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Post by Politburo Barry on Jun 26, 2020 13:46:43 GMT -5
While Stannis and his army departed from White Harbor for the Vale, Ser Justin Massey had sailed off to the opposite end of the continent. His mission: to bring the Westerlander lords, reportedly confused and leaderless in the chaotic aftermath of the Battle of the Kingswood and the disappearance of Tommen-called-Baratheon and his mother to parts unknown, over to his liege's side. He had decided that for his first destination, he'd sail to the Crag, northernmost of the major Western lords. The Westerlings who held court there he knew to have provided Robb Stark with his ill-fated bride years ago, when the War of Five Kings was at its peak, but beyond that he knew nothing about the man and house he sought an audience with.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 26, 2020 16:51:12 GMT -5
Gawen Westerling, the father of Jeyne, who had fallen for Robb Stark and died at the Red Wedding, was the Lord of the Crag. He had been among those nobles who abandoned Devan Lannister when he bent the knee for the Pretender. In fact, when Ser Massey came to the Crag, he would have spotted Lord Gawen's retinue returning to their castle. His soldiers, among ten thousand others, had fallen under the command of the more capable Lucion Lannister in contrast to his older father, Damion.
When Ser Massey comes knocking, he is permitted to enter the keep and meet with Lord Gawen, who was still taking off his riding shoes.
Ser Massey.
Lord Westerling says, looking at the knight.
What exactly have you come to my keep?
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Post by Politburo Barry on Jun 26, 2020 17:35:39 GMT -5
"You already know who I am, Lord Westerling. That is good." Massey smiled, but it was a thinner smile than usual. "Then you also already know who I serve." As one of the houses directly sworn to Dragonstone, House Massey had supported Stannis from the start of the War of Five Kings, and as its head following his father's death Justin had obviously never bent the knee.
"Since there is no need for introductions, I will be frank: my King, the one true King of the Seven Kingdoms, has sent me here to win the Westerlands over to his righteous cause." Massey crossed his arms. "Even in Winterfell, we have heard of how House Lannister has fallen into disarray while Tommen-called-Baratheon has vanished to parts unknown, while you I'm sure have heard of how King Stannis has come charging back from the brink to smite the foul Boltons and secure the North. Last I was at Winterfell, the Vale bent its knee to him as well." He paused to allow Westerling to process the information.
"He will be happy to help restore order to the Westerlands, Lord Westerling. And give you and your fellow Western lords places of honor within his new order, which no false Dragon can keep him from building. This Aegon-called-Targaryen brings the Golden Company with him and sits on the Iron Throne for now, I've heard, but Stannis has just beaten worse odds, and is no Mace Tyrell besides."
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 26, 2020 18:13:12 GMT -5
Gawen brought Massey into his halls, allowing their guest to have drink and food. Present with the Lord was his son, Raynald. His daughter, Eleyna, was with their eldest daughter, Jeyne. His wife was with their younger son, Rollam, a lady from House Spicer. The household seemed more quiet since Jeyne returned. As Ser Massey spoke, Lord Westerling felt a slight agreement to what was being offered. They had refused to bend the knee alongside Devan, that was obvious when he, and others like him, departed with the ten thousand at their backs. Tommen was missing, Myrcella was in Dorne... the seat of the Lord Paramount remained unoccupied.
You speak true. Stannis isn't any Mace Tyrell... it amazes me that he has managed to survive and thrive.
The North and the Vale at his back? Baratheon's support was growing strong now.
With Cersei dead, Myrcella is the future Lady Paramount. However, she is to be wed to Trystane of House Martell. I know your liege believes the sons of his late brother to be bastards, so I doubt he will support her. The Martells are with Aegon the Pretender and likely want to use Myrcella's connections in the West to bring us over to Aegon's side.
An insult to the Westermen!
Ser Jaime has been missing for weeks, and months, now. Not a sight of him.
Last seen in the Riverlands from what Gawen heard.
