feeling lonely without Viserys and wanting company, or afraid of the storms like when you were children.

'Girls.'

Sighing at your thoughts, you know that she's right. This night you can't afford to stay up too late as tomorrow morning you dock in Braavos. While you have plenty of money, you'll need your full wits about you if you're going to try and make a decent bargain on a purchase of a home and a contract for guards in a city famed for its merchants. You know you're likely to get the worst of any deals, but it will only be worse if you're half awake due to staying up 'til ungodly hours.

"Are you going to tell me what you're up to at night, or will you just crawl in with me again if I try to watch and find out?" you ask deciding to just dispense with the ruse.

Daenerys, in a moment of immaturity that shows how young that she still is, (Well, both of you really but you brush that thought aside. You're 16, a man by all common standards.) simply sticks her tongue out at you and smiles impishly before going back to brushing her hair, as you prepare for bed yourself.

The thought of her age reminds you - her nameday is in a few months. The twenty-seventh day of the seventh month. Her 16th. She'll be a woman full grown then, even in places like Asshai that supposedly wait the longest to consider people adults - and it would be nice if you were able to actually celebrate it properly for once. Especially this one. Another sigh escapes you. One more thing to plan for.

'How did Viserys do it all?' You wonder. 'Here I have only one charge and gold enough for the both of us. He had two charges and nary a coin to his name.' Not for the first time you wonder if you'll be able to live up to the standard that your uncle set for himself.

Eventually sleep overtakes you, and you dream.

Towers higher than you've ever seen stretch into the clouds, with roads of higher quality than any you've traveled upon at your feet. All around you are the facial features of Valyria, old and young, comely and fair. In the distance you can see 14 lightly smoking mountains, and before you is a temple to Syrax, one of the Dragon Goddess of Valyria.

You enter the temple to find it strangely empty. When you look around you see paintings of dragons in battle, feasting on cattle, and being ridden by powerful looking warriors in armor made of Valyrian Steel. Armor such as that would be worth entire Kingdoms now, you can't help but think to yourself.

Once you are finished with the paintings you notice a single figure, female in long flowing robes that hide her features as best they can. Were it not for her shapely... physique that even the most flowing of robes could not properly shroud, you wouldn't even be able to tell the gender of the one whom stands before you. The woman raises her right arm and points to a door in the furthest reaches of the room. Was that there before? Or did you just not notice it?

Walking towards it you see ornaments of dragons adorning all the furniture in the room. Benches, tables, chandeliers... It would be ostentatious if it wasn't so well done that it seemed natural, as if the dragons were just a part of the material.

When you open the door the handle is warm to the touch, and inside you see a book. One you have been studying every night for the last 2 weeks. Another person in robes holds it in their hands, their back to you so that they are unaware of your presence. "Syrax, guide my sight," you hear the man say in High Valyrian, his voice giving away his gender. Then he pricks his hand, and presses his blood to the cover. The book glows slightly, and opens revealing-

You wake to the captain knocking on your door. "Aye, up lad! We've arrived, and you'll either be off the ship now or be forced to wait until we've unloaded all our cargo! I'll not have ye walking around the deck while we're trying to move our things getting underfoot!"

"Alright!" you reply, "We'll be out in just a moment!"

As you begin to dress you feel certain you dreamed something important last night. Something about... You shake your head clear of the fog that covers your drowsy mind. No matter. You'll remember eventually. It is time to see what the city of Braavos has to offer.

Choose three
What are your first actions in Braavos? - Provide arguments for what order your votes should be performed in.
[] Go and put the bulk of your treasure in the Iron Bank.
[] Find and purchase a home.
[] Find and hire bodyguards.
[] Listen for news of Illyrio of Pentos. Someone will have heard of his being robbed. You may learn about Viserys.
[] Listen for news of the Seven Kingdoms. You need to know if the Usurper has people searching for you even here.
[] That dream was too important to let go of so easily. Try again to remember what it was about.
[] Hit the marketplace. Before all else, you need to disguise yourselves. And for that you need things.
[] Write-in.​