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Post by oznerol on Jun 16, 2020 11:29:14 GMT -5
The King nodded grimly, considering Walda's circumstances. Snow and Manderly were men of honour, but their loyalties lay with Stark only. He needed his own men in the north, to ensure that they would not desert him after the considerable blood he had spilt to return a Stark to Winterfell. "You and Lord Wyman shall govern in Lord Rickon's stead. I name you my Warden of the North, Snow. You will lead the defence of the North from my enemies. Including those Beyond the Wall."Stannis knew that Jon alone understood the threat the dead posed. Wildlings were simple folk, barbarous, but they were of the realms of men. They were his subjects, now. "You know I must march south, to win my throne. It is my duty. But I will return."--- "I accept your homage in Lord Rickon's stead. Rise, Snow." The King looked around himself, to those northern lords present. "Manderly was the first to swear fealty to his liege, as I understand it. I name his heir Wylis as Lord of the Hornwood, for the castle belonged last to his kinswoman before Ramsay Snow raped and killed her."Baratheon raised his voice further, to be heard amongst the clamour. "Now he is dead, and his father too. House Bolton has paid for its crimes, and a Stark sits again in Winterfell. But my enemies still hold my throne. Lannister and Frey who killed your Lord Eddard and his son Robb still remain in the south. I will march south and make them answer for their crimes. I will give you justice and vengeance. March south with me, and the Red Wedding will be avenged, on my oath as your king."Though the North was won, Stannis would need many more swords to win back his throne. Perhaps more than would ever be found in the North. But he would march on King's Landing, or die trying. Jon looked confused for a moment, being recipient of his father's title was beyond him. He remembered when Robb and him played on the courtyard, fighting imaginary duels: once he had claimed to be the Lord of Winterfell and his brother cut that short, no bastard was to rule over the castle or the North, for that matter, and that's all Jon ever was a bastard, not fully a member of the family, just an oddity whose existence nerved the cold and distant Catelyn. "You honor me greatly, Your Grace"He could feel a new weight upon his shoulders, one he never knew would have to endure in his life, stained as he was by the taint of bastardy, an outsider in his own family. Oblivious to Jon's brooding, Tormund and the wildling chieftains that had come with him cheered: Giantsbane yelled something about the prettiest warden to ver rule the North, having a long dick for a kneeler, or something of the sort. "Just as my home awaited me, lord Stannis, so does your throne. I know that you remember, vividly, where the real threat lurks, beyond the Wall, encroaching the haunted forest; compared to that Cersei is but an annoyance. But she's a threat, nevertheless, one you must deal with"He said, sincerely. Stannis was harsh and proud and unforgiving, but he was just and would not let the North die under a long and endless night. His father, Ned Stark, had believed in him in the past and so would he. "I shall rule until my brother is of age: in his stead and in yours"--- Jon nodded and raised from his knee, sheathing his sword. Rickon looked still slightly confused, he guessed what was unfolding was important enough, but he prefered going to his room as soon as possible and checking if any of his toys were there (he would be sorely disappointed later on) and playing catch with Shaggydog.
"Whoever among the Lords and Ladies of the Norths wants to see their kin avenged they're free to join you, Your Grace and pledge your swords to you"
He knew the North's strenght was sorely depleted and that the last battle was yet to be fought, but fighting for Stannis and helping him gain his throne would mean having the united realms against the Dead, not just one, hardly populated, suffering the hardships of Winter and bleeding from years of warfare. "The North remembers how its very blood is in the hands of oathbreakers, traitors and tyrants. And it will march"
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Winterfell
Jun 16, 2020 11:46:42 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by perry on Jun 16, 2020 11:46:42 GMT -5
The now Lord Wylis stepped forward. “For the love I bore my little brother Ser Wendel, and for the love I bore King Robb.. we will march again, to free our friends and see vengeance upon those who harmed us!” Wyman nodded, the whale was slightly out of breath from all the excitement. “Yes, yes. The fleet and swords of White Harbor and the Hornwood stand behind you, for vengeance. Though I would be misplaced upon a southern battlefield, you have my support.” Wyman turned toward Flint and Locke, and the other houses that recognized the authority of the House Manderly, gesturing for them to do the same.
