Post by The Smith on Sept 18, 2013 23:25:15 GMT -5
Tynian Lannister stood upon the deck of the Tyroshi galley “Beauteous Maiden” staring out towards the approaching island of Riswell in the Stepstones. The galley and its crew were the property of the Archon of course, as were most of those engaged in the current conflict, but over the previous few years he had made himself useful to some of those in his employ; men who judged talent and aptitude over origin. The war with Westeros had strained those relationships, to be sure, but he had proven his loyalty in the past assisting with acts and information against the noble Houses of Westeros as the war progressed, though he discretely tried to ensure they were directed at elements not directly commanded by House Lannister or its Lord. So long as the information was reliable and effective, the Tyroshi seemed willing to overlook this flaw in character, to a point. Indeed it was his information, leaked from contacts and friends still within Westeros, which had provided the information that Gale’s Wind Keep was under-defended. The failure of that operation was the result of the poor leadership of the Free Cities commanders and their men and the Archon’s wrath was directed to them. His advisers, however, had noted the accuracy of his information and that had been his first foot in their camp.
Over the following years, his nuggets of information; half rumour, half fact had been the catalyst for many of their operations though he again played little direct role in carrying them out. His disgrace and exile from Westeros was common knowledge, though the reasons for it were contradictory & vague. The exclusion was real however and this allowed his undercover work to continue. He built up networks and relations with the Free Cities, far beyond even that of the Archon’s forces themselves. He was not a strategic planner but he could tell from the information he was getting from both sides, that the Riswell battle at Sandskull Keep would be pivotal to changing the course of the war and he was determined to make his mark one way or another.
He turned to his bodyguard and sellsword, Mellar Joharis of Volantis, and murmured something in his ear about nothing much as he eyed the crew and his remaining men, which were sequestered aboard as a small sellsword company there to reinforce the garrison at Sandskull Keep, as his request. On-board where food, water & armament supplies for the defenders. His eyes glanced out over the remaining fleet of 19 ships which contained similar orders. They ploughed ahead through the surf and beached near the keep itself. They had some time as he had known in advance of the target (though delayed that knowledge for the Archon until just before it would have arrived anyway) and the westerosi troops were still on route to the area, though defensive works were now hastily under way. He was assisted down a rope ladder lowered from the ship and joined by his men as the defenders came out to begin unloading. He grasped the forearm of a Tyroshi lieutenant with bright red hair waxed into spikes and grinned “Hello friend! You didn't think the Archon would forget about his loyal men here, did you?” he said in High Valyrian (NB: Skill is Novice) “We decided to bring a few friends along to share the killing!” he laughed loudly, as he gestured to the fleet behind him. The Tyroshi grinned, showing a few missing teeth amongst the thick beard he’d grown “About time you showed up, we thought we’d have to kill all these foreign pigs without you!” he grinned, though looked curiously at Tynian, spotting that his accent was unusual but he couldn't place it. The letter from the Archon’s high ranking servants soon smoothed away any worries however.
Mellar Joharis stepped in quickly before it could be examined further and spoke to the man in quick tones “Where do you want all these supplies put?” he asked bluntly, his Volantene accent causing interest, but no more as they were still consider the ally of Tyrosh in this conflict. The lieutenant pointed to an area and Mellar rushed off to begin organising the crew’s efforts.
Tynian spend the next 30 minutes exchanging pleasantries while the men worked. Once his ship’s goods were unloaded, he helped arrange transport of the other ships supplies as well.
About halfway through, in a pre-arranged manner, a fight broke out between his men and those of another ship who were trying to move their goods away from the beach. As the scuffle drew the attention of the men, Tynian moved in to observe and uncorked a small flask at his waist. He looked around carefully and at the most opportune time, he sprinkled its contents over the stacked piles of wheat, grain and meat that had been left on the shorefront as liberally as he could in the confusion before any eyes turned to him. The poison he had applied would soak into the linen and goods and be good for a few hours of severe stomach pain and diarrhoea about 10-12 hours after ingestion, considering the low levels he was applying to it. A little later after things had calmed down, he let the Tyroshi lieutenant know that the current ship’s master was known to him as a thief and that he had likely falsified his manifest and lightened the load of goods he was supposed to be depositing. He offered his assistance in double-checking the amounts he had unloaded and this time attempted to tamper with the water supplies unloaded, with a mild laxative agent he had prepared in another flask. It was so concentrated that a few drops in each barrel of water was enough to contaminate the batch but remain as a vague bitterness taste, to be easily explained away by exposure to salt over a long sea voyage. Again he watched carefully, waiting for an opportune time without becoming greedy or reckless, while the ship’s captain and lieutenant argued over the ship’s manifest. (NB: Espionage is Apprentice, Poison is Expert)
Rather than risk further exposure, he left it at that and thanked the luckless Tyroshi for his hospitality and boarded the longboat back to Beauteous Maiden and sailed away until the army approached. Once out of sight of the keep, Tynian bribed the captain with a small fortune in gold to anchor while the battle’s outcome was known, as he watched with spyglass. He knew, even with the huge bribe, he couldn't expect the captain to stay if the Redwyne or Braavosi fleet engaged but he felt it worth the risk to stay and watch the outcome of the battle. Should the worst come, he and his Volantene contingent could commander a row boat at sword point and row ashore as the captain made his escape back to the Archon.