If your King wants a Lannister to support him and lead the West, there are a couple others. In lines of succession, after Myrcella, there is Martyn Lannister, the second son of Kevan and his wife, Dorna Swyft. His older brother, Lancel, has joined the Faith Militant. His right to succession is null. Martyn is married to a Frey though, Merret's second daughter, and was supposed to be Lord of Darry, but that was delayed by Devan. There is also Lucion Lannister, Damion's son. He is married to my sister. He is after Martyn and Damion, but Damion's days are numbered.
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Post by Politburo Barry on Jun 26, 2020 21:30:53 GMT -5
"Oh yes, most certainly. And where the North and the Vale go, the Riverlands will soon follow." Justin nodded sagely, sounding extremely confident in his prediction all the while. "You may have heard of this already, but Edmure Tully escaped the dungeons of Casterly Rock and has since elected to stand at the King's side as well. Last I heard, quite a few of his former bannermen have taken up arms for him once more. I'll bet that had a hand in convincing Baelish to bend the knee, and that in turn should mean the riverlords who have failed to return to their former liege's embrace will be rushing to do so any day now."
"You're certainly right about that." Massey said in reply to Westerling's mention of Stannis believing Myrcella was a bastard like her brothers. If he didn't believe Cersei's children were the spawn of adulterous incest, he would never have staked a claim to the Iron Throne in the first place.
Nodding along as the lord listed off the other claimants to the Westerlands, Justin in the end mused, "Sounds to me like this Martyn has the most valid claim by way of proximity of blood to Tywin Lannister, discounting Cersei's children as bastards born of incest and her brothers for their crimes and, in Jaime's case, membership in the Kingsguard. And if he is indeed the legal heir to Casterly Rock, then the King will truly surprise me if he decides against making sure that he sits in the Rock, come Hell or high water." He smiled again, a little more fully this time. There was no point in pretending otherwise, Stannis' reputation as someone who stringently held himself and others to the letter of the law preceded him. And by all the Westerosi succession laws Massey could think of, Martyn Lannister would have to become Lord of Casterly Rock before any of the others Westerling mentioned, just as Stannis himself had to be King before his daughter Shireen and late younger brother Renly.
"You've been very helpful thus far, Lord Westerling. But you haven't told me one thing still." Massey leaned in slightly. "Who do you support for Lord or Lady of Casterly Rock?"
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 26, 2020 21:51:27 GMT -5
Gawen listened to Massey attentively.
Kevan's remaining children, Martyn and Janei, would be next in line after Myrcella.
The tree had been pruned, but only of those truly capable. Devan had been a fool to bend the knee and he was capable in the field of battle. Damion was good at managing just the castle of the Rock. Lucion was neither great nor was he horrible. Only Martyn proved to be the one with potential as a young man.
Quietly, the Lord Westerling considers the choices present. Ser Jaime was still the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard as long as Tommen Baratheon was alive. The vow of the Kingsguard could only be absolved by a King after all. Myrcella was a child and to marry a Dornish princeling. The thought of those spawn ruling Casterly Rock made him shiver at the thought. Damion was past his prime years. Lucion was older, but they needed someone to be capable or potentially be as such.
I would support Martyn Lannister, Ser Massey. He is at least older, sixteen years, so a small regency may be needed, but he can still be educated and properly molded. Myrcella would be a puppet of her Dornish relatives.
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Post by Politburo Barry on Jun 26, 2020 22:30:47 GMT -5
"Glad to hear it, Lord Westerling." Justin grinned at those words. His work here was nearly done. "Can I trust you will march for Stannis, then, when he strives to place Martyn Lannister in the latter's rightful seat as Lord of Casterly Rock and Lord Paramount of the Westerlands within his new order?"
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 26, 2020 22:38:27 GMT -5
"Glad to hear it, Lord Westerling." Justin grinned at those words. His work here was nearly done. "Can I trust you will march for Stannis, then, when he strives to place Martyn Lannister in the latter's rightful seat as Lord of Casterly Rock and Lord Paramount of the Westerlands within his new order?" Gawen rubs his chin slightly. Raynald looks at his father. Father, we must decide nonetheless. Sooner, later, it will come to it.Lord Westerling knew his son was right. It was to be a hard decision, but in the end, Gawen had little choice. Westerlands would benefit more so from a small regency than a longer one. Especially one that will be controlled by the Westermen and less by foreigners.They could tolerate the Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and his Small Council being involved. But Dornish outsiders was a different level. At least, with Martyn, his regents would be trueborn Westermen nobility. If you must speak with another, my wife's family controls Castamere. They are further south. You will find a large army at the Rock, Lucion commands it. Before I departed, I could tell that the army was confused and uncertain. Lucion is a supporter of Martyn's claim. Damion, his father and Steward of Casterly Rock, is a supporter of Myrcella.
