There's also the fact that Tyrion, though a dwarf is a Lannister, and Lannisters don't marry Crofters daughters.Old Soul said:
To quote the bastard himself; "Lannisters are worth more."
To go a Viking...(Asoiaf AU)
- Thread starter Thelunarwolf
- Start date
To quote the bastard himself; "Lannisters are worth more."
Yea, not so much actually. Viking music and thus Nordic music in general at the time was mainly played with horns, pipes and well smaller drums for use on boats aswell as being very much influenced by the Varangian Import, Byzantine Lira, a kind of proto-violin. And in the ATL would have been very much influenced by the prevailing instrument of the north, which the wiki's have led me to believe would be the Bagpipe.heavyneos said:
That said, Viking use of the Strandhögg/Raiders Beach Stab, was unaccompanied by horns or announcement.
All things being equal though any overland army would have most likely featured pipers and drummers, of some sort. The North is afterall based on Scotland in the OTL
10
Robert II
He sat in their guestchambers and simply looked at Joffrey and Cersei, putting his flagon of mead down and running his fingers through his neatly trimmed beard.
As Cersei went to speak, he held up a hand and simply looked at her before speaking himself "Cersei, Joffrey has the gods own luck, that he hadn't actually drawn blood, violating guest rights in this way is bad enough, had he drawn blood he'd have broken the one law no man even up here dares to cross. Lets make a point here, For Murdering a man up here you can pay a bloody fine, they don't even require you go to prison, take the black or anything. If your caught raping a woman up here it's the R-Brand and a fine. If you as a man beat your wife or a woman at all, you must again pay a heavy fine, and no man in the Northern realm is obliged to give you shelter, succor or food. And If you draw a blade on a woman, that's not even to say a pregnant woman, her husband has the right by law to beat you unconscious, if you were to draw blood his right by law is to kill you."
Joffrey paled slightly, and opened his mouth to protest "bu..." Cersei quickly closed his mouth, normally she would protect her golden boy but this was abit much even for the Daughter of Tywin Lannister. Robert nodded and continued "Had I allowed them to finish that trial Joffrey, Seven Hells, it wasn't even a trial it was a sentencing. You would have at best been shipped as Thrall, that's timelimited slavery, mind you Joff, to some Temple somewhere to do backbreaking physical work for a maximum of seven years. A middling punishment would have been the Wall, that's right Joff, that frozen bloody Wall and a life of fighting the Others, their undead wights and the gods-be-damned frost giants isn't by far the worst thing these people sentence criminals too. Ned was perfectly in his rights to nail you naked to one of those Tiwaz pillars out there on that field, and if you were lucky, he would have left you to freeze to death." Robert took a deep breath and looked at the boy. "I won't speak of what he could have done, had you been unlucky." Picking up his flagon, he took a deep draught of the liquid and sighed. Standing and walking to the window
"So I, as your father, paid what amounts to the largest bribe ever. Artos Targaryen, Lyanna's Dragonspawn, is now Prince of Dragonstone. Meaning of course Joffrey, that you won't be when you reach majority. And it also means that we will have one of the biggest military ports in the Kingdom basing not only the Royal Fleet, but the fleet loyal to a Targaryen searaider. Had you succeeded though Joffrey, we would all be dead and at best Ned would have Stannis on the Throne, well, to be honest that's fairly unrealistic, he'd have just placed his Nephew on the Throne and killed anyone who opposed him."
Joffrey snorted "You can't be serious! Father, Eddard Stark is surely a powerful Lord, but he can't dictate the succession of the Throne, the other lords wouldn't stand for it." Robert smiled ruefully, "Who'd you think would oppose him, at that point Joff? I'll grant that Stannis and Renly probably would but, Stannis is all about Justice, he's a dour man my little brother but he's also a man of Law, and after the three of you and your siblings, he'd have equal claim to the Targaryen Boy." Robert looked out onto the silverplated roof of the great hall for a moment before snorting.
"Lets exercise that mind of yours for abit, The Stormlands and the Reach stand with Stannis. The New Greyjoy, has been raised in the North, and while he probably won't side with them outright, the boy's aunt has married into the Starks, so he probably won't oppose them either. The Vale, well we don't know how Denys would react to all of it, but as an Arryn he'd feel obliged to go the Honourable route. Riverlands, Old Hoster will follow Ned, Edmure will aswell you'd have to kill every Tully in the place, and even then Mallister and Blackwood would fiercely oppose any new Lord Paramount. Dorne will do presumably what's best for them and that's Rhaenys Targaryen's choice. The Crownlands would be a cointoss. Only Tywin would seek outright battle with the North and even then, oh for certain Tywin's got the finest equipped banners in the Realm but he's only got some forty thousand to field, that's of course not counting sellswords. Ned's got fifty thousand men to field and can transport near half by water wherever there's a river, the only ship he's got that we know can't navigate the rivers is the Gungnir, that's a quadreme Valyrian wargalley, there's only the one, but she's copperclad and runed, During the rebellion, we used her to break the Vhagar, the then Royal Flagship simply by ramming her. Tully can call another thirtyfive to forty thousand men if all his banners stand with him, so now they've got as many as Tyrell can field. Martell can field another twenty to twentyfive for them, if he so chooses. If Denys Arryn joins them, and he might considering he's married to Lysa Tully, Ned'd outnumber Tywin and Stannis."