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Post by Royal Joker on Jun 16, 2020 13:00:21 GMT -5
"I do not treat with traitors, madmen, or pirates. Your uncle is all three."The King gave the maester a nod, and he scuttled off to the rookery.
"I mean to make you the Lady of Pyke and the Iron Islands, if you would bend the knee. I can unmake your marriage to the fat whale your uncle found for you too, if you so wish."
Apparently a seal had stood in for Asha, or some such Ironborn nonsense. They were stranger even than the Northmen.
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 16, 2020 15:10:57 GMT -5
"I will remain in Winterfell, for a time. Now that Bolton is gone, the North is secure. But we must march before the snows grow worse and passage south becomes impossible."
Baratheon's fortunes had risen once more with the fall of Bolton and the capture of Winterfell. The King ground his teeth in thought.
"As for your Wildlings, they can be settled here in the North. Perhaps the lands of House Bolton would suffice. I will leave the matter to you, Lord Snow."
--
"Muster what strength you have at Winterfell. We shall move south soon."
Stannis commanded, both of his own men and the northern lords. He watched as they paid their fealty to little Rickon, or rather Lord Snow as his proxy. They were frustratingly stubborn, but it appeared that with a Stark onside they would march to the Seven Hells and back.
--
Mormont is brought in to see the King, some days after the oaths are sworn at Winterfell.
---
"You fought for me at the village against Bolton. If you bend the knee you will be pardoned, and I shall name you your father's heir. You will have a husband of my choosing, and will abandon your heathen God. If not, you will die."
The King's eyes were like burned out stars, the light long since gone from them. All that remained were two blackened rocks, staring at Asha intently.
"Your brother may not have killed the Stark boys, but the Northmen won't let him live. Given the state that Bolton left him in, death would be merciful. Or he could take the black, and atone for his crimes on the Wall."
---
After the day's events transpired, Ser Davos is summoned to the King's new chambers.
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Post by oznerol on Jun 16, 2020 16:43:07 GMT -5
"I will remain in Winterfell, for a time. Now that Bolton is gone, the North is secure. But we must march before the snows grow worse and passage south becomes impossible."Baratheon's fortunes had risen once more with the fall of Bolton and the capture of Winterfell. The King ground his teeth in thought. "As for your Wildlings, they can be settled here in the North. Perhaps the lands of House Bolton would suffice. I will leave the matter to you, Lord Snow."-- "Muster what strength you have at Winterfell. We shall move south soon."Stannis commanded, both of his own men and the northern lords. He watched as they paid their fealty to little Rickon, or rather Lord Snow as his proxy. They were frustratingly stubborn, but it appeared that with a Stark onside they would march to the Seven Hells and back. ---
After the day's events transpired, Ser Davos is summoned to the King's new chambers. Said Jon, solemn and long-faced. "I promised to settle them in the lands of the Dreadfort, in the upper course of the Weeping Water, where they might plough the uncultivated land and venture into the Sheepshead Hills for game"
He looked pensive. "They're not a folk to settle easily, but they will get used to the land quickly and will be able to roam freely, without a lord to control them. Of course, the peasants that lived under Bolton won't see their hamlets and farms damaged in any way: if there's something in the North is land a plenty"He then looks to one of his companions, the wildling called Val and motioned for her to get close, which he did, standing proud in her purely white raiment. "There's one matter left, Your Grace. I wish to spouse Lady Val"
"I told him, there's no need, he stole me, back at the Wall"
"But we of the North are stubborn folk. I will see us married in the godswood. I hope this pleases you, lord Stannis"------------ Jon started to receive fealty as Warden of the North. Many knelt that day that had bent their limbs and spine willingly to Bolton, but with Stark restored they had little choice but to comply. Barbrei Dustin seemed particularly unwilling to utter the oath, but she died, knowing the Barrowtown had little strenght to do anything save complain. Her kindred, the Ryswells, were eager to swear loyalty. Many other followed, including those who had been virtual captives of Bolton, like Beth Cassel, whom they had released from the Dreadfort's clutches -she looked pale and emaciated, but she had her father's resolve and was sworn as Lady Cassel of King's Course, her castle and honor restored. Many others went and go, bending knees and kissing both Stannis and Jon, who stood there for quite a few hours, an exhausting thing to do, but their duty demanded as much. ------------- Davos arrived, thinning hair carefully combed backwards. He looked recently bathed and trimmed and wore a clean doublet. Seaworth wore a little silvery badge in the shape of a hand. "My King, I believe you called for me"
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 16, 2020 18:00:01 GMT -5
”You have my blessing, Lord Snow.”
