Goldgrass Village

[Lord Howland Royce]

The village belonged to Lord Stout who had his seat at Goldgrass. A small seat. Inland of Stoney Shore near the mountains

[Imry Willfyre]

Brendan the cobbler's small shack of a home is at the end of one of the few streets in the village. His wares had been seized by Lord Stout and given to the massive army sent north beyond the Wall in what some peasants were calling the "Death March". He has remained a friend of Wat Shepard since his youth, bonded by the friendship of their mothers who were cousins.

[Lord Howland Royce]

Wat Shepard walks in the door. "Can you believe it? Here I walk with the bloody sheep all bloody summer, but what did I get from it? I barely got the bloody whool to keep me warm. I even fougth in his fat arse's war". Shepard rants on some more after sitting down on a crooked chair

[barker520]

Jack carried the large bag over his shoulder as if it was full and heavy, but in reality only a few vegetables were in the bag. This job was a burden on the man, it was plain to see. This isn't right, thought Jack. He had been to three houses in the village already, under directions of Lord Stout. You are to visit every one of those nuisances, the Lord has instructed him. I want you to take their vegetables, wool, firewood, weapons. Those ungrateful thieves are hoarding their wares. He sneered in a half-smile and had said But they won't get away with it. Oh no, quite the contrary, before bidding Jack on his way. So far, three houses had yielded him a few rotten turnips. These fellows have nothing to give, he thought bitterly. Stalking through the snow, he approached the next house, if you could call it that. As he was before the entrance, he called out in greeting and asked to see the head of the home.

[Lord Howland Royce]

Wat looked at the large man and sneered "What now, you one of Stouts sheeps then? Here to take more of our lives away!"

[barker520]

Jack stared at the man for a moment, before sighing, and dropping the bag to the ground. "I guess you fellas got the right to call me that. But a man has to do what his master bids him, eh?" He says with a sad smile, an ugly smile, truthfully. "Just hand over what you got in this home that can be spared, and I will be on my way back to Stout."

[Lord Howland Royce]

"The only thing that can be spared here is the shit that will come out tomorow. Tell that to bloody Stout. Do you get any of his stolen food, only the rancid food I bet," Wat spat.

[barker520]

Jack stared helplessly at this haggard, angry man in front of him. He shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot before responding, and glancing behind him down the road to make sure nobody else was within earshot. He leaned in closer to the man and said in a low voice, "Now look here, I don't like this shit that Stout is doing to you folks, either. It just ain't right," he said, shaking his head vigorously. "It just isn't right. But what is a man to do? You're right, I don't get to swallow most o' the stuff I cook, but I get more than you fellows," he said, motioning to the man's bare home and dissheveled appearance.

[Imry Willfyre]

Brendan looks as the newcomer, "I gather it'd be hard for Stout to know what we need. He's always away or holed up eating away the day. Maybe we can give him a change o' pace." He smiled wickedly, though the comment was said mostly in jest.

[Lord Howland Royce]

"What you should do is to tell the Lord to bugger of. I fought in that bloody war, and what did I get for it. A bloody dead wife and a raped daughter when I got back. Where's my daughter you might ask. She's bloody dead to from childbirth. I didn't see the bloody maester help her, that fat ugly clout. What you should do, is to go around and give all the food back before I give you one over with my staff!"

[Imry Willfyre]

Brendan nodded, "And yous lucky too, coz, I've never had time or coins enough to even support a family. So hard to find enough work, what with the constant wars."

[barker520]

Jack laughed at the man's jest, but suddenly drew up straight at the other man's comments. The man gripped his staff tighter as in a preparation to strike. Jack retreated a step, eyes fixed on the angry's man eyes. "Your... your wife is dead?" he asked slowly, in a strange voice.

[Lord Howland Royce]

"Right before my daughter's own eyes. Even.. even her dead body they couldn't leave alone". The man look so terribly lost at that moment and the only reason he doesn't fall is because he is supported by his staff.

[Imry Willfyre]

Brendan's face tightened, knowing that Wat spoke of Brendan's own relations as well. Again in half-jest he spoke, "You know, I have a crude longsword I stole in my youth...it's holed up in a chest at the corner of this room." He pointed at the chest, "Right there". Now it was less clear if he was joking or not.

[barker520]

Jack laughed at the funny man, and suddenly leapt towards the angry man, who recoiled in defense, but relaxed when became obvious Jack was only trying to help steady him. "I am sorry about your wife," Jack said. Oh, my poor Lisa. Jack thought of her dark brown hair, and those sweet blue eyes. But she was dead too. Jack pushed it from his mind and suddenly smiled. "Say, fellas, the day isn't even halfway over yet, what say us three head down to the tavern, my throat is awful dry. C'mon, I've got a few coins saved up, I'll pay for all," he finished, still smiling that ugly grin.