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Post by oznerol on May 11, 2023 4:29:26 GMT -5
STORM'S END Wealth: Average. Manpower: 6,000 Lord: Lord Stannis Baratheon (b. 264 AC), married to Lady Lysa Tully (b. 266 AC). Heir: Steffon Baratheon (b. 285 AC). Bannermen: Under Storm's End - 6,000 menHouse Swygert of Galemont House Penrose of Parchments House Musgood of Drakesgrave House Trant of Gallowsgrey House Connington of Griffin's Roost - 3,500 menHouse Wagstaff of Adderdell House Morrigen of Crow's Nest House Swann of Stonehelm - 4,000 menHouse Lonmouth of Lonmouth House Horpe of Lockport House Estermont of Estermont - 3,000 men
House Whitehead of Weeping Town House Mertyn of Mistwood House Tudbury of Tudbury Hall House Gower of Wrathrock House Tarth of Evenfall Hall - 2,000 menHouse Manning of Manning Hall House Lapworth of Lapworth Castle House Errol of Haystack Hall - 4,000 menHouse Buckler of Bronzegate House Fell of Felwood House Staedmon of Broad Arch House Wylde of the Rainwood - 2,500 menHouse Wylde of Rain House House Rogers of Amberly House Kellington of Blue Grove Minor Houses - 1,000 men eachHouse Caron of Nightsong House Selmy of Harvest Hall House Peasebury of Poddingfield House Dondarrion of Blackhaven House Hasty of Hadlow Keep House Cafferen of Fawnton House Grandison of Grandview House Mertyns of the Mistwood House Wensington of Wensington House Seaworth of Onion Keep
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Post by oznerol on May 17, 2023 9:39:53 GMT -5
"You're trying again?"
*Grunt*
"Last time your brother got the best part of it, nephew"
*Grunt*
"Well, I wish you luck"
"Aha"
Herbert left Stannis alone, closing the door behind.
"He doesn't understand. No-one does"
Baratheon was feeding a small chicken. The falcon he had found while hunting. The dogs had been pursuing a venison and Stannis had heard a noise, not too loud, faint. It probably had fallen from the chest, it was a meek weak thing, hardly recognizable as a falcon. The lordling felt pity and took it, as he had done years prior with the bird his brother mocked as Weakwing.
Seven Hells.
He was now hand-feeding the chick, patiently. A knock and a familiar voice.
"Stannis"
"Aye, come in"
An old maester, wearing a heavy chain around his wrinkled neck, appeared.
"Cressen. Black winds, ill news?"
"Aye, sire, I'm afraid it's the case. Tarly and the Tyrell van have clashed with your brother. Lord Robert marshes to the Riverlands and the Stormlands have been left defenseless"
Stannis sneered.
"Unsurprising. He can get us all killed still"
He removed his leathern gloves and placed the chicked in a bed made of cloth, near the fire. Baratheon turned on the chair.
"Bring all supply you can inside the fortress. We will need food a plenty, if I'm right Tyrell will plant his fat arse before our walls in a fortnight or less. He can try to get into"
"We have three thousand men, my lord"
"Good enough. Let them come. With enough supplies only Aegon could have conquered this, but dragons are long dead"
"Aye. I will send word to nearby villages and send riders with carts. I bet your uncle will be glad to do such task"
"Aye, and send Ser Wylde, he is quite the arse, won't have pity taking grain from a few fat millers. But make sure receipts are signed and given: all will be paid in due time. We do not take freely. Now leave"
"Stannis, if you..."
Baratheon dismissed him with a wave. He looked at the small bird, then to the fields outside the fortress, through the open window. Men looked so small from there, so small. Hardly ants.
That's how Gods would see us...
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Post by oznerol on May 31, 2023 16:51:17 GMT -5
Stannis summons Ser Davos to his presence.
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 1, 2023 3:35:13 GMT -5
Ser Davos ascends the Drum Tower to answer the summons of his new liege, Lord Stannis Baratheon.
Not entirely accustomed to the traditions of nobles, he arrives a little later than expected; he had been fishing down in the shallows, he said. He had trudged through the castle in a pair of muddied boots before Cressen had forced him into some clean clothes that befit his station.