Stannis regarded the Wildlings as stranger even than the northmen, but the marriage between the two would go some way to reconciling the Free Folk as his subjects.
”I shall leave the matter of the Wildlings in your hands. If they look to you for leadership, so be it. They are part of my kingdom, now, and have my protection.”
So long as they followed the laws of the land, at least. He suspected that their fondness for pillaging would not disappear overnight.
—
Stannis stood in his quarters, hands clasped behind the small of his back.
”Lord Davos.”
The King greeted, staring out of a window at the ever growing blanket of snow.
”Winter is here, as the Starks said it would be. I did not ever imagine I would be spending it in the north.”
Fate had led him here, to the end of the world, to test his resolve in ice and snow. Fate, and the hand of Ser Davos.
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Post by oznerol on Jun 16, 2020 18:15:56 GMT -5
”You have my blessing, Lord Snow.”Stannis regarded the Wildlings as stranger even than the northmen, but the marriage between the two would go some way to reconciling the Free Folk as his subjects. ”I shall leave the matter of the Wildlings in your hands. If they look to you for leadership, so be it. They are part of my kingdom, now, and have my protection.”So long as they followed the laws of the land, at least. He suspected that their fondness for pillaging would not disappear overnight. — Stannis stood in his quarters, hands clasped behind the small of his back. ”Lord Davos.”The King greeted, staring out of a window at the ever growing blanket of snow. ”Winter is here, as the Starks said it would be. I did not ever imagine I would be spending it in the north.” Fate had led him here, to the end of the world, to test his resolve in ice and snow. Fate, and the hand of Ser Davos. Val and Jon bow.
"You're invited, if you so wish"He said. "The Free Folk don't kneel easily, but they respect you, Red King: you're the only who ever dared fighting them since the times of the Wolven Kings. And the only one who got close to understand their plight"She added.
"This will do much to remind the North the wildlings are here to stay"--- "Aye, sire, I didn't expect that either. But, I haven't been this close to freezing since I was a lad"Said Davos, removing his cloak and placing it over an oaken chest nearby.
"You gained one realm, more will come. I might not be too useful in the battles to come -hardly know where the pointy end of a sword goes-, but I will go wherever your Grace goes"
He added. Davos had been in Eastwatch by the Sea when still a teenager, part of a smuggling crew. "And how might I serve you, sire? I'm very glad to see Your Grace in one piece, whole, I feared I would see you with... fewer"
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Post by pontifex on Jun 16, 2020 18:22:59 GMT -5
Ser Richard narrowed his eyes at the King's words. "Lady Walda...Bolton's widow?" A smile crept from the corners of his mouth. Let his brother keep his claim to Crow's Nest, a hovel compared to the Dreadfort. "It would be an honor, your Grace. I'll plant an heir in her womb and return to the field within a moon's turn."
-----
Lord Lester Morrigen returned from the south, a bit frost-bitten, but nothing some hours in front of a fire with some broth wouldn't fix. When he was well recovered, he came to the High Hall in Winterfell and presented himself before the King. "King Stannis." he began. "Moat Cailin is yours. The garrison surrendered without a fight. Two such men have taken their oaths and joined our ranks. The rest I allowed to return to their ploughshares and villages in return for throwing down their arms. Only one prisoner, Ser Rogar, was taken forcibly. I have brought him to Winterfell to await your justice. I know it is not my place, but I would suggest he be allowed to take the black your Grace, if he has sense enough to take it."
