The Camp of Aenys Targaryen

[The Smith]

A large fortified camp atop a hill still a day away Sandskull keep. The camp is split into different factions, but all call themselves the Toad's army.

[Ser Harlan Stone]

Harlan sits outside his tent, drawing several ideas he has for the impending assault. They are already implementing the ideas he had before, but he needed it to be perfect. No bronze for Harlan, as he was no true Royce. Girded in iron and steel, with his stone hammer nearby, he waits for the Commanders to pull their heads out of their arses so some people could start dying.

[Deleted]

A stocky and well-muscled man, who looked to be in his late twenties, walked past the tent and stopped for a moment and stood looking at Harlan drawing. He was wearing a long-sleeved mail shirt with a gorget covering his throat and chest, with a light helmet on his head. He also wore a tabard in black and red with the Grafton burning tower upon it. He held a crossbow in his left hand with a dagger in his belt on the right side.

"Greetings, what are you drawing? Shouldn't you be preparing for the battle, instead of making art?"

[Ser Harlan Stone]

Harlan looks up and squints. He doesn't recognize the man, but unless they were 20 ft. away, that was normal for any face. Eyes went first for him strangely enough. He's worried whats next. He pats his stone hammer next to him "I'm all ready to go, just getting a quick sketch of the castle before we knock down the pretty walls and commence the slaughter. You ready? Whats your name?"

[Deleted]

The man walked closer as Harlan responded, and looked at the sketch with a peeked interest, before he answered.

"I am prepared yes, I'm just restless and wish for this battle to start, I wish to return to my home and sleep in a comfortable bed. I'm Clayton Hawkins, serving as a crossbowman under Ser Markus Grafton. Who are you, my lord?" he said, knowing perfectly well that the man was the bastard brother of Lord Bayard Royce.

[Ser Harlan Stone]

"Clayton eh? Crossbows... Ah love those little babies. Course, the big ballista is where the real action is. I've always wanted to see... Oh right, my name. Harlan Stone" He reached up to take the crossbowmans hand. "help a old man up?"

[Deleted]

Clayton took Harlan's hand with his free hand and shook it eagerly.

"Harlan Stone, you are not the bastard brother of his lord Royce of the Vale, are you? It's a real honor to make your acquaintance" he said with a played eagerness and surprise. "Yes, crossbows is too my liking as well, I know that bows holds greater length, but these babies have greater shot-power if kept properly and more capable of taking down a armed knight if needed." he said and patted his crossbow after he let go of Harlan's hand.

[Ser Harlan Stone]

He took the offered hand and heaved himself to his feet. Standing, he was still at least a foot shorter than the tall man. He snorted a breath of amusement "As long as you keep the safety on, aye, its mighty useful against those lobsters. Honor though? Well that's a new one! I think I like you. How long have you been with young Grafton?"

[Deleted]

Clayton smiled.

"I've served with Ser Marcus since the beginning all those years ago, so I'm not new to these blasted islands, but I've tried to keep my head low and nose out of trouble, and so far it seems that the Stranger has kept out of my way and I hope that he'll continue to do so at this battle too."

[Lord Harold Tully]

Ser Rickard Tully is seen by the archers, counting arrows and testing bow strings. He is quiet and then begins to shoot at the targets when he is ready.

[Ser Harlan Stone]

Harlan began walking, legs sore after sitting for so long. He gestured for Clayton to accompany him. "The Stranger will certainty reap his harvest after this one. Here's hoping he overlooks us! So before you were with Grafton, where were you? There's always time for a story."

[Deleted]

Sept 17, 2013 13:21:31 GMT -5 Ser Harlan Stone said:

Harlan began walking, legs sore after sitting for so long. He gestured for Clayton to accompany him. "The Stranger will certainty reap his harvest after this one. Here's hoping he overlooks us! So before you were with Grafton, where were you? There's always time for a story."

Clayton nodded, not really wanting to share his life-story to someone he just met, but some casual conversation would make it easier to gain the man's trust. This might be the way into the Royces since he hadn't been able to at King's Landing a decade ago, he wouldn't squander it this time.

"I have always been in Gulltown, my lord. There isn't much opportunities for a baseborn, except serving their noble lords in whatever capacity that is possible, and with the war on the horizon, I felt that I had to follow and do my duty for the Vale." he said half-truthfully, since he hadn't gone to war for any other reason than to further himself with House Grafton and in the end, House Royce.

[Ser Harlan Stone]

Harlan was only half-listening to the story, but chuckled inwardly. It was rare to see a common man 'doing his duty.' He kept walking, continuing toward where his horse was stabled. "Gulltown! Near grew up there myself. Good place to find enough drink to drown in, if it all smelled a bit fishy"

Finally reaching where the Royce horses were stabled, he asked the stableboys to prepare his horse and another for a short ride.

[Deleted]

Clayton chuckled at the comments about Gulltown.

"Aye, but you get use to the smell when you live there, I tell you, besides it's not like I have any choices in where I wish to live, so I make due with what I have." he said with a shrug and looked suspiciously at Harlan when they reached the stables, he wasn't really comfortable around horses.

"There is no need for a horse for me, I'll rather just walk" he said, his nervousness showing clearly upon his face, as the stableboys brought out the horses.

[Ser Harlan Stone]

"Nonsense! I need you for a bit, and you have to keep up! Just wanted to have a looksie at that palisade those tyroshits are building, and we need to be able to run away fast if necessary" Harlan turned to smile at the man "and you can't outrun a horse! Just need one more, probably one a bit more familiar with the land. Know anyone?"