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Post by AxBrew Sunster on Aug 2, 2020 22:43:02 GMT -5
"Even so, they have good men. My former steward, Satin, is a man you can trust your life with, for example, no matter if he came from the brothels of Oldtown. I'd rather have him by my side than many knights"He said, equally dry. "You don't want to go beyond, the abyss is dark and... empty. I saw no gods in there, no kindred"Jon had seen through the veil, even as his conciousness clinged to the skin of his direwolf. "So, this world is worth fighting for, so as long we fight for those who cannot do it for themselves. Lose all sense of ego and vanity, ser, let it go. Now you defend the realm of men. Maybe, if we survive the Long Night to come you will be released of your vows, but for now, temper your steel, for they're coming" Tarly replied stiffly - perhaps an awkward jape about his famously uptight nature, perhaps genuine offense, it was somewhat hard to tell. He too had heard the tales of the former Lord Commander's death and return. Ghost stories, he had figured when he first heard the story whispered, but it was not long after reaching the Wall that he was forced to accept the reality. It had certainly helped convince him that the rumors about dead men walking were more than myths as well. "It is hard to hold onto any sense of ego after being sent to this place, I am afraid," he added, responding as Jon addressed Osgrey, "I had to choose between that and my head. You can rest assured that I'll be giving my best to defend the realm now, for the sake of all of us. Any southern ambitions have been put aside on my end."
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Post by Gandalf on Aug 3, 2020 2:27:23 GMT -5
”If I am to rub shoulders with boy whores and bastards then consider my pride already checked.” Quipped the former Lord of Coldmoat, through gritted teeth. ”Did you summon us to remind us of our vows, Lord Snow, or did you have something else in mind?”
—
A horn rings out the next morn, long and solitary. A ragged group of rangers return to Castle Black, though the Lord Commander is not among them. They split up in the Haunted Forest, one haggard and wary eyed veteran explained, and they had not seen sight or sound of Lord Tollett since they had been driven away from Hardhome by a blizzard... And the restless dead. It seemed Cotter Pyke would not be returning to Eastwatch, not now or ever.
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Post by oznerol on Aug 3, 2020 3:30:22 GMT -5
"A man must always be reminded of his vows, because often words are wind. I had to be reminded of it too"
Said Jon with a frown.
"I summoned you not only to know your mettle, but also because these thousands of sellswords are unruly and might get troublesome: I already had to execute some daring ones. You're lords and knights, you know these men might not be the best. That's why I trust you both with turning them into something worthier"
He added.
"In the absence of my friend, the Lord Commander Tollet, you will answer to me as Warden of the North. I commanded the men to erect watchtowers and outposts all the way to Winterfell. See that they're properly mantained sending regular riding parties of black brothers and lit the braziers if the Dead come knocking, because in thick blizzards the ravens might not be able to fly far. You're from the Reach, seek those men that were under your command that ride best and have them as outriders, to send word to the surrounding castles and the like if something goes wrong"
Snow then raised a hand.
"And be warned, no matter what you think about the Free Folk they're brave and able, men like you and me, and their women are as worthy as any warrior I've known. Now, they're my kin and friends, I will not stand any transgression of any cocky Southron who thinks them little but animals"
Jon had spoused Val, who the Southrons called a wildling princess and few could forget her once they had glanced her.
---
After the troubling news reached his ears, Jon summoned all the officers of the Watch and the chieftains present in Castle Black to the armories, where once he had set his living quarters as Lord Commander. Once they were gathered he points towards a map of the Wall laying on the table, pinned by a dagger.
"Brothers. Lord Tollett is missing. He's either dead or gone astray in the blizzard. We have to consider any eventuality"
He looked around, inspecting the men's faces.
"If the dead are indeed around Hardhome... Thousands of the Free Folk are gathered there, we cannot simply give them up, for they will enlarge the Dead army dangerously and we're already hard pressed to keep the Wall manned, even with the thousands of new recruits"
The Stark's long face was adorned by the first time by a beard and he looked weary. Probably not many knew Eddard, but he looked much alike him.