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 16, 2020 18:53:57 GMT -5
”I have little love for your tree gods. But I will see it done, Snow. It is my duty.”
The King looked indignant at that, as if personally attacked by the words.
”Yes, I am the only king in the last three hundred years that remembered the Wall, and the enemy we all face. The fools in King’s Landing filled the Night’s Watch with thieves and rapers, and then wonder why the Wall is a ruin.”
Stannis snorted.
—-
”I see they have been training you to speak like a proper lord down in White Harbour.”
Stannis drily remarked, thin lips stretching into a grim smile.
”You are more useful than a hundred of my knights, Ser Davos. You speak the truth.”
The King turned from the window to face his Hand, the smile gone.
”These Northmen begrudgingly bend their knees now that there is a Stark in Winterfell again. They forget their place. Robb Stark was a traitor, and though his death was regrettable, it was inevitable.”
The Northmen grated on him with their skewed senses of honour and loyalty. Many had quite happily bent the knee to Bolton, who flayed men for sport, but struggled to bow to their rightful king.
”But bend they do. If their word holds, they will follow us South to reclaim my throne.”
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Post by oznerol on Jun 16, 2020 19:11:21 GMT -5
”I have little love for your tree gods. But I will see it done, Snow. It is my duty.”The King looked indignant at that, as if personally attacked by the words. ”Yes, I am the only king in the last three hundred years that remembered the Wall, and the enemy we all face. The fools in King’s Landing filled the Night’s Watch with thieves and rapers, and then wonder why the Wall is a ruin.”Stannis snorted. —- ”I see they have been training you to speak like a proper lord down in White Harbour.”Stannis drily remarked, thin lips stretching into a grim smile. ”You are more useful than a hundred of my knights, Ser Davos. You speak the truth.”The King turned from the window to face his Hand, the smile gone. ”These Northmen begrudgingly bend their knees now that there is a Stark in Winterfell again. They forget their place. Robb Stark was a traitor, and though his death was regrettable, it was inevitable.”The Northmen grated on him with their skewed senses of honour and loyalty. Many had quite happily bent the knee to Bolton, who flayed men for sport, but struggled to bow to their rightful king. ”But bend they do. If their word holds, they will follow us South to reclaim my throne.”
Snorted Giantsbane from the rear of the hall. "Those Crows be shit, I always told you"Jon frowns, but he says nothing. He simply open and closes the sword hand, the one injured more that two years past, when he was but a steward. "By your leave, your Grace"--- "My lectures and practice reading with Lady Shireen were fruitful. Even if I still can no longer keep apart an Aerys from a Jaehaerys, but who cares, all dead now"He said, with a smile.
"The truth is what you asked from me, sire, always. Happy to deliver. I wouldn't lie to Your Grace, not even even if my life depended on it"Davos raised a hand with mutilated fingers. "This was a fair price for all that came after and I'm still grateful. The least I can do is saying what I think, it's what a Hand should do. At least I think so, but I don't know many things"He added, honest. "They're too proud, but noble, give them the heads of Late Lord Frey and his ilk and you shall have them in your pocket, sire. Their word will hold, I'm sure, I've seen mules who were less stubborn than these men, they're thick as castle walls"
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LD
Veteran 
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Post by LD on Jun 16, 2020 19:41:18 GMT -5
Mormont is brought in to see the King, some days after the oaths are sworn at Winterfell. As Lady Mormont entered the throne room, her daugthers Lyra and Jory following behind her. While the two of the Mormont daugthers knelt faithfully when the three of them stood in front of Stannis Baratheon, Lady Maege stood firm in front of the king. Too much has happened in all these decades for the old She-Bear to just kneel in front of the man, who calls himself an ally to the North. As one of Robb Stark's formost supporters she hasn't forgotten that Stannis neither answered Lady Stark's call for allying up against the Lannisters, when the King in the North needed their aid. Thus she would be careful, keeping also out an eye for Rickon Stark. "Lord Stannis Baratheon - or as I suppose now King Stannis Baratheon", she solely stated benevolent, though with a grim expression, "It is good to see that the North has been cleansed from those, who have betrayed it, for I have lost my eldest daughter during the Red Wedding by both the Bolton's and Frey's ploy. Like many my House has suffered from the attrocities, committed by the Lannister's allies, while the King I have followed has perished. If it is not for you and your men's aid, dark times would have awaited the North for there must always be a Stark at Winterfell."
