Castle Black's Council Room

[The Smith]

Talking over Aranya caused Bracken to laugh, "It is just rumors, men see things when they are on patrol. And stories like those have a way of growing. I can tell you more in private. I can describe the specifics in every detail."

[Deleted]

Aranya sighed, and sat down, yanking her dagger out of the table and sheathing it on her swordbelt. "I suppose I have the time. But first tell me news of the north. For each piece you tell me, I'll tell something of the realm."

"Now - who reported these dead men walking? Did they see them with their own eyes? Where and when?"


OOC: I did not see that post.

"You can tell me things right here, Lord Bracken. We have no need to speak in private."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"It seems Stags outlive Dragons. They spent the last few years slaying each other, only to burn King's Landing to rubble by the time they were done. Callen took what was left with the men of the Reach and the Vale, and now all but the Westermen have bent their knees. The Westermen and Dorne, but there is peace with the Dornish."

[Deleted]

"As for the riverlands, the Ironborn sacked Riverrun and tried to raid the rest, but the Vale army under Lord Grafton came, and the the riverlanders banded together to drive Balor Greyjoy out. Finally Lord Mallister's fleet sent the reavers' ships off."

[The Smith]

Sitting down Bracken threw one leg onto the table leaning back in a haughty causual manner. A single sharp laugh escape his mouth, "The dragon burned away. I wish I could have seen that. Did you have to burn much of the Riverlands? I hope my uncle was wise and turned Stone Hedge on those cursed Blackwoods. I would have loved to see Raventree Hall burn."

To Aranya he replied, "There have been several sittings, going back to the Blizzard. Three all told, and all men searching north for the dead brothers. It is not so strange, I even had one tell me to my face he saw a mountian of Ice moving south. Ridiculous." He shook his long hair in disbelief.

Wull, standing uncomfortably by the door, snorted, "I have had the same reports, but not until after word had spread done from Eastwatch. Just rumors, it is all the men have in the Snow."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"If these reports are coming from your Brothers, it is time to take them seriously. Lord Wendwater went with a large force, not a small ranging -- no mere storm or band of wildlings could have destroyed his whole force. It is time to question these men, the men who returned with those reports for more detail."

[Deleted]

Aranya pointedly ignored the questions about Stone Hedge and Raventree Hall. "A mountain of ice?" That was puzzling, although it was eerily similar to her dreams about the snow rising and running over the Wall. "I must urgently leave south, otherwise I would have looked into this."

[The Smith]

Bracken shifted his hot eyes to Selwyn, "I questioned them in detail, I do every ranging. They could be right, but if they are its the end of us. So I hope they're wrong." He shrugs.

"As for Wendwater, he is dead, and deservedly so. Fuck the fool. If he hadn't taken all our forces on his suicide run I would laugh." Bracken turned his gaze back to Aranya, "And you can tell your boyfriend has never experienced a true Winter Storm, even Wull will tell you that a storm that big could swallow up a whole army of giants with out a trace."

Wull nodded for a second and then sneered at Bracken, Turning to Aranya and Selwyn Wull says, "Have a good day." Then he exits the room.

Bracken calls after him "Go Fuck a sheep." He chuckles as the door slams, and then asks the Southerners, "So the Ironborn attacked, was Stone Hedge harmed? What about my uncle and cousins, are they alive?"

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

OOC: Selwyn was more reprimanding Wull for not taking it seriously, not Bracken. But whatever.

IC: "Stone Hedge is not harmed, though your uncle...no longer lives. I am sorry, mi'lord."

[Deleted]

Aranya nodded to Wull as he left.

"You had better hope Wendwater and his men are not dead, Bracken." The idea of hundreds of wights marching with the Others finally unnerved Aranya a little. "And my husband spent some years up north."

[Lord Rhodri Arryn]

"Some years, but not beyond the Wall. I am sure Lord Bracken has the truth when he speaks of the storms," Selwyn says -- backtracking a bit for diplomacy's sake.

[Deleted]

"The brothers who travel beyond the Wall are brave, though I agree Wendwater was an idiot. I still cannot believe he took hundreds up there to take land from wildlings. In fucking winter."

[The Smith]

"Fuck hope. Hope has never done shit for me. Myself I just grab fate, and force that ugly bitch to do what I want." He snickers.

"Its alright Southern Lordling. I never much liked my uncle. He wasn't worth a bucket of spittle. The reason I am the only Bracken in black is because he insisted to the Dragon King that he was only following my orders and he would gladly follow a Raven, instead of becoming a crow. Fuck him" He was almost heated again, and took a deep breath to calm himself.

[Deleted]

"You're daughter is married to northern lord, isn't she? Which one is that?"

[The Smith]

"I think Wendwater wanted to make himself a King, in actuality if not in name. The only thing that explains his madness." Bracken spat to the ground, "If the old Lord Steward and Mudd hadn't stood up the man, there wouldn't even be whats left."