Post by The Stranger on Apr 1, 2008 10:56:13 GMT -5
Ser Barris Redwyne stood stiff, staring directly ahead, his face impassive. He had been in that same position for near two hours now, and although growing weary of it, showed no visible signs of weakness or fatigue. Guard duty is even more boring than I had previously suspected, Barris thought. His calves had begun to burn and his eyelids were growing heavy as the night had darkened and the camp grew silent. He shifted from foot to foot and concentrated fiercely on trying to make out the muffled voices echoing from the tent which he was guarding. War Council... most likely even more tedious than guard duty, Barris mused. I bet Robb's mind is everywhere but on battle strategy right now. Barris was married to Robb Tarly's sister, Catelyn, and the two men had quickly become good friends. The previous night Barris had gone to Robb's quarters to see if he might fancy a pint of ale or two and some company, only to find Robb busy at work with one of the pretty young girls, nameless, that could always be found at castles. Blackhaven was no different. Barris now pitied Robb for having to sit through the strategy talk inside, much of which had most likely already been decided but the generals were just providing the many proud lords their chance to speak and feel important. Despite it all, Barris still was very curious as to what was being said inside the tent. But, alas, as a third son of Peyton Redwyne, he was not relatively important. Of course, Barris definitely didn't belong in a guard's garb, standing watch outside the command tent either. He had thrown a couple gold coins the way of a guard and in return received his clothing. It was that easy. Anything can be achieved with dragons. Real ones or golden ones, it seems. But I prefer the golden kind.
Finally, the generals and lords alike began to file out of the tent, taking their leave to head to their separate quarters in the camp or the castle, respectively. Barris kept an eye out for Robb, but he never came out. I know I saw the scoundrel go in... what is he up to now? Did he smuggle that pretty little girl into the tent? The devil. Shrugging off any hesitation, Barris entered the tent.
Robb was sitting relaxed in the back of the tent, listening to something an older man was saying to him. They spoke for thirty seconds before Robb noticed a guard in the back of the tent and smiled at him. "Yes? What is it, ser?" The older man also turned and looked at Barris with questioning eyes. Barris felt a wave of satisfaction at the fact that Robb, one of his closest friends, could not even recognize him with his new clothing and shaved face. Barris smiled widely and stalked towards the two men. Robb just kept smiling but the older man grew tense and his went towards his sword. "What is it?" the older man said sharply. Barris plopped down into a chair at Robb's right and across from the older man.
"Oh, nothing, ser. I just wanted to speak with my sister's husband for a bit. He's been spending all his time on the campaign thus far making bastards at every castle we visit," Barris said, chuckling. Robb stood up and looked at him incredulously before breaking out into a loud laugh.
"Barris! What the hell are you doing in here? Why the hell are you wearing guard's clothing? Why the hell aren't you drunk?" Robb asked, still shaking his head, laughing. The older man looked bewildered and sat back in his chair, throwing his hands up in the air. Robb gave him an apologizing smile and introduced his brother through marriage.
"Lord Aemon Webber, legendary commander of the far reach, I am pleased to introduce Ser Barris Redwyne, son of Lord Peyton Redwyne, and the stealthiest guard in the seven kingdoms, it would seem." Lord Webber and Ser Barris both looked surprised at hearing of the other's identity, and began talking of Lord Peyton and the Arbor, and got along well. Robb explained that General Webber had been tutoring and mentoring him of sorts on the art of war and generalship during the campaign.
"He has taught me many things, Barris. You would do well to stay and learn with me," Robb said, genuinely trying to help. Barris politely declined, citing that he must get back to his guard duty. Lord Webber gave him a disapproving look but only nodded.
Robb remained in the tent for another long hour, soaking in Webber's accounts of battles, and trading suggestions about the upcoming expected campaign against the Dornish. Barris heard Robb mutter something about the "bloody desert" and then a few minutes later he popped out of the tent, heading for his quarters and the nameless girl, to be sure. Barris stalked him through the muddy camp towards the castle before tackling him from behind. The two wrestled for a quick few seconds before Robb disentangled himself and put his sword to Barris's throat, shouting a challenge. Barris, a little nervous, laughed despite himself. Robb cursed him and helped him to his feet, but was also laughing before long.
