|
|
Post by barker520 on Mar 20, 2008 18:36:10 GMT -5
Six wide, muddy roads sprouted from the large village square at uneven intervals in Slateville. Small 'homes' were the dominant structures lining the paths, but there was a tavern, forge, and brothel, too. A half-mile to the west sat the small but well-fortified keep, flying no banner. The cold waters of the sea were visible in the distance, slamming against sharp, grey rocks and a colorless beach.
|
|
|
|
Post by barker520 on Mar 26, 2008 13:03:05 GMT -5
The villagers gather in Slateville's keep to celebrate the marriage between two of their own, a young blacksmith and a farmer's daughter. Food and drink are plentiful. They toast to Wat, to Jack, and to freedom.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lord Howland Royce on Mar 28, 2008 11:11:47 GMT -5
A raven appears with a letter from Highton
|
|
|
|
Post by barker520 on Mar 28, 2008 11:18:00 GMT -5
Jack, with much assistance from the maester, finally is able to make sense of the scribbled words written in Wat's handwriting. The Maester happily obliged to Wat's request in the letter, as he said that all smallfolk should have the right to learn.
|
|
|
|
Post by Percy Rivers on Mar 28, 2008 11:23:25 GMT -5
A few days later a group of around 20 horsemen ride into the town, the banners of House Stark flapping in the northern wind coming off the sea. With them is Wat Lumberjack. The leader is a man in boiled leather with a silver brooch bearing the direwolf fastening his cloak. He dismounts and finds the captain of the towns watch. "I am Ser Preston Rogers, master-at-arms and castellan of Winterfell. I have come at Lord Roose Stark's command to adress the situation here and provide any suitable action or assisstance."
|
|
|
|
Post by barker520 on Mar 28, 2008 11:30:12 GMT -5
Jack eyed the man suspiciously, and with little-concealed hostility. He drew Wat Lumberjack aside and spoke with him for several minutes in a low voice before turning back to the knight. "Rogers, I'd be glad to have your men and you in the keep for the night, if you need shelter and food. We got plenty, thanks to us gettin rid of the ones who was us starvin us out," he said in his usual growl of a voice.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lord Howland Royce on Mar 28, 2008 12:08:19 GMT -5
Wat Lumberjack spat. "We haven't been trained in any of that fine speak you knights and lords do, so if we seem a bit crude you'll have to bear with it. We're only smallfolk after all" Wat said.
|
|
|
|
Post by Percy Rivers on Mar 30, 2008 11:32:43 GMT -5
Ser Preston tugged on his whiskers, "As Roose Stark was before the northern rebellion, when he was still a Snow sneaking around villages. As was I before I fought under Callen Baratheon during the same war. As are all the men here with me," he said, gesturing to all the other horsemen.
"I am charged with just finding out what exactly happened here, and provide whatever assisstance Winterfell can give you."
|
|
|
|
Post by barker520 on Mar 30, 2008 11:38:50 GMT -5
Jack softened his stare when he heard the man's words, and spoke just a tad gentler. "I can think of plenty we need help with, if ya would," he said, "but I'm not the man to talk to about matters such at that. No, ser. The man you need is Wat, in Highton. Place used ta be owned by the Moss Lords, but we named it Highton. You'll find Wat there. He'd be... the leader, of sorts. You're welcome here for the night, and to some food, but if you're lookin for answers, then you need to be seein' Wat of Highton."
|
|
|
|
Post by Percy Rivers on Mar 30, 2008 18:32:09 GMT -5
Ser Preston nodded gratefully. "A hot mug and some warm food would be most welcome. But I would here about what happened from everyone's lips. Perhaps you can tell me at the inn?"
|
|
|
|
Post by barker520 on Mar 30, 2008 18:39:34 GMT -5
Jack smiled. "Aye, the inn. Sure, sure. I do most o' my drinkin down there, and most o' my drinkin is a whole lot of damn drinkin. We'll go there now, if ya like? I don't got nothin better ta do, to tell it true," he said.
|
|
|
|
Post by Percy Rivers on Mar 30, 2008 18:44:42 GMT -5
Preston turned to the other men. "Get the horses settled down, and then meet me inside."
The aging knight pulled his cloak tighter around him. "Lead on."
|
|
|
|
Post by barker520 on Mar 30, 2008 18:47:39 GMT -5
Jack and the knight made their way into town and through the muddy streets. He waved to many people as they passed. At the end of the widest "street" of the village, a large wooden inn stood, leaning to the left. The two men entered and went unnoticed among the crowded common room, where men and women were chugging ale and dancing.
|
|
|
|
Post by Percy Rivers on Mar 30, 2008 19:05:33 GMT -5
Soon Preston sat at one of the tables, busy digging out a trencher, a cup of mulled ale sitting nearby. "With the war beyond the Wall with the wildlings it's hard to keep track of events in the North. Tell me, how did this come about?"
|
|
|
|
Post by barker520 on Mar 30, 2008 19:08:52 GMT -5
What am I to tell this man? Jack thought. I am not the man for these sorts of questions. Wat is.
Jack shrugged his soldiers and swallowed down some more ale before replying. "These people got fed up with the system," Jack said, motioning to the peasants all around them. "Stoney Shore has never been a plentiful land, and the lords were hoarding up all the food this winter. People starvin everywhere while their fat asses feasted in their halls. They weren't no good lords, either. Plottin for a rebellion against your Roose," Jack said.
|
|
Hope you all are well and happy.