Robert took another deep draught finishing off his mead. Turned back towards the now very pale Joffrey and sat down in the seat by the fire again, "And I'm not even counting Brandon Stark into all this, or how the lords along the Mander would react to the threat of Northern raiders. So yes, Joffrey, Ned Stark probably could, if he could get everyone of his allies on field and working in concert, most certainly dictate the next King on the Iron Throne. The one bit good news we have here is that he won't do this, he's loyal to me and that he is committed to aiding the Night's Watch with troops" Robert laughed bitterly.."We're lucky the bloody Others are attacking the wall in Summer..." Taking afew deep breaths to calm himself, he continued "From now on Joff, you'll be a perfectly humble and harmless boy, from this moment until we reach King's Landing, and maybe just maybe I won't send you off to be a Septon or a Maester." Looking at Cersei for a moment, he held out his hand and together they left Joffrey to stew and consider his future.
HEy, he hasn't done anything yet!heavyneos said:
Bobby Bear the Greatstag, is still a drunkard whoremonger don't misunderstand, it's just he can't be a useless drunkard whoremonger and that although he's completely sure of Ned's loyalty to him personally, thats just it though, Ned is loyal to Him Personally, not to the Baratheon Dynasty.bolhabela said:Oh man Robert is not an useless drunk. What a nice change
He was looking for a Northern Marriage, preferably for Joff, but that's out of the question at this point. So he's got start wheedling for either Myrcella or Steffon.
11
Artos I
Loading a ship had never felt more of a challenge, he was leaving his home. And never again would he set foot in it, as his Home, at least. The Old Magi had arrived during the dawning and looked ready to set off themselves, they were to inspect the Dragonmont and the Castle, but that was in a few weeks, at first the ship would take them to the sisters where he would speak to the village heads and the city councilors and ensuring that they had the names of the factors Uncle Brandon had said could be trusted in the efforts to come. But if the efforts were successful, when Robert Baratheon left to join his ancestors, he would be ready to stake his Claim. He opened a crate and ran his fingers across the stonelike surface of silver and gold, then he gently carressed each one in turn, red, green, white, yellow and finally black. Finally they were off, after tedious hours of packing and waiting for the last of his company to arrive.
The longship cut smoothly down the White Knife towards White Harbor and the Bite, driven by northern winds they made White Harbor before nightfall and were able to enjoy the hospitality of Greystark for a brief evening meal before heading off to bed to ensure an early start on the morning. They came into the harbor at Sisterton during the early hours of afternoon the following day, were he and the elected headman who had accompanied him back from Winterfell were able to meet with both the legal merchants and the privateer captains aswell as the elected headmen of the other isles, ensuring them that being their Jarl, he would work for their best interest, though he intended the Sisters to run on a more self sufficient level then Dragonstone would, as the young man put it he could only be in two places and the Sisters truly didn't need him to tell them when or where to fish or who to sell to or trade with.
That explained he outlined the plan for a biannually Elected Head to serve as his right hand on the isles and aswell the changes that would move the Sisters laws and code of justice fully into the North instead of sitting on a fence between the laws of the north and the vale. It was very much in keeping with the Volantene model of rule. He also outlined his plans for a Valkyrie school on Sweetsister aswell as a training hall on Longsister for the Valyrian exclave on the island, to try and arrange for a bit of sorcery on the isles, to perhaps see about the production of Glass Candles. He also outlined the new circumstance that the sisters found themselves in and just why he couldn't simply take up the former seat of House Sunderland.
The following weeks saw all freemen and women partake in voting to place an Elected Headman in charge of the day to day affairs of Isles, chosen was Tarlang Harronson, a well known and respected Fisherman and Merchant, elected as much for his business cunning as his well known sense of justice, a council was also called up with three elected councilors per island and the final order was that the Sisters voted wether or not to become part of the Demense of the Prince of Dragonstone. They chose to join Dragonstone on the Caveat that they were and would remain an autonomous part of the Princedom. The last of five weeks on the sisters were spent in deep discussion with the new council and ensuring letters of introduction were set up for the factors used by House Stark, in Braavos, Pentos and Myr.
Once more his laden longship sliced through the Narrow Sea this time though she skirted the Coastlands of the Vale and Bay of Claws until after four solid days on the water, the Dragonmont was visible.
Known throughout the Old Freehold as the fifteenth fire of Valyria, the Dragonmont was for anyone even remotely attuned to the magic of fire, an upwelling of pure might and power, though dimmed from long dormancy. Putting into the harbor at Drakeport he was greeted by a dour older man clad in Baratheon colours who simply glowered at him while handing him the symbolic "key" to Dragonstone fortress. Walking through the city of Drakeport felt like his trip to Lys, the Old Blood ran strong in the people here, but there was no worship of R'hllor on Dragonstone, but there wasn't a Sept either, only two temples stood on Dragonstone.
