Post by The Smith on May 1, 2008 13:44:35 GMT -5
Avery closed the book he had been reading. Since the visit of the woman he had labored night and day. He scrubbed his eyes with both of his fists. The candles had burned low and the night stars shone through the tall windows that marked many of the rooms in the Stione Drum.
He sighed and opened another book, The Strength of Armies by Maester Cui. Avery had always had a flair for construction, could remember building castles as a young child out of blocks of wood or small stones. It had always been an interest. Never before though had he spent so much time studying the works of the old maesters, in addition to his regular talks to the stonemasons, resident in both Dragonstone and Driftmark.
Hours upon hours passed as he soaked up the knowledge in Maester Cui’s rather large and sometimes ponderous tome. He remembered someone bringing a candle and some hot stew, but otherwise time passed in the blink of an eye. He knew not when he finally fell asleep at the table. However he was roused from sleep when the weak sunlight shone through the tall windows that marked many of the rooms in the Stone Drum. Yawning and stretching, Avery quickly visited the privy, broke his fast with some bread and more hot stew and then made his way to the Chamber of the Painted Table for his daily public and private audiences and judgements. He ended these an hour earlier than normal, and made his way back to the library, whereupon giving an order to one of his servants, he continued his studies.
After several hours he emerged once again. The servant was waiting outside the library.
“The smiths are in the Chamber waiting your pleasure” as he handed Avery his cloak.
As he arrived, the gaggle of smiths, armourers, stonemasons and ironmongers that his servant had summoned from the different parts of Dragonstone Island fell to their knees.
Avery hoisted himself into the high seat at the head of the Painted Table. From the point where Dragonstone was located, he surveyed them briefly before bidding them to rise.
“Goodfolk, I know you are all busy, so I will be succinct. Yoren if you please.”
The servant yanked the drawstring of a canvas bag he had dragged in behind him and upended the canvas. Three immense iron links twisted together fell out.
One of the smiths bent down to inspect the links. “A mighty chain”.
“Mighty but short.” replied the Prince. “I fancy such a chain a good deal longer. I have a task for you all. I want every forge in Dragonstone turned to making these links and joining them. I want every man who knows the art of working metal set to this task be he maester, journeyman or apprentice.”
“Is it war then?” replied the smith who had inspected the links.
“Mayhap” replied Avery. “I would hope not, but I would fain be prepared.”
The smiths and armourers briefly conferred.
Once they had deliberated, their leader turned to Avery.
“You are our Prince my lord. We cannot do anything but obey…” He added “And trust that you know what you are doing.”
“How long for a chain with these dimensions?” The smith took a parchment from the hand of Yoren.
“The smith studied the parchment briefly and nodded. “Two months to make and install my lord Prince.
Avery nodded. “Then set yourselves to work.”
Avery had then briefly conferred with the stonemasons and had discussed his new found knowledge with them. After an animated discussion the stonemasons left to complete their task that Avery had set them.
Upon his return to the library, Avery had eaten alone and then searched for another book. He at last found what he was looking for. The Art of Warfare and Generalship, Avery noted with anticipation was a famous and well read book. Avery’s experience in commanding men had been honed over the last two months with his adventures at sea. He had led men in boarding ships and had commanded men in military manouvers. Never before though had he bothered to study other generals’ battle plans or their campaigns, as was outlined in this book. Following The Art of Warfare and Generalship, Avery then devoured Beldecar's History of the Rhoynish Wars and then King Daeron I’s famous Conquest of Dorne glorying in the re-telling of famous campaigns and general strategisms, the heroic sieges and castle defences and the general waging of war. Over the next few days, he particularly took note of what was written about castle defences. When he was not reading, issuing orders or conducting audiences he spent what little other spare time he had patrolling Dragonstone’s walls, speaking to his experienced captains, issuing instructions to his stonemasons and pointing out flaws or weaknesses in the castles defences or design that he demanded be recified as soon as possible. His cousin Rhaegar commanded the Prince’s fleet, patrolling around Dragonstone’s and Driftmark’s waters. Avery left those naval matters in his cousin’s capable hands.
Every night Avery was to be found in the library. Sometimes he was roused the next morning from his bed-chamber and other times he had not moved, but was to found fast asleep at the library’s main table or groggily stirring for the day ahead.
Results:
Avery raises his Engineering (Fortifications) skill to Apprentice level.
Avery raises his Command skill to Expert level
A massive chain at the entrance to Dragonstone Harbour is planned.
