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[26, Month I - 288AC, Midday]

Previous Vote Winner:
>Speak with Nararo Aros in private, and Lord Benedar Belmore at the feast

The castle of Strong Song is perhaps one of the more complex pieces of work you’ve ever encountered in your life. As a child your uncle, Ser Cyrol Grallner, had explained the reasoning for the winding and twisting nature of castles. The varying paths and corners that every defender knew by heart yet served only to confuse an attacker. From the courtyard you were to go down the third hallway on the right, take a two lefts, enter a room that had no real purpose, take the passage on the right, but not the one with the rounded door frame the other one, from there twenty paces and take the path on the right towards the Sept, stop four passages before it and take the left door, follow that hallway and three flights of stairs at the end of it and you should find guest rooms, the smell of perfume and rot should be enough for you to figure out which one belonged to your quarry. At this is what the pikeman told you when requested, perhaps he had been having a laugh, much to your disdain. The three women, Lady Sara Fossett, Belissa Belmore, and one who wore vert and argent who you had yet to meet all had listened intently with you, causing your face to screw up further with frustration when the man was done and he gave you a wiry gappy smile. The silver and green Lady had offered to assist you thereafter, giving you cause to take notice of the raven haired woman with skin like pale moonlight, she smiled at you a moment longer than you had pleased giving cause for you to leave off unassisted with a curt but polite decline.

The year’s old memory of Lord Belmore’s primary hold was foggy at best you realize, and you are almost certain you took one too many lefts at some point in there, as you attempt to find your way to the quarters of Lord Nararo Aros, the Pentoshi representative of the Bank of Bays. In truth you hadn’t expected such an offer to come from the strange man, he had seemed more the type to revel in the background and clap with glee as things happened about him. Not unlike the old Earp had been. Certainly his true purpose in Strong Song was not to offer you coin, not with the way Lord Belmore spoke at least. It perplexed you in truth, the reasons for hiding such sizable debts from you, the girl had been- rather was and continued to be your ward. Lady Wylla Earp was held under your banner as both ward and hostage, to give her away to some sellswording man whose name claim was as weak as the thin mustache pasted upon his upper lip tugged at you in a way that annoyed. Lord Belmore was hardly a man to be trifled with however, your bent knee meant loyalty and a silent lip. There was only so much wroth you could inflict upon yourself before Ser Cador Belmore’s words fell upon the deaf ear of his father and your liege. Perhaps it was better to merely remain silent and comply.

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Your face has fixed as a scowl, both of annoyance of idle thought and your potentially being lost in the labyrinth that was the Belmore stronghold. You sniffle, dreading the thought of a cold coming on, and realize the smell of perfumes is particularly strong in this section of the castle, the underlying tinge of rot leading you to believe you hadn't accidentally stumbled upon the Lady’s living quarters. Following the hallway you attempt to ignore the overwhelming smell, having never preferred any particular fragrance yourself upon a woman, your mother hadn’t ever been a woman for it, perhaps her lack of inclination had rubbed off on you. Certainly not on your sister… You would need to write to her soon. Or have Maffew do it, you supposed. Her responses were always short and cold, but perhaps she would care to hear about your brother’s injury. You pause your journey to look out a window and sigh, a bitter thing, a heavy thing. There was still a weight you felt, a responsibility. Though your prayers did not go unanswered you felt, the Seven acted through you there was this feeling of remorse, for your brother’s injury, your father’s declining health and endangerment, for the men under your command who made due with the minimum even in times of rations and war. Had you truly been so blind? Again your mind pushes aside idle thoughts, bending towards purpose once more, the day would not wait for your meandering or wallowing in pity thoughts. You continue, turning a corner and seeing four men guarding a door, each wearing simple garb, a quilted tunic, a shortsword upon their side, a spear in hand, and a bronze cap upon their heads. What you find most striking is their skin, dark like pitch, in stark contrast to your own and perhaps every person you had ever met in this corner of the Vale. One with three points upon his cap turns and approaches you, his voice sang far higher than you had expected of a man his age as he spoke in broken common tongue, “You approach quarters of honorable Lord Nararo Aros, why do you come?”

You clear your throat, squaring off against the man who easily had half a head of height on you, “I am Ser Landon Grallner, the Knight of Whitestone Keep. Lord Nararo Aros should be expecting me, I am to sign a deal with this Bank of Bays.”

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The guard stares at you, his eyes hardly leaving your own, deep brown things they were almost black, what a queer folk this Essosi kept. His face laxes and he clicks his tongue, the other three guards taking their positions and opening the doors to the Pentoshi’s room. The waft of perfume hits you like a stone wall, and you take a moment to bite away the taste before entering. Nararo Aros stands before you, his back towards you as he spoke quickly and with flamboyant flair in what you assumed was his mother tongue to a young scribe that sat beside the bed where he pranced about. Spraying perfumes here and there upon himself, seemingly deciding if he liked it or not before moving on to the next. It takes a moment longer than you had liked for him to notice you, so you clear your throat, crossing your arms behind your back and holding your chin high, something Ser Trevor Trant had taught you once, to loom, to make yourself seem bigger than you were. Lord Nararo stops with a startled ‘oh!’ as he turns to you putting the bottle down carefully before clapping his hands and approaching you with a low bow, one that surprises you at his ableness to perform such without falling over.

“Oh my dear Ser Landon, it is such a pleasure to see you again so soon. My scribe is just finishing with the contract for your loan. I had hoped to send it to you soon but all the better that you are here. I do hope my guards did not give you any trouble, hm? They can be quite protective.”

You turn slightly and see the four men of pitched skin giving you a level gaze before you turn back and shake your head, “No trouble my Lord.”

“Oh good,” he says with delight before snapping his fingers, “Black Rat you may leave us be, I am certain the honorable and good Ser Landon can fend off any dangers I may be under.”

“As you say Lord Nararo,” the man says curtly closing the door behind him.

The Pentoshi goes back to the bottle of perfume again while speaking, “Unsullied make for excellent guards my dear Ser Landon. Loyal, subservient, unquestioning, intimidating…” he trails off before turning to you again, a smile of gold and teeth flashing your way, “What do you think of this perfume Ser Landon?”

He sprays some in your general direction, giving you cause to step back half a step and take perhaps the most awkward sniff of air you ever had in your life. The fat man giggles as you attempt to hold back a cough and straighten, “It is as the others to me my Lord. I cannot offer an opinion on such matters having little knowledge of such things.”

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Nararo fixes his face with mock sadness, “This one is called Gēlenka Sīmontan, a new scent I am rather partial to now. But, oh, that is such a shame Ser Landon, a man should know his fragrances. Particularly those of the house of Orlisis. I am told you make deals with Lady Artura Orlisis, forty-third in line to the Orlisis empire, no? The silver that makes up atomizer is too soon to be made exclusively from your silver. I am sure Lady Artura is very pleased, I am told your mines are rich and plentiful with quality. It puts my mind to rest of worry that your House would be unable to pay back such a loan. I do wonder if you plan to expand such operations with these new funds, hm? And your being here at all… Well I think it bodes well for the Bank of Bays.”

Could only be the words of Maffew Shett, perhaps he had mentioned it to Preston Moore and it reached the Essosi’s ears, you disliked the matters of trade, always a knife ready to find purchase upon your back but had come here with a purpose so humor the man you must, “Yes Lord Nararo. A recent one, with a middleman, House Shett of Gulltown, I have not the skilled men to craft such delicate things,” you say with an awkward pause gesturing towards the bottle, “And, erm, upon the topic my Lord. Respectfully but the affairs of my Household and our finances are a private matter, so long as the coin is paid upon time, I would desire our dealings be as professional as possible. And yes, I would like to review the contract and potentially accept the offer, with a caveat of my own.”

Lord Nararo allows a smile to creep upon his lips once more his eyebrow raised, “Oh but of course my dear Ser Landon. I am a man of my curiosities I will admit, I did not wish to cause offense, you Westerosi are such a prickly lot. But as that is, such wonderful news, come sit with me, sit with me. My scribe will read, I find it such a tiring task to explain the finer print.”

Taking a seat across from Nararo Aros leads the better part of an hour of a young boy quickly reading through the book worth of contract that is your loan from the Bank of Bays. Occasionally he will stop and the Pentoshi will explain something in his own way, taking far longer than you desired to get to the point and then having you sign or initial here or there. It is not until the last page that you finally get to bring up your own caveat and part of the deal.

“We will be expecting payments starting upon the sixth month of this year Ser, please sign her-”

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“Actually my Lord, respectfully. But as you have said Lord Belmore’s deal was raw and unfair. But it did not come without its benefits as you must know. I take it upon recommendation and with knowledge of your typical dealings with Westerosi that you are entirely capable of extending a grace period as it were. You must understand for a House the size as my own we will need some time to begin our operations in full, to generate the first of the payments. We are capable, I am capable...” you draw off looking for the words, Maffew would have known it, but you did not, just hoping to continuing your words to play this game.

Nararo puffs himself up, stroking his forked beard, “Oh my dear Ser Landon I did not take you for a man of commerce or making of such dealings. You seemed so much more the sword of this community, I am regrettably caught. The Bank of Bays does upon occasion offer such things but…”

“Well…” you say interrupting, having found the words in the interim, “Such an gracious offer would perhaps be enough to sway me fully towards accepting this loan. One I am so close to doing so already.”

The Essosi banker licks his lips allowing his eyes to narrow, saying simply, “Two months.”

“Six.”

“Three.”

“Six.”

“Four, no interest, I keep my curiosities to myself, my final offer. Say yes.”

>Please roll 3d6+3 for Persuasion (Bargain).
+3 from getting advice from Maffew

>You may ask Lord Nararo Aros of Pentos three (3) questions, if you desire, as decided upon by the group. Anything from the loan itself, to his dealings with the late Lord Earp, or the Bank of Bays stakes in all of what is going on here with regards to Lord Belmore, the Black Hand Company and Ser Armen Tollett. Anything really.

Totally unrelated but if someone is able to, as my paint-fu isn't good enough, could someone add House Grallner to the pic related map. They are located in the eastern third or quarter of the territory that is marked for House Badics. Just give it a border and a new color to match the rest, would be appreciated.

Also, hello, sorry I took an extended trip to the gas station again. Work.

Rolled 5, 2, 2 + 3 = 12 (3d6 + 3)

>>1880808
I am not really sure whatto ask. So i will let others do that.

Rolled 6, 3, 1 + 3 = 13 (3d6 + 3)

>>1880808

>>1880817
Now for the question:

Would a man so well connected as you advise my steward in how to profitably sell the silver I will gain from the improved mines?

Also, something more general, such as polite conversation about important festivals coming or noble issues would hopefully gain us some more intel about the situation in the Vale right now.

Rolled 6, 2, 4 + 3 = 15 (3d6 + 3)

>>1880808

>>1880810
>>1880817
>>1880839
12, 13, 15

Hey, look at that you hit both DCs. Didn't even need to activate Attractive. Noice.

I'll wait a bit more for people to filter in and ask some questions.

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Is this okay? my paint-fu is acceptable, but transparency escapes me.

>>1880823

I like this line of questioning, we could use him to make contacts in Essos where our silver could go for much higher prices than here. Even the Bank of bays might be interested itself if they mint their own coins.

>>1880850
Acceptable, yes, since that's about what my attempt would look like. But, problem, it's on the wrong side, eastern or the right side of the Badics territory.

>>1880875
right fixing that!

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>>1880875
here we go

>>1880823
Improving my last post

Questions:

>Ask about a potential buyer for our raw and processed silver. If we can link it in the same question, a seller for fine and cheap steel would be great too

>The Waynwood´s daughter. If we are planning to court her right, I suggest we start by acquiring any kind of gossip we can (her favorite color and such) so we can give her small gifts or the like. And best banker seems to be the most appropiate man to help us with that.

>A personal favor. Would the Bank know about the one who kidnapped Wylla? Could the Bank inquire in who exactly that person is like and what resources and allies does he have in store?

Wonder how Landon and the Redward bastard would get along. I can just imagine Landon havign suffer through his company.

>>1880896
Well does anyone have any issues with this line of questioning? They are certainly thorough if nothing else.

>>1880923

It's fine.

>>1880896
This is fine

>>1880923
works for me boss

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Asking a military question here, is the vale literally uninvadable?

>>1881079
Not from the east

>>1881079
No such thing, but it is a bitch to take without outside help.

>>1881083
Or dragons

Hi daddy <3
Glad you're back!

>>1881083
Inside*

Ser Landon Grallner’s Persuasion I
DC: 12
Rolls: 12,13,15
>Success, one degree

Ser Landon Grallner’s Persuasion II
DC: 15
Rolls: 12,13,15
>Success, one degree

Lips stay silent, unflinching, unmoving as the Pentoshi stares at you, his lips twist from a pleasant smile to a fading grin into a facade of disappointment. Your eyes hardly remove from his own gaze before he breaks and leans back into his chair, the poor thing creaking and groaning from the shifting weight. He waves his hand to the scribe who picks a new piece of parchment from a folder and begins to scribble down what you assume are words.

“Fine then, six. But I keep my curiosities my dear Ser Landon,” he sighs, fanning his reddening face with a feather handfan before continuing, “You are a hard man Ser Landon. Many Lords try to bargain with the Bank of Bays. They find I am accommodating, but the bank, she always wins, hm?”

