Slateville

[Percy Rivers]

Preston nodded as a serving girl came by and scooped some stew into his trencher. "How long have the people here endured such..." He struggled to think of the word, "Conditions?"

[barker520]

Jack smiled, tried to stop, but couldn't. He ended up choking on laughter. "How long, Ser? How old is the earth? How old are the children o' the forest? Tell me that, and then you'll have your answer, Rogers," he said, still laughing. He grew more serious, and added, "It's true this winter has been worse than most, with the conditions, as you called them. And these lords were more selfish than most. Still, it ain't nothin that these people weren't used ta. They just finally had 'nuff of the whole thing."

[Percy Rivers]

"They've always been like this." Preston said, surprised. "They know that it's northern law to help their subjects. It's been so even before Torrhen Stark knelt to Aegon the Dragon." He looked slightly embarrased. "Well, that's what the maester at Winterfell told me anyways...I can't read..."

[Lord Howland Royce]

"Why don't you have the maester teach you then? Wat makes the maesters teach the children here. "There's little to nothing to do in the winter" he said, " Wat drawled.

[barker520]

"Aye, Wat Lumberjack has the right of it here, Rogers. I couldn't read, well I still can't really, but I can read a few words now, and I'm gettin better. The maester is teachin' me. Maesters teachin' all the folks around here," Jack said, before swallowing the ale and asked for some more.

[Percy Rivers]

Preston nodded thoughtfully. "I'm already taking lessons from the maester at Winterfell." He stood up, finished his ale, and threw two coppers down on the table. "Thank you for the food and the warm hearth. I had planned to stay the night...but it sounds like I need to get going to see this leader of yours." He pulled his cloak on again, and opened the door to the howling northern wind. He turned back, "If it's any assurance, it sounds as though your rebellion was waranted. Northern law and tradition states that holdfasts are open to their people for the winter."

[barker520]

Jack rose and nodded to the knight. "Aye, that much is true." Turning to the many folks present in the inn, Jack Lordsbane raised his cup of ale into the air and motioned for quiet. "To Roose Stark! A true lord!" Jack bellowed. The others echoed, draining their cups, and the dancing picked back up again at an even more furious rate.

[barker520]

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Jack summons the maester upon his return to the keep and asks him to write a letter to Wat for him. Jack says the words and the maester scribbles it down while he speaks. It takes but a moment, and the letter is then sent to Highton by raven.

[barker520]

\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Every villager in Slateville gathered in the warm, cozy hall of the keep for a great feast. They were celebrating the first street of new houses that had just been built under Jack's supervision. The homes were large, sturdy, and warm. Jack and the maester together had drawn up a city plan for Slateville, and they had begun by tearing down the broken down shacks which many people called home, and rebuilding them better and stronger.

[barker520]

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

A steady stream of people continue to stream in and take residence in the villages of the Stoney Shore. The rumor of free land and plenty of food and shelter during the harsh winter has spread all throughout the north, and peasants are risking the snow and danger of the roads to make their way to the land where all have rights to live after their own fashion.

[Lord Howland Royce]

A raven with a message for Jack arrives

[barker520]

Jack opens the letter and reads it himself.