The Dragontemple where the nine gods of Valyria were worshipped and a small Temple to Oden, constructed as part of Maekar's homage to his kinswoman. the Odinic Temple was surrounded by the Valkyrie Cults compound forming a giant Valknut if viewed from the castle balconies. There was of course a small sept in the castle itself, aswell as the most secret chapel of the Dragons, a small building built into the inner walls of the Caldera connected to the castle by a tunnel only accessible to a member of House Targaryen. And it was there he had lain the chest, where they waited a few more days at least, while he met his new bride.
Watching the ship coming into port he saw her standing tall and proud on the prow, though at most five and ten years of age, clad in dark leathers with a heavy sword belted to her waist she was the picture of Visenya, but then she wasn't Visenya Targaryen, she was at least for now simply Daena from Volantis. He greeted her with sweet and honest words in High Valyrian, welcoming her to his domain and offering her the shelter of flames in the shadow of the fire. His eyes though were fixed upon the silver clasp of her cloak, a direwolf running over waves of blue enamel. Together they watched as her belongings were offloaded from the ship, aiding her in mounting the horse he had supplied for her, he mounted his own steed and together they rode up to the castle.
Those who knew about shipping and politics in Essos would wonder why a Myrish flagged merchantman would fly the pennant of a Volantene Sellsail company, especially one beholden to the Seawolf, known for near crippling raids against the Myrish during the last trade war, others especially the blacksmiths apprentices who oftentimes took their midday repast on the harbor where it wasn't so swelteringly hot would; at least those who had actually paid attention to the lessons of known Valyrian Steel blades run to the forges of their masters giddy with the news that Dark Sister was home on Dragonstone again.
Hmm?Trivia Freak said:
That's interesting...Brandon might tell you something in his snippet.Trivia Freak said:
Depends entirely on the battlefield. As with all tactics
Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Another thing to be considered with a possible North/South war, is whether or not the South will call their banners over this.
I mean, the Lannisters are a given, but the rest? Over Joffery's fuckup that barely impacts them? Fat chance, more like they suddenly find new commitments elsewhere. Well away from the vengeful Viking horde.
I mean, the Lannisters are a given, but the rest? Over Joffery's fuckup that barely impacts them? Fat chance, more like they suddenly find new commitments elsewhere. Well away from the vengeful Viking horde.
Well this depends entirely on how willing the southern lords will be to find themselves under a new north-friendly regimeNight_stalker said:
12
Mood music: Adrian Von Ziegler, For the King.
Grynholdt
Grynholdt the Monk, was the resident monk of the small Odinic Temple on Dragonstone and the day before last his new Prince had delivered a letter to him from his uncle, Eddard Stark of Winterfell, aswell as having brought a proper young priest to the island. Grynholdt had quickly and efficiently shown the priest around the small temple and the courtyards that were purely for temple use as opposed to the many covered courtyards in use by Commander Celtigar. Having bid young Torvald a good evening the middleaged monk swiftly withdrew to his quarters and solidly bolted himself in for the night.
Unbelting his robe, he let it drop to the floor of the small cell that had been his living quarters for the past decade and a half. He had been waiting for word from the wolves for nearly sixteen years, and yesterday it had come in the form of the new Prince, he could see both Lyanna and Rhaegar in the boy so clearly. Eddard Stark had kept his word and raised the boy a warrior and prince worthy of the Old Kings, taking his gardening trowel he started chipping away at the seams in the wall. It took perhaps two hours in all to free the stonework and then a further half hour to shift the stone before the bundle was revealed. Gently setting it aside he collapsed into his cot and fell asleep.
That morning he went about his duties as normal before penning a letter to young Torvald detailing that his time in the temple had come to an end, and it was time once more for him venture, he had quietly procured three whetstones of varying fineness and jar of armour paint and polishing wax on a small walk through the school workshops bidding his farewells to students and masters whom he had come to know during his many years in the temple, The canteen of the school was in an uproar that afternoon as a volantene tradesmen had come into port bearing a young woman clearly of the Old Blood, whom had been greeted by their new lord with the Old betrothal phrase, and whom it appeared wore if not Dark Sister herself, then a very convincing copy or so the blacksmiths apprentices would have the rumour mills believing, on her belt.
Adding up the maths abit in his head he felt a stab of annoyance towards his sister, could she not have sent him some message about his Goodbrothers planning. Gently drawing the sword from the bundle he set about sharpening it and working out the scuffs of sixteen hidden years, as he worked he reminisced about brothers lost in this plot, Oswell had been gone first bending knee to the stag and returning to Harrenhal to see about those parts, the Commander had gone to the Queen, he had received word of his death some three years ago fighting Baratheon assassins, clenching the hilt tightly for moment, he vowed that if he ever got the chance Barristan the Traitor would fall to his blade and none others. After nearing two hours of solid work, the blade was sharp as a razor and light fairly shone off of the milky white steel, he set it aside and taking out the armour paint and polishing wax and set about restoring the only set of armour he had ever sworn to wear. As he finished with the restoration, he set the armour and shield on the stands he had procured for them then went about his evening duties for the last time.