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Post by oznerol on Jun 1, 2023 5:55:24 GMT -5
Ser Davos ascends the Drum Tower to answer the summons of his new liege, Lord Stannis Baratheon. Not entirely accustomed to the traditions of nobles, he arrives a little later than expected; he had been fishing down in the shallows, he said. He had trudged through the castle in a pair of muddied boots before Cressen had forced him into some clean clothes that befit his station. Stannis awaited Davos in the solar. A series of maps were on the large carved table. Storm's End had vaulted ceilings of great high, carved pillars and niches filled with fine sculptures. Centuries of rule had left a rich and well-furbished interior. Never taken, never spoiled, the Baratheon's castle was filled to the brim with valuable artworks and finery, including richly-woven tapestries, of silk and golden and silver thread. The solar itself had a high vault, the walls covered with either frescoes or cloth. The tapestries were of hunts and pageantry, and a few were of royal manufactures, depicting silver haired men and women. At the deep end of the room there was a colossal tapestry depicting the marriage of Rogar Baratheon and Alyssa Velaryon, the scene was as one would expect from the time, with elongated and richly clad figures. In the sky coiled wonderfully woven dragons. There were some older, way older artifacts that Davos would not be able to identify, including a rather crude statue of a bearded man that predated the Baratheon rule. "Ser Davos, come"Baratheon leaned on the table. "You know the Stormlands, by chance? Probably any creeks, coves, gullets, currents and winds, but little else"He said, flatly, without any desdain. "It is a land thick with castle and manor. Rugged terrain, covered by mountain, forest and rainwood. Not the most pleasant of the realm, but rich on its own way"
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 1, 2023 6:32:11 GMT -5
Wide-eyed with awe at the sheer wealth on display, Davos came to stand at Baratheon’s side. A badge had been sewn into his thick woollen jerkin; a black ship with a white onion on the sail, and around his neck a small pouch hung by a thin black cord. He touched it reflexively as he bowed his head.
”I ran aground on Greenstone once, m’lord, and sailed around Cape Wrath at least a half-dozen times.” He answered honestly as he squinted at the maps. There were shapes he could make out, spits of land he had sailed, coloured banners he could recognise. But there were shapes he did not, and little markings scrawled down in black ink all over. A frown creased his brow at just how large it all was. There were lands in the east with barely any scribblings, and he wondered at the emptiness of such a place; an endless field without any sight of ocean for years on end. ”A fine enough land to rule, milord.” He tore his eyes away from the maps to look directly at Stannis. ”But a poor place to sail, unless you enjoy high winds and freezing rain.”
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Post by oznerol on Jun 1, 2023 6:51:59 GMT -5
"There lives my grandsire and kin"
Said Stannis, who took note of Davos' heraldry. Cressen had done a good job.
"They're a good folk. My cousins are gentle lads"
He remarked, ignoring Davos' remarks over winds and weather.
"We Baratheons have many castles, manors, hunting lodges and towers across the land. Some are larger than others. Of those, we have a number that could suffice to make you a lord, Ser Davos"
With a finger he pointed to the Cape of Wrath. The land was littered with scribbled names, something Seaworth could not read, and many of those had a stag head over it, marking its ownership.
"Here, you have a dozen to pick from. Some are mere manors, some are ruined and a handful are just watchtowers or mills or larger houses with a hamlet or two under their supervision"
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 1, 2023 7:10:48 GMT -5
”Have you been to all of these places, lord?” Davos wondered aloud. He found it difficult to picture lands just by pointing at stags and castles on a canvas. The fingers on his good hand hovered over what he presumed was a forest; it was marked out on the map by dozens upon dozens of roughly sketched trees.
”I could not stomach somewhere far from the sea, milord, but a forest to hunt in and some fields to ride in would keep my wife and sons happy.” He balked at the thought of living in a castle. Storm’s End was a bleak and unwelcome place at the best of times. He did not want his own home to be such a place, more suited for giants than men.