Outcome:
1/3 of the defenders supplies are poisoned, giving them a sickness disadvantage once the main assault begins through them having diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps
Tynian Lannister’s skill in Espionage improves to Noteworthy.
Over the following years, his nuggets of information; half rumour, half fact had been the catalyst for many of their operations though he again played little direct role in carrying them out. His disgrace and exile from Westeros was common knowledge, though the reasons for it were contradictory & vague. The exclusion was real however and this allowed his undercover work to continue. He built up networks and relations with the Free Cities, far beyond even that of the Archon’s forces themselves. He was not a strategic planner but he could tell from the information he was getting from both sides, that the Riswell battle at Sandskull Keep would be pivotal to changing the course of the war and he was determined to make his mark one way or another.
He turned to his bodyguard and sellsword, Mellar Joharis of Volantis, and murmured something in his ear about nothing much as he eyed the crew and his remaining men, which were sequestered aboard as a small sellsword company there to reinforce the garrison at Sandskull Keep, as his request. On-board where food, water & armament supplies for the defenders. His eyes glanced out over the remaining fleet of 19 ships which contained similar orders. They ploughed ahead through the surf and beached near the keep itself. They had some time as he had known in advance of the target (though delayed that knowledge for the Archon until just before it would have arrived anyway) and the westerosi troops were still on route to the area, though defensive works were now hastily under way. He was assisted down a rope ladder lowered from the ship and joined by his men as the defenders came out to begin unloading. He grasped the forearm of a Tyroshi lieutenant with bright red hair waxed into spikes and grinned “Hello friend! You didn't think the Archon would forget about his loyal men here, did you?” he said in High Valyrian (NB: Skill is Novice) “We decided to bring a few friends along to share the killing!” he laughed loudly, as he gestured to the fleet behind him. The Tyroshi grinned, showing a few missing teeth amongst the thick beard he’d grown “About time you showed up, we thought we’d have to kill all these foreign pigs without you!” he grinned, though looked curiously at Tynian, spotting that his accent was unusual but he couldn't place it. The letter from the Archon’s high ranking servants soon smoothed away any worries however.
Mellar Joharis stepped in quickly before it could be examined further and spoke to the man in quick tones “Where do you want all these supplies put?” he asked bluntly, his Volantene accent causing interest, but no more as they were still consider the ally of Tyrosh in this conflict. The lieutenant pointed to an area and Mellar rushed off to begin organising the crew’s efforts.
Tynian spend the next 30 minutes exchanging pleasantries while the men worked. Once his ship’s goods were unloaded, he helped arrange transport of the other ships supplies as well.
About halfway through, in a pre-arranged manner, a fight broke out between his men and those of another ship who were trying to move their goods away from the beach. As the scuffle drew the attention of the men, Tynian moved in to observe and uncorked a small flask at his waist. He looked around carefully and at the most opportune time, he sprinkled its contents over the stacked piles of wheat, grain and meat that had been left on the shorefront as liberally as he could in the confusion before any eyes turned to him. The poison he had applied would soak into the linen and goods and be good for a few hours of severe stomach pain and diarrhoea about 10-12 hours after ingestion, considering the low levels he was applying to it. A little later after things had calmed down, he let the Tyroshi lieutenant know that the current ship’s master was known to him as a thief and that he had likely falsified his manifest and lightened the load of goods he was supposed to be depositing. He offered his assistance in double-checking the amounts he had unloaded and this time attempted to tamper with the water supplies unloaded, with a mild laxative agent he had prepared in another flask. It was so concentrated that a few drops in each barrel of water was enough to contaminate the batch but remain as a vague bitterness taste, to be easily explained away by exposure to salt over a long sea voyage. Again he watched carefully, waiting for an opportune time without becoming greedy or reckless, while the ship’s captain and lieutenant argued over the ship’s manifest. (NB: Espionage is Apprentice, Poison is Expert)
Rather than risk further exposure, he left it at that and thanked the luckless Tyroshi for his hospitality and boarded the longboat back to Beauteous Maiden and sailed away until the army approached. Once out of sight of the keep, Tynian bribed the captain with a small fortune in gold to anchor while the battle’s outcome was known, as he watched with spyglass. He knew, even with the huge bribe, he couldn't expect the captain to stay if the Redwyne or Braavosi fleet engaged but he felt it worth the risk to stay and watch the outcome of the battle. Should the worst come, he and his Volantene contingent could commander a row boat at sword point and row ashore as the captain made his escape back to the Archon.
Outcome:
1/3 of the defenders supplies are poisoned, giving them a sickness disadvantage once the main assault begins through them having diarrhoea, vomiting and stomach cramps
Tynian Lannister’s skill in Espionage improves to Noteworthy.
Hope you all are well and happy.