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 16, 2020 21:04:37 GMT -5
Stannis nodded curtly, himself leaving to his chambers.
—
”I will have to kill ten thousand Freys before they truly follow me, Davos. A thousand of my men die in this winter hellhole and they can barely bow their heads. Good men died to put Rickon back in Winterfell. Many good men.”
Many had died on the Blackwater too, consumed by fire. Stannis grit his teeth.
”The questions remains whether we go by land or by sea. Manderly has a fleet of ships, and the Neck is treacherous even in summer. But if we do not deal with the Freys I suspect our leal northern allies will desert us.”
—-
”I have been your King since my brother died, Lady Mormont. I broke the wildlings at the Wall, took Winterfell from the Boltons, put the boy Rickon on his father’s throne. And yet you do not kneel.”
Stannis bristled, his voice half a growl. Though the She-Bear cut an imposing figure, Stannis was a large man in his own right, though gaunt and lean after months of surviving on tough beef and onion broth.
”I march south soon, to win back my throne and avenge your Red Wedding. I cannot abide those who trade cloaks like pelts. Even if their oaths were to a false king, the Freys are the most vile of traitors.”
Even the damned wildlings kept the guest right, and they were half savage.
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Post by oznerol on Jun 17, 2020 3:22:42 GMT -5
”I will have to kill ten thousand Freys before they truly follow me, Davos. A thousand of my men die in this winter hellhole and they can barely bow their heads. Good men died to put Rickon back in Winterfell. Many good men.”Many had died on the Blackwater too, consumed by fire. Stannis grit his teeth. ”The questions remains whether we go by land or by sea. Manderly has a fleet of ships, and the Neck is treacherous even in summer. But if we do not deal with the Freys I suspect our leal northern allies will desert us.”—- ”I have been your King since my brother died, Lady Mormont. I broke the wildlings at the Wall, took Winterfell from the Boltons, put the boy Rickon on his father’s throne. And yet you do not kneel.”Stannis bristled, his voice half a growl. Though the She-Bear cut an imposing figure, Stannis was a large man in his own right, though gaunt and lean after months of surviving on tough beef and onion broth. ”I march south soon, to win back my throne and avenge your Red Wedding. I cannot abide those who trade cloaks like pelts. Even if their oaths were to a false king, the Freys are the most vile of traitors.”Even the damned wildlings kept the guest right, and they were half savage. Davos places both hands and leans his weight on a chair's back. "It's pointless, my king. Either we gained the North or we would be a collection of heads covered in tar. And I've seen my head in a pike already, I don't want to see it twice, less so if it's actually mine"He knew his king was prone to think many times over.
"But, you're right, we either take the Crossing or the North will desert you in spades"
Davos looks pensive. "It's a strong castle... but there must be a way... I'm sorry, your Grace, I'm not an expert on sieges, save slipping through them. I guess I would take a boat and climb the bridge to bring them food, but to take them? Something else, entirely"He looked back at Stannis. "Does your Grace knows something of the Vale and the Riverlands? Wouldn't they support Lady Cat's son?"