"And this also is a hint the hammer shall probably fall here"
He points at the easternmost tip of the wall.
"Eastwatch"
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Post by AxBrew Sunster on Aug 3, 2020 4:31:27 GMT -5
"If the walking dead are that near to hand, do we have time to send a messenger and bring the Wildli - ah - Free Folk to this side of the wall? Or do we ride to their succour?"
He had heard chilling rumors about the was the undead "recruited" their ranks, and Jon's words concerning the Wildlings at hardhome had confirmed the worst of those rumors.
"And could we even afford the men to do so?"
His eyes flickered along the map, following the line of the Wall to the fort of Torches, currently abandoned, which he had recently been told he would be reclaiming and refitting. It stood separated from Eastwatch by only one other fort. He glanced down at Lord Osgrey's belt and made a mental note to requisition a dragonglass blade of his own before he departed.
"As you have said, we stand at your command, Lord Warden. What are your wishes? The majority of our Reachmen and mercenaries still await orders here, and can be mobilized with some speed, though it sounds like it would be unwise to venture beyond the Wall if it can be avoided."
He found his hands aching to grip Heartsbane's mighty hilt. Jon's Longclaw was impressive, but Randyll Tarly had never seen a finer blade than that of his own house. Not for the first time since he had headed North, he cursed the name Aegon Targaryen - though he could not really put his heart into it. His decision had ultimately led him to this fate after all.
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Post by oznerol on Aug 3, 2020 5:07:35 GMT -5
"We have two choices"
Said Jon.
"We can take a force and ride out from here"
He pointed at the gate at Eastwatch.
"Mostly of horse, we have to go fast"
Snow looks back at Tarly.
"But, the return will be grueling and slow"
Then, to the map again.
"Or we can use those sails Lord Davos used to send us grain and steel that still linger in Eastwatch due the bad weather. This way we'll be back quicker, but Cotter Pyke reported of... dead things in the water. Lady Melisandre saw dark omens in the fire. Probably this way is extremely dangerous, as unlike the Haunted Forest the Old Gods have no eyes or sway over the waters. And we might need those ships for supplies or else"
Snow looks pensive.
"I'd rather take our horse and a good force of men to trail through the Forest and take back as many of the Free Folk as we're able to. And also look for the Lord Commander, I won't give up on him"
"Snow! Snow!"
Cawed the crow, perched atop a wooden stand for armor in a corner. His beady eyes looked intelligent, far more than it should. It openned its wings and landed on the table and to everyone's surprise it started to hit the map with its beak, laying a mark on the land route from the easternmost castle.
"Gods"
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Post by Gandalf on Aug 3, 2020 6:42:26 GMT -5
”Shoo, damned bird.” Grunted Osgrey, wafting his hand over the map. Snow’s crow bothered him immensely, he had no love for the wretched creatures. Even less so for one that could talk. ”Let no man say that is a good omen. I have no fondness for your haunted trees but I like the idea of the sea even less.” Dead things in the water, they said. And no ships had yet come back from Hardhome, which meant the danger was very real. A blizzard might run them aground, and the waters so far north were treacherous at best. ”I would name Lord Tarly to the command, in the absence of a First Ranger and our Lord Commander. He has led men in more battles than any man else in the room.” If we have any chance of returning it would be at Lord Randyll’s hand, though doubtless the walking dead would have something to say about it.
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Post by oznerol on Aug 3, 2020 7:06:57 GMT -5
"Lion! Corn?"
Spoke and cawed the bird as it flew away in a hustle of feathers.
"Indeed, not a good omen"
Jon granted. There was something weird. Since King's Landing he had started to realize that crows were always watching. Sometimes more than one, and he had seen the birds following his trail while on the road. It raised his neck's hairs, but he had stopped questioning himself. If there was an answer or a purpose, it would be revealed. Or so he hoped.