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Post by oznerol on Jun 1, 2023 8:18:24 GMT -5
”Have you been to all of these places, lord?” Davos wondered aloud. He found it difficult to picture lands just by pointing at stags and castles on a canvas. The fingers on his good hand hovered over what he presumed was a forest; it was marked out on the map by dozens upon dozens of roughly sketched trees. ”I could not stomach somewhere far from the sea, milord, but a forest to hunt in and some fields to ride in would keep my wife and sons happy.” He balked at the thought of living in a castle. Storm’s End was a bleak and unwelcome place at the best of times. He did not want his own home to be such a place, more suited for giants than men. Said Stannis. "I more oft than not we reside here or make ventures to the gentle hills beyond Errol's castle"Cassana Estermont had been very fond of Stag's Head, a manor a top a hill, surrounded by fields of blossoming lavander. Stannis looked at the map. "The Rainwood. A thick forest. Here"Baratheon pointed at a small dot. "This tower belonged to Lord Tudbury, but he sold to my father to pay his gambling debts. It is a small house, with a round stone tower. Turtle's Bridge and Greenhill are the villages under this particular manor. It has a watermill too. Enough income to provide for a number of horses, mail hauberk and a sword. It is very close to the sea and has a small pier"
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 1, 2023 8:30:55 GMT -5
Davos went to scratch at his beard with his left hand, only to paw at empty air. ”I would be honoured to make it mine, milord.” A rueful smile stretched across his lips for a moment as he realised his mistake, and set his left hand down again. At the mention of swords and mail he looked somewhat embarrassed, looking down at his boots before raising his eyes to Stannis.
”Begging your pardon lord, but I will be no good to you no matter how many horses I buy. To tell you true, I have never rode a horse.” But he brightened somewhat at the mention of a pier, and in his minds eye he pictures his sons all having ships of their own.
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Post by oznerol on Jun 1, 2023 9:16:15 GMT -5
Davos went to scratch at his beard with his left hand, only to paw at empty air. ”I would be honoured to make it mine, milord.” A rueful smile stretched across his lips for a moment as he realised his mistake, and set his left hand down again, and at the mention of swords and mail he looked somewhat embarrassed, looking down at his boots before raising his eyes to Stannis. ”Begging your pardon lord, but I will be no good to you no matter how many horses I buy. To tell you true, I have never rode a horse.” But he brightened somewhat at the mention of a pier, and in his minds eye he pictures his sons all having ships of their own. Said Stannis behind his teeth. "You would be of use other ways. Mount ships rather than horses"Granted Baratheon. Cressen always said Stannis could see things in people, while Robert only cared for the strong, the lecherous and the brave, the younger brother saw potential in what apparently lacked it. Unfortunately, he more oft than not saw people as assets, rather than fellow individuals, and that made him isolated from almost everyone else. But he saw something in Davos. A man, apparently so plain, but that was able to cross the thick blockade and then be smart enough to find profit in war and then throw it away for his family's sake. Loyal. He could be loyal, and Stannis needed and loved that more than anyone. Plus, there was something in the smuggler, a certain manner that made Stannis felt at ease. There was a man confident in his own skin, while Baratheon felt the contrary. "You have a family, ser Davos?"
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 1, 2023 9:30:33 GMT -5
Davos nodded in understanding, and then leapt at the chance to talk of his family.
”Marya is my lovely wife, mother of my four lads.” He replied, voice thick with pride. ”Good boys. Dale and Allard help me with the ship, and are trying to grow beards of their own. Peach fuzz, I call it.” They were almost men, but not yet, and Davos was keen to remind them of such.
”Mathos and Maric wait for me with Marya in King’s Landing.” He smiled sadly. ”I hoped that I would make enough coin one day for us all to live honestly.”
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Post by oznerol on Jun 1, 2023 10:41:06 GMT -5
"Four boys. They shall keep your name and honor you"
Replied Stannis.
"If you're willing, you may send one of your eldest to be my squire. And once waters settle, they should leave the capital, which is a pit of vipers and sycophants"
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 1, 2023 10:52:09 GMT -5
Davos dropped to his knees and bowed his head.
”Milord, you honour me beyond words.” His voice cracked with emotion. Dale was a little old to be a squire, but Allard was still young enough. He could still learn to ride a horse, read and write, use a sword. The thought of it was enough to make his head swim. A part of him felt that he did not deserve this. ”My sons will serve you until their last breath milord, as I will. Every one.”
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Post by oznerol on Jun 1, 2023 11:08:41 GMT -5
Davos dropped to his knees and bowed his head. ”Milord, you honour me beyond words.” His voice cracked with emotion. Dale was a little old to be a squire, but Allard was still young enough. He could still learn to ride a horse, read and write, use a sword. The thought of it was enough to make his head swim. A part of him felt that he did not deserve this. ”My sons will serve you until their last breath milord, as I will. Every one.”Stannis frowned. "I need no servitude. Only loyalty"He said, while gesturing with his right hand, indicating Davos to rise from his knees. "Raise, Ser Davos, no need for theatrics. Sadly, you entered my household in a dire time, we're hardly fed and besieged. I believe winds will change soon enough, for bad or worse"
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