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Post by Ollie on Apr 27, 2008 23:35:48 GMT -5
Olander Reed awaits Pylos inside a long tent erected in the middle of the ruins. Inside a table is laden with frog, fish, and fowl, the traditional foods of offering of the crannogmen, as well as mutton, sweetbreads, cakes, ale, and wine.
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Post by Rickard and Laurence Evergreen on Apr 27, 2008 23:45:20 GMT -5
The Apostate arrives an entourage of wild-eyed fanatics. Each carries upon his person a small glass bottle which contains a flammable chemical whose contents are only known in the East. In the event of a betrayal, Pylos has insured none would escape R'hllor's embrace.
The red-bearded man sets himself down at the table. He lights the candles with his fingers, then sits back. "Olander Reed..." He spoke the name as though declaring the heir Lightbringer.
It is an honor to encounter the crannogmen once more."
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Post by Ollie on Apr 27, 2008 23:53:48 GMT -5
The lordling from the Neck takes a moment to give a nod of thanks to the four riders who had ridden to White Harbor to retrieve his guests. To their inquisitive looks, Olander gives a second nod and motions to the spread on the table. Each of the four crannogmen riders enthusiastically attack a platter of poached pepperfish and frog legs. The other crannogmen stationed around the tent throw envious looks their way.
"You do me the honor, Master Pylos. I must admit I was curious as to whether I would find an ally in you. I find myself pleasantly suprised," Olander says quietly, his tepid eyes gazing over the men. "Quite the following you've arranged. I must ask, how many of the small folk are sworn to the Red God?"
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Post by Rickard and Laurence Evergreen on Apr 28, 2008 0:10:09 GMT -5
He raised an eyebrow. "Sworn? None. I don't seek oaths or followers. I seek justice and enlightenment..." He gesturted and his men began to take their fill of the feast. The Apostate himself did not eat. "But if you desire a fighting force... it would not be insignificant."
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Post by Ollie on Apr 28, 2008 0:23:46 GMT -5
Olander snaps his fingers and his four men step back from their reward, allowing their guests full reign of the table. Olander himself picks up a frog leg from the end of the table and nibbles the bone clean neatly. "I believe we share more in common then, Master Pylos: the quest for justice."
Olander toyed with a tiny nub of cut reed in his fingers, a smile reaching his lips. "But you name my desire true, to be sure. A fighting force is something I covet,” he says, arching a wiry eyebrow at Pylos’ men. “Surely these aren’t all the men you lead, are they?” he continues, with an expression of wondering if their combined numbers would be enough.
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Post by Rickard and Laurence Evergreen on Apr 28, 2008 0:35:27 GMT -5
"I held Duskendale with only three men and a keen understanding of the flame's properties. Pyromancers need few assistants, but if you seek something more tangible than the Lord of light's gift, I have the traditional force you're hoping for. But what sort of justice do you seek?" He picked up a goblet of red wine and sipped. "Which injustice infuriates the heir to Greywater Watch? I don't need to read the flames to know it concerns Roose Stark..."
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Post by Ollie on Apr 28, 2008 0:51:32 GMT -5
The Heir to Greywater Watch took a long sip of his wine, swishing the blood red liquid in his mouth pleasantly before swallowing. "I trust in your ability to read the flames. With that gift, no doubt whatever men you can add to my force will be enough."
Olander snapped his fingers for a second time, and one of his men scurried out of the tent. "Tell me, Pylos. What have your fires told you? I wonder if the burning embers tell you any of the injustice I speak of?" the crannogman says evenly, his eyes flickering once.
"It is true, the grievance concerns Lord Stark. Roose outraged, to put it simply, that one of his bannerlords, the Lord Manderly, has died. Burned alive, if the stories are true."
"I suppose I already know the answer to my question: the fires have told you nothing, have they? No, for if they did, you never would have agreed to this meeting."
Olander rises to his feet. "What I seek is Roose Stark's justice, for the murder of Lord Manderly. And soon, my lord will have it," he says, as evenly as before, eyes gazing at the glass of wine Pylos has in hand.
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Post by The Stranger on Apr 28, 2008 0:53:29 GMT -5
The men with Pylos feel woozy, and struggle to remain on their feet.
Pylos too feels weak, and so tired. If only he could lay down for a nap.
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Post by Ollie on Apr 28, 2008 0:57:43 GMT -5
Raising the reed whistle to his lips, Olander gives it a firm, shrill blow, altering his men. The crannogmen in the tent level their spears and bows at the unnaturally drowsy men, and others storm inside the tent.
"Stab them three times," Olander says, turning to leave the tent. "Once for Lord Manderly's shade, once for Lord Stark's justice, and one for the inconvenience of wasting my store of sweetsleep."
With that, he exits.
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Post by Ollie on Apr 28, 2008 1:31:58 GMT -5
Olander orders for the poisoned food and drink to be burned, lest any foolish man mistake it for edible. The bodies of Pylos and his followers to be stripped of any worthwhile possessions and dumped into the moat surrounding Cailin... The lurking lizard-lions nearby quickly take care of the rest.
The 3,000 crannogmen that were stationed at Moat Cailin are dismissed and sent to return home. On the morrow, Olander sets out north, for Winterfell.
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Hope you all are well and happy.