Post by The Smith on Oct 14, 2008 23:29:31 GMT -5
530 AC
Breck stared into space in his room at Blackhold as the messenger left it in a hurry. He repeated the first words of the report...Rickon abdicated...Rickon abdicated...Rickon abdicated...FUCK IT!
What this meant for the realm was disastrous- Rodrick was far from an able King, and his administration would be poorly operated, weak, and wild. Worse still, the messenger delivered news that Cedric had returned his necklace to the throne and rode fast for the West. What this meant could be any number of things, but Breck could not stand to let the realm fall to pieces, especially not when he held as much say as he did.
He summoned Lord Kellington to his chambers and ordered him to keep a close watch over the basest of troublemakers in King's Landing, hoping to spare the city from certain riots at news of the rebellious boy's ascension. Kellington exited quickly and immediately began his work, dutifully, and with great skill, making bribes in the right places with the right people. He secured the loyalty of many Goldcloaks who would have reason for questionable devotion to the new King, even spread happy rumors of Rodrick's taking to the throne.
The next day he awoke to a messenger again, this time in the colors of the King, formally offering him to become Hand. Breck did not think twice before he said yes. To say no was to offer up the realm to instability. He must keep his firm hand clasped over Rodrick's weak one.
///////////////////////
534 AC
Back in Blackhaven for the birth of a child, Breck was by his wife's side all through the last weeks of her pregnancy. Their bond was a long running one-- they were fostered together, and had been best friends and lovers from an early, early, age. They had been married for all of their adult lives, and even more. They hardly knew or remembered life without each other.
Today though, Nora was feeling sick, so Breck being extra careful, had the Maester attend her all day. She was feeling better when she started going into labor, and Breck was relieved to receive no angry glares from his distressed wife. Labor went on for hours, and Breck began to worry. He started to pace between rooms, talking to himself and tapping his hands against the walls of the chamber.
When he first heard her scream he rushed back into the room, and was by her side. "She's bleeding far too much!", the Maester exclaimed in a worried cry. Nora moaned and screamed, and Breck hurt from his heart at seeing her like this. She was pained greatly and he could do nothing to help her... "Can't we do anything?", Breck yelled back.
Nora pushed through the birth, but when the child left her, she was as white as the sheets had been before, and they were as red as the blood she had once abounded in. Now she lay dying, with the child first in her arms, and then when it was clear she would not make it, Breck lay by her side. The two of them spoke back and forth lovingly (Breck in a whisper, Nora in whatever mumbling she could manage), for two hours, before she stopped breathing. There was nothing to do to save her, and when she finally died, Breck kissed her, said his finally words, and retired to his chambers.
He spent the next week screaming.
For the next month or so he failed to leave his room, so exhausted and so full of grief was he. The child who had been born from this unpleasant birth was ignored, and the Maester took to naming her-- a daughter whom he named Ellynore.
///////////////
540 AC
Years into the reign of Rodrick, Breck and Lord Kellington had strengthened their influence and power throughout the realm, and particularly in King's Landing, which Kellington's whisperers had under their every watch. Kellington's skill had increased as Breck took to the last rung of the political ladder-- Hand. Kellington went unrivaled in the Stormlands, and in all of Westeros only the networks of the Flea and of Cedric Lannister rivaled his own-- which spanned the entire continent (albeit far stronger in the populated areas).
Breck himself took well to the position as Hand, and over the last ten years he had managed to right several of King Rodrick's wrongs, and triumphed with several successful decrees and judgments that were untouched by the King. Breck's mastery of stewardship was nothing when Rodrick wanted to enter the political arena from time to time-- he'd ruin just about everything he stuck his nose into. So Breck tried to keep his cousin as uninformed about things as was possible. Everything but the most important events were sent first to Breck, and after they were dealt with-- to Rodrick.
//////////////////
543 AC
On a trip to the Vale, Breck had met Lord Percy Hersey's young daughter, Grace Hersey. He was immediately taken by her, like he hadn't been since he met Nora, so many years ago. But she was so different, so completely unlike him. She was more ambitious and seductive, more cunning and had a touch of cruelty in her. She stayed with him where he went though, and gave at least a clue of loyalty and devotion to her lover.
When she returned to King's Landing with him, Breck found her hard to hide from his children- who were of a similar age. It took off as a scandal, and only Kellington could put down the rumors of such. But that is not to say they did not persist in smaller, darker circles.
Few knew her, and few cared to. She seemed very distant from the political scene, being the youngest daughter of a minor Vale noble. It was an odd choice for Breck, but the one positive thing it did, was apparently to make him more cheerful than before. This however, came at the price of his independence, for now she held great sway over his actions, and from time to time her opinions became his.
He maintained his cynical, sarcastic, and dark demeanor he had adopted at his wife's death, but found new ways in which to reach out to friends and reignite friendships he had left untouched. But was Grace's influence too much to bear? Who truly knew.
Results:
Lord Dondarrion becomes Hand
Lord Dondarrion improves from Expert+ Stewardship to Master Stewardship
Lord Kellington improves from Master+++ Espionage to Grandmaster Espionage
Lord Kellington improves from Noteworthy Swordsmanship to Expert Swordsmanship
Lord Kellington creates very small spy networks in each of the kingdoms he did not previously have one. His networks in King's Landing are more thoroughly developed, and the ones in the Stormlands are done similarly.