In the darkness before dawn he awoke and set about washing himself thoroughly, shearing his braided beard and shaving his face smooth, he also cut his hair to the length of his chin rather then keeping it in the elaborate braids favored by Odens monks. Then he put on his undertunic and hose before leaving his cell and gathering to him the two men who knew his true name, Valarr Celtigar and Orys Naerenys, Celtigar the Sunrise Commander helped him into the armour tightening the silvered buckles firmly and after receiving permission had picked up the blade. While Orys, a mage, ensured that the old enchantments on the armour were intact after so many years. It was after all one of the true Seven, the set first commissioned for the Brotherhood by Aegon I The Dragonlord, The Conqueror. Inspecting himself one final time in the mirror he gently traced the emblem of the Crown encircled by seven swords on the Breastplate, slinging the greatsword onto his back as was his custom he picked up the pure white shield.
As dawn broke over Dragonstone he left the temple grounds marching with purpose and famed discipline towards the Castle. The Guards, those old enough to remember him immediately granted him passage into the keep where he came upon the Prince and as he had suspected the Princess Royal, breaking their fast together with the sworn lords of the Demense who were their to see to the new Princes installation, at his appearance a deafening silence enveloped the room. He came to a halt infront of the highseat as the shocked silence broke and the murmuring started, "...Don't they say that Stark, killed him and Hightower down in Dorne?..." came a murmur from Lord Velaryon, Lord Sunglass murmured a reply "...Obviously Not, because he's right There, that can't be any other blade then D..." Drawing his blade halted all conversation again as he knelt with the tip to the floor and the hilt at eyelevel locking eyes with Artos Targaryen. He swore an oath that would be heard throughout the Kingdom.
"I, Arthur Dayne, The Sword of the Morning, By Word of Gerold Hightower; Rightful Lord Commander of His Majesties Kingsguard, Do so Swear my Oath of Allegiance to Artos Targaryen, Prince of Dragonstone as Rightful and True King."
Eddard is not. Of Course Eddard is also not betraying Brandon or Lyanna. And part of his Duties as defined by Family Law as understood by the Norse/Vikings is that assuring the rightful inheritance of an orphaned member of the family is paramount to all other loyalty.Darksnider05 said:
Mind you Eddard, has sworn an Oath of Loyalty strictly to the Person of Robert Baratheon, not to King Robert I of the Baratheon Dynasty. And he has held to that oath while ensuring the lives of children of Kinsmen, those who Robert would kill as Dragonspawn, that is also part of his duty. That said, he didn't really factor in exactly how Arthur Dayne would act once Artos took Dragonstone, he's been playing the game solidly for sixteen years trying to assure unassailability in what he does, while still holding to his loyalty to Robert, So Artos has been strictly taught and forbidden from launching any campaign for the throne until Robert is deadski. Artos has been content to wait as he also has plans, that need time to come to fruition. Arthur has just, in doing what is Right and Honorable, as well as fed by his need to avenge the "honour" of the Kingsguard accelerated alot of timetables and shifted carefully lain plans around very messily.
Neither Eddard or Brandon are going to be very happy with Arthurs choice of words. Robert is of course going to go apoplectic, but he's as of these events currently at the Wall, to see for himself the need for more Black Brothers, of actual ability.
Also Varys is going to be very unhappy as his plans together with Illyrio are getting exceedingly screwed up by the Starks.
But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane,Tzaphquiel said:
In proving foresight may be vain;
The best-laid schemes o' mice an 'men
Gang aft Agley, An'lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promis'd joy! - Robert Burns
And stop reading my plot notes. Viserys might offer interesting ideas for Brandon as this develops, but I don't quite see Daenerys doing it, she's after all abit too far away from Brandon to do it atm, she might offer Artos some advice though.
Well Illyrio has those three particular ones...Or does he?....But a better question is are they the only ones?Tzaphquiel said:
And if they are what happened to the Dragon Egg of Eleana Targaryen that married Torrhen Starks son to bring the North fully into the kingdom, or the one Elaena daughter of Aegon III had...you know the really nice one with silver/gold shell?
Well Brandon is essentially sitting as, although a sellsail, First Sea Lord of Volantis. Though he is about to become embroiled in the rising Trade Wars with the Ghiscari states... that said, what can Viserys do with bits of the old Royal Fleet, a few thousand loyal sailors and oh yes... a Norse upbringing...he's also very close to several very right soon to be hostile mercantile states... States the practice something the Westerosi do not condone Chattel Slavery.Tzaphquiel said:
Edit: Bonus question, Ashara Dayne, in addition to being Arthur's sister is also what?
Cookie for Tzaphquiel.
and now that Arthur is revealed.
Revised Status of Brandon Stark, Prince of Winterfell, popularly known in Westeros as the Exiled Wolf, Master of the Seawolf Sellsail fleet, Raider Lord of the Summer Sea, accredited to the office of Master of the Volantene Coast by the Triarchs of Volantis with titles martial. Married to Ashara Dayne, fostering two children, though a case could be made that he has adopted them.
HRH Viserys Targaryen, 23 (Prince of Summerhall and High Lord of Durranvale by custom, Disputed by Baratheon Ascendancy; Current Baratheon Holder; Prince Renly.) Raider and Captain of the Seadrake wellknown and loathed for successes taking prize Myrish ships during the trade wars and HRH Daenerys Targaryen, 15, Princess Royal(Disputed, by Baratheon Ascendancy; Current Baratheon Claimant Myrcella, Princess Royal, 8).