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Post by Politburo Barry on Jun 27, 2020 21:24:00 GMT -5
"Would your wife's kin not follow you to Stannis' side by default, Lord Westerling?" Massey raised an eyebrow at that. Were Westerling's kin by marriage less honorable and more ambitious than he? The Crownlander knew not, and indeed he knew nothing of Sybell Spicer's willingness to throw Robb Stark under the carriage's wheels in exchange for Tywin Lannister's rewards, after all. "Well, I suppose I can visit Castamere next, on my way to the Rock, if needed."
"Are all the swords of the Westerlands that left Daven Lannister's side gathered at Casterly Rock now?" Ser Justin continued in response to Westerling's next words. It would be very helpful if they were, as it meant he could plausibly convince all the gathered Westerman lords and great knights there instead of tracking them down individually. Thus far, at least, this particular lord's suggestions and willingness to support the young man Massey thought Stannis would most easily back for the Rock was giving him hope that his mission would turn out better than that of Parmen the Purple and the Florent the King had sent to try to flip the allegiance of Renly's infantry.
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Post by Magnate Lucius on Jun 29, 2020 10:33:47 GMT -5
"Would your wife's kin not follow you to Stannis' side by default, Lord Westerling?" Massey raised an eyebrow at that. Were Westerling's kin by marriage less honorable and more ambitious than he? The Crownlander knew not, and indeed he knew nothing of Sybell Spicer's willingness to throw Robb Stark under the carriage's wheels in exchange for Tywin Lannister's rewards, after all. "Well, I suppose I can visit Castamere next, on my way to the Rock, if needed.""Are all the swords of the Westerlands that left Daven Lannister's side gathered at Casterly Rock now?" Ser Justin continued in response to Westerling's next words. It would be very helpful if they were, as it meant he could plausibly convince all the gathered Westerman lords and great knights there instead of tracking them down individually. Thus far, at least, this particular lord's suggestions and willingness to support the young man Massey thought Stannis would most easily back for the Rock was giving him hope that his mission would turn out better than that of Parmen the Purple and the Florent the King had sent to try to flip the allegiance of Renly's infantry. Lord Westerling clarifies to his guest. His wife had even refused granting Jeyne to Martyn or Willem Lannister when the match would have been perfect. It certainly would have saved him many troubles that had followed his house. The Crag needed a means to rebuild their reputation and restore themselves in the eyes of their fellow noblemen. This would certainly be that chance of they aided in the rise of Martyn. They control Castamere now and are certainly loving the ruins. They try to lord it over the others.Castamere had a reputation after all. Nay, Devan left with over twelve thousand men. Ten thousand returned. He has a small core with him still.Gawen states to Justin. A great majority have returned with a few staying to obey Devan's orders.
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Post by Politburo Barry on Jun 29, 2020 16:36:59 GMT -5
"I see..." Massey nodded, one hand cupping his chin. Greedy and proud of a ruined keep they'd been given after the Red Wedding, eh? These Spicers didn't sound like the sort of people whose company Stannis would appreciate. Fortunately for all involved, Justin was not his King and was prepared to entertain them until he could secure their loyalty to House Baratheon.
"Well then, Lord Westerling." Justin straightened his back. "I thank you, truly. What you have told me has been very helpful indeed. I'll make my way to Castamere next, and Casterly Rock afterwards, to see if I can win this Martyn and what other Lannisters remain over to the King's side." He said with a firm nod. "I would normally be happy to indulge in the hospitality of the Crag, if you are kind enough to extend it to me, but alas duty calls. Even if I do not leave now, I would have to no later than tomorrow morning." If Westerling had nothing else of import to say, Massey would take his leave at this point.
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