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Post by Gandalf on Jul 3, 2020 17:19:42 GMT -5
”Aurane Waters, Lord of the Narrow Sea. It was in the raven, Ser.”
The Velaryon held a bemused expression, attempting mentally to recall if he had ever crossed paths with the Swanns before under Stannis. If he had, the pirate could not place the encounter. But then he has been a mere servant of his brother, too lowly to attract notice from the great lords of the Stormlands or even the Narrow Sea. Now he was a leader of men, captain of a hundred ships and Lord of several castles by the strength of his sword arm. He held a king in his pocket, the keys to a kingdom, albeit one that clearly wouldn’t accept his presence as readily as had been hoped.
”I have kept Lord Tommen safe from the grasp of the Tyrells, Lannisters, and the dragon that now warms Robert Baratheon’s throne. With sword and axe I drove their men from the castle and have seen it restored to its rightful liege.”
Widow’s Wail hung at his hip, the Valyrian steel resting in the scabbard. Aurane’s hand rested on the pommel, calloused and darkened by the sun’s glare.
”It is a sad state of affairs that his rightful crown is also worn by another, but alas I fear we have not the strength to challenge the pretender.”
Not yet, anyway.
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Post by ironaquilifer on Jul 3, 2020 17:51:31 GMT -5
”Aurane Waters, Lord of the Narrow Sea. It was in the raven, Ser.”The Velaryon held a bemused expression, attempting mentally to recall if he had ever crossed paths with the Swanns before under Stannis. If he had, the pirate could not place the encounter. But then he has been a mere servant of his brother, too lowly to attract notice from the great lords of the Stormlands or even the Narrow Sea. Now he was a leader of men, captain of a hundred ships and Lord of several castles by the strength of his sword arm. He held a king in his pocket, the keys to a kingdom, albeit one that clearly wouldn’t accept his presence as readily as had been hoped. ”I have kept Lord Tommen safe from the grasp of the Tyrells, Lannisters, and the dragon that now warms Robert Baratheon’s throne. With sword and axe I drove their men from the castle and have seen it restored to its rightful liege.”Widow’s Wail hung at his hip, the Valyrian steel resting in the scabbard. Aurane’s hand rested on the pommel, calloused and darkened by the sun’s glare. ”It is a sad state of affairs that his rightful crown is also worn by another, but alas I fear we have not the strength to challenge the pretender.”Not yet, anyway. ? He had thought, had hoped, that one titled as highly as Lord and Protector would have at the least come from blood of true Andal stock. But titles mean little, was the knight's next, more corrective, thought. And rights are worth only the value of the men who force the issue. This Waters, who looked as no honest Andal should, did indeed sit the place of protector in a castle with whom most would consider to be its rightful ruler. And to Donnel's eyes there was no question that there sat young Tommen. "Few truer swords could have done the same in your place, Lord Waters." Lord, it sounded strange to attach to a bastard, especially one that could pass for a Lysene in heat. "And to have the strength to defy such foes yours must be sizeable, that you'd return our liege in defiance of his enemies yet living."
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 3, 2020 18:15:30 GMT -5
”I did so using our Lord’s steel, for he is too young yet to wield it in his own defence. I am pleased to see that you are the first to come to pledge yourself to him, Ser Swann.”
The Valyrian was easily flattered, and that was how many won his favour and affection. Since his time in King’s Landing the Lord of the Waters’ ego had grown enormously along with the size of his fleet and the men that swore their swords to his cause. He considered himself a man of action rather than words, and while lesser men sat and prattled the Bastard of Driftmark took what he was owed with sword and blood. Aurane deferred his head gracefully at the compliment.
”I pray that more will show your fealty and loyalty, Ser. It is a precious commodity in current days.”
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Post by ironaquilifer on Jul 4, 2020 14:43:29 GMT -5
”I did so using our Lord’s steel, for he is too young yet to wield it in his own defence. I am pleased to see that you are the first to come to pledge yourself to him, Ser Swann.” The Valyrian was easily flattered, and that was how many won his favour and affection. Since his time in King’s Landing the Lord of the Waters’ ego had grown enormously along with the size of his fleet and the men that swore their swords to his cause. He considered himself a man of action rather than words, and while lesser men sat and prattled the Bastard of Driftmark took what he was owed with sword and blood. Aurane deferred his head gracefully at the compliment. ”I pray that more will show your fealty and loyalty, Ser. It is a precious commodity in current days.” The knight looked back at his liege as the bastard's words rang through the hall like the howls of a haunter. This hall that had once blossomed with life and reverlry. It could again, though that hushed notion was as empty as the rafters above. The boy seemed to have no interest in the words that were being spoken of at his behest. Though that must surely be the way of things, when boys were forced into the seat of better men. "I have served Storm's End my life in its entirety," the marcher allowed, the faint flicker of a smile at the absurdity of the truth. It is just the Iron Throne I seem to keep pitting myself against. "It is not in me to see it left to usurpers." Of a certain type, he might have added, had the audience been different. "I would be glad to place myself at Tommen's service. To measure myself against those who would challenge him."
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 4, 2020 18:31:11 GMT -5
”I hope to raise the swords of the Stormlands to defend his cause from the inevitable wrath of the usurper.”
Though perhaps Aegon was a little pre-occupied at the present, for Stannis Baratheon had made a sudden return by the way of the Vale.
”It is perhaps my vain hope that Tommen‘s kin in Casterly Rock will rise for his cause and aid us in restoring him to the throne.”