Father to Gerold Stark, 17, Cregan Stark, 13, and Arya Stark, 11. If ever the banishment is pardoned Brandon Stark would traditionally seat as Lord of Moat Cailin, due to the ascendancy of Eddard, to the Wolfseat.
and now that Arthur is revealed.
Revised Status of Brandon Stark, Prince of Winterfell, popularly known in Westeros as the Exiled Wolf, Master of the Seawolf Sellsail fleet, Raider Lord of the Summer Sea, accredited to the office of Master of the Volantene Coast by the Triarchs of Volantis with titles martial. Married to Ashara Dayne, fostering two children, though a case could be made that he has adopted them.
HRH Viserys Targaryen, 23 (Prince of Summerhall and High Lord of Durranvale by custom, Disputed by Baratheon Ascendancy; Current Baratheon Holder; Prince Renly.) Raider and Captain of the Seadrake wellknown and loathed for successes taking prize Myrish ships during the trade wars and HRH Daenerys Targaryen, 15, Princess Royal(Disputed, by Baratheon Ascendancy; Current Baratheon Claimant Myrcella, Princess Royal, 8).
Father to Gerold Stark, 17, Cregan Stark, 13, and Arya Stark, 11. If ever the banishment is pardoned Brandon Stark would traditionally seat as Lord of Moat Cailin, due to the ascendancy of Eddard, to the Wolfseat.
Night_stalker
Slava Ukraini!
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Assuming Cersei doesn't somehow make him more arrogant...heavyneos said:
Next snippet will be up tomorrow night and will contain Artos' reaction to "living legend" Arthur Dayne, aswell as cover abit more of Artos plans. before Shifting to Bobby B with his Party at the wall and our readers will get their first looks at Priests of Thor and the revised Nights Watch situation. Will also contain Jötunn Warriors.
All this and more coming up.
All this and more coming up.
it could have. But im NOT doing a Marvel x-over. So there isnt a blue box filled with the powers of all the storms of an ice age. So no CoAW.syed said:
A different blue box might do touristy background cameos but i wouldnt be sure on that one.
13
Artos II
Looking down at the kneeling Arthur Dayne, Artos cursed intensely, vilely, horrifically and all internally.
Why couldn't the man have waited until they were alone, why did he have to take a stand and do this in the middle of the welcoming and installation feast. Though honestly, Artos was sure on the loyalties of most lords and knights in the room, the one issue would be Guncer Sunglass, a fanatical holder to the seven who had during the discussions prior to the feast, argued vociferously that as Prince of Dragonstone, Artos should convert to the Faith of the Seven, not keep the Northern gods or the Valyrian dragons.
Turning his head to where he knew the Sunglasses were seated, his own dark purple eyes meeting the brothers lighter lilac ones squarely and stood to speak.
"My Lords, for sixteen years you have faced cruel and punishing taxes under the boot of Robert Baratheon, as I told you all earlier, I and my Uncle, Eddard of House Stark, did indeed try to persuade the King that these taxes should be lowered now. King Robert declined our petition, so we must carry on, but My Lords, My Merchants and My Mages."
A strong hand swept out to indicate each in turn."King Robert will not rule forever, and between us my Cousin and I, have after seeing truly what kind of King Joffrey Baratheon will be. A spoiled boy concerned only with his rights and raised on Robert Baratheons drunken mutterings about Dragonspawn. The Boy attempted to disembowel my sister, and heavy as she is with child at that, had he drawn blood... I assure you all, we would have had a Crownprince
Steffon not Joffrey today."
"This all said gentlemen and ladies, Dragonstone isn't the only place that has felt the heavy hand of Roberts Master of Coin, the North has also been feeling it especially on it's trade, trade which is now evermore needed as the Nights Watch calls for Aid and it seems only the North will answer."
He had not prepared much of anything for a speech and so was speaking from purely what he knew. Looking down at the table for a moment before speaking again, "To be truthful my lords, I am sixteen years of age, and the gods know I have taken lives of men, of beasts and using the fire and blood that is mine by right, I have slain wights by the dozen while aiding an evacuation of Nights Watchmen from the last footholds beyond the wall. When Joffrey did what he did, I persuaded my Uncle to take Dragonstone, as price for it should Robert seek mercy, I had thought to use the Mages, The Alchemists and the thousands of men available in the Demense to give aid to the North."
"Instead I find islands that have been taxed into ruination and proud lords, once sworn to my Father, near trampled by the Stag. And now a man known far and wide as the last of the True Knights, and also the best friend of my Late Father comes to me here, and calls me His King asking to enter my service. If I accept him here and now, The King and his Lannister cohorts will claim that I am rising in rebellion and will seek to kill us all. If I do not accept my lords, then I am merely bowing to the Stag once more, when I have seen that I cannot do that anymore. You ask me why I cannot... Where is the Velaryon mages academy, dispersed and shutdown. Where are the Sunglass Alchemists, outlawed as pyromancers, as though a Valyrian Alchemist is only good for making wildfire, what of the medicines? So I will do right by my Father, and I will do right by my Uncle who even as we speak raises banners and marches for the wall. And I will say this; Arthur Dayne, I Accept your Sword and Shield, but I will not for the moment challenge the throne." Arthur stood and sheathed Dawn, before quickly and quietly walking around the table before coming to stand behind and to the right of Artos' seat. For the elder lords the sight struck like thunder, for the Son, did indeed favour like his father, though with the clear Stark look he bore a much closer resemblance to Aegon V, whose Mother had been the famed Lady Sun.