“As you say my Lord.”

Nararo Aros giggles, plucking the paper from the scribes hands and placing it before you, “Sign here. And there. A final inital here. And the six thousand dragons are yours.”

You take the quill with an unsteady hand, even your name hardly flowed with easy from your unpracticed hand. An agonizing moment later and you are finished, the Pentoshi clapping his hands together gleefully the smile of gold and teeth beaming brightly towards you.

“Oh my dear Ser Landon, you have made me a very happy man today. Happier for having made us both richer as well, yes yes,” Nararo says stacking the papers together and handing them to the scribe, the lad stands, and takes them across the room where he begins to bind them into a soft leather cover.

“When will my coin arrive?”

“Mmm… The beginning of the third month of this year I would think. I will need to send word to Pentos, they will need to file the correct forms, collect the funds, and send them with an armed guard to your home of Whitestone Keep, hm?”

You nod slightly, your fingers tap nervously upon the table, waiting for the boy to be done and you may be on your way, you almost wished a bath after the extended stay in this room, or perhaps to train in the yard until the smell of sweat and musk filled your nose rather than perfume. The man unnerved you the way he jitter, his feminine way of speak and manner, the way his eyes laid upon you far longer than you desired.

“Ser Landon, my curiosity peaks once more,” Nararo says suddenly, “A question while we wait?”

You sigh, wishing to not participate but… Well Maffew would, he would glean something from the exchange you thought, he was clever like that, “An answer for an answer?” you offer in response.

The fat banker perks up at your response, leaning forward and causing the table to tilt towards him, his goblet of wine threatening to tip over before he scoops it up to drink, “Oh I do so love this game Ser Landon, I did not think you of it. Yes, an answer for an answer. So…” he puffs himself up again, “Is there a Lady Grallner?”

You cough and look to the side, “No. There is not. Nor has there ever been. I am a man yet married.”

“Oh such a shame my dear Ser Landon,” he responds licking his lips, a shock of goosepimples rising upon the back of your neck.

“There are suitors, or possible brides,” you say unsure of the words, “One is a Lady Alyssa Waynwood. She does not know of me, or so I assume. But I am one of those invited to the Tourney in honor of her coming into her womanhood, the prize being her hand in marriage,” you pause looking for the words proper, “My Lord have you ever… Dealt with the Waynwoods? Perhaps know a thing of them… Of her? I am told I must court if I wish a true chance in this thing, but… Erm…”

“Oh you dear thing how adorable you are,” Nararo says with a giggle, causing your face to sour in response, “I am afraid I do not know the girl for but her name, I am sorry to say. I have heard of this Tourney, my days in your Vale have grown long. I have heard rumor of the girl, but the House of Waynwood does not deal with Essosi or bankers such as myself.”

“Rumors?”

Nararo sighs and rolls his eyes to the side, “A Knight once told me she is a pretty young thing, elegant in her manner and pleasant to look upon, though I would not be the man to offer such perspective.. A girl with flowers in her hair, bright greens and sable about her body, as she would dance and laugh they would flow after her, hm... A Lord told me she enjoyed song, a singer passing through told him that she had spent a fair number of coins upon him, and, forgive me, her maidenhead after he wrote a song for her,” he whispers the last bit, “But I place no value in such boasting, they sound like a Braavo. A Lady of this House told me she was a woman of your Faith of Seven, but I am told all of the House of Waynwood take your Faith... seriously? As it were. Much more, I cannot say, for I do not know the girl or this Lady Anya Waynwood very well.”

Not much more than you already knew, but it was a start you take, perhaps more could be gleaned from those attending the Melee in Krayenport next month. Your face is frowning as the Pentoshi draws your attention back to him, “Another? How did you become sworn to the good Lord Belmore? I must admit the matters of Houses and Westerosi law are a confusing beast for me.”

“The Rebellion,” you state simply, “I was once sworn to another man. I took his life when ordered to rebel against his liegelord. I traveled here, swore my sword to Lord Belmore and was given land and title at the end of it all.”

“I do not think such a story is so easily summarized my dear Ser Landon.”

“It is for me,” you respond, pushing other thoughts to the back of your mind, “I trade with Lord Belmore, for food and his patronage. My silver…”

“Is incredibly valuable,” Nararo interrupts when you give him a half confused look he elaborates, “Ser Landon, silver is a rare commodity in your Vale. The Westerlands are rife with it, but this far east in Westeros, let alone in Essos where it is near impossible to find. A vein of silver is a rare thing Ser Landon. Iron, sometimes gold, all common, but your silver… Do you trade with others?”

You clear your throat, “I give tithe to the Faith, the small trade with House Shett and…”

“Oh that is all? Oh Gods above you are such an innocent thing,” Nararo says with a fake look of pity, “Your next question, it should be who I know. Who I can get you in contact with. How you can make coin. Your banker knows many men and women of trade.”

You shift uncomfortably, and clear your throat, your mind felt slow, like cold honey, you wish to speak of your own words but find yourself merely repeating, “Do you perhaps know anyone in need of silver my Lord? Or those that would trade such a commodity? What of steel or iron?”

Nararo scoffs at the last mention, “Steel and iron are not my domain, I understand your Iron Lord to the north deals in such things. He does not deal with us however, no matter how many times we attempt to hire his Grey Company. It is a shame, but the Black Hand Company does the job just as well,” he picks up a ledger to his side and flips through it, licking his thumb with each page, “I do however, know a few men and women that make trade of silver and precious metals. Essosi love their jewelry. Here,” he scribbles down a handful of names and what you are assume are their locations, “Two Pentoshi and a Braaovsi, three powerful Merchant Princes of Essos who would be quite pleased to deal in silver so close to home. I would recommend investing in a merchant fleet however, to cut down on costs, hm? Have your steward or maester or what have you send letters to these men, I am certain they will deal with one such as yourself.”

You feign a look at the names, feeling a strange sense of unease about it before nodding your head and placing it within your breast pocket, perhaps Maffew would be able to make better sense of it all.

The Pentoshi banker taps his chin as you readjust your clothing and look upon him again, he smiles and starts, “A final question my dear Ser Landon. One of a personal nature, I confess, I could not help myself. Have you ever taken a lover?”

Your face reddens and you can feel a heat upon your temple, you look at the table, your hand clutching the side so hard your knuckles turnt white. She was here you imagined, or had been here recently, you felt the heat upon the back of your neck as you walked about the grounds through the twisting halls and stairways of the castle, she was following, in her own way. Your eyes have averted to a burl upon the wood of the table and you answer shortly, “I have.”

The fat man squeals with pleasure clapping his hands together, “Oh I had imagined. Such a handsome man as yourself. It is a wonder you are not beating them off with that sword of yours. I wonder…” he trails off and you feel uncomfortable for another moment your mind hoping to come up with a question before he can continue and you could put an end to this game.

“Erm… My Lord do you perhaps know anything of House Back of Crow’s Barrens? Her Lord, there Household, incomes, anything? I fear I know little of my wards abductors and seeing as this is a matter that interests the Bank of Bays..?”

“Well, in so far as we wish the debt owed by young Lady Wylla Earp to be paid. Yes... I would suggest your liege before myself in these matters my dear Ser Landon. This House of Back is unknown to me, upon a map I would not be able to point to this ‘Crow’s Barrens’, by the Gods you Westerosi have a morbid penchant for naming castles. I know they deal with a Myrman, a Magister, or so called one, Tychano Osten as I recall. Powerful, rich, influential. I understand he has a deal with the Golden Company as well, his House helps to bankroll them. If this House of Back is dealing with him in full, it is very likely that they have some means no matter the size. Beyond that I fear I know very little beyond the scant word from your Lord Belmore and Ser Armen. I am sorry I could not help more.”

Your face turns to a frowns, wonderful more foreign interlopers in the politics of Westeros. You had little desire to deal with such things to begin with, that was Lord Belmore’s domain far beyond your own. But to know that House Back could be bringing in foreign coin to fuel their madness only brought a feeling of discomfort to your gut. The boy finally returns, placing the fresh tome before you and bowing before turning on his heel and walking off. Lord Nararo looks put out by its presence though you find relief in it, quickly scooping it up and taking it under arm as you stand, “My Lord Nararo Aros, it has been a pleasure to do business with you,” you hear Maffew’s words speak from your own lips, “I must beg your leave as the day grows long and I am expected elsewhere. My duties to my liegelord are still yet unfinished.”

He inclines his head and smiles that toothy golden thing, “Oh the pleasure has been all mine, I assure you. But please, do not allow me to hold you from your duties. I do hope to see you again in the future my dear Ser Landon.”

And with that and a nod you are off, quick to find the nearest window so you could take in the fresh cold air and clear your lungs and nose of the fragrances of the Pentoshi banker’s room. You cough and spit, watching as it falls into the fog beneath Strong Song’s sheerer side. You were expected at the grand hall within a hour you suspected by the placement of the sun in the sky. Better earlier than late you think privately, deciding a bath or training are out of the question for now. You would simply need to deal with the smell for now. You attempt to retrace your steps from the guest quarters to the grand hall but find yourself lost at least twice before finding a pikeman, in all his ridiculousness, that is able to give you useful and concise directions this time. Upon entering your name is announced, new title and all the sound of bells leaving a ringing in your ears as you look about the feast hall. The sound of chatter is overwhelming, the crowded room already filled with life for the night, though upon glance towards the high seat Lord Benedar Belmore is nowhere to be seen, giving you a moment to speak with others if you so desired.

Whom to speak to? (You may only pick one and this will be the only group you speak with before Lord Belmore’s arrival.)
>Ser Marwyn Belmore is with a host of Belmore swornswords, Knights, and Captains. You see Ser Bradic Belmore, a man with twin foxes upon his doublet, and a man you believe to be a petty Lord. It would be good to speak with the military of House Belmore to clear your mind.
>Ser Ultred Galton, Ser Armen Tollett and the group Black Hand Company of sellswords it would appear have decided to stay for the night’s feast. You cared little for their Company but recognized the Reachman’s insignia almost immediately, House Galton had been home to the last Champion of the Faith, near century and half ago during the Dance of the Dragons
>Lord Penthar Hersy, your distance neighbor the the northeast and a man you are surprised to find here, he is standing with Ser Bryen Belmore and Lady Sara Fossett, a man that looks to be the latter’s younger standing next to them unspeaking. He is wearing a heavy grimace but seems nervous all the same.
>Speak with no one, taking your place upon the high table and waiting for Lord Benedar to arrive

Bank of Bays Loan
>Gain 30 Wealth in Month III, 288AC.
>Six month grace period, first payment due Month X, 288AC
>Payments are 1 Wealth per House Fortunes for the next ~10 years.

Oh, and before I forget:

>3 EXP gained (Successful Bargaining)
>3 Faith Points earned (Attending a major Sept for *first time)

>>1881202
>Lord Penthar Hersy, your distance neighbor the the northeast and a man you are surprised to find here, he is standing with Ser Bryen Belmore and Lady Sara Fossett, a man that looks to be the latter’s younger standing next to them unspeaking. He is wearing a heavy grimace but seems nervous all the same.

>>1881202
>Lord Penthar Hersy, your distance neighbor the the northeast and a man you are surprised to find here, he is standing with Ser Bryen Belmore and Lady Sara Fossett, a man that looks to be the latter’s younger standing next to them unspeaking. He is wearing a heavy grimace but seems nervous all the same.

>>1881202
>Ser Ultred Galton, Ser Armen Tollett and the group Black Hand Company of sellswords it would appear have decided to stay for the night’s feast. You cared little for their Company but recognized the Reachman’s insignia almost immediately, House Galton had been home to the last Champion of the Faith, near century and half ago during the Dance of the Dragons

>>1881202
>>Lord Penthar Hersy, your distance neighbor the the northeast and a man you are surprised to find here, he is standing with Ser Bryen Belmore and Lady Sara Fossett, a man that looks to be the latter’s younger standing next to them unspeaking. He is wearing a heavy grimace but seems nervous all the same.

>>1881202
>Ser Ultred Galton, Ser Armen Tollett and the group Black Hand Company of sellswords it would appear have decided to stay for the night’s feast. You cared little for their Company but recognized the Reachman’s insignia almost immediately, House Galton had been home to the last Champion of the Faith, near century and half ago during the Dance of the Dragons

>>1881202
>>Lord Penthar Hersy, your distance neighbor the the northeast and a man you are surprised to find here, he is standing with Ser Bryen Belmore and Lady Sara Fossett, a man that looks to be the latter’s younger standing next to them unspeaking. He is wearing a heavy grimace but seems nervous all the same.

Speaking to Lord Penthar it is then.

We should get a cloak.

>>1881297
We did though.

>>1881307
We should get a second cloak.

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Lord Penthar Hersy was not a man with a particularly positive reputation about the Vale, or so you had been made aware at least by Ser Trevor Trant the last time you had suggested looking for food trade. The man was a paranoid recluse, hardly leaving his castle of the same name. Trevor had told you the man dithered with indecision during the near entirety of the Rebellion, so long in fact that his soldiers never participated in a single battle, even those minor skirmishes about the Vale during the call to arms. It was because of this you found his appearance so surprising, the pink and argent of his clothing was rather striking even among the overbearing colors of House Belmore, and was the only reason you even knew who he was.

