Post by The Stranger on Aug 6, 2008 10:27:35 GMT -5
Kaland stone worked at his forge. He had just finished repairing a few sets of armor at the request of Willam. Several knights had come forward and Willam being the good friend he was had pointed them right to Kaland. The repairs had annoyed him, but the knights had paid well and it did not occupy too much of his time.
Finishing up the last set he placed it on his work bench. It was then he set to work on the project he had been waiting for ever since the battle at King’s Landing. Kaland stone removed a piece of steel from the forge. He set to work continually folding the metal until it was the right shape. After an hour he pounded the piece of steel into the perfect shape, quickly submerging it in the barrel of water to his side hardening it instantly. For hours he worked and worked the different pieces of metal. Each stroke fell and formed a new piece of the armor. Each piece was as black as the one before it some with the Dondarrion purple mixed in. His arms ached but he knew he must go on until every last piece was complete.
When he was finished half a day later, Kaland almost collapsed from exhaustion. He hung his finished leg armor on a rack allowing it to cool a bit more. The designs looked superb, matching the gauntlets he had forged before perfectly. He could imagine the finished set once it was complete. With this armor he would become someone new, but who exactly he did not know.
His arms ached, but he was amazed at how his skill had increased. When he was a boy he would constantly be set to the task of shoeing horses, and eventually actually making the shoes. It had been years till his master had taught him to make even axe blades, and it seemed like even longer till he could make swords. But every day Kaland watched and observed the old man taking whatever lessons he could so when the next step came he performed it almost flawlessly. In truth the old blacksmith probably saw the passion in Kaland’s eyes and saw the prospect of a future partner disappear. Kaland knew he would make a good blacksmith, but in truth he wanted more. Thinking of these things he reclined on the straw bed after cleaning his work area and quickly fell asleep.
/////////////
He was awoken by a hard thud on the bench. Reaching for his sword he looked over to see Willam there, the blacksmithing hammer in his hand pressed hard against the bench.
“That did it.” Willam said smiling. “You were out like a rock, I am glad something finally woke you up.”
Kaland rubbed his eyes and replied. He could see the first rays of morning peering through the crevices in his pavilion.
“Thanks for waking me up. I must say I am truly grateful.” In his voice an overly noticeable point of sarcasm was present.
“What would you have of me Willam”?
Willam took a seat and began to speak. “Word has arrived that Breck plans to take a small force to Dorne for negotiations with this fellow Lord Qorgyle. I must confess I do not know much of the man, but that is not the point of my visit. I need you Kaland to go to Dorne with Breck and be my eyes and ears there.”
Kaland responded somewhat confused. “Why is that? I don’t see how I could help your cousin in Dorne, and I am not much for spying.”
Willam responded answering his question in full. “I need you to do several things for me. Not only will you be my eyes and ears, but you will follow Breck’s orders…within reason of course. Stay with him and protect him if need be. However, I look at Dorne and the position it is in and I see a great deal of gain to be had there. I want you to send me messages on any rumors you hear of the east also…for my own personal reasons.” In that last line a hint of mystery present.
Kaland responded. “I take it this is to be as secretive as possible. I also take it this “little” mission of mine is unknown to the king.”
Willam responded interrupting him. “And unknown also to Breck in fact, which is why I require one more task of you. Convince Breck to allow you to accompany him. You can say I sent you, but gain his trust perhaps he will share things with you others will not. Breck is my cousin and I both love and respect him, but it is time we made our own way in these troubled times, and with the impressions I have left with the king I fear we may be held back for quite sometime if we do not take action.”
With that he patted Kaland on the shoulder and departed the tent looking at the armor on the wall as he was at the entrance. “The armor is coming along well, it is one of the finest suits I have ever seen. Perhaps you can set aside some time to work on it in Dorne, I look forward to the day it is complete.” He then left closing the tent flap behind him.
//////////////
Later that night Kaland gathered up his things and stalked through the camps set up outside King’s Landing. It seemed as if a great deal of the soldiers had departed and only the small Stormland’s host was noticeable to him. It had been a long while since he had tried “sneaking” undetected but it seemed he had not lost his touch. Not because he needed to, but more because it may prove useful to him during the coming events he snuck past several of the guards stationed outside of the tents. It was fun in fact he had not felt this way since he was a boy.
He snuck past a fire full surrounded by soldiers with his sword unsheathed walking ever so closely to them but avoiding their detection. In truth he could have killed at most two of them before the even knew he was there. After passing them he sheathed his sword smiling to himself.
Finally he saw Lord Dondarrion’s tent and stopped asking the guards that he be admitted. After a long drawn out conversation they allowed him in saying that Breck would be in shortly. He grabbed a stool sitting it in front of a long table, and waited slowly drumming his fingers on the table a smile on his face.
