Post by The Stranger on Jul 10, 2008 10:25:31 GMT -5
“WHAT IN THE NAME OF BLOODY HELLS DO YOU FUCKING WANT!?” thundered Steffen Lannister as a heavy knock came on his bedchamber door just before dawn.
“Ser, get up, it’s urgent,” comes a worried reply from the other side.
“It better fucking be, or you’ll fucking know about it,” called back Steffen as he angrily pulled on some clothes. When he was dressed he went over to the door and yanked it open. “Out with it,” he demanded. The young man at his door, Bosmyn, looked whiter than a Kingsguard’s cape. He simply pointed a wavering finger out through a large window which faced down the hill onto the city of Lannisport. Steffen paced over, inquisitively. “What?” he asked, staring out. “What is all that burning near the shore? What…” he paused. Holy fucking mother, he murmured, his mouth falling agape. “Tell me this is the Ironborn, Bosmyn….” He didn’t really expect an answer. The Farmans were right. This was the invasion from over the sea to the west.
Steffen looked down and took a deep breath. He turned to Bosmyn. “Wake everyone in the house still asleep. There will be a guard left to defend the house, whilst myself, Lysa, Henree and…” he thought for a moment, and had a strange moment of compassion - “...and you Bosmyn, make an escape. We are heading for the River Road. Do not tell any of the men of my escape, it will demoralize them.” He gave the man a serious look. “I fucking mean this Bosmyn. Do not tell them. You will be rewarded.” The young man looked terrified, but nodded his assent and hurried away.
Steffen returned to his bedchamber in order to grab a few items of vast ‘sentimental’ value, before heading up to Lysa’s bedchamber. He found the young lady already awake and panicking.
“Lysa my love,” he said as way of greeting. “I am here to take you away from this.”
“They’ve come! They’ve come! We’re doomed!” she wailed, ignoring Steffen.
“Lady Lysa, please,” Steffen said, “please listen to me, I’m here to take you away…”
“NO! No point! We’re already doomed! Oh why gods? Why? Cruel, cruel, cruel fate!...” Lysa continued to babble away manically.
“Lysa, Lysa, listen,” Steffen tried once more, however she would not stop panicking.
“Oh for fuck’s sake!” he said, finally snapping and grabbing her by the shoulders. He slapped her full across the cheek. This seemed to catch her attention. She stopped blubbing and looked at the man with wide eyes full of fear and hate, her face a sheet.
“This way,” he said remorselessly, pointing harshly. She grudgingly followed.
Captain of the guard Henree had been roused from his sleep and met with Steffen, Bosmyn and a shellshocked Lysa.
“We’re getting out of here,” Steffen told him. “We’re heading for Sarsfield, up the River Road. The other guards will protect the house.”
Henree looked appalled at his master’s cowardice and willingness to put his own men to the slaughter, but resignation fell over his face. “Right ser,” he said submissively. “Let’s go.”
On leaving the house, the noise coming from the city below was awful. Screams mostly, accompanied by the general thrum that accompanies battle. Smoke was pouring up from the harbour, and in the moonlight, literally hundreds of dark ships could be seen landing and unloading death. Seven hells, Steffen swore again. He thought of all the businesses, and indeed, businessmen that he owned down in the city. This could cripple me, he thought with genuine fear. The foursome headed for the stables where they saddled up. Any men they met were told that they were taking Lysa to a safe place outside the city and would be returning shortly to help defend. Steffen lied to his men with such consummate ease, yet they nodded, seemingly happy that he felt the situation strong enough to return to.
And so off they rode, making way for the River Road and Sarsfield.
Results
- Ser Steffen Lannister, Lady Lysa Farman, and two of Steffen’s household guard escape from the invasion of Lannisport.
- Ser Steffen’s manor house is stripped of anything of any value, before being burnt to the ground. All of his guardsmen are presumed dead.
“Ser, get up, it’s urgent,” comes a worried reply from the other side.
“It better fucking be, or you’ll fucking know about it,” called back Steffen as he angrily pulled on some clothes. When he was dressed he went over to the door and yanked it open. “Out with it,” he demanded. The young man at his door, Bosmyn, looked whiter than a Kingsguard’s cape. He simply pointed a wavering finger out through a large window which faced down the hill onto the city of Lannisport. Steffen paced over, inquisitively. “What?” he asked, staring out. “What is all that burning near the shore? What…” he paused. Holy fucking mother, he murmured, his mouth falling agape. “Tell me this is the Ironborn, Bosmyn….” He didn’t really expect an answer. The Farmans were right. This was the invasion from over the sea to the west.
Steffen looked down and took a deep breath. He turned to Bosmyn. “Wake everyone in the house still asleep. There will be a guard left to defend the house, whilst myself, Lysa, Henree and…” he thought for a moment, and had a strange moment of compassion - “...and you Bosmyn, make an escape. We are heading for the River Road. Do not tell any of the men of my escape, it will demoralize them.” He gave the man a serious look. “I fucking mean this Bosmyn. Do not tell them. You will be rewarded.” The young man looked terrified, but nodded his assent and hurried away.
Steffen returned to his bedchamber in order to grab a few items of vast ‘sentimental’ value, before heading up to Lysa’s bedchamber. He found the young lady already awake and panicking.
“Lysa my love,” he said as way of greeting. “I am here to take you away from this.”
“They’ve come! They’ve come! We’re doomed!” she wailed, ignoring Steffen.
“Lady Lysa, please,” Steffen said, “please listen to me, I’m here to take you away…”
“NO! No point! We’re already doomed! Oh why gods? Why? Cruel, cruel, cruel fate!...” Lysa continued to babble away manically.
“Lysa, Lysa, listen,” Steffen tried once more, however she would not stop panicking.
“Oh for fuck’s sake!” he said, finally snapping and grabbing her by the shoulders. He slapped her full across the cheek. This seemed to catch her attention. She stopped blubbing and looked at the man with wide eyes full of fear and hate, her face a sheet.
“This way,” he said remorselessly, pointing harshly. She grudgingly followed.
Captain of the guard Henree had been roused from his sleep and met with Steffen, Bosmyn and a shellshocked Lysa.
“We’re getting out of here,” Steffen told him. “We’re heading for Sarsfield, up the River Road. The other guards will protect the house.”
Henree looked appalled at his master’s cowardice and willingness to put his own men to the slaughter, but resignation fell over his face. “Right ser,” he said submissively. “Let’s go.”
On leaving the house, the noise coming from the city below was awful. Screams mostly, accompanied by the general thrum that accompanies battle. Smoke was pouring up from the harbour, and in the moonlight, literally hundreds of dark ships could be seen landing and unloading death. Seven hells, Steffen swore again. He thought of all the businesses, and indeed, businessmen that he owned down in the city. This could cripple me, he thought with genuine fear. The foursome headed for the stables where they saddled up. Any men they met were told that they were taking Lysa to a safe place outside the city and would be returning shortly to help defend. Steffen lied to his men with such consummate ease, yet they nodded, seemingly happy that he felt the situation strong enough to return to.
And so off they rode, making way for the River Road and Sarsfield.
Results
- Ser Steffen Lannister, Lady Lysa Farman, and two of Steffen’s household guard escape from the invasion of Lannisport.
- Ser Steffen’s manor house is stripped of anything of any value, before being burnt to the ground. All of his guardsmen are presumed dead.