|
|
Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Nov 8, 2007 22:58:35 GMT -5
A company of 250 men under the House Varner Banner arrive in the Castletown of Bandallon, the ancestral home of House Blackbar.
As Ser Alexander Irwyn approaches the Keep he is met by the familiar face of his uncle, Ser Rodney Blackbar.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Flint on Nov 8, 2007 23:04:44 GMT -5
It is nearing dusk, even though Ser Alex has made good time. Ser Rodney Blackbar, his thick mustache hiding his mouth grinned and waved as the portcullis was raised. "Well met Ser Alexander? What's this? 250 men is all the Regent sends us?" He says the word Regent with a sneer.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Nov 8, 2007 23:09:06 GMT -5
"What, I am not good enough for you Uncle?" Alexander says with a grin, "with the training you gave me I should be good enough for at least a hundred Ironmen."
|
|
|
|
Post by The Flint on Nov 8, 2007 23:13:38 GMT -5
Ser Rodney looked deadly serious, and he tugged on his mustache unhappily. "You'd best be, we'll take what we can get though. Confusion reigns, its still not clear who answers to who, although I'm told its being sorted out. We did get some 2,000 men the week before, but I'd hoped for even more still."
|
|
|
|
Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Nov 8, 2007 23:16:57 GMT -5
"Lord Varner's Raven said more men were to be expected but it did not mention when or what the final numbers would be" Alexander stated a little uneasy by his uncle's tension. "How bad is the situation, all I know is the Ironmen moved on the Shield Islands during the confusion."
|
|
|
|
Post by The Flint on Nov 8, 2007 23:26:10 GMT -5
"You think they tell me anything?" Ser Rodney laughed. "I probably know less than you do. All I know is to stay here and kill any Iron men who happen by." Ser Rodney thought for a moment, and than said, "But you know, it wouldn't hurt to have an idea of where likely landings may come. If you'd like to take some of your boys and scout the coast for good landing spots, that'd be a big help to us."
|
|
|
|
Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Nov 8, 2007 23:34:34 GMT -5
"Of course uncle," Alexander says happy to be assigned something to do, "I will leave at first light." Ser Alexander Irwyn enters the Keep and prepares for another long ride the next day."
|
|
|
|
Post by melon on Nov 9, 2007 1:29:53 GMT -5
Ser Colemen Graves rode in with Alexander and walked with him into the keep, "If you don't mind me saying Ser. I thought your Uncle would be a lot more pleased with the extra men."
|
|
|
|
Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Nov 9, 2007 10:19:18 GMT -5
"He's a hard man, my uncle," Alexander says, "I think he came out of the womb anrgy and biting." Alexander walks with Ser Graves to the stable where they house their horses. "Besides he's a Blackbar and there not ones to get excited, very calculating types, my mother's the same way."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lord Rhodri Arryn on Nov 9, 2007 12:51:15 GMT -5
Two horsemen ride into Bandollon. One, a pretty young man wearing a simple black cape, is playing a lute and singing a love song. The other is a handsome knight in red-and-white lozengy tunic. When approached, the singer says they are a wandering knight and a sellsword looking for adventure.
|
|
|
|
Post by melon on Nov 9, 2007 13:25:36 GMT -5
"Well I must say. I wouldn't want him as an uncles he looks like he would beat you blody after beating you bloody in a training fight."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lord Rhodri Arryn on Nov 9, 2007 13:55:48 GMT -5
The minstrel finds a nice corner in the castle village square and begins to sing.
"I've been to Skagos and the Arbor,
And every other far off harbor,
But nowhere I find maidens so fair,
As when I breath Bandollon's sea air."
|
|
|
|
Post by The Flint on Nov 9, 2007 13:59:39 GMT -5
Ser Rodney Blackbar approaches with several Blackbar men-at-arms, and looks over the two strange companions with a nervous eye. With all the craziness it was difficult telling who was who these days. And the Reach had seen enough treachery to last it a life time already.
"Who might you two be?" He asks, suspiciously.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lord Rhodri Arryn on Nov 9, 2007 14:05:45 GMT -5
The knight glances from the singer to Ser Rodney. "I am Ser Vance, called the Knight of Diamonds. I was in Highgarden for the tourney and my friend and I now travel the Reach in search of song and story."
"He is Beaumarin, sometimes called the Beauty. A Reachman by birth, or are we supposed to call him a Manderman now? A decent sword and a better singer."
"Are you hiring blades? We lack a sponsor. A long hall is preferable to a hedge tonight."
|
|
|
|
Post by The Flint on Nov 9, 2007 14:12:48 GMT -5
Ser Rodney's grimace deepens, but his hand leaves his hilt.
"Forgive my rudeness, Ser Vance, after the Red Meeting with that blasted Flayed man, many of us Reachmen have lost our sense of hospitality. You're welcome to spend the night, and enjoy meat and mead, and we can speak of the issue of hiring, Would that be acceptable to you?"
|
|
Hope you all are well and happy.