Goals
Kaland Stone to Master Blacksmith
Kaland Stone to Noteworthy Stealth
Willam Dondarrion to Noteworthy stewardship
Willam Dondarrion to Apprentice Persuasion
Finishing up the last set he placed it on his work bench. It was then he set to work on the project he had been waiting for ever since the battle at King’s Landing. Kaland stone removed a piece of steel from the forge. He set to work continually folding the metal until it was the right shape. After an hour he pounded the piece of steel into the perfect shape, quickly submerging it in the barrel of water to his side hardening it instantly. For hours he worked and worked the different pieces of metal. Each stroke fell and formed a new piece of the armor. Each piece was as black as the one before it some with the Dondarrion purple mixed in. His arms ached but he knew he must go on until every last piece was complete.
When he was finished half a day later, Kaland almost collapsed from exhaustion. He hung his finished leg armor on a rack allowing it to cool a bit more. The designs looked superb, matching the gauntlets he had forged before perfectly. He could imagine the finished set once it was complete. With this armor he would become someone new, but who exactly he did not know.
His arms ached, but he was amazed at how his skill had increased. When he was a boy he would constantly be set to the task of shoeing horses, and eventually actually making the shoes. It had been years till his master had taught him to make even axe blades, and it seemed like even longer till he could make swords. But every day Kaland watched and observed the old man taking whatever lessons he could so when the next step came he performed it almost flawlessly. In truth the old blacksmith probably saw the passion in Kaland’s eyes and saw the prospect of a future partner disappear. Kaland knew he would make a good blacksmith, but in truth he wanted more. Thinking of these things he reclined on the straw bed after cleaning his work area and quickly fell asleep.
/////////////
He was awoken by a hard thud on the bench. Reaching for his sword he looked over to see Willam there, the blacksmithing hammer in his hand pressed hard against the bench.
“That did it.” Willam said smiling. “You were out like a rock, I am glad something finally woke you up.”
Kaland rubbed his eyes and replied. He could see the first rays of morning peering through the crevices in his pavilion.
“Thanks for waking me up. I must say I am truly grateful.” In his voice an overly noticeable point of sarcasm was present.
“What would you have of me Willam”?
Willam took a seat and began to speak. “Word has arrived that Breck plans to take a small force to Dorne for negotiations with this fellow Lord Qorgyle. I must confess I do not know much of the man, but that is not the point of my visit. I need you Kaland to go to Dorne with Breck and be my eyes and ears there.”
Kaland responded somewhat confused. “Why is that? I don’t see how I could help your cousin in Dorne, and I am not much for spying.”
Willam responded answering his question in full. “I need you to do several things for me. Not only will you be my eyes and ears, but you will follow Breck’s orders…within reason of course. Stay with him and protect him if need be. However, I look at Dorne and the position it is in and I see a great deal of gain to be had there. I want you to send me messages on any rumors you hear of the east also…for my own personal reasons.” In that last line a hint of mystery present.
Kaland responded. “I take it this is to be as secretive as possible. I also take it this “little” mission of mine is unknown to the king.”
Willam responded interrupting him. “And unknown also to Breck in fact, which is why I require one more task of you. Convince Breck to allow you to accompany him. You can say I sent you, but gain his trust perhaps he will share things with you others will not. Breck is my cousin and I both love and respect him, but it is time we made our own way in these troubled times, and with the impressions I have left with the king I fear we may be held back for quite sometime if we do not take action.”
With that he patted Kaland on the shoulder and departed the tent looking at the armor on the wall as he was at the entrance. “The armor is coming along well, it is one of the finest suits I have ever seen. Perhaps you can set aside some time to work on it in Dorne, I look forward to the day it is complete.” He then left closing the tent flap behind him.
//////////////
Later that night Kaland gathered up his things and stalked through the camps set up outside King’s Landing. It seemed as if a great deal of the soldiers had departed and only the small Stormland’s host was noticeable to him. It had been a long while since he had tried “sneaking” undetected but it seemed he had not lost his touch. Not because he needed to, but more because it may prove useful to him during the coming events he snuck past several of the guards stationed outside of the tents. It was fun in fact he had not felt this way since he was a boy.
He snuck past a fire full surrounded by soldiers with his sword unsheathed walking ever so closely to them but avoiding their detection. In truth he could have killed at most two of them before the even knew he was there. After passing them he sheathed his sword smiling to himself.
Finally he saw Lord Dondarrion’s tent and stopped asking the guards that he be admitted. After a long drawn out conversation they allowed him in saying that Breck would be in shortly. He grabbed a stool sitting it in front of a long table, and waited slowly drumming his fingers on the table a smile on his face.
Goals
Kaland Stone to Master Blacksmith
Kaland Stone to Noteworthy Stealth
Willam Dondarrion to Noteworthy stewardship
Willam Dondarrion to Apprentice Persuasion