As you approach the younger man scowls up at you, he couldn’t be more than a boy you realize, his face pock marked and red all over. Lady Sara pinches his arm and he yelps rubbing at it and looking bitterly to the side. Ser Bryen gives you a half look nodding his head before returning to regard Lord Penthar, “My Lord I assure you, that Ser Landon Grallner is doing everything within his power to deal with these Moon Swallows. My own son’s life was taken by the heathenous bastards, I assure you I share in your pain.”

The man hardly regards you, his jittery manner and look unnerves you as he maintains eye contact with the floor rather than with your sworn sword, “Ser Bryen your assurances are but wind. My daughter is dead, my son-in-law is dead, four of my grandsons dead, the only two Fossetts left are standing among us and Fossett Hall is occupied by Moon Swallows. This plague originated upon Ser Grallner’s lands, his inaction has lead to only death and destruction, Lord Belmore shall hear of this and he will act accordingly.”

Your face fixes with a perplexed look, “My Lord I am sorry but you catch me at a disadvantage, I was unaware that Fossett Hall had been taken.”

The younger boy snorts, “Because your damn head be up your own arsehole.”

“Soren!” Sara Fossett admonishes, “You will not speak to Ser Landon that way, apologize.”

The boy gives you a spiteful look, “No.”

Sara sighs and looks at you, “Ser Landon, I apologize for my brother’s behavior. I am sure you can understand the death of our brothers has been hard upon him. He escaped with his life but only barely before the Moon Swallows took our father’s Hall. The attack was sudden and their forces were overwelming… There wasn’t anything that could have been done.”

“That isn’t what Ser Steffon Stonesifer said,” Bryen remarks, his eyes locked upon Lord Penthar whose own haven’t left the floor, “He spoke of your inactions my Lord. Your dallying in Hersy while an army descended upon them.”

Lord Penthar looks up suddenly, his eyes attempt to find someone to stare at before scattering again in various directions as he speaks, “I… I did no such thing!”

File: HouseFossettCoA.png (38 KB, 627x727)

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Lady Sara looks to the side, the younger Soren is quiet and Bryen leans in close to Lord Penthar gaining his full attention with a finger upon his chest, “You are a coward! My son lies dead, and I do not come to beg! I go and fight! And I swear it upon the bloody Seven themselves, my cousin, Lord Benedar will not fight your battles, nor place blame upon his bannerman for your fears. You have come here to waste your words you worm of a man.”

“You… you dare..! Dare to speak to me-”

“Oh I do dare!” Bryen’s voice rises again and you see him sway, Sara grabs his hand and pulls him back. You place a hand upon his shoulder and he looks at you, eyes falling to the ground immediately in shame, the smell of drink upon his lips. Looking behind him you see Lady Sara with tears welling in her eyes, their daughters looking on huddled together at a table far away.

“Go and sit,” you say quietly to Bryen, “Sober up. And take prayer for a calmed mind and soul.”

His eyes shoot up and his mouth goes to speak, before stopping from Sara’s hand and pulling him away towards their seats leaving you with the young Soren Fossett and the nervous wreck of a man Lord Penthar Hersy.

“I hope you do not allow all of your sworn men to speak to a Lord in such a manner,” Penthar says with disgust, “Lord Benedar will hear of this,” he finishes stalking off.

Soren Fossett looks up at you again, parsing his words, “Help me fight them.”

“What?”

“Help me. Fight them. Kill them. Throw them from my family’s home burning out the blight. Bryen is right, Lord Belmore will do nothing. Lord Penthar is a coward, it took every bit of my being to even get him to come here, and all for nothing.”

You give him a queer look, not sure of how to respond, “How old are you?”

“Four-and-ten,” he spits back, “Old enough to fight. I’ve killed my first man already I have. I know you’d done the same at a similar age Ser Landon Grallner. Your name still means something in the Vale even if you don’t serve Lord Earp anymore. So help me. My sister doesn’t deserve to live in fear. House Fossett will… Help you in your own battles if you do or… Something! I swear it be the Seven. Just… Help me damn it.”

The boy’s face has gotten more red as he finishes nearly out of breath, his look of spite has hardly changed. You honestly wished Ser Trevor Trant was here now, he would be more able to access your ability to aid the boy, your forces were strained as it were, with the planned assault upon the Dawntower when you returned to the Whitestone. Not to mention you’d be away at Krayenport soon after. And you had little in the way of siege equipment. Your face remains stoic, unfrowning, yet undetermined as well.

>Agree to help Soren Fossett?
>Yay
>Nay
>Something Else?

>You may ask Soren Fossett three (3) questions as decided by the group.

>>1881366
>YAY.
REMOVE MOON SWALLOW.

>>1881366
>Yay

>>1881366
>Ask what resources the house still ahs
>Ask how many moon swallows
>Ask how escape passages in the hall we could use to get into it.

>Assuming the answers are satisfactory, give a tentative yay assuming we believe we can get men ready and maybe some siege weapons. Our house too is in tatters but not as badly, we will need time to martial our strength, as too does his. Assuming we can get ready run in by Lord Benedar as training for our troops.

>>1881366
>Your cause is just, young one, and your words brave, but the seven teach patience as well as bravery. I will help you as I can, but I have a duty to my people as well. We will remove the swallows from your hall, but we will do so when we are at our strongest, so that they may all taste justice.
So basically, yay but wait a bit

>>1881366
>YAY
killing Moon Swallows is our fucking joy and pleasure

what men are left still sworn to fosset?

and what men does Penthar have?

how many of the heathen were there?

we can speak of debts owed when you stand in your land again.

>>1881366
also, if lord benedar is unaccomodating they can stay in whitestone and see for themselves the pains we take to eliminate the moon swallow threat

I had no idea there were this many moon swallows... we need to crush them utterly

>>1881366
>Yay
Killing Moon Swallows its

>How was Fossett Hall taken and by how many men?

>>1881389
>>1881391
>>1881407
>>1881417
Can we ask for time to martial our forces at least? We have other shit we HAVE to do first.

>>1881425
Of course.

Alright so I can combine a couple of these into three questions.

>How many men, resources, etc. left to House Fossett? What does Hersy have/will contribute?
>How many Moon Swallows?
>Tactical information regarding Fossett Hall and the lands?

Sound about right?

>>1881427
aye

>>1881427
Sure

>>1881425
Yeah that's going to have to be part of the deal, Soren is coming to Landon, he'll have to accept that Landon can't just march his men out through the mountains and into a siege on a whim, especially with his own problems.

He's a hotheaded kid though, so yeah.

>>1881425
>Implying we couldn't solo it.

File: getoutofhere.png (267 KB, 600x598)

267 KB PNG

>>1881444
Is this what Soren looks like?

>>1881457
I mean he's 14, but I bet Lord Belmore would love if somebody got him out of Strong Song

>Yay
>How was Fossett Hall taken and by how many men?
> Ask for time to martial our forces

Pinching the bridge of your nose your mind feels yet undecided as your lips speak, “How many took Fossett Hall?”

The boy sighs, frustrated, “Three hundred and some change was my brother’s guess before he died in Hersy. We’ve never seen clansmen so organized before. Fossett Hall has no walls or outer protection and the logs that make up its walls still have green in the wood. We weren’t any match, they killed our guards with bows under cover of night, snuck into the rafters of the hall before unleashing hell and fire upon my family as we slept.”

Again your remaining lost bows show up, at least you imagine they are yours. Even still this doesn’t sound like clansmen tactics you think privately, they weren’t organized like that ever. In truth, upon the thought, the battles and tactics used by the clansmen didn’t seem even remotely like them. Actively attacking settlements, the silver mine, making camp upon a questionable border region, in fact the only time that any of their actions felt like clansmen actions were when they had ambushed Marston, but even that felt off now. You knew House Back had to be using them somehow, but this felt… More.

“Does House Fossett have any remaining forces? Resources?”

“I own no coin nor power that does not go to my liege Lord’s coffers, House Fossett might not as well exist for all that I own now. But... Maybe one hundred and fifty still follow me, lead by Ser Warren Stone my only knight, but they’re all green.”

“You’re green Soren,” you state sternly, ignoring the fact he was allowing a bastard to marshal his forces, and the boy’s face turns to spite again as he continues, “What are they?”

“Archers and the Heavy Infantry that was in Hersy during the attack.”

Better than nothing you think, “And House Hersy?”

“Won’t do a damned thing to help,” the boy says with bitter voice, “Lord Penthar only pays my family lip service, when Lord Benedar refuses him he will do no more than hide within his castle again.”

You grimace, this sounded worse and worse as you the conversation continued, “What of House Fossett’s lands, is there any tactical knowledge of Fossett Hall I should know of? Secret entrances, hidden paths, difficulties in terrain?”

“It’s a wooden hall Ser Grallner,” the boy says with gritted teeth, “It sits by a stream in a valley in the same clearing that the lumber was taken from to build the hold. If it isn’t a burnt out husk by now. We are a small House, meager in our holdings, we are not all so lucky to be gifted an ancient castle such as yours Ser Grallner.”

You stand in silence and he crosses his arm, the red on his face hardly leaving from the flustered anger and prolonged frustrations the boy clearly held, you sigh and go to speak though are cut off by his words.

“Will you help or not?” he demands.

“The Seven praises a man’s courage, his wisdom, his desire for justice in their name. But they also teach patience, and its virtues young Soren,” you respond, “I will aid in throw those heathens from your family’s rightful place. But I will need time to marshal my own men, and have matters of my own and a duty to my own people first.”

He purses his lips, very clearly biting his tongue.

“But I will help you Soren, just in time. And we will retake your family’s hall and bring those that slaughtered them to justice, this I swear to you.”

He throws his hands up and looks at you with that same spiteful look Lady Wylla use to give you, “How long?”

“A month at the least.”

He clicks his tongue, “I will bring my men to Whitestone Keep then.”

“That is presumptuous,” you remark.

“Hersy is not worth staying in any longer,” Soren says, “And my men can help your duties go on faster, and repay our debt sooner. I will not wait for this Ser Grallner, they must pay.”

Allow Soren Fossett to bring his forces to Whitestone Keep?
>Yay
>Nay

>>1881554
>Yay

I worry about feeding the lot of them but our men will fight better if they train together.

>>1881554
>Yay

There we can get them drilled properly.

>>1881554
>>Yay

>we can present it as seasoning up and training green men to Lord Benedar, both ours and Soren's.

>>1881554
>Yay

its like free troops, even green as they are.

>>1881554
>Yay

Provided he joins our training with our squire, and attends prayer with us so that the Seven might firm his patience and temper his strength.

>>1881554
>Yay

>>1881598
I concur

>>1881598
This is good.

I'm hopping out of anonymity just to say that this is easily the best of the three Vale-based quests so far. Applause for the Warrior.

>>1881554
If we can feed them, house them, and keep them in good order. We don't need any more problems with stability.

>>1881554
I know we are focusing on Soren but I think we should also see how our brothers are doing.

Shaking your head you feel a moment of potential regret it may not be now, nor later, but it will come you feel. Clearly the boy has no patience, his head is warped by the hells he has had to endure.

“You may come,” you respond after a moment of silence, “I make leave in two days hence. Marshal your men, wherever they may be and have them come to Whitestone Keep, there is room in our barracks for your men.”

The boy hardly reacts but for a nod, “Good. And-”

“And you will attend morning prayer and practice with myself and my squire. You need to temper yourself as the Smith would.”

“I know how to kill,” he protests.

“And that is what I am worried for. That is part of this deal Soren Fossett.”

He takes in a sharp breath through his nose looking to the side as he responds, “Fine Ser Grallner. But the moment it becomes a waste of my time I leave for Hersy.”

The threat felt empty but you nod all the same and the boy walks off without so much as another word. His manner concerned you, it was as Liam and Lincoln had been in their youth, except more inclined towards violence and a complete lack of regard for his own life. Your mind is hardly allowed the thought however as the bells begin to bellow and ring throughout the hall, you flinch though cast a look towards the high table to see Lord Benedar Belmore entering on over exaggerated swaggered step. While others stand for the man, some kneel, and you find yourself alone near the center of the room as he takes his place and gestures for you to join his side.

The eyes upon you burned, you hated being the center of attention in social situations, the battlefield was a different manner but here without your armour, your sword, your shield. You felt naked as they regarded you with all manner of thoughts and judgments. Dog, butcher, treasonous bastard, honor worth shite… is all you felt through smiling faces and regarding manner. Taking your place next to Lord Benedar you feel a sort of calm, imposed by swallowing the thoughts and taking a thankful seat next to your liegelord as the hall resumes its chatter and revelry.

“You smell like perfume,” Benedar says the moment he settles into his overly large chair, “I take it you went for the bigger purse then Ser Grallner?”

“Respectfully my Lord,” you say, almost apologizing before catching yourself, “My steward advised me to make such decisions, and the coin will go to good cause.”

He snorts, “Such as?”

“Military, improvements to my mining, a maester. For starts,” you respond with a hopeful tone.

“Hrm. Good,” Belmore responds before snapping his fingers and allowing the feast to begin, the first course, a thick soup of sweet potato and red lentils. Dried apricots garnish the bisque and a certain heat you are unable to place rushes through your nose the moment you smell it, hardly standard Vale fare but it warms you all the same. Lord Belmore is quick to take to it, tearing a piece of bread and sopping up the soup in larger bites compared to your modest paced taking of the meal. He pauses a moment, regarding you slightly, “We have matters to discuss Ser Grallner.”