"I have an idea," Robb said. He led Barris to the outskirts of camp where torches lighted the area. He unstrapped his swordbelt and began to stretch. "What?" he asked Barris, looking at him innocently. "You're not up for a boxing match? You're only good for sneaking up behind people in the dark?" Barris grinned and prepared for the bout.
Ten minutes later, both breathed heavy, laying in the grass. Barris could feel the bruises swelling on his face and knuckles, but felt good nonetheless. Robb had gotten the best of him again, but it didn't matter. He enjoyed the competition. Robb took his leave and went back to the castle, but Barris left to seek out the guard whose clothes he had taken with the intent to return them. Guard duty was no fun.
Results:
Robb Tarly improves towards master battle command/tactics.
Robb Tarly improves to noteworthy fist-fighting.
Barris Redwyne improves towards master infiltration.
Barris Redwyne improves to novice fist-fighting.
Finally, the generals and lords alike began to file out of the tent, taking their leave to head to their separate quarters in the camp or the castle, respectively. Barris kept an eye out for Robb, but he never came out. I know I saw the scoundrel go in... what is he up to now? Did he smuggle that pretty little girl into the tent? The devil. Shrugging off any hesitation, Barris entered the tent.
Robb was sitting relaxed in the back of the tent, listening to something an older man was saying to him. They spoke for thirty seconds before Robb noticed a guard in the back of the tent and smiled at him. "Yes? What is it, ser?" The older man also turned and looked at Barris with questioning eyes. Barris felt a wave of satisfaction at the fact that Robb, one of his closest friends, could not even recognize him with his new clothing and shaved face. Barris smiled widely and stalked towards the two men. Robb just kept smiling but the older man grew tense and his went towards his sword. "What is it?" the older man said sharply. Barris plopped down into a chair at Robb's right and across from the older man.
"Oh, nothing, ser. I just wanted to speak with my sister's husband for a bit. He's been spending all his time on the campaign thus far making bastards at every castle we visit," Barris said, chuckling. Robb stood up and looked at him incredulously before breaking out into a loud laugh.
"Barris! What the hell are you doing in here? Why the hell are you wearing guard's clothing? Why the hell aren't you drunk?" Robb asked, still shaking his head, laughing. The older man looked bewildered and sat back in his chair, throwing his hands up in the air. Robb gave him an apologizing smile and introduced his brother through marriage.
"Lord Aemon Webber, legendary commander of the far reach, I am pleased to introduce Ser Barris Redwyne, son of Lord Peyton Redwyne, and the stealthiest guard in the seven kingdoms, it would seem." Lord Webber and Ser Barris both looked surprised at hearing of the other's identity, and began talking of Lord Peyton and the Arbor, and got along well. Robb explained that General Webber had been tutoring and mentoring him of sorts on the art of war and generalship during the campaign.
"He has taught me many things, Barris. You would do well to stay and learn with me," Robb said, genuinely trying to help. Barris politely declined, citing that he must get back to his guard duty. Lord Webber gave him a disapproving look but only nodded.
Robb remained in the tent for another long hour, soaking in Webber's accounts of battles, and trading suggestions about the upcoming expected campaign against the Dornish. Barris heard Robb mutter something about the "bloody desert" and then a few minutes later he popped out of the tent, heading for his quarters and the nameless girl, to be sure. Barris stalked him through the muddy camp towards the castle before tackling him from behind. The two wrestled for a quick few seconds before Robb disentangled himself and put his sword to Barris's throat, shouting a challenge. Barris, a little nervous, laughed despite himself. Robb cursed him and helped him to his feet, but was also laughing before long.
"I have an idea," Robb said. He led Barris to the outskirts of camp where torches lighted the area. He unstrapped his swordbelt and began to stretch. "What?" he asked Barris, looking at him innocently. "You're not up for a boxing match? You're only good for sneaking up behind people in the dark?" Barris grinned and prepared for the bout.
Ten minutes later, both breathed heavy, laying in the grass. Barris could feel the bruises swelling on his face and knuckles, but felt good nonetheless. Robb had gotten the best of him again, but it didn't matter. He enjoyed the competition. Robb took his leave and went back to the castle, but Barris left to seek out the guard whose clothes he had taken with the intent to return them. Guard duty was no fun.
Results:
Robb Tarly improves towards master battle command/tactics.
Robb Tarly improves to noteworthy fist-fighting.
Barris Redwyne improves towards master infiltration.
Barris Redwyne improves to novice fist-fighting.