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Post by oznerol on Jun 17, 2020 3:50:45 GMT -5
The godswood was crowded, thousands were to be gathered for the first joyous event to happen in House Stark for more than two years. The godtree stood like a giant, it's solemn face witnessing which was meant to unite two peoples, with blood and marriage. Jon Snow stood in the tree's shadow, wearing soft grey woolen clothes and a doublet with silver buttons. A ditchfire had been lit and Stannis Baratheon, the groom's liege, was to stand as the one to officiate the ceremony -luckily for him the Northern weddings were a hurried affair, probably because they were conducted in the open-, as there was no other close of kin. Torches lit the way from the Great Keep to the godswood, and many more were held by Northmen and wildlings alive. All the chieftains stood in attendance, clad in their best garments and with all the gold they had on themselves, bracelets, necklaces, rings, even crude circlets of bronze. Rickon was given a place of honor and Shaggydog and Ghost stood together, the litter brothers finally reunited.
And Tormund was the one to walk Val to the groom, as she neither had kin to do so. He, clean and trimmed almost looked like a Southron lord, save for the gaudy jewelry and the weathered ruddy face. Val, however, was breathtaking, tall and slender like a willow, she wore an ivory gown that suit her figure like a glove, the golden hair shone like molten gold, carefully braided, and, as she had no house to claim a descent for, her cloak was not heraldic, instead the maids at the castle had woven together a thousand weirwood leaves, the red making a powerful contrast with the pure white of her dress. The cloak was clasped with a weirwood brooch, carved like a face.
As she walked down the aisle made of torches and attendants, her head hair but a smile dancing on her lips, many lords looked at her with badly disguised envy, but none broke the ceremonious moment; some whispered among themselves that she was a wildling princess. She bows before the tree, groom and king and Tormund hands her to Jon, both then looking at Stannis. The leaves like a canopy over their heads. The tranquil pond next to it remained like a dark mirror, reflecting the lights of the many torches. A few crows stood silent in the branches, watching everything with beady eyes.
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LD
Veteran
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Post by LD on Jun 17, 2020 5:36:45 GMT -5
”I have been your King since my brother died, Lady Mormont. I broke the wildlings at the Wall, took Winterfell from the Boltons, put the boy Rickon on his father’s throne. And yet you do not kneel.”Stannis bristled, his voice half a growl. Though the She-Bear cut an imposing figure, Stannis was a large man in his own right, though gaunt and lean after months of surviving on tough beef and onion broth. ”I march south soon, to win back my throne and avenge your Red Wedding. I cannot abide those who trade cloaks like pelts. Even if their oaths were to a false king, the Freys are the most vile of traitors.”Even the damned wildlings kept the guest right, and they were half savage. Mormont raised an eyebrow, when it came to Stannis passive-aggressive tone. It stinged to hear him talk about Robb Stark as a "false king" - the North valued its rulers and given that she herself served directly under Stark's command, fought alongside him and lead portions of his armies she knew that the young Wolf was destined to be a great ruler. One with a heart at least, unlike Stannis... how ironic! "The last time I was at Winterfell, a Stark sat on this throne, not a Baratheon - you may be my rightful overlord by Southron law, but the Lords of the North - the traitors who served the Lannister's cause not counted- serve the Starks and have always been", she gave dry as a reply, "I've lived already, when the Targaryens ruled the South, seen when they murdered our lords in the most cruel way possible. Decades I served under Eddard Stark faithfully until he was struck by a similiar fate. Robb Stark, proclaimed King in the North by the majority of lords, including myself at Riverrun had opposed this injustice, once more caused by the ruling family, just like his father... we all know how it ended.
I have no reason to trust any Southron King immidiately, for my de jure overlords since ancient times, even before the Targaryens have landed were slighted by those above them, whenever there was the chance. We may not agree, when it comes to the memory of Robb Stark as one of his former advisors and I do not wish to start a pointless debate over it. However, I trust in you keeping your word, Baratheon, for I have heard that unlike others you are a just king - like the one I have followed before."She then decided to kneel, despite the insults before. "Where is the ruling Lord Stark? There are matters, which need to be discussed when it comes to the will of his fallen Lord brother."
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