You swallow your spoonful of soup with a degree of difficulty, and turn to him, “Yes my Lord?”

“First,” he pauses to chew his food a moment before continuing, “Tomorrow you shall attend the squire’s melee, held in your honor.”

“Of course my Lord, you honor me.”

“You will honor the winner,” he says pointedly, “A Knighthood from the Knight of Whitestone Keep is all the boys can talk about. No doubt it was Cador’s words,” he grunts and continues his meal, “Your appearance will help to solidify the public’s image of our relationship, you are my greatest warrior Ser Grallner, no man holds a candle to your skill. I need the rest of my Household and those sworn to me to remember that you are upon our side.”

The phrasing of that disconcerted you, why wouldn’t you be? Did your vow mean so little that a show needed to be put on for the masses to see just so they would believe? How incredibly absurd.

“I will take your silence as a yes,” Benedar says suddenly, sitting back and scratching at the gray upon his temples, “Other matters Ser Grallner, I find them all equally important. Matters of trade between our Houses, of marriage, and of war. We have several courses before us Ser Grallner, I am certain we will find time to speak of them all.”

>What would you like to speak of first?
>Matters of Trade
>Matters of Marriage
>Matters of War

>>1881626
Wow is that a compliment. Thank you so much. I'll be honest I took a lot of inspiration from House Harrock, one of my very first quests I followed, especially for Benedar Belmore and how the political landscape of the Vale has shifted because of the rivalry between the two Houses. You wouldn't believe the notes I have from your quest.

I know you've been away from it for awhile but would love to chat with you sometime if you ever desired. There are a few things I'm undecided about regarding the Harrock canon here and would like to hear your input. DM me on twitter if you'd like.

Anyway, thank you so much. Glad you're enjoying.

>>1881703
>Matters of Trade

>>1881703
>>Matters of War

>>1881703
>>Matters of War
THIS is our wheel house. If we can get Maffew's ass over here for the others.

>>1881703
>>Matters of War

>>1881703
>Matters of War

>>1881703
>>Matters of War

>>1881703
>Matters of Trade
I think ending with war is appropriate, start unsure move to our weakest spot, then finish with our strength

>>1881703
>Matters of War

"I am planning to help the young Fossett take his family’s hall back. I hope my Lord approves."

>>1881703
>squire's melee

our lord takes huge fucking liberties with us. "your ward is my bargaining chip, i didn't tell you because you didn't need to know". now its, "oh your knighting some faggot, hope hes not a stain on your honor in the future."

Add in the fact that a blind idiot can see hes getting richer selling us table scraps and its no wonder people expect us to throat punch him. Hell I want to throat punch him.

>>1881846
If the winner of the melee is an entitled faggot than I vote we don't knight the cunt.

>>1881846
You can see that anon, I can see that, but the question is can Landon see it?

I think we've been making headway towards his realization that he's being taken advantage of, I'm just curious if we will ever see a watershed event where Landon has to make another tough decision between blind obedience and dedication to his lands and people.

>>1881862

How much drama do we want?

The second course is beginning to be served as you decide upon what to speak of, you had been thankfully given a moment’s time as retainers, Knights, and others came before Lord Belmore to offer words or vows to his service, all met with easy dismissal or disinterest. One had been gutsy enough to petition Lord Belmore for the hand of his elder sister, Lady Sylvia Belmore, a widower since the death of Ser Ronnel Arryn, her husband, and their son Ser Elbert Arryn, the former heir of the Eyrie. The Knight, of House Redfort, was met with icy silence, the rest of the hall following shortly after. For a moment you feared he had offended your liege with his words, testing his patience and temper with bravado only brought on by youthful abandon. You had felt a tinge of Emmerst Earp there, your sword hand itched. Though the silence is broken by Lord Belmore’s dismissal of the man and a blunt denial of his request. You had not seen Lady Sylvia since the first time you had visited Strong Song, she was an attractive woman, in stark contrast to her younger brother. A part of you wondered what had happened to her since the Rebellion though kept the thought to yourself for the sake of not risking Lord Belmore’s wroth.

The second course is served as you beginning to speak. A fish pie, flaky buttery crust, thyme and rosemary season the salmon, queen scallops, cod, haddock, and king prawns mixed in a thick broth with shallots, leeks, celery, and carrots. The Lord’s table is given a sizable pie, your piece of a more modest cut than that of Lord Belmore’s but all the same, you did enjoy the slight luxury of it, despite your typical stance upon luxury items and their worth. After allowing Lord Belmore to take a few bites you begin, “Matters of war are my speciality my Lord.”

“As I am very aware,” he chortles, “I do not heap needless praise upon you Ser Grallner. Now, tell me of your battles with these clansmen.”

You go on to explain in finer detail than you had previously the guerilla war that you had been forced to wage against the Moon Swallows. Their absolute madness, their ruthlessness, their unseemly tactics for men of the Mountains. You told him of the Skirmish of the Silver Men, exalting Cador’s leadership and mind for battle there which does seem to please him somewhat. The Battle of the Borderlands, being sure to mention you had contacted Lord Lynderly properly before, which was a surprising note to Lord Belmore it seemed. You of course recount the Betrayal of Whitestone Keep, minding the details for Lord Belmore as his interest spiked in how the girl and Jeyne Stone could have inspired such rebellion. How you have rebuilt since then, garrisoning the Keep properly and bringing Ser Steffon Stonesifer on. Then you tell him of your plans upon your return to Whitestone Keep, how Ser Asher Harp is currently scouting the lands about the Dawntower Ruins and you would be assaulting in mere days after your return assuming all is well.

“And what do you plan to do with the Dawntower?” he asks.

“I have not thought of it yet,” you admit, “If the foundations are solid, if the tower remains in usable form I will garrison it, rebuild. But that is all the further I have gotten.”

Lord Belmore chews his pie thoroughly as he mulls over the thought, “A tower can only garrison a single company,” he states plainly, “And you are but a Knight, unable to land men to your banner. I would suggest an artillery tower. Do not waste your time with the building of a settlement about the tower and throw everything into your military might Ser Grallner. Twice the companies, twice the defense. You are a man of defense are you not?”

“I am my Lord,” you admit.

“Good,” he says sharply, “Then see it is done. I want that tower operationally occupied by years end as we spoke of earlier.”

You nod your head, not caring to explain your secondary thought of giving the tower to the Faith, allowing them to construct an abbey there. A decidedly good idea considering the overly militaristically focused Belmore at the moment.

“A new development as well,” you say between a bite having the thought to continue this line of dialogue, “Have you been made aware of the Fossett’s troubles?”

He grumbles into his wine before speaking, “Lord Hersy will not leave me alone about it. I had hoped ignoring his letters would be sufficient. The man never leaves his castle, and yet here I find the bloody paranoid fool. How many times I have suffered through his childish tirades. I care very little for the demise of House Fossett. What I do care for however is their lands.”

“Lands?”

“Of course Ser Grallner, those that border your own you are aware, the forests there are invaluable, a cut away of the snakewood, timber ripe for harvesting. A shame a son yet lives.”

“I intend to help that son retake his lands,” you say shortly.

Belmore snorts and gives you a wild look, “And why would you agree to such things?”

“It is the honorable thing to do my Lord? Is it not my duty as a Knight to protect the weak and help those less fortunate? The Moon Swallows are a blight upon these lands, they should be eradicated.”

“Then allow the fool boy his fool's errand, and when he is dead allow his sister to make her claim.”

Your mind feels slow while you process what your liege just said, “Her claim?”

“She would be the final heir of her father, Ser Grallner I am sure you understand that much. Ser Bryen will champion her claim, she will regain Fossett Hall, Ser Bryen will become the Knight-Protector and swear himself to me, rather than House Hersy, and the cadet branch of House Belmore of Fossett Hall will be born. Truly Ser Grallner I wish you would not be so hasty in your trusting of men that are not your liegelord the Fossetts intend to use you, the Hersys are using you. You do not wish to become their dog as well, hm?”

Dog, traitor, butcher…

“...no my Lord, I do not.”

“Good, then let the boy die.”

You attempt to keep your stoic facade. But the slow turn of your thoughts cause you to break a moment. Lord Belmore looks at you rolling his eyes before speaking again.

“Men die Ser Grallner. Hotheaded ill spoken youth, dies Ser Grallner. I am not ordering you to kill him yourself, just to let him run his fool’s errand and end himself.”

“And if he lives?”

“He will not live.”

Again you resume silence, the words of Lord Belmore coming as absolute. It was rare he spoke so candidly with you, often it was scraps of information not enough for you to process or turn to proper thought. His plans regarding Ser Armen Tollett still alluded you partially. Why all the secrecy, military build up, or sellsword company now under his employ was now coming to light baffled you.

“Now matters of my own,” Lord Belmore says finishing his plate, and obviously considering a second helping, “You do understand your oath of fealty, yes?”

“Yes my Lord.”

“Good, then you will understand why I will find it necessary to call you to arms within the next year. I find myself in a border dispute to the south, the build up of Harrock men at the newly reconstructed Bleakfaith Tower disconcerts me. Particularly given that the Tower rightfully belongs to House Belmore, my father’s father did not war with these turncloaks for nothing. I fear Ser Harrock has gotten it in his head he is far larger than he actually is again. My scouts tell me of Egen banners as well. I do not wish another battle where I am on the off foot Ser Grallner. We will cut them off at the pass, literally and figuratively. And you will lead my forces there, perhaps the appearance of Knight-Commander Ser Landon Grallner will be enough threat to disperse them.”

You sit back, that was a tremendous honor in truth, “My Lord you honor me. But why not your son, Cador? Or Ser Branson?”

“They will each have their own assignments Ser Grallner I assure you. So, will you accept command, Ser Grallner?”

Sometime within the year Lord Benedar Belmore will call you to arms, to lead both you forces and his against his sworn enemy, Lord Harrock, he has offered you command of these men, of his army. A great honor for any Knight, for any Lord even.

Do you accept?
>Yay
>Nay

What would you like to speak of next?
>Matters of Trade
>Matters of Marriage

[Intermission]

I am dying at the amount of hatred Lord Belmore is getting.

So that was a little short session. Just have not had the time to do anything much longer of late because my days are all fucked up. Doing a lot of character writing today between Nararo Aros and Lord Belmore. So that was fun.

Really getting into some of the heavy plot stuff now. Lord Belmore is going to be the catalyst for a lot of Landon's first story arc. The reactions thus far have been interesting.

Plan is to definitely run on Thursday, 21 Sept at 4-5PM EST. I MIGHT, big might, run tomorrow at around the same time. Depends upon when I get home and how much work I need to do.

So yeah, hope you all enjoyed. Sorry, I'm doing that thing where my posts get gigantic and take forever again. But when I'm writing dialogue I always feel like throwing in all that extra stuff, and I enjoy it, so I hope you guys do too.

Also if you haven't noticed, Landon is a lot better at noticing food than Brynden was. I'm not getting into crazy descriptions, but he can pick apart what's going on a lot better. Guess he just has a knack for food.

>>1881902
>>Nay
I am a decent commander my lord, but I am not the best, and you are entitled to more, to better. I could serve as champion far more ably. I truly wish to take up the task, but doing so would be arrogant and I do not wish to fail you.

>>1881902
>Yay
Why would we not accept?

>matters of trade

>>1881902
>Yay
>Matters of Trade

>>1881902
>>Matters of Trade
>>1881912
we are pretty shit commander actually. Warfare 3 command 1b

>>1881902
>>Yay
>Matters of Marriage

>>1881902
>Goal: Fame
>Vice: Ambitious

This is the most obvious Yay ever.

>Matters of Marriage

>>1881902
>>Matters of Trade
>Yay

I'm starting to not trust Lord Belmore. We should be careful around him.

>>1881927
He is our liege lord his word is law

>>1881930
He may be our liege lord but I still don't trust him.

>>1881902
>Yay

Giving us the command to make a statement, "Here is Ser Landon Grallner my general and champion." but to be fair is perfectly within his rights and well within our duty to him as our lord.
Its also telling us that he trust us but wants to get our ass moving outside Whitestone Keep.

Bottom line, the command gives is the chance to show off and serves well within our motivation to fame and glory.

>>1881931
then we mist be so impressive that someone as powerful as belmore wants to fuck him over by taking us from him.

most easily by marrying us into their family and making is a proper lord. landon is becoming more central to benedars plans, as evidenced by him wishing to marry us to his cousin.

he would never do that were we not useful.

>>1881902
>Yay
and
>Trade
-----------------

I think asking to be included in the spoils is only fair if he wants us at our best, an aspiring noble can never have too much land. I agree that Belmore is an ambitious man, and is most assuredly taking advantage of Landon, if the trade deal is any indication.

I personally don't think that he's planning on just throwing us away, I think that we rarely factor into his concern. He's just a particularly greedy lord, he's a glutton for food and for power.

That said, I think that so long as Landon can keep seeing the lack of true care or concern, and can keep pursuing his own agenda and bettering his people, we'll be fine.


Thanks Ser Warrior, your quest is always a welcome escape from dull monotony into a saga of adventure and intrigue! See you Thursday.