Breck stared into space in his room at Blackhold as the messenger left it in a hurry. He repeated the first words of the report...Rickon abdicated...Rickon abdicated...Rickon abdicated...FUCK IT!
What this meant for the realm was disastrous- Rodrick was far from an able King, and his administration would be poorly operated, weak, and wild. Worse still, the messenger delivered news that Cedric had returned his necklace to the throne and rode fast for the West. What this meant could be any number of things, but Breck could not stand to let the realm fall to pieces, especially not when he held as much say as he did.
He summoned Lord Kellington to his chambers and ordered him to keep a close watch over the basest of troublemakers in King's Landing, hoping to spare the city from certain riots at news of the rebellious boy's ascension. Kellington exited quickly and immediately began his work, dutifully, and with great skill, making bribes in the right places with the right people. He secured the loyalty of many Goldcloaks who would have reason for questionable devotion to the new King, even spread happy rumors of Rodrick's taking to the throne.
The next day he awoke to a messenger again, this time in the colors of the King, formally offering him to become Hand. Breck did not think twice before he said yes. To say no was to offer up the realm to instability. He must keep his firm hand clasped over Rodrick's weak one.
///////////////////////
534 AC
Back in Blackhaven for the birth of a child, Breck was by his wife's side all through the last weeks of her pregnancy. Their bond was a long running one-- they were fostered together, and had been best friends and lovers from an early, early, age. They had been married for all of their adult lives, and even more. They hardly knew or remembered life without each other.
Today though, Nora was feeling sick, so Breck being extra careful, had the Maester attend her all day. She was feeling better when she started going into labor, and Breck was relieved to receive no angry glares from his distressed wife. Labor went on for hours, and Breck began to worry. He started to pace between rooms, talking to himself and tapping his hands against the walls of the chamber.
When he first heard her scream he rushed back into the room, and was by her side. "She's bleeding far too much!", the Maester exclaimed in a worried cry. Nora moaned and screamed, and Breck hurt from his heart at seeing her like this. She was pained greatly and he could do nothing to help her... "Can't we do anything?", Breck yelled back.
Nora pushed through the birth, but when the child left her, she was as white as the sheets had been before, and they were as red as the blood she had once abounded in. Now she lay dying, with the child first in her arms, and then when it was clear she would not make it, Breck lay by her side. The two of them spoke back and forth lovingly (Breck in a whisper, Nora in whatever mumbling she could manage), for two hours, before she stopped breathing. There was nothing to do to save her, and when she finally died, Breck kissed her, said his finally words, and retired to his chambers.
He spent the next week screaming.
For the next month or so he failed to leave his room, so exhausted and so full of grief was he. The child who had been born from this unpleasant birth was ignored, and the Maester took to naming her-- a daughter whom he named Ellynore.
///////////////
540 AC
Years into the reign of Rodrick, Breck and Lord Kellington had strengthened their influence and power throughout the realm, and particularly in King's Landing, which Kellington's whisperers had under their every watch. Kellington's skill had increased as Breck took to the last rung of the political ladder-- Hand. Kellington went unrivaled in the Stormlands, and in all of Westeros only the networks of the Flea and of Cedric Lannister rivaled his own-- which spanned the entire continent (albeit far stronger in the populated areas).
Breck himself took well to the position as Hand, and over the last ten years he had managed to right several of King Rodrick's wrongs, and triumphed with several successful decrees and judgments that were untouched by the King. Breck's mastery of stewardship was nothing when Rodrick wanted to enter the political arena from time to time-- he'd ruin just about everything he stuck his nose into. So Breck tried to keep his cousin as uninformed about things as was possible. Everything but the most important events were sent first to Breck, and after they were dealt with-- to Rodrick.
//////////////////
543 AC
On a trip to the Vale, Breck had met Lord Percy Hersey's young daughter, Grace Hersey. He was immediately taken by her, like he hadn't been since he met Nora, so many years ago. But she was so different, so completely unlike him. She was more ambitious and seductive, more cunning and had a touch of cruelty in her. She stayed with him where he went though, and gave at least a clue of loyalty and devotion to her lover.
When she returned to King's Landing with him, Breck found her hard to hide from his children- who were of a similar age. It took off as a scandal, and only Kellington could put down the rumors of such. But that is not to say they did not persist in smaller, darker circles.
Few knew her, and few cared to. She seemed very distant from the political scene, being the youngest daughter of a minor Vale noble. It was an odd choice for Breck, but the one positive thing it did, was apparently to make him more cheerful than before. This however, came at the price of his independence, for now she held great sway over his actions, and from time to time her opinions became his.
He maintained his cynical, sarcastic, and dark demeanor he had adopted at his wife's death, but found new ways in which to reach out to friends and reignite friendships he had left untouched. But was Grace's influence too much to bear? Who truly knew.
Results:
Lord Dondarrion becomes Hand
Lord Dondarrion improves from Expert+ Stewardship to Master Stewardship
Lord Kellington improves from Master+++ Espionage to Grandmaster Espionage
Lord Kellington improves from Noteworthy Swordsmanship to Expert Swordsmanship
Lord Kellington creates very small spy networks in each of the kingdoms he did not previously have one. His networks in King's Landing are more thoroughly developed, and the ones in the Stormlands are done similarly.