"If Tarly here is willing, he might command the black brethren to Hardhome"
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Post by pontifex on Aug 3, 2020 17:39:54 GMT -5
The Journey from Eastwatch had been dull and uneventful, yet very cold. The journey along the wall had convinced Jaime that he wanted to spend as little time in the North as possible. He was a man without a name, officially Jaime Lannister had died in King's Landing - an awful death to be sure. No doubt some raper had died in his stead, perhaps with a fresh stump to make it look likely. He would not be required to join the watch which left his options...rather open once Stannis was no longer around. Kings were dying left and right these past few years, who knows what might happen.
For the nonce he did as he was bade. He was to find the bastard Jon Snow and make his mission known, which is what he did when he dismounted. He spotted a nearby ...boy...of the Night's Watch. "Take me to see Jon Snow, boy." Although he was officially a nobody, his lordly tone was unmistakable.
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Post by AxBrew Sunster on Aug 4, 2020 17:58:30 GMT -5
"If it is your will that I do so, then it is mine as well."
Tarly's eyes were hard, his mind beginning to race already as he thought of what a man might need to do to fight those who were already dead.
"Pick out the men who are to accompany me, and I will Ride to Hardhome and rescue your Wildings, as many as we can."
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Post by oznerol on Aug 5, 2020 2:41:37 GMT -5
The Journey from Eastwatch had been dull and uneventful, yet very cold. The journey along the wall had convinced Jaime that he wanted to spend as little time in the North as possible. He was a man without a name, officially Jaime Lannister had died in King's Landing - an awful death to be sure. No doubt some raper had died in his stead, perhaps with a fresh stump to make it look likely. He would not be required to join the watch which left his options...rather open once Stannis was no longer around. Kings were dying left and right these past few years, who knows what might happen. For the nonce he did as he was bade. He was to find the bastard Jon Snow and make his mission known, which is what he did when he dismounted. He spotted a nearby ...boy...of the Night's Watch. "Take me to see Jon Snow, boy." Although he was officially a nobody, his lordly tone was unmistakable. Snow was gathering men and horse for venturing beyond the wall. He stood on the courtyard by the side of an inmense direwolf, like the one ser Jaime had seen at the Whispering Woods by Robb Stark's side. -- "In good conscience I cannot leave you alone, ser. I'm not a man to give orders and not see them done myself. I should go with you and venture forth, this is a matter of great urgency and I owe a great deal to the Free Folk"Said Jon, brooding.
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Post by Gandalf on Aug 5, 2020 11:15:31 GMT -5
"And I cannot stay idly on the Wall while you all ride off into the forests. Let Ser Denys have the Wall, I will march with you."
Osgrey volunteered, considering it a dishonour to be left behind on so great an undertaking.
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Post by oznerol on Aug 5, 2020 11:51:14 GMT -5
"And I cannot stay idly on the Wall while you all ride off into the forests. Let Ser Denys have the Wall, I will march with you."Osgrey volunteered, considering it a dishonour to be left behind on so great an undertaking. Jon unsheathed his sword, the Valyrian steel gleaming under the torches' light. "Let it be so, then"He held the sword horizontally. "We shall ride and save a folk from the clutches of death and fight to see another dawn and another spring"
"Snow! Snow!"
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Post by pontifex on Aug 5, 2020 16:38:02 GMT -5
"The last time I saw a wolf like that it was ripping out of of my men's throats." Jaime said by way of greeting. This one was pure white though, just as large. "Tame enough beasts when their masters bid them to be. I wonder what would happen if I found a lion cub to raise myself."
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Post by oznerol on Aug 6, 2020 3:06:53 GMT -5
"The last time I saw a wolf like that it was ripping out of of my men's throats." Jaime said by way of greeting. This one was pure white though, just as large. "Tame enough beasts when their masters bid them to be. I wonder what would happen if I found a lion cub to raise myself." Said Jon, while the wildling honor guard looked weary of the stranger. Ghost bared his teeth.
"Which wolf could you have possibly seen?"
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Post by pontifex on Aug 6, 2020 16:55:26 GMT -5
"Greywind, he was called if memory serves. Though I do not know what became of the direwolf." Jaime stayed a distance away, he did not trust those jaws. "Perhaps it is best if we speak privily, Jon Snow. In an official sense, I am a dead man."
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