Ok couple of things

How much you wanna bet the army leading will conflict with the tourney to force us to marry who he wants us too.

Second I have an idea on how to help the kid.
We were given a direct order to kill off the moon swallows ESPECIALY the chieftain. The Moon swallows are not in Fossett lands. Bellmore basically all but told us to help the Fossets out, especially if the chief is there.

Barring that have the kid lead his enemies into our at our borders with a feigned retreat.

>>1881966
>are not in
Now*

>>1881902
>>Nay
>Matters of Trade

>>1881902
>Yay
>Matters of Marriage
Bring up the tourney so we can figure out if the schedules conflict. Can't risk not getting best girl.

So what's the options regarding the Fossett's land? Retaking them for the kid, who'd be enormously in our debt, or retaking them for Belmore who's trying to fuck us over at every turn?

>>1882300
I'm not putting forth any opinions, but having the favour of your liegelord is nothing to scoff at. Plus the kid by the sounds of it has even less than we have, although I could be wrong on that front.

I don't believe that Landon or the anons that vote would abandon the kid but it's worth noting that in the handful of times you spoken to Belmore, he's done what advances his houses interests, even if it means railing Landon in a trade. Doesn't seem like his main goal is to fuck his strongest warrior over.

>>1881902
>Yay
>Matters of Trade

Damn he though he's being a right ruthless prick about things though.

Also damn letting the boy die he's seen most of his family die and Belmore wants to kill him?

Fuck that and fuck his plans with the Earp girl

>>1881902
>Yay

>Matters of Marriage

>>1882365
>Men die Ser Grallner. Hotheaded ill spoken youth, dies Ser Grallner. I am not ordering you to kill him yourself, just to let him run his fool’s errand and end himself

He's saying leave him, not kill him and by that extension he won't think he's killing him either. He's more pragmatic than Landon.

So when doesn't Belmore get Earped?

>>1882431
>Belmore get throw out the window like Earp
>Every time Landon visits a lord they make sure to sit as far away from the windows as possible.

>>1881902
>Matters of Trade
>Yay

>>1882300
Well I think that the kid is going to have to die. The problem becomes how do we get something out of this...

Perhaps one of our brothers grows close to the boy's sister - so when he dies, our House now exerts overlordship over those lands.

>>1882418
You forgot

>"And if he lives?”
>“He will not live.”

Pretty clear that Belmore has a contingency so that the boy will die if isn't killed by mountain men

>>1882486
You're inferring that. It's a mostly untrained kid with half the number of troops that attacked and killed his household and now occupies it and will be defending it. Death is practically guaranteed if he went without Landon, I'm not saying he doesn't plan to kill him but I am saying that common sense would put his chances of winning near zero.

>>1882470
Except Belmore will practically force the girl to marry his cousin or what was it. We can only have the boy foolishly lead the charge and hope he survives, so we don't get blamed too hard and still get the allies.

>>1882572
>>1882486
What we can do is try and make the boy "accidentally" survive, quickly let our brother marry his sister, and then even if Belmore still kills the boy it doesn't matter.

Think there is a chance that we will meet our old camp follower?

And what is the odds she got a child that look like Landon

Guys, Sara Fossett and Bryen Belmore are already married. I have no idea how you all missed that.

I am inclined to help the Fossett kid just for the chance to kill Moon swallows and retrieve our weapons before they become an embarrassment. Still, if the Fossett kid wants to lead a charge or do something stupid we should oblige him. I see little profit in this aside of blooding our troops, our weapons and maybe a little boost in our reputation.

>>1882790
there is profit to be made. by helping the Fosset boy we gain an extremely grateful neighbor. A neighbor with access to a large forest full of timber that could be directly useful to us. it could reduce the cost of the port, mine outpost, and a small fleet of ships should we wish to follow the pentoshi bankers advice.

But, Bryen Belmore might be just as amenable, and less hotheaded.

>>1882790
to be honest I see at as a turning point for Landon to develop Belmores mad dog into a honourable just man of the faith

or y'know doesnt develop and remains a mad dog

>>1882812
Letting Bryen Belmore get it might be the better option since we avoid piss Lord Belmore.

>>1882656
Married to our own housemember, they missed it because they're more concerned with letting him die than upholding the Oath we just swore to him.

You guys should be ashamed, we're going to help him damn what out liege lord says.

>>1882900
*our

>>1882790
>>1882812
Odds are the chieftain we have to kill by our lord's decree is in the Fossett lands, and we lacks the numbers to take 300 regulars alone. We need the kid's troops as fodder if naught else.

Additionally given the recent loss of thier son, losing another family member might drive Byren over the edge. Or deeper into his bottle. We don't want that.

>>1882900
>they missed it because they're more concerned with letting him die
I forgot, and I argued for storming the hall together with the boy. Don't try and strawman everyone, fag.

>>1882956
Sure thing cunt.

>>1882940
well, it can go either way. But it is well worth noting that our leige has directly told us not to interfere and to let the boy die.

the boys own leige is a snivelling coward unlikely to assist. so unless we can convince another lord to assist, get the church involved, grow hersey(?) a spine, or Belmore a conscience our only option is defiance of our lords orders.

of course, we can defy our lord as we wish if we continuously insist on trial by combat when he takes umbrage. but i REALLY dont think we are ready for the shitstorm that would create, not yet anyway. Though it would play well as the faithful man dutifully defying his corrupt lord. Blessed by the judgement of the Father and upheld by the might of the warrior. also not sure if you can demand trial by combat from your own lord.

>>1882900
>Oath we just swore to him

No oath was made we just agree to help him.

>>1883025

We can help him take the hall and not anger Belmore by letting the kid get himself kill on his own during the battle, by the hands of a tribesman or whatever Belmore had prepared behind the scenes. Let's play it smart, keep our word by helping take the hall and let him do his thing on the battlefield, we don't have the obligation of babysitting him during that.

This kind of plotting sounds very unLandon-like

>>1883064
Anon, it is true that your plan is the most beneficial and pragmatic.

hell it might even result in the fosset forces joining our own in addition to a beneficial trading partner.

Its also a shit thing to do. if we assault the hall with fosset, then we are honor bound to treat him like any other ally in war. to do less insults the seven and makes us a betrayer.

so assuming we dont want that we need to find a way out of the deal we made, or find a way to fulfill it that makes our lord happy

>>1883064
>Let's play it smart
Isn't that just playing Belmore's dog? That's exactly what he asked us to do.
Let's inform the boy, say he's gotta go in among the first but stay alive, and get us an ally.

>>1883064
I like this. We can pull a modified Uriah plan. Help him, yes, but put him front and center. He can lead his forces to retake his families home. If he lives, he has the blessing of the Seven. If he dies, then he was not meant to live but at least gave his life in noble combat against ungodly and for a worthy cause.

>>1883106
>we are honor bound to treat him like any other ally in war. to do less insults the seven and makes us a betrayer.

Do you really feel like we be honor bound to watch his ass and baby sit him to make sure he isn't kill? I am not saying we shoot him along with the enemy or let him be surrounded while we hold our men back and do nothing. Just let him do his thing during the battle, we are not his sworn sword to keep him safe and sound. We are there to help him kill tribesmen not fight the whole battle for him.

The benevolent choice is to assist Soren and ensure his survival. The Seven would smile on us for preserving a young and noble life.
The honorable choice is to heed our liege and do nothing to assist Soren whatsoever. We have our orders and it is our place to heed them. We should not interfere.
The pragmatic choice is to assist Soren but allow him to die in the heat of battle. We benefit the most from following this course of action, although it is somewhat heartless.

Is Landon kind and benevolent, loyal and honor-bound or manipulative and pragmatic first and foremost?

>>1883162
hes 14. he has no real experience in battle. puting him in the front is like killing him ourselves.

>if he dies then he was not meant to live
bullshit. The seven dont exactly smile on grown men shoving boys barely into manhood ahead of them into battle.

at the very least we would be obligated to fight by his side

>>1883280
in battle? yes. we have the same obligation to him in war we would to any allied officer.

if he insists on being a stupid fuck? no. we aren't obligated to save him from himself, merely the enemy.

>>1883294
Apparently everyone else sees a completely different character than I do, because letting the kid go in and die is completely out of character for Landon as he's been portrayed so far.

All this talk of letting him die just so we can MAYBE not get fucked over by our jackass of a liegelord is just sad.

>>1883310
I'm with you on this, I think Landon would be virulently against letting a hothead kid die just to advance the political gains of his liege. That's dangerously close to Lord Earp's dealings. AND Landon just got done lecturing the kid about honor and patience, and told him to hang out with his squire to learn these things.
No way would a TRVE KNIGHT let a kid go to his death if he could help it. He's not Brynden

>>1883346
Exactly, we're not a pragmatic lord. We've done some pragmatic stuff, like taking the banker's loan, but besmirching our name after we promised the kid we'd help is just so far removed from the Landon we've been shown I can't understand it.

>>1883294
>>1883346
>>1883370
Fourth option.
Help the kid secure the hall and survive, then declare for us or our lord. If hersey is too much of a pussy to fight clansmen I doubt he'd fight us either, and the kid has legal right given he received zero aid from his lord when clearly outmatched.

>>1881902
wow, okay so lets take a break from murder to talk about Exp.

with the battle campaign coming up, the wooing of lady Waynwood, the tourney itself, and not knowing how to read we have a LOT of necessary skills and little time.

Ideally we would be at warfare 4 command 2 for the campaign. I would like Warfare 5 Command 3, but utopia is elusive.

The wooing. I would really like an extra dice in Persuasion to maximize our attractiveness and mitigate one of our biggest weaknesses. learning an instrument might provide a nice bonus.

The Tourney. Raising Fighting to 6 and improving our equipment.

All told thats around 100 Exp. I would be surprised if we recieved half of that.

>>1883422
See this is something I could get behind. I doubt Landon would come up with it himself tho, maybe get Maffew to persuade him because of the Fossett's right as bannermen to have claimed aid, and none was provided?
>>1883428
>learn an instrument
The only instrument Landon cares about is being an instrument of righteous smiting

>>1883428
Fighting five is fine assuming we get decent gear. With BoA and shield mastery Landon is a beast anyways. I mean it's great to have but not mandatory imo.
The rest I do agree on though which is still 70 exp. and we have some already going to be auto spent for reading and writing.


Let's hope winning tourneys and smashing clansmen net tons of exp.


>>1883431
Hell we are getting a maester, if we get one with a law focus? Boom done.

>>1883431
Belmore might even consider this just as good seeing how it humiliates Hersy quite publicly. He could then go around saying he ordered us to help the poor lad out of pity, and isnt it aweful how Hersy cant be roused to protect his own bannermen how aweful!

>>1883439
fighting 5 works fine i suppose, especially if we get the Pious advantage for crunch moments.

aside from that, Persuasion and Warfare are both high priorities. ideally we will earn 60 Exp and get both.

>>1883507
You forget Blood of the Andals let's us reroll one die every fighting roll, and gives us 2D on one fighting roll a day.

Not really worried about Landon in melee if he gets some decent gear.

>>1881899
>>1883422
>“And you are but a Knight, unable to land men to your banner.

Yeah that isn't an option.

I think we're missing the obvious here. Why don't we just marry Soren to one of Bryen's daughters. Then just figure out a reason for Soren to switch his allegiance to Belmore and call it close enough. Benedar still get the lands he wants, not a direct cadet House but it'll be directly under his thumb regardless. No one dies.

>>1883578
Those are his nieces mate, literally his sister's kids. He probably has better prospects

>>1883588
They're pretty much the same age and it's not like it hasn't happened before. Starks did it relatively recently.

And honestly? Probably not. House is falling apart, is new and small to begin with, and he lost his castle to clansmen. Really doubt people at lining up to marry to that.

>>1883578

>>1883588

He wants to seat for Bryen and a cadet branch of house Belmore. A switch in Soren loyalties is good but this is far better.

>>1883578
>us or our lord

Anon...


I mean Fossett could easily use getting no help from his lord as an excuse to nope out from Hersey and use our aid to switch to Bellmore.

No wedding necessary.

>>1883598
I really don't think it's going to happen. He has numerous better prospects, including any merchant who wants to have a title for their grandkids. Even in ASOIAF you only turn towards the serious inbreeding when you're a super ancient house.

Also he's like 14, he doesn't have to worry about marriage for years.

>>1883612
Actually, fourteen's exactly the tipping point in ASOIAF where marriages start occurring.

>>1883628
eh, you're probably right. I'm just used to everyone getting married older because of quests.

I still think marrying his own nieces is, one gross and two incredibly unnecessary

>>1883628
He's still right in that his prospects for marriage are a lot better than his own nieces.

>>1883598
marrying his nieces nets him nothing.

marrying anyone else could at least make him rich enough to rebuild.

we really need an org chart for the Vale houses because this shit gets confusing quick

Why are we even worrying about this ?

The original reason why we agreed to help was to kill Moon Swallows and because we felt partial repsonsible due to our neglect in handling them

>>1883693
Anons are saying "our lord gave us a direct edict so we can't." despite you know, us being ordered to take the swallows down and kill their chief (who is likely leading the 300 strong raiding band)

>>1883651
>>1883630
Not if he's got Belmore making the decisions for him. I agree that it's pretty sick though and not something that should be pursued.