The fortifications of Dragonstone’s Citadel, including the Stone Drum, are begun to be improved.
He sighed and opened another book, The Strength of Armies by Maester Cui. Avery had always had a flair for construction, could remember building castles as a young child out of blocks of wood or small stones. It had always been an interest. Never before though had he spent so much time studying the works of the old maesters, in addition to his regular talks to the stonemasons, resident in both Dragonstone and Driftmark.
Hours upon hours passed as he soaked up the knowledge in Maester Cui’s rather large and sometimes ponderous tome. He remembered someone bringing a candle and some hot stew, but otherwise time passed in the blink of an eye. He knew not when he finally fell asleep at the table. However he was roused from sleep when the weak sunlight shone through the tall windows that marked many of the rooms in the Stone Drum. Yawning and stretching, Avery quickly visited the privy, broke his fast with some bread and more hot stew and then made his way to the Chamber of the Painted Table for his daily public and private audiences and judgements. He ended these an hour earlier than normal, and made his way back to the library, whereupon giving an order to one of his servants, he continued his studies.
After several hours he emerged once again. The servant was waiting outside the library.
“The smiths are in the Chamber waiting your pleasure” as he handed Avery his cloak.
As he arrived, the gaggle of smiths, armourers, stonemasons and ironmongers that his servant had summoned from the different parts of Dragonstone Island fell to their knees.
Avery hoisted himself into the high seat at the head of the Painted Table. From the point where Dragonstone was located, he surveyed them briefly before bidding them to rise.
“Goodfolk, I know you are all busy, so I will be succinct. Yoren if you please.”
The servant yanked the drawstring of a canvas bag he had dragged in behind him and upended the canvas. Three immense iron links twisted together fell out.
One of the smiths bent down to inspect the links. “A mighty chain”.
“Mighty but short.” replied the Prince. “I fancy such a chain a good deal longer. I have a task for you all. I want every forge in Dragonstone turned to making these links and joining them. I want every man who knows the art of working metal set to this task be he maester, journeyman or apprentice.”
“Is it war then?” replied the smith who had inspected the links.
“Mayhap” replied Avery. “I would hope not, but I would fain be prepared.”
The smiths and armourers briefly conferred.
Once they had deliberated, their leader turned to Avery.
“You are our Prince my lord. We cannot do anything but obey…” He added “And trust that you know what you are doing.”
“How long for a chain with these dimensions?” The smith took a parchment from the hand of Yoren.
“The smith studied the parchment briefly and nodded. “Two months to make and install my lord Prince.
Avery nodded. “Then set yourselves to work.”
Avery had then briefly conferred with the stonemasons and had discussed his new found knowledge with them. After an animated discussion the stonemasons left to complete their task that Avery had set them.
Upon his return to the library, Avery had eaten alone and then searched for another book. He at last found what he was looking for. The Art of Warfare and Generalship, Avery noted with anticipation was a famous and well read book. Avery’s experience in commanding men had been honed over the last two months with his adventures at sea. He had led men in boarding ships and had commanded men in military manouvers. Never before though had he bothered to study other generals’ battle plans or their campaigns, as was outlined in this book. Following The Art of Warfare and Generalship, Avery then devoured Beldecar's History of the Rhoynish Wars and then King Daeron I’s famous Conquest of Dorne glorying in the re-telling of famous campaigns and general strategisms, the heroic sieges and castle defences and the general waging of war. Over the next few days, he particularly took note of what was written about castle defences. When he was not reading, issuing orders or conducting audiences he spent what little other spare time he had patrolling Dragonstone’s walls, speaking to his experienced captains, issuing instructions to his stonemasons and pointing out flaws or weaknesses in the castles defences or design that he demanded be recified as soon as possible. His cousin Rhaegar commanded the Prince’s fleet, patrolling around Dragonstone’s and Driftmark’s waters. Avery left those naval matters in his cousin’s capable hands.
Every night Avery was to be found in the library. Sometimes he was roused the next morning from his bed-chamber and other times he had not moved, but was to found fast asleep at the library’s main table or groggily stirring for the day ahead.
Results:
Avery raises his Engineering (Fortifications) skill to Apprentice level.
Avery raises his Command skill to Expert level
A massive chain at the entrance to Dragonstone Harbour is planned.
The fortifications of Dragonstone’s Citadel, including the Stone Drum, are begun to be improved.