Guncer Sunglass approached the young lord later in the day, and asked simply "Will the Alchemy halls be allowed to reopen?" Artos looked at him then waved to a young woman bearing the robes of an alchemist, the young lady came forward, Artos smiled and said "This is my kinswoman Alysanne Targaryen, of the Line of Maegor, as you know Maegor, when he crowned Jaehaerys said that the Line of Aenys would hold the throne, and that his line would hold the Enclaves. Well they still do at New Tyria, anyway she and her twelve apprentices bring with them four cartloads of equipment and materials." Guncer smiled beatifically and said "Praise the Seven!" Alysanne turned towards Sunglass and said quietly, "No, Lord Guncer, Praise Artos the Dragon" with that Artos handed Lord Guncer an official notice to restart the works and the two alchemists left arguing amicably about their chosen field. Artos left his office and ascended the tower up to the room that contained the Painted Table.
Standing infront of the window, looking toward Blackwater Bay and Kings Landing, he spoke softly "Commander, while we could have wished for a more anonymous start to our campaigns, both at the wall and here in the south, I suggest you take enough from the treasury to have six more sets of Armour crafted, they'll be enamelled Black and Red, with the Targaryen Dragon painted on the chestplates, until we take the throne. You know better then I, who to see about the specifics here on Dragonstone, as yet. When you've done that Lord Commander, I suggest you recruit." The only response was that of a mailed fist striking a steel chestplate as Arthur left the room.
That night the young lord and lady of Dragonstone, were wed by two priests in Aegon's Garden under a bright moon and twinkling starlight, witnessed only by the Lord Commander Dayne and the Lords Velaryon, Celtigar, Sunglass and families.
Robert III
The Wall dominated it's landscape, at just over twohundred and ten meters high, it was held by the Nights Watch and the "Wallfolk" Formerly known as the Wilding Clans, the wallfolk were driven out of the far north by the coming of the Rimthurs Jötunn, on the western end of wall into the Frostfangs was Giantsfort, populated entirely by a smaller breed of giants, loremasters would claim that these were the giants, with whom Bran the Builder made his alliance, Giantsfort was surrounded on three sides by Utgard the city and home of the smaller Jötunn, who numbered some three thousand in all, the last side was of course against the Wall.
Robert, Ned, Brynden and their company, among them Joffrey had met with several groups of giants on their travels northward, the gentle shepherds being respectfully polite to Ned and standoffish but polite to King Robert, on the last nights rest before The Wall proper, they stopped at Mole-town, formerly the only town in the gifts, it was now a giant marketplace for the Wallfolk and site of the Forgeworks for the Night's Watch.
When the first assaults by the Rimthurs and their Others allies had been made some fivehundred years ago, the Night's Watch had numbered a mere thousand, now they numbered closer to six thousand sworn brothers, aswell as over four thousand lay brothers, aswell as some six to eight hundred priests, mages and alchemists.
Robert knew all this, so he wondered why the hell Bloodraven was so keen on reinforcements, the Night's Watch clearly had more then enough men. He mentioned this to Brynden, as they rode into the Nightfort, Bloodraven snorted and led the two and their bodyguards up the wide steps sunk into the Wall.
Several times during their ascent the wall shook violently, and as they came to the top they could see why, Where jötunn in Utgard stood some three or four meters high, the Rimthurs stood nearly twentyfive meters high, armoured in thick slabs of dark ice and iron and armed weapons of ice and magic. Some meters away from the stair were stood three older men in armour and robes, each one accompanied by an ensign bearer and in turn Robert could see, a silver Mjolnir on Black, the Symbol of Thor, aswell as the Raven Banner of Odin and lastly a banner featuring a crossed sword and axe, the Warbanner of Tyr.
The Highpriest of Thor turned and shouted right into Bloodravens face, "Lord Commander Bloodraven, did you bring more Reinforcements then that?" Bloodraven blinked twice and said "Not yet, Lord Marshal." The Lord Marshal, the Highpriest at War, looked at the two lords and was about to address the two lords but was hindered, as the wall shook, turning quickly and strinding towards the north side, the priest reach for his belt and drew a warhammer that looked exactly like the one on his tabard, except that it was covered in bands of runes, he grasped it firmly in a gauntleted hand before throwing it hard towards the giant, as it struck the giants shield of ice, there was a sound like thunder and the giant shook his arm free as ice shards and steel rained down, the shield shattered. The Giant retreated as a teeming mass of bodies started climbing up the wall. The Hammer, returned smacking into the gauntleted fist that had thrown it.