Regarding the idea of declaring dominion over Fossett Hall after liberating it from the Moon Swallows, you guys aren't totally right. While it is true that Hersy did nothing to defend his own territory, it is still legally his. Claiming it in the name of House Belmore or worse, House Grallner, is an illegal action that would give House Hersy and its allies every right to engage in outright war over the land. Not only that but Penthar could probably petition for the aid of Jon Arryn himself, who might wish to punish the greedy land-grabber.

>>1883713
Well we will have a maester soon, I am sure he ahs legal precedent he could use to give Hersey the finger.

>>1883713
>Lord Hersy
>Leaving his castle to anything at all
He's cucked himself in there and he's gonna what, come out and whimper at us? House Fossett is free to change their banners if they can prove their lord is not provide due help, and yeah, I'd say letting ur bannerman's hall get pillaged by moonswallows is not helping

>>1883713
this>>1883734

tbqh, too bad Master Saul the Barrister isn't here, who can we call if not Saul?

>>1883762
Saul's brother, Paul

>>1883734
That's not really the problem. Lord Belmores own maester could make that case easily enough.

The problem is we told a hot headed kid we would help him, not knowing our liege had other plans.

Who the boy marries or doesn't marry is pointless.

Our choice is either to obey our word and take the Hall for Fosset and hope the boy switches allegiance out of gratitude, Or refuse and then clear the hall later anyway after he dies trying to take it.

Remember he is under no obligation to actually change lords once he is restored, and lord Belmore will likely be peeved even if he does unless his allegiance comes with a large sum of gold dragons.

If we were a lord, different story. But we aren't.

>>1883777
Well let's hope Croark is busy leading the Moon clan that took Fossett hall then. Since we have a direct and witnessed order to bring Bellmore his head.

I.E. direct ORDER vs an "order."

>>1883757
Like I said, he can politely inform Jon Arryn that one of his vassals is illegally stealing land from another one of his vassals and accumulating power in the region. Should House Belmore actually look like it might be able to threaten House Arryn's supremacy, Jon will rally the rest of the Vale to utterly crush it. At the very least, getting Soren Fossett to trade one liege lord for another will lead to a political and legal slog. At the very worst, House Belmore and its vassals will be punished severely for a perceived power-grab.

>>1883822
>illegally stealing land
Where's that gonna come in? The land never changes sides, it stays with House Fossett. The only thing moving is House Fossett's allegiance, which Soren himself will be willing to testify as to why that was. Hersy's a chump and Arryn isn't an idiot, he'll know a winning hand when he sees it. House Belmore can easily afford a legal slog, much more than Hersy can.

>>1883846
A vassal doesn't have the right to release themselves from vassalage or change their liege lord. Those actions would require Hersy's consent, which I doubt he would willingly give. So Belmore would be required to explain to Arryn (or his High Steward if Jon doesn't think this is worth returning to the Vale for) why he should allow House Fossett to transfer its vassalage.

>>1883865
Right, and then Soren explains how Hersy sat in his castle and let Fossett Hall get inhabited by Moon Swallows and shows how ineffectual Hersy is to the whole Vale, making him a prime target for other land-hungry lords. Hersy would do better to just let it slide honestly, and with his cowardly disposition that might be his path of least resistance.
That would be a lot more work than Belmore's plan of letting Soren die, it's true, but it's just totally not in-character for Landon to let a kid he decided to help and bring to the way of the Seven just die so that Belmore can get land. Too reminiscent of Lord Earp's machinations, don't you think?

>>1883885
Agreed on that front. Whatever the case, it would be thoroughly out of character for Landon to allow a boy to die just to please his liege lord, especially one he's invested effort into saving so far. All I'm saying is that it's a bit much to hope that Soren would be willing to flip his vassalage from one liege to another and it's even worse to hope for Hersy to just roll over and accept that.

>>1883917
I think, at the most, we can hope to help out our knight's brother in law get his home back. This lets us do something righteous, like kill heathens, and get some lumber out of it.

>>1883757
>>1883713
>>1883734

This legal quagmire is exactly why Belmore prefers to let the boy die and have Bryen take over as protector while his children claim the hall through their mother's claim.

>>1883965
>>1883954
It hasn't come up yet, but Hersy is a very powerful house in the vale. It's lord may be a sniveling coward, but the house is a major one.

We also run the risk of ruining our knights marriage should the Fosset boy die. We should at least speak to Bryen of the matter. And a septon while we are at it.

>>1883794
Even if every moon swallow in the vale were camped inside that Hall Lord Belmore would expect us to send the boy in first, then swoop in and clean up nice he has died.

>>1884020
>Hall Lord Belmore would expect us to send the boy in first, then swoop in and clean up nice he has died.


nice in theory BUT 150 green vs 300 regular (or better) is a squash. and then we'd be 220 vs 300 Maybe 250 and that is a bad match.

Additionally this would certainly fuck up Byren more. Since he likes the kid.

>>1884020
>We also run the risk of ruining our knights marriage should the Fosset boy die

People die at war all the time, we are not responsible for every death of the battlefield. Much less a lord/landed knight with his own forces.

We offer our help taking the hall, protecting and keeping him from harm is his own responsibility or those sworn to him.

If it were our duty to keep him safe make him remain on our keep until his hall is retaken.

>>1884020
I don't think Hersy's too big in the Vale.

I think the big ones would be Royce, Waynwood and Redfort for sure, with Lynderly, Corbray and Belmore as runner-up houses.

>>1884086
Grafton as well.

>>1884093
Oh yeah, Grafton's pretty influential due to having one of the only actual towns in the Vale.

>>1884102
Wont stop them from getting their men stolen.

>>1884068
Ok. Dude Byren and his wife already lost thier son. Byren is borderline self destructing over it and I doubt his wife is doing well either. Losing the cousin who's closer to a son could very well break him.

>>1884120
Actually, such point might sway Belmore in his course.

Does he want a habitual drunkard as a cadet house? Or a grateful (since he clearly ordered Landon to assist) vassal willing to swear to him?

Even informing Bryen of Benedars plans may result in them being changed. Bryen seems more than a little upset with Hersy anyway. I doubt he would stand for profiting so from his younger brother in laws death.

>>1884086
Hersy is one of the major houses sworn to the house of Arryn.

Despite not having appeared. Having them be paranoid cowards is an excellent explanation for that

>>1884154
There's thirty to forty noble houses sworn to serve Hourse Arryn. Hersy's probably somewhere in the lower half of them. Sure, Penthar Hersy is a lord and technically has some power because of it but he's definitely not one of the more important noble houses.

>>1884120

You tell that to Belmore not me.

>>1884177
The wiki lists them as a major house of the vale.

"Notable houses of this region include Baelish, Belmore, Corbray, Egen, Grafton, Hersy, Hunter, Melcolm, Redfort, Royce, Templeton, and Waynwood."

This is in spite of the fact that no member of the house has made an appearance.

Further their house entry says that they are one of the major, or principal, houses under Arryn.

Wherever they may be and whoever their house comprises of, they are not minor. Most especially not when compared to us.

>>1884621
notable=/= major, they may have some history but it doesn't look like they can back that up if they couldn't easily wipe out 300 hill peopl

>>1884641
It's also possible that they have a lot of wealth, influence, and favors. All things easily acquired from the safety of ones Castle.

DESU the lord Hersy we met seemed little threat. And Fosset is fed up with his bullshit regardless if he's moving in with us.

>>1884664
The only Hersy ever mentioned is that Dunk's master served them once. Hell they aren't even part of the lord declarent.

>>1884664
The influence we have no way of gauging, so totally viable there. The wealth and the favors, though... i mean if they were so wealthy they could easily afford a standing force, and if they have a lot of favors they could easily have borrowed someone's army.
I agree that Hersy seems like small potatoes, since he got dragged out of his castle by that Fossett girl, I doubt a strong willed lord would allow such a thing

>>1884695
uh, what fosset girl? The only one is Soren's older sister, Sara. Bryen's wife.

if anything Soren got him to come out

>>1884669
hmm the fan wiki lists them as a minor house located NW of the snake wood and south of cold water burn.

I was wrong it seems to assume them to be of much importance. I just could not for the life of me figure out how they could be notable.

But yeah the fan wiki is much more in keeping with their presentation. We can most likely safely ignore Hersy and they will likely do the same to us.

>>1884781
I was referring to Sara Fossett, yes. I assume she had a hand in getting him out here since Soren is just a petulant 14 year old

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>>1881935
>Its also telling us that he trust us but wants to get our ass moving outside Whitestone Keep.
>Bottom line, the command gives is the chance to show off and serves well within our motivation to fame and glory.
Benedar has a strange way of complimenting his people. But yeah, it should be believed that Benedar is placing a lot of faith in Landon and a lot of responsibility upon his shoulders. It's a power move for certain.

>>1881955
>I think asking to be included in the spoils is only fair if he wants us at our best, an aspiring noble can never have too much land.
Benedar makes sure his people are paid for their actions. Landon will get some spoils for damn sure. Wealth, land grants, power, whatever he wants should he succeed. There are some parcels of land north of the Whitestone Keep that aren't doing anything in particular right now that Benedar holds the rights to, won them after the Rebellion, might be old Earp lands.

>>1881966
>How much you wanna bet the army leading will conflict with the tourney to force us to marry who he wants us too.

Not at all. The Tourney in Ironoaks occurs in the first month of 289AC. Benedar said that he would require Landon's services within the year.

Not that he doesn't want Landon to marry his chosen bride regardless though.

>>1882300
>retaking them for Belmore who's trying to fuck us over at every turn?

What makes you say that? Besides the silver trade, what actions has Benedar taken that are "fucking" Landon?

>>1882940
>Odds are the chieftain we have to kill by our lord's decree is in the Fossett lands, and we lacks the numbers to take 300 regulars alone.

Well that's a big assumption. But Landon's forces did just take on 300 with 220. 1 Veteran Raiders, 1 Green Raiders, 1 Green Archers. It isn't impossible. Just very difficult assuming that they are occupying the hall.

>>1883073
But the moral conflict isn't beyond him. He finds himself in a situation the old Landon wouldn't have gaffed at, just followed his Lord's orders blindly. He is a dutiful, loyal, honorable man, but where does he fall?

>>1883294
This is very good breakdown of the conflict and its possible solutions. There are win-win scenarios here though. Surprised no one has thought it up yet though.

>>1883310
Ehh... It is an option though. He'd hate himself for it and would be terribly conflicted over it and it would hurt him on some level, he might regress back towards the old Landon if he takes that option. The blindfolded warrior.

>MAYBE not get fucked over by our jackass of a liegelord is just sad.
This Belmore hate boner is my favorite thing. He's just being pragmatic really. Some of his actions aren't even that dissimilar from Brynden's.

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>>1883422
>Help the kid secure the hall and survive, then declare for us or our lord
Landon is only a Landed Knight, he can't have others sworn to him. Lord Belmore could accept such, but will he? Heavily implied he doesn't have a taste for him. Don't you think he would have taken more of an interest in the boy's claims and demands should he be interested in retaining him as the primary holder of Fossett Hall? He has the better claim, it might even be easier to help him directly but no, he wants Bryen and Sara. Belmore would need some serious convincing to believe that Soren would be a good bannerman in replacement of his own cousin.

>>1883428
>learning an instrument might provide a nice bonus.
You act as if the splendid tenor of a choirboy isn't an instrument. I'm sure Landon would love to have a singing instructor again, might even be a valuable asset for the Knight of Whitestone Keep, should he feel partial to the arts of his youth again.

Not a bad plan of attack however.

>>1883578
I think it's funny people bashed on this. It's actually a viable option, if a little... Weird. I don't think Landon would think of it though.

>>1883588
... I mean the show did just glorify an aunt and nephew relationship. This isn't some next level weird shit we're working with, I'd say it's common enough in Westeros. I don't have an issue with the idea personally because I'm fine with playing the setting.

>>1883699
Big assumption again. Does Landon play the assuming game? I don't think so, I've said in the past he is a cautious person that likes to plan his warfare meticulously, its why he misses his scouts and is more inclined towards allowing Asher to do whatever he needs to while he's away.

And 300 is not a big number of Moon Swallows, you already took that down in the Battle of the Borderlands, who knows how many are in the Dawntower or scattered about the lands.

>>1884641
What makes you think they can't? House Hersy is more than capable, but in their introduction I made it very clear that Penthar is paranoid as hell, and dicked around so long during the Rebellion his men didn't even fight. That was a year and a half. This has only happened within the last few months. House Hersy is more than capable, people should not underestimate Hersy.

>>1884695
>The wealth and the favors, though... i mean if they were so wealthy they could easily afford a standing force
Just because Landon doesn't know about them doesn't mean they don't exist.

>I agree that Hersy seems like small potatoes, since he got dragged out of his castle by that Fossett girl, I doubt a strong willed lord would allow such a thing
Lord Penthar came of his own accord. He had grown tired of Soren and heard of your campaign against the Moon Swallows. He knows that they orginate from your lands. Penthar is looking for a solution that doesn't involve his men and to receive something in return for Benedar's sworn man not doing anything until the situation had gotten out of control. Or favors.

>>1885643
Hmm, looks like I completely misread his character... I guess Landon is rubbing off on me

>>1885643
>the show
Sorry dad, but opinion discarded. I don't even know which relationship you're talking about. I stopped watching basically after season 5. The show hasn't been good since 3.

