Post by The Smith on Oct 16, 2008 13:48:13 GMT -5
535 Horn Hill
Loren smiled as he rode his charger to Horn Hill the ancestral home of the Tarly’s. Robb Tarly had achieved considerable reputation and skill during the Dornish Campaign and while old compared to Loren, as far as military men go was still very young. With the exception of his Great Uncle Rodney Blackbar there were few in the Reach who could match his skill.
“Here comes the Butcher’s son,” the small-folk around Horn Hill said as he rode closer. Loren of course had heard stories of his father’s brutality at Sunspear, it was something that Anne Varner could not shelter the youth from despite her best efforts. The events that led to the burning of the city was an event his father had never spoke of at home and the title “Butcher of Sunspear” was one that his father had tried unsuccessfully to wash clean with years of prayer and devotion. The name was a weight that Alexander Irwyn had carried and a weight that his children would carry from now on, a badge of honor among some and a mark of shame for others.
Loren’s father had been well respected in the Far Reach, fiercely supportive of the crown and the honorable course of action. Many in the realm were surprised when he accepted the King’s offer to be Hand, especially with the forcefulness that then King Rickon worked to undo all the good he had done in shoring up Dorne against future insurrection. But those that knew Alexander better, understood that while strongly opposed to the King’s decision, Alexander felt it unwise to deny the boy honest council and Irwyn trusted precious few to speak what needed to be said.
While many blamed Cedric Lannister for the death of his father, in truth Alexander Irwyn was murdered by the corruption of the court’s politics. Sending Alexander Irwyn to King's Landing amongst the thieves and traitors that lived there was like casting a teenage boy into the wilderness with just his small clothes and a wooden sword. Loren’s father was no more prepared to deal with the nastiness of the political scene as any of those craven cowards were prepared to deal with the Basilisk Invasion.
“Loren,” Robb said as he rode out to meet the boy who would serve as his squire, welcome to Horn Hill, “I hope you are ready to learn, as you won’t get any favors from me on account of your father’s reputation. A knight must first learn to lead with a servant’s heart.”
Lord Tarly got down from his horse, and retrieved a large sack from its back.. . Here” he said thrusting the sack in Loren’s direction, “make sure it is clean and polished before night fall.” Lord Tarly returned to his horse and rode back towards the Keep leaving Loren to hold the armor that seemed stained with years of bloody battle.
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535 Brightwater Keep
“Oh my precious little Angel,” Lady Sybill Florent said of her grand child as he arrived at the home of the Florents. “Doesn’t he look just like Dacey,” she cooed as she pinched his cheek.
“Yes dear,” Alphonse said his white beard swaying to one side in the moderate breeze.
Dorian seemed a little overwhelmed by his over bearing grandmother, he tried to draw away slightly but her grasp proved too strong.
“Are you hungry? You look skinny, is Lady Varner feeding you enough? Doesn’t he look skinny?” Sybill said.
“Yes dear,” Alphonse added again
“Well we have lots to do, we have to get him new clothes, and start his language lessons and of course there is dancing in the afternoon,” Lady Florent commenced to give the entire schedule an impossible amount of activity for a month but all seemed pressed into one day.
Dorian tried to feign interest but all he really wanted to do was escape with a book in some hidden nook of Brightwater Keep. His grandfather seemed to pick up on this discomfort.
“Don’t worry,” he whispered well below his wife’s audible range, “You’ll get plenty of chances to do men things too,” he smiled
“Doesn’t that sound great Alphonse?” Lady Sybill asked about her latest statement that Alphonse with years of practice had managed to phase out.
“Yes, dear” he said before muttering to his steward, “You know sometimes I wish I was back in Prison.”
///////////
While both Irwyn’s developed differently under their foster parents, they both performed well. Loren improved his martial skills under the watchful yet stern eye of Lord Tarly while Dorian with the encouragement of his domineering grandmother received a more culturally progressive education filled with study of languages, while being dragged occasionally by his grandfather to the training yards for some training in sword and shield.
Loren proved successful with the Axe and riding while his brother still found time to read, sometimes by candlelight, even with the busy schedule his grandparents forced on him.
Results:
Loren improves towards Master Great Axe
Loren improves Horsemanship to Expert
Dorian improves Longsword to Noteworthy
Dorian improves Languages Braavosi to Apprentice
Loren smiled as he rode his charger to Horn Hill the ancestral home of the Tarly’s. Robb Tarly had achieved considerable reputation and skill during the Dornish Campaign and while old compared to Loren, as far as military men go was still very young. With the exception of his Great Uncle Rodney Blackbar there were few in the Reach who could match his skill.
“Here comes the Butcher’s son,” the small-folk around Horn Hill said as he rode closer. Loren of course had heard stories of his father’s brutality at Sunspear, it was something that Anne Varner could not shelter the youth from despite her best efforts. The events that led to the burning of the city was an event his father had never spoke of at home and the title “Butcher of Sunspear” was one that his father had tried unsuccessfully to wash clean with years of prayer and devotion. The name was a weight that Alexander Irwyn had carried and a weight that his children would carry from now on, a badge of honor among some and a mark of shame for others.
Loren’s father had been well respected in the Far Reach, fiercely supportive of the crown and the honorable course of action. Many in the realm were surprised when he accepted the King’s offer to be Hand, especially with the forcefulness that then King Rickon worked to undo all the good he had done in shoring up Dorne against future insurrection. But those that knew Alexander better, understood that while strongly opposed to the King’s decision, Alexander felt it unwise to deny the boy honest council and Irwyn trusted precious few to speak what needed to be said.
While many blamed Cedric Lannister for the death of his father, in truth Alexander Irwyn was murdered by the corruption of the court’s politics. Sending Alexander Irwyn to King's Landing amongst the thieves and traitors that lived there was like casting a teenage boy into the wilderness with just his small clothes and a wooden sword. Loren’s father was no more prepared to deal with the nastiness of the political scene as any of those craven cowards were prepared to deal with the Basilisk Invasion.
“Loren,” Robb said as he rode out to meet the boy who would serve as his squire, welcome to Horn Hill, “I hope you are ready to learn, as you won’t get any favors from me on account of your father’s reputation. A knight must first learn to lead with a servant’s heart.”
Lord Tarly got down from his horse, and retrieved a large sack from its back.. . Here” he said thrusting the sack in Loren’s direction, “make sure it is clean and polished before night fall.” Lord Tarly returned to his horse and rode back towards the Keep leaving Loren to hold the armor that seemed stained with years of bloody battle.
////////////////
535 Brightwater Keep
“Oh my precious little Angel,” Lady Sybill Florent said of her grