Post by The Stranger on Jul 26, 2008 23:34:45 GMT -5
Despite the presence of thousands in the Stormlands stronghold, Gideon could only make out whispers and soft voices in the early morning. The candle's wax was dripping onto the table as he starred off into space, lost in thought. He had been stressing for months, in a hurry to relearn the skills which he once held so adeptly. Now in the early morning it wasn't the right time to be studying and re-tracing famous battles, but Gideon had found himself too distracted with swordplay during his days to focus on the command mindset.
Gideon thought to him self as he regained focus and started drawing out and working through fake battles on parchment. He hit a streak of increased focus, in which he wrote out and formulated new strategies with which he would most likely spend the rest of the night working on. The rest of the night would know no time for sleep, or right few.
In the morning when he rose, Gideon washed himself instead of receiving assistance and put on worn riding clothes before heading out to the training yard. The sun was unobservable through the clouds, and a light cold rain dance upon the soggy soils of the Storm's End training yard where he was spending his days. His sword arm as a youth was strong and well muscled, and his skill in tourneys was well displayed, but over time he had lost those talents.
His kids would often blame that on themselves, and he'd deny such a thing vehemently, citing a sincere lack of interest in sword-sporting, but they were more correct then he let on. Like few men had, Gideon enjoyed spending time raising his kids and spending most of his days with them. He also played an active part in their educations, and only recently as his elder son approached ten, had he started to teach him to use a sword, which more or less helped him to relearn the ways.
So it was for his children, his lands, those that he loved so much, and his love for the King-- an honorable boy, though still certainly that-- that made him press himself so hard. The strain was hard on his body and his brain, but he had little time to think about anything else but returning to his former talents.
As another two weeks went by Gideon continued his normal schedule of swordplay and studies, receiving some lessons directly from the legendary Ulger Gaunt, who commanded the host Gideon assisted. Through working with Gaunt he received a kickstart to his trainings and proper motivation, albeit from someone who was much closer to Gideon's own age than many of his last teachers.
While Gideon was making successful progress with the sword one day, he was addressed by a messenger of the Lord Regent of the Stormlands, the Dondarrion. Breck was a young man, one he viewed as similar to himself, though he had been given little time to actually do more than acquaint himself with the Regent. He did consider Breck to have a dangerous combination of blood, ones he himself did not have, blood of two royal lines which fused inside him. In spare time and conversation, Gideon had wondered aloud about Breck's inner struggle to balance those sides of his family-- and while often remarking about the boy's valiant efforts, he believed that he fell short. But then again Breck too was the son of a legend, and Gideon knew what it was like to live like that better than almost any man.
The messenger had informed him, reading a letter aloud and then handing it to the Lord, that Breck requested he ride with Ulger Gaunt to King's Landing to lay siege to the city. An odd thought, no doubt, but not one Gideon had any semblance of regret towards doing. In fact, if it had been his call he would have marched the garrison towards King's Landing to bolster the garrison before the invaders had arrived, but he supposed that Breck knew better than him. His mind being fresh with experience and more kept to date than Gideon-- who was merely an assistance in the campaign, and hardly had any voice of his own.
Now Gideon was able to proudly call his troops together and addressed them from the battlements, speaking loudly of pride and dignity, valor and honor, all which they would show on the battlefield-- risking every once of their blood for their Baratheon King. The men reacted well, with cheers running and saluting, as well as shouts of "For Rickon!", reaching through the entire pass of the crowd.
In that instant it must have been in the back part of his brain that he began to feel like his father once more, and drawing his sword he lifted it into the air and shouted with all the force his lungs gave unto him, "FOR RICKON!".
Results:
Gideon Caron improves to expert swordsmanship
Gideon Caron improves to expert battle command
Gideon thought to him self as he regained focus and started drawing out and working through fake battles on parchment. He hit a streak of increased focus, in which he wrote out and formulated new strategies with which he would most likely spend the rest of the night working on. The rest of the night would know no time for sleep, or right few.
In the morning when he rose, Gideon washed himself instead of receiving assistance and put on worn riding clothes before heading out to the training yard. The sun was unobservable through the clouds, and a light cold rain dance upon the soggy soils of the Storm's End training yard where he was spending his days. His sword arm as a youth was strong and well muscled, and his skill in tourneys was well displayed, but over time he had lost those talents.
His kids would often blame that on themselves, and he'd deny such a thing vehemently, citing a sincere lack of interest in sword-sporting, but they were more correct then he let on. Like few men had, Gideon enjoyed spending time raising his kids and spending most of his days with them. He also played an active part in their educations, and only recently as his elder son approached ten, had he started to teach him to use a sword, which more or less helped him to relearn the ways.
So it was for his children, his lands, those that he loved so much, and his love for the King-- an honorable boy, though still certainly that-- that made him press himself so hard. The strain was hard on his body and his brain, but he had little time to think about anything else but returning to his former talents.
As another two weeks went by Gideon continued his normal schedule of swordplay and studies, receiving some lessons directly from the legendary Ulger Gaunt, who commanded the host Gideon assisted. Through working with Gaunt he received a kickstart to his trainings and proper motivation, albeit from someone who was much closer to Gideon's own age than many of his last teachers.
While Gideon was making successful progress with the sword one day, he was addressed by a messenger of the Lord Regent of the Stormlands, the Dondarrion. Breck was a young man, one he viewed as similar to himself, though he had been given little time to actually do more than acquaint himself with the Regent. He did consider Breck to have a dangerous combination of blood, ones he himself did not have, blood of two royal lines which fused inside him. In spare time and conversation, Gideon had wondered aloud about Breck's inner struggle to balance those sides of his family-- and while often remarking about the boy's valiant efforts, he believed that he fell short. But then again Breck too was the son of a legend, and Gideon knew what it was like to live like that better than almost any man.
The messenger had informed him, reading a letter aloud and then handing it to the Lord, that Breck requested he ride with Ulger Gaunt to King's Landing to lay siege to the city. An odd thought, no doubt, but not one Gideon had any semblance of regret towards doing. In fact, if it had been his call he would have marched the garrison towards King's Landing to bolster the garrison before the invaders had arrived, but he supposed that Breck knew better than him. His mind being fresh with experience and more kept to date than Gideon-- who was merely an assistance in the campaign, and hardly had any voice of his own.
Now Gideon was able to proudly call his troops together and addressed them from the battlements, speaking loudly of pride and dignity, valor and honor, all which they would show on the battlefield-- risking every once of their blood for their Baratheon King. The men reacted well, with cheers running and saluting, as well as shouts of "For Rickon!", reaching through the entire pass of the crowd.
In that instant it must have been in the back part of his brain that he began to feel like his father once more, and drawing his sword he lifted it into the air and shouted with all the force his lungs gave unto him, "FOR RICKON!".
Results:
Gideon Caron improves to expert swordsmanship
Gideon Caron improves to expert battle command