And marrying your nieces just isn't something you do, doesn't matter what the time period. It was barely if ever mentioned in the books. It rarely happened in real life, because, surprise surprise there are almost always better prospects. I'm sure you can find a few examples, but they won't be the norm anywhere. Sorry if this is kinda ranty, but the idea is just so weird, and really strikes me as someone just saying "lol incest is everywhere they might as well" without really understanding the source material/actual analogue to our time period.

It's also gross, and I'd imagine the characters would feel that way too.

>>1885741
ALSO, I feel like people use anything in the ASOIAF setting to shut their brains off and just say dumb crap without really thinking about it. Or they try and play every fucking character like Little Finger, and fail miserably at it.

>>1885741
>marrying your nieces just isn't something you do, doesn't matter what the time period
It's explicitly stated that the Targs married in their house, so its absolutely in the books. And it was actually not uncommon among royal families in medieval Europe, which is the basis for Westeros. Sorry to get you squeamish, friend, but dad knows what he's talking about

>>1885643
..... would having the kid draw the swallows to our lands into a trap work?

>>1885785
Name me five examples. In real life, please. And the Targs are the one fucking exception I explicitly didn't mention because they are obviously a fucking exception.

sigh, and if you wiki it you'll find some notable examples. Mostly the Ptolemy-s (who were basically irl targs) and some random nobles no one ever heard of. The main think you'll notice is the huge year gap between them, it's like decades to hundreds of years. It happened but it wasn't common place.

>>1885801
>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avunculate_marriage
>Joanna of Naples and her nephew, King Ferdinand II of Naples (1496)
Ferdinand II of Aragon and his half-grandniece, Germaine of Foix (second wife) (1505)
Philip II of Spain and his niece, Anna of Austria (fourth wife) (1570)
Charles II, Archduke of Austria and his niece, Maria Anna of Bavaria (1571)
Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria, and his niece, Anne Juliana Gonzaga (second wife) (1582)
The list is pretty long and goes for a while. I'll admit its abnormal, but considering the setting, I doubt anyone's going to raise any puritanical complaints

>>1885853
>oh look he used the wiki
>just like I said

sigh, my argument doesn't have to do much with puritanical stuff (besides my own squeamishness) I'm just trying to make you guys, and even the QM, realize it's not common. You can't even name anyone in the books or show who's done it without a wikia, besides the Targs obviously.

I'll stop, thanks for humoring me anon. I hope you and dad have a good night

>>1885865
>Klara Hitler, daughter of Johann Pölzl and Johanna Hiedler and Adolf Hitler's mother. Either her grandfather Johann Nepomuk Hiedler or his brother was likely her husband Alois Hitler's biological father. Moreover, Johann was her future husband's step-uncle. Even after they were married, Klara still called her husband "uncle".

also, what the fuck

>>1885741
>>1885749

It's cool to have your own opinion on things, and the unique perspectives everyone brings to the table here is what makes this style of quests great. We even give inspiration to QM's at times with our unique ideas. That said, if you're going to forward an opinion please at least do some initial research, and do your best to avoid cultural bias.

With a cursory search can tell you that not only is a union between a niece/nephew and uncle/aunt something that has precedent in history, it also has a term, Avunculate marriage. Here's a link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avunculate_marriage. You are correct that it's not as common as say, cousin marriage which is still common, but it is a union that's more common in other cultures outside the "modern" world. To be sure it was a union born of political realities, and I'll agree that there are gaps in time, but to say the only people of note were politically unimportant is untrue. In that link you can see prices and kings, dukes and HRE electors, there are greater gaps in time as we come into modernity, but we're dealing with a medieval time frame in our quest. I would also speculate that the reason we don't have more information before the 1400's is because of a lesser degree of documentation.

The idea that this is beyond the realm of possibility is incorrect, your modern sensibilities might scoff at the idea, but if you're truly trying to play the character it shouldn't be such a stretch. Additionally, if you read the wiki page there is no christian taboo against the marriage, and with a Catholic basis to The Seven, I don't see Landon being outraged by the idea. Again it's alright to have an opinion, but I really think that to have truly meaning full interactions and to plan cooperatively on what Landon should do, we all should take some time to break out of our contemporary mindsets, and be willing to do a bit of research if necessary.

>>1885741
>I don't even know which relationship you're talking about.
Come on. Let's not play this game. Jon and Dany.

Believe me when I say I know the books better than the show. Anyone who has been following me knows how strictly I keep to canon, how much research and effort I put into getting character's voices right. I care about the details. I pay attention.

Look, saying it was 'common enough' on my part was probably overstating it, it doesn't happen a lot, and honestly I don't see why it matters if I use a wiki to find that information or not. Cousin to cousin is far more common and accepted really. The Starks, Tyrells, and Lannisters have all done that within recent generations. That being said the concept is not foreign nor is it outrageous. Would characters likely disagree with it and find it weird/gross? Yes absolutely. Hell, Landon probably would, being that the Faith abhors incest, I believe that generation cap is too small for their definition. But just because of that doesn't mean you can throw the concept out the window entirely, it exists. So does rape and torture and ptsd. These things all suck, are weird, or gross but they exist. I'm not throwing the book out pretending that anything goes just because 'lol incest' I'm basing this on fact. Yes an uncommon one, but one all the same. And I'm certainly not saying every character is going to just be fine with it, Bryen and Sara would both disapprove while Benedar might approve for the sake of pragmatism. It's a mixed bag. The same way all of these things are. Having an opinion on the matter is fine and I'm okay with the argument, I just don't think we should be throwing out fact because I can't recall it at the drop of hat. That's just me.

Besides all of that. Landon wouldn't even think of it. I'd say that's your desperate measures win state and even then, who is really winning?

>>1885799
The Moon Swallows have shown a penchant for holing up in defensive locations and stragetically located areas. Which is odd for clansmen whose wheelhouse are the fucking mountains. So that depends, what are you using as bait that they would want so incredibly badly to follow over leagues?

Side question, what would that serve? Not really following the logic here.

>>1885884
Could we get Soren to renounce his claim/ give it Byren and his wife? Soren probably didn't want to be lord anyways and his sister and husband would do better than he. Also assuming we win, let's him keep going after moonswallows.

>>1885865
While it's true these kind of marriage don't happen often, doesn't mean it's seen as something taboo or terribly bad. When the benefits of such marriage are great, a Noble family wouldn't hesitate to do it. Think of it like arranged child marriages, it's frowned upon in the modern world but in the medieval setting of ASOIAF, it's something that's very common. See the world through the character's eyes anon, not from modern sensibilities.

>>1885871
I did literally none of that and did research prior to any commenting, but sure lecture me.

>>1885884
Sorry dad, I took what you said at face value. I got kinda soap-boxy there, sorry. I just run into people using INCEST IS COMMON LOL without ever thinking about it in the ASOIAF setting. Quite frankly the dude who proposed it triggered me hah...

so yeah, sorry dude.

>the show is hyping up jon zombie and muh dragons

I really detest the show nowadays...

>>1885903
I AM looking at it from their eyes, and it would be gross, just like dad said. My primary argument before I got all rant-y was that it had literally no benefit. Which is the first thing they'd judge it on, because I was taking into account their sensibilities.

>>1885905
>acting like john and dan wasnt where the book was heading

>>1885933
eh I'll eat my words and feelings when it actually happens.

Not until then though, as misguided as it is I like to give the Mountain that Writes more credit.

>>1885933
to be fair to that other anon, I have a bit more faith in the books to subvert expectations than I do in the train wreck of a series that the show has become. That last season was a goddamn embarassment

>>1885900
A possibility. But not as likely to be on the table as one might think. You don't go petitioning another man to help you get your family's home back if you don't plan on doing something with it. What thing of value would be worth giving up title and lands for?

Also, House Fossett is a Knightly House, raised at the end of the War of the Ninepenny Kings.

>>1885905
It was a good discussion to have honestly. It's not often a GoT quest addresses the incest angle, getting Landon's specific perspective on it is valuable for the future. I was just saying, yeah it's a viable option, but really incredibly likely to come up.

As an aside, there is some benefit to it. They'd just be more along the lines of, hey buddy guess what you're not dead and you get to keep your home! Pretty cool huh? Now go fuck your niece and stay loyal to the Belmores.

>>1885946
>but really incredibly likely to come up

Unlikely you mean?

eh I got too into it for it to be an actually good conversation... Unlike all the talk of goldsong fucking dothraki pussy and torturing Redward, good times.

I also I kinda figured Soren would like, marry a fat merchant's daughter for rebuilding money tbqh. if he lives anyway

>>1885741
>And marrying your nieces just isn't something you do, doesn't matter what the time period.

nigga extended family marriage was a common as fuck thing especially those intrested in playing the game of ambition and power.

>>1885956
>someone didn't update before posting

>>1885801
Von habsburgs were wiped out because their Interfamily breeding program got to the point were they were breeding with genetic relatives so often that they were inbreeding, sure its not a stirling example of it but it counts.

Also the european royal families of Germany, Austria, Russia and Great Britain were all related by blood at the point of WW1.

>>1885975
>things I already know for 100$

anon, read the rest of the thread before responding to old resolved crap.

and for the record, I was talking about specific instances of Avunculate marriage, which we already looked at.

So we're still going to get warrior monks that we ""levy"" right?

Maybe our septon can be our firebrand?

>>1886092
>Letting the church have soldiers
Probably not.

>>1886181
Your right anon - our soldiers will act for the Church.

We should have a zealous layman attached to every company of soldiers.

Faith is both a sword and shield after all.

>>1886181
>church

It's only the church if they are sworn and raised to and by the church, these are levyed and on landons payroll.

In terms of getting crusaders, I think the best you can hope for is mobilizing some particularly devout infantrymen that are fight solely for Landon and not for the Faith of the Seven. The Faith is still not allowed to mobilize and although I doubt the majority of lords would mind that much, creating a troupe of holy warriors would give ammunition to any rival that wants to get you in trouble.

>>1885643
>>1885640
well thats a lot to take in.

honestly, while I have just as hard a hate boner for Benedar as the rest of the thread its more from the fact that Landon's goals will inevitably outstrip his lords desires for him.

Lord benedar works in a very specific fashion. Given the choice between strategies he prefers to advance himself at the expense of others. now, thats just par for the course in westeros, but we cant expect him to place our interests above his own. again fairly standard and expected.

we could stand to gain quite a bit from lord Benedar by placing ourselves squarely within the group of people he is working to advance. IE marry his Seven above how is she so cute cousin Bellisa. given the importance of military build up to the recent vale, he would have incentive to elevate us.

And yes, /qst/ would gleefully do much much worse things than benedar justifying it all the while. he has, in truth been very good to us. we just hate him because hes a bit of a fat prick. Earp was no doubt ten thousand times worse.

As for the Fosset boy, you say there is a win-win, but I can only see scenarios that please two out of three parties at most. Aside from convincing Hersy to get off his ass, lending the boy troops in secret, or carving out land for bryen and his wife elsewhere I am at a loss. perhaps we dont know everything about the situation?

I suspected Hersy was stronger than its lord allowed her to appear.glad to be vindicated.

>>1886252
I just realised we could have the boy declare for Belmore

Hersy won't like it but if push came to shove the argument of Hersy not forefilling his obligation of protecting his vassal and failing his vassal could make most parties amendable to it.

His loyalties could need shoring up which means a bit more work for Belmore but for Landon it's better than having a relative child die

>>1886259
Fath- er, um Warrior addressed that above. If Benedar wanted that he could have ordered Landon to help the lad. It really is Landon's responsibility.

what we need is to make Fosset useful to Benedar, and his death inconvenient. or change the narrative.

if for example, Fosset were to seek asylum from the church instead of rush recklessly to his death things would be different. Hersy would be buggering Benedar about the matter demanding this and that. Meanwhile the Moon Swallows would be embarrassing him. witbin a month or two pressure would build to change his stance.

Or if Bellisa or his (strangely absent) sister took interest in the lad and pressed his case he might be persuaded as well.

>>1886252
>>1886259
>>1886277
Couldn't we send just raven Lord Arryn or his steward? Fossett hall taken, Hersey does nothing, Bannermen of Bellmore stand ready to help if the lands were made his, which will happen anyways when the young angry lord charges in unprepared anyways.

>>1886404
In part Lord Belmore is correct. Men, even lords, die all the damn time. Why should the noble house of Arryn care? Moreover if they DO care who allowed things to get this bad? All fingers point to Landon Grallner and we embarrass lord Belmore atop it.

Had Landon but killed Earp an instant quicker he might have been made a Lord on the wave of gratitude from the good an noble men he saved. Alas it was not to be.

Right now we need solutions that save Fosset and make Lord Benedar happy.

The thing that makes Benedar Belmore happiest is money. Prestige and family are also up there, but money is the big one.

So, how can we make Fosset more profitable to Benedar than his own cousin in law?

The only thing I can think of so far is if reinstating the boy gains not only preferential lumber trade but also trade with Hersy.

Military might is also forefront of our lords mind, we might perhaps work with that. I doubt we could convince Hersy to join Benedar's upcoming campaign. But if we could pull that off (troops only of course Lord Hersy need not enter the field) then the Fosset boy would become IMMENSELY valuable.

Again, unlikely. Might be easier to convince Hersy to allow Benedar to use his isolated lands as a staging point, but I don't have a map available to evaluate the strategic worth of such a course.