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Post by oznerol on Jul 5, 2020 2:43:47 GMT -5
"The king has the kingsguard"
Said Osmund drily.
"To measure their swords against any"
He was wearing white cloak and plate.
"Yet, the Kingsguard is in shambles, only I remain of the former guard. It would be... grand, if any of your sworn swords were to serve King Tommen and don the white"
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Post by ironaquilifer on Jul 5, 2020 11:10:33 GMT -5
”I hope to raise the swords of the Stormlands to defend his cause from the inevitable wrath of the usurper.”Though perhaps Aegon was a little pre-occupied at the present, for Stannis Baratheon had made a sudden return by the way of the Vale. ”It is perhaps my vain hope that Tommen‘s kin in Casterly Rock will rise for his cause and aid us in restoring him to the throne.” Donnel accepted those words with a growing understanding. Am I the first? Could it really be the case that the lords whom once bled for Robert and Renly now so truly despaired that they would accept yet another pretender to the throne? His mind turned to his father, wasting away in health and influence as the realm they knew as home continued to burn under ill rule and greedy hands. Perhaps it was true what he said, that these battles were for the foolish and greedy. And perhaps I am both. "I have little faith in the Lannister strength," he stated, unsure of even whom had followed Tywin in ascending to the lordship. It could just have easy been a Frey, placed there by bastard hands. "And of the stormlords, I fear this Aegon may have taken away those left with any desire for bloodshed." There were still lords with Stannis even now, a handful that had been taken by the remnants of a fleet once so fierce in its majesty. Lord Stannis had started with as little, the knight claimed. Though he was a man grown. "What thoughts are there, to put more swords beneath the banner?" He instinctively looked towards the monarch, thought that only weighed his smile down. Eyes back on the bastard, he continued. "Did Aegon leave any strength we could displace? A keep flying his banners we could turn to our side?" Are you wed, is Tommen betrothed, questions began to build, the same that he had once been trained to ask. They did not mean a great deal to him, but even the marcher knew that such politicking was necessary for such dire situations.
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Post by ironaquilifer on Jul 5, 2020 11:43:34 GMT -5
"The king has the kingsguard"Said Osmund drily. "To measure their swords against any"He was wearing white cloak and plate. "Yet, the Kingsguard is in shambles, only I remain of the former guard. It would be... grand, if any of your sworn swords were to serve King Tommen and don the white" The storm knight did not know how to take the words of the sworn sword. Though at a cursiory glance towards his guard the man of Stonehelm did not think that any seemed willing to step forward immediately. "I would not stop any man from claiming the white." He pursed his lips. "Though I wonder if his grace would not be better served sending ravens to choice houses that their best can be sized for a white cloak?"
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Post by Gandalf on Jul 5, 2020 17:19:01 GMT -5
”I hope to raise the swords of the Stormlands to defend his cause from the inevitable wrath of the usurper.”Though perhaps Aegon was a little pre-occupied at the present, for Stannis Baratheon had made a sudden return by the way of the Vale. ”It is perhaps my vain hope that Tommen‘s kin in Casterly Rock will rise for his cause and aid us in restoring him to the throne.” Donnel accepted those words with a growing understanding. Am I the first? Could it really be the case that the lords whom once bled for Robert and Renly now so truly despaired that they would accept yet another pretender to the throne? His mind turned to his father, wasting away in health and influence as the realm they knew as home continued to burn under ill rule and greedy hands. Perhaps it was true what he said, that these battles were for the foolish and greedy. And perhaps I am both. "I have little faith in the Lannister strength," he stated, unsure of even whom had followed Tywin in ascending to the lordship. It could just have easy been a Frey, placed there by bastard hands. "And of the stormlords, I fear this Aegon may have taken away those left with any desire for bloodshed." There were still lords with Stannis even now, a handful that had been taken by the remnants of a fleet once so fierce in its majesty. Lord Stannis had started with as little, the knight claimed. Though he was a man grown. "What thoughts are there, to put more swords beneath the banner?" He instinctively looked towards the monarch, thought that only weighed his smile down. Eyes back on the bastard, he continued. "Did Aegon leave any strength we could displace? A keep flying his banners we could turn to our side?" Are you wed, is Tommen betrothed, questions began to build, the same that he had once been trained to ask. They did not mean a great deal to him, but even the marcher knew that such politicking was necessary for such dire situations.
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Post by ironaquilifer on Jul 6, 2020 13:39:45 GMT -5
Donnel accepted those words for what they were. The once king was in a weak position, but hesitation could only make it worse. He grimaced at the thought of marching sellswords against his neighbours, but at this stage it might be the only way to achieve anything of note before the eyes to the north turned towards them. And perhaps Stonehelm might have advancement in this. If not a keep, then the loyalty of those whom possessed one.
"Perhaps it would be in the king's interest to set aside the Tyrell girl. If they will not honour the marriage, then another bride should be found." The knight could not think of any other who commanded the numbers Highgarden had sworn to them. But what did it matter, if those swords were nowhere to be found on the eve of battle? "And your own hand Aurane, may be worth to bind a lord who would otherwise remain silent to Tommen's reign."
He glanced back, thinking. His was not the world of high politic. "If you do march, I would urge a campaign to link the keeps between here and Stonehelm. At that point the Dornish marches should be subjugated." Under Swann leadership, he wanted to say. "I make no lie when I say that the marcher lords are fierce fighters, and true to whom they serve."
With that, Donnel nodded. "But I will leave that to your grace to decide upon an action. I will return to Stonehelm, if it please you, my lord." The knight made to leave.
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