The Priest nodded once towards Bloodraven as hundreds of Black brothers stepped forward drew their obsidian edged blades and got ready to do battle with the wights once more. Ned quickly grabbed Robert and dragged him down the stairs with a terse "We're just in the way right now", the priest of Thor followed them down, while the two others stepped forward to aid in the battle.
As the reached the ground the priest dragged his hood down and said in a quieter though still shouting tone of voice, "Lord Eddard and I Presume, This be the King. Good. Good. We need more men up here Eddard, Your Grace, And we need them as fast as possible." Ned nodded "I've already sent out messengers you'll be seeing more mages and alchemists shortly, aswell as many men that Umber, Ingjaldr, Karstark and Bolton can drum up after them in the next weeks, but it's going to be a month or more before you see Reed, Dustin, Glover, Ryswell, Flint or Tallhart." Robert looked at them both, before focusing on the priest "The Giant ran off from one blow so why do you need more men and..how in the seven hells did you do that with the hammer?"
The Lord Marshal of Thor's Temples looked at Robert for a second "Well, Your Grace, we've only ever killed twenty giants, first by shattering their shields or armour like I did then by having several mages and alchemists use fire magics or wildfire to burn it down. That said, outright force can also kill them and the exceedingly runed weaponry used by myself and other highly ranked priests are capable of it, however if we don't strike the head and kill them outright, they retreat, and come again later, often times with improved armour. As to how I did that, well the hammer is rune linked to always return to these specific gauntlets. We learned from the old sagas of the Gods, Your Grace. The Lord Thor killed Rimethurs Giants like those effectively by wearing a belt of strength and power, the megingjörd, Iron gauntlets that protected his hands from the might of Mjolnirs magics, called Järngreipr, litterally the Iron Grippers and of course the Thunderhammer itself these are the best copies we could make of the three." But, Your Grace, to the situation at hand, if the realm doesn't consider the hundreds of frost giants, like that one reason enough to call for more men, there is still hundreds of thousands of wights and undead beasts beyond that wall, and thousands of Others commanding them."
Robert swallowed and said softly "I see, I will send word for banners to be raised."
Robert was walking into the hall as the alarm rose. "Wights! Wights inside the Keep!"
Well, perhaps Barristan, sees the error of his ways, but will Arthur allow him to repent for the errors?UnderwaterWelder said:If Cersei kills Robert in this timeline too, it won't work out nearly as well for her as it did in the original cannon I'm guessing.
Here's to hoping that Selmy makes it Dragonstone somehow.
And what happens when you have two guys, wanting to be Lord Commander.
by Norse Law there were two ways to "legitimise" a child born out of wedlock, Either of course that the father says this is my Son/Daughter, if that happens it's the end of it. no king need be asked or deemed necessary, unless of course it's the King's own child... a second is that if the father is dead, the brother of the mother brings forth witnesses to the ting and gets it done that way. However, Lyanna and Rhaegar were Married by custom at first, and later wed by septon and priestess of Freyja, Elia Martell stood as witness to it, which kind of took the wind out of Doran's Hate the Starks campaign.UnderwaterWelder said:
Then of course Ned, saved Rhaenys at the end of the rebellion, though he was to late to do more then hear Elia's last words, her body was put on a ship brought with all the Northern honours belonging to a Queen to Sunspear allowing Doran and Oberyn a measure of peace and Gregor Cleganes skull arrived by hand of Gerold Dayne, the note that detailed Gregor's final hours of life, being hunted and torn apart by a pack of strangely intelligent wolves was signed only with a Direwolf and Raven in flight.
no comments? :sadface:
14
Daenerys I
Trailing fingers, smoothed her way into waking, gently tracing her spine. Shifting her hand upward she found her new husbands neck and gently pulled him down for a kiss. Last night had been illuminating, though her married handmaids had been most informative on the subject as per her stepmothers request, the explanations had left quite something to be desired. Opening her eyes and letting purple meet purple, she smiled and decided that the mornings work could wait for abit more.
An hour later found Her and Artos donning silk robes, meant to be easily burnt, as they made their way down into the tunnels leading to the private Chapel of House Targaryen, built into the interior walls of the caldera of the Dragonmont, as they arrived she could see they great pyre and the eggs laid out onto it. The Magi in charge of the ritual, a very elderly man, motioned for them to join him on the pyre, as he explained the ritual once more asking which of them would be anchor, and which would be instigator, they answered in turn, Artos would be the Anchor drawing on the well of the Dragonmont to light the pyre, while she would be instigator and perform the ritual of awakening. The elder magi smiled before pulling open his own robes and giving Daenerys a very large artistically smithied dragonsteel dagger.
The ritual began and Daenerys Targaryen, first Targaryen born on Essos in over seven centuries plunged the dagger into the magi's heart, drawing out the magical powers that had sustained the old man for over a hundred and sixty years as her new Lord Husband met the power with the fury of the Dragonmont itself causing the hot blood covering the eggs and pyre to ignite into purple flames that swiftly turn first blood red then into normal flame.
The flames caressed the eggs causing each one to burn with flame coloured like the shells themselves, before leaping up and latching onto them, burning their robes away and as the flames consumed the old mage, the now white flames shifted relentlessly across their skin burning the hair from their bodies and heads. Then they cracked, one by one first the silver and gold shell then the black and green ones, and for the first time in a century and a half the cries of dragon hatchlings were heard.