>>1886435
(Cont.)

Another decent plan is the Soren Fosset Raising plan. We make a man out of him. Train his troops with ours. Take them with us on raids against the moon swallows.

Allow him to learn both patience and warfare. Allow his men to blood themselves. Give them a fighting chance to succeed. Or to burn the hall down with the moon swallows in it and rebuild.

Father if you are reading this. I was wondering what you were thinking and how you reacted when you got called out that it was you after your first update under the name The Warrior.

I like to think you thought yourself clever and your friend or gf telling you that we would figure it out and when we did they acted all smug the rest of the evening.

Hey everyone, I just got home. Not feeling that great so I don't think I'll be running. Turns out staring at a computer screen all day isn't great when coupled with a history of migraines.

So no thread today, but I am off tomorrow and plan to run then. So look for me on Friday, 22 Sept between 3-5PM EST. Depends upon how my errands go.

>>1886980
Take care and get some rest man.

>>1886980
never ever

All this talk of moral dilemmas really makes me want to play a complete piece of shit Ironborn reaver, some second or third son captain of his own ship that her grows into a fleet. Taking saltwives, pillaging greenlanders, praising the Drowned God. Just some good old fashioned zero conscious murder antics.

>>1888132
Half of the point of A Song of Ice and Fire is determining which option is the most rewarding and which option is the right option and making the choice between them, or going with the easy choice if they both turn out to be the same option. Half of the time, you will be wrong. The chivalrous hero gets butchered by the people he snubbed in honor's name, the wanton sadist gets slain by those that suffered first or second-hand due to his unimaginable cruelty and the calculating pragmatist gets stuck like a pig by someone he ignored and overlooked on the path to success. Even an Ironborn has to face dilemmas of their own and there's a high chance those choices will be as difficult and agonizing as these ones.

>>1888132
That'd be great

>>1888132
When the house creation for of salt and sorrow happened I always imagined it as continuous ride of constant suffering as the MC would be a kid orphaned by the rebellion and basically being raised by his dead fathers crew of Reavers and a half trained maester and having to
go through all the expected rituals of being an Ironborn and having little choice otherwise, "taking" your first saltwife, murdering Innocents.

All that could be explored and probably more with how exactly it's allowed and perpetuates in Ironborn culture and just how it messes up a kid really REALLY badly.

It'd be great.

>>1888132
I would enjoy it.

>>1888132
/qst/ needs more quality quests, fund it!

Winning Vote:
>Matters of Trade

“You honor me my Lord, I will gladly take command when I am called upon,” you respond, a sense of pride in your voice. There was a time when you were a sub-commander of Lord Belmore’s army during the Rebellion, your reported to Ser Marwyn Belmore during that time, tasked with the rear guard. It was not the highlight of your time in the Riverlands, but it was more than you could have hoped for. Since then the desire had always remained, commanding your own men was one thing, but to be the highest officer amongst the Belmore collected military might in any campaign was truly an honor of much worth.

A small smile cracks upon your face as you take the last bite of your fish pie watching from the corner of your eye as Lord Belmore finishes his with a grunt of approval, “As I expected,” he says with a mouth full of food, “Ser Vyell Vyvyan will return with you to Whitestone Keep. He is the Captain of the heavy infantry and besides my son is the most well versed of the Belmore military, tactics, and command structure. Besides that I have tasked him with learning as much about our enemy as is possible. He will debrief and tutor you in this matters until such time as I need you, hm?”

You pause a moment, attempting to remember the name, you swear you had met a Ser Vyvyan before, perhaps in a melee? You frown slightly to yourself, before responding to your liege, “Of course my Lord.”

Belmore merely nods before flicking his wrists and you watch as the room fills with servants to clear away the second course. You watch them loosely, mind not quite upon them before you catch a shock of red in the corner, a young woman who hard at work, though her eyes remain trained up you fully. She does not flinch, nor does her look linger after you’ve made contact, she merely smiles and a pit grows in your stomach. Seven above she had been here.

“Ser Grallner?” Belmore asks you to bring you back to reality. Your eyes snap to the side, only seeing her leave the room from the corner, a bead of sweat runs from your temple and you clear your throat looking to him. Your liege gives you a queer look before waving it off and continuing to speak, “We’ve matters of trade and coin to speak of. First and foremost, the matter of trade with House Bordain I am to conduct upon your behalf, three units of processed silver, acceptable, yes?”

“In truth my Lord,” you begin attempting to build Maffew’s words again, “If negotiations should fail to such a degree I would do better to find another trade partner altogether or simply pay the full price and be done with it. I am only willing to, at a maximum, trade two processed silvers for a mere discount.”

Belmore’s eyes narrow in your general direction and he clicks his tongue, “I see Ser Grallner. Well let us revisit that in a moment, yes?”

The third course is being served as Lord Belmore begins to delve into the specifics of your trade agreement at the moment. You can feel your mind planing as he speaks, knowing very little beyond the words of loyal and leal service, not a single shipment had been light nor late since you had taken up the mantle of the Knight of Whitestone Keep, had Maffew to thank for that. Choosing to nod along and hope that you are not asked of the deeper specifics you focus upon the food, hoping to push out the pit that not lingered after seeing her. You were not quite sure the name of the dish, chicken medallions wrapped in thinly cut bacon with peppercorns and thyme for seasoning, served with caramelized onions and a wine sauce over a bed of barley rice and field peas. Taking a polite bite you think it under seasoned perhaps a touch more salt before being called back to attention by a question.

“Ser Grallner are you listening?”

“Of course my Lord,” you say, hoping to recall the last thing he spoke of before asked.

“Hrm, good. Then you will understand my need for more silver, no?”

You stiffen, placing your fork upon the table and pinching the bridge of your nose, “My Lord, may I call upon my steward? Forgive me but the specifics of such trade are beyond me, and he would be far more able to speak to our silver production and trading capabilities than I.”

“The Lord, or Knight rather, of the House should understand such things Ser Grallner. Your books failing a Maester’s hands should fall upon you. Learning matters of trade and coin is a noble pursuit Ser Grallner, the quill is powerful.”

“Though I am afraid not a comfort in my hands my Lord,” you respond earnestly, “The sword and shield is where I am at my best. As you are well aware.”

He grunts, tucking into his food, “As I am. Call upon him then.”

You sigh thankfully and catch a servant passing by, a young lad that mistakes your gestures for want of more wine, which you bluntly deny, instead informing him to gather your steward, Maffew Shett and bring him to the high table. It only takes a few moments for him to arrive, bowing deeply before yourself and your Lord before taking his place to your left, a cup in his hands. You hope for both your own and your House’s sake he was not far into his cups.

“Tell me Shett, how much surplus does House Grallner produce upon a bi-monthly basis?”

“Two of the raw silver, and now five processed silver,” he clears his throat, “With order of an increased military presence we will find a need for more food stuffs soon I am certain.”

“Hm,” Belmore grunts taking a large mouthful, “I find myself in greater need of silver. My dearly departed wife’s family, the Graftons as I’m sure you’re aware have begun to mint coins for the Crown once more. They have come to rely upon the silver produced by House Grallner for moons and stags, a reliance long in the making but I do have my ways. Perhaps you have met him.”

Your steward laughs and you give him a look, his eyes avert and you find the moment awkward beyond belief merely sitting back quietly, Maffew speaks, “Well my Lord I am sure Ser Landon is willing to restructure our current trade deal. Perhaps we can come to some sort of a deal?”

Belmore scoffs, “Restructuring Shett? Hm, I had expected Ser Grallner to merely understand the increased cost of food and supplies in these lean winter times.”

Lean is hardly the thing you would call Lord Belmore nor his feasts.

“My Lord if you will forgive me, but at the moment we have several trade deals upon the table in Whitestone Keep regarding the trade of silver and food. All of which that would serve House Grallner and by extension yourself better. I am sure you know my brother, as a bannerman of House Grafton, would wish to get into the silver trade himself no?” Maffew says taking a long drink from his cups. You stay perfectly still, entirely unsure if these words were true or not and hoped to not be asked as you would not be able to lie in any sort of convincing manner. But in total truth if it was true this was the first time you had heard of it.

“Is that so Steward?” Belmore puffs himself up, “And you are aware of the penalty of early exit from our current contract?”

“I am my Lord, but a penalty easily mitigated by the loan acquired by Ser Landon just this afternoon. We would not wish to leave such a lucrative trade that binds liege and banner, but in order to serve you better perhaps we would need to take such drastic measures.”

Belmore has gone silent and you give Maffew a passing look, his face remains the calm demeanour it typically did. In truth you had hardly seen it look otherwise outside of the past month with the betrayal and Cador’s visit, otherwise it was this innocuous, almost simple facade that he kept.

“One and a half foods per one silver offer then,” Belmore says after a moment of silent eating.

“I would think closer to three to one my Lord,” Maffew responds without missing a beat, “My good brother offered similar terms recently that my lord graciously took him up upon.”

Belmore grumbles to himself, looking to regard Maffew fully, “One and three quarters.”

“Two and half. And we restructure for shorter terms.”

Belmore gives Maffew a hard look his face scrunching up, “Perhaps we shall speak of this in private Shett,” he says, “Tomorrow over brunch I would think. Preston Moore will join us, to verify these other offers in full.”

“I see little reason why that would be a poor idea my Lord,” Maffew says with a soft smile, “Of course I would need Ser Grallner’s permission to negotiate in his stead, should he not wish to join us for such dry matters,” he passes you a look after these words, you weren’t quite sure what he was trying to say with it though. Do attend? Do not? Frankly, the whole ordeal was a confusing mess to you. Always a dagger.

>Please roll 3d6+3 for Persuasion(Bargain).
+3 for consulting Maffew, this is for the Bordain silver negotiations.

Attend proper negotiations regarding trade for silver and food tomorrow with Maffew Shett, Lord Benedar Belmore, and Preston Moore?

Notes:
>If you do not attend Maffew will negotiate in your stead. You will be given a series of rolls to see how he does. He will bring back a few options. This will require you to place your faith in Maffew fully.
>If you do there is a chance that Landon will be questioned regarding his knowledge of potential trade deals on the table. Landon will be honor-bound to answer truthfully.
>This is the only chance you will have to negotiate your trade deal with Lord Belmore until the contract ends in two years. Early exit from the contract will cost you 3 Wealth.
>With Soren Fossett's men coming to Whitestone Keep and your own orders to grow your military you will need more food to sustain them. If you do not meet the food requirements you will required to sack companies of men until you meet the food costs necessary to maintain them.

>Yay
>Nay

For reference.
Your Current Production & Trade:

>Production - Month II, 288AC:
15 Raw Silver
5 Processed Silver

>Stockpile - Month II, 288AC:
2 Raw Silver
5 Processed Silver

>Bimonthly Trade:
9 Raw Silver:15 Food (House Belmore trade)
3 Raw Silver:3 Faith Points (Faith Tithe)
1 Raw Silver:3 Food (House Shett trade)

>Food Required - Month II, 288AC:
18/15

Rolled 6, 5, 4 + 3 = 18 (3d6 + 3)

>Nay

Maffew got this. We will probably become a hindrance upon him in the following negotiations.

Also, haven´t you forgotten about the almsgiving? I remember it gave us one point of Faith for two points of food.

Rolled 3, 4, 5 + 3 = 15 (3d6 + 3)

>>1889562
>Nay
I see it going poorly with us there

Rolled 6, 5, 6 + 3 = 20 (3d6 + 3)

>>1889562
>Nay

>>1889581
>>1889595
>>1889596
18,15,20
>mfw these rolls

Guys what the fuck Landon isn't supposed to be good at a being persuasive.

>Also, haven´t you forgotten about the almsgiving? I remember it gave us one point of Faith for two points of food.
I have not, but Landon has to do a little bit of work when he gets home to set it up fully. Minor investment and he'll need to balance it with everything else going on. It's coming, don't worry.

>>1889601
We actually with Maffew's helped rolled higher than our dice rolled allow. That's capped at 18

>>1889562
Nay

I think Maffew is lying his dick off and that is a risky as fuck gamut. But Landon being there is just as risky. Going to have to trust him on this one.

>>1889639
>I think Maffew is lying his dick off and that is a risky as fuck gamut.
WE can always give him the papers to those Essossi guys we got off Banker dude.

I wonder what sect of belief landond falls under
Does he think the seven are all just different faces of different gods?
I would imagine the faith has different sects that are near monotheistic in there devoution to a specific god, maybe landon is one of the monotheistic cults?

>>1889657
Landon has been shown to pray to almost all the gods that form the Seven, excluding the Stranger, so while I think he identifies the most with the Warrior, he doesn´t excludes the other gods/aspects. Besides, adoring only one of the Seven would be straying into heresy.

While I have a very basic understanding of the Seven´s theology, there are two main lines of thought about them:

>Aspects of the same god (pseudomonotheism?), exemplified by the phrase "Seven that are One". This opinion is favored among educated scholars or high to middle members of the clergy.

>Seven different gods, different entities which manage creation together. This interpretation is favored my the smallfolk, low clergy and is quite extended among the nobility, making it the predominant.

You could more or less compare this opinions about the nature of the Seven with the scholastic theories developed in medieval universities versus the common understanding of catholicism that was common among the populace.