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Aegon's Garden was filled with screeches as the six dragons hunted for pieces of chicken hidden throughout the gardens, Daenerys and Artos sat together watching their new companions, "Fire and Blood..and so we have one step done" she murmured twirling the ritual dagger in her fingers. Artos smiled lightly, looking down at a wrapped parcel in his lap before starting to unwrap it "With the Dragonmont active once more, we'll need about a year to get them to a rideable size, they won't be of any use at the wall for another three even so. But I rather do doubt Baratheon or Lannister will allow us those three years. There might need to be some changes." Letting the wrappings fall off he picked up the stylised dragoncirclet, it was old, having belonged to the first Rhaenys Targaryen, some three hundred years ago then he picked up the second piece, a broad band of dark valyrian steel set with large square cut rubies, The Conqueror's Crown, last worn by Daeron I during his conquest of Dorne. Merely having it was tantamount to high treason. Daenerys picked it up and slid herself into sitting across Artos' lap before calmly setting the crown upon his brow, drawing her hands down to his shoulders she kissed him and murmured "...Perfect fit..." then she watched as he picked up the dragoncirclet and felt it settle onto her brow. The soft quirk of his lips was all she needed to see. Taking them both off she rewrapped the package before calling the hatchlings to them and leading the way back to their rooms, that evening was spent in quiet solitude and getting to know their new friends.
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The following days she spent much of her time at the schools in the island giving lessons on Essosi cities and cultures, aswell as giving language tips on the vulgate valyrian used there, aswell as spending long hours answering questions about life in a sellsail fleet. What she enjoyed most of these days however were the hours spent in the creche halls, where the youngest children spent their days while their parents worked, the creche masters required only that each child bring either a packed lunch or that the families provide a small sum to the valkyrie schoolmasters to ensure that each child did indeed receive a midday meal. Young parents who worked each day in the obsidian mines, workshops and merchants factors were surprised indeed to see their new Lady helping out in the creche kitchens in the mornings and likewise leading the afternoon girls classes in knife fighting. Daenerys was very happy to learn some weeks after her wedding and the Dragonrites, when something she had expected, did not arrive.
Eddard III
"Wights! Wights in the Keep!" The words themselves froze the blood in his veins. Quickly drawing Ice he shouted for the Kingsguard "Get the king to safety, without Valyrian steel or obsidian-edged weapons there's no chance for you here" rounding the walls towards the Underwall gates, he saw a nightmare come to life, dozens of wights moving swiftly towards the central keep, pulling his helm off his beltchain he quickly donned it and threw his mind towards Fenrír, calling the wolf to him, he waded into combat.
The beauty of having a Valyrian steel greatsword in this situation was swiftly apparent as the wights undead flesh burned on contact with the dragonsteel, the brothers of the Night's Watch were herding the wights back towards the gate as Fenrír arrived, adding claws and fangs to the fight. The obsidian-edged blades of the brothers didn't work quite as effectively though they were still doing the needed work, turning the wights into burning puddles. Breaking off their assault Ned and Fenrír headed swiftly towards the postern door of the Keep to ensure Roberts safety, just incase any wights had made it past, that's when the frozen body of Mandon Moore hit the ground next to him. Quickly breaking the door down, he moved toward the stairs and took them two at a time until he reached the roof.
Ser Arys Oakheart wielding an obsidian-edged sword taken from one of the dead Black Brothers was keeping Robert safe from the last of the wights, but Robert himself was down and the frozen rents on his armour showed clearly what had happened to him. Striking down the last one from behind, he swiftly sheated the sword and moved to help Arys to get Robert down into the keep and into a bed, to try and warm him up and counteract the effects of the wight strike before they would need to resort to alchemical agents.
At the end of the day, Robert Baratheon clung to life by a thread, Mandon Moore had been burnt to ensure that he would not rise again. And the southern entourage had started to be viewed as useless as they refused to take orders from anyone but the King and the Night's Watch was in no mood to have idle soldiers when there was work to be done.
When Eddard came down to the great hall next morning, he found several of the King's knights disarmed and arrested by the Black Brothers. Taking a deep breath and reciting several prayers to Odin and counting backwards from ten simply for good measure, he asked "What is going on?" and it came out that the King's knights had refused to aid in the clean up after battle, seeing as "A Knight does not do menial tasks" and when pressed had attempted to strike the black brother who had asked it of them, the following confrontation had been short, brutal and had ended with the kings knights who had tried to fight, disarmed and shackled.
So, now he had a King that might not live through the night, and said kings knights being belligerent while the Realm needed every man focused on what was on the other side of the wall. Asking himself quietly, What else could go wrong?
One of the kings messengers ran into the hall coming from the ravens tower, making a beeline straight for Barristan Selmy, "Arthur Dayne has revealed himself! He's Alive and has Sworn himself to the service of Lord Targaryen on Dragonstone!" As Barristan turned towards him with what looked like hundreds of very loud questions on his mind.
Eddard blinked once, thinking, "Right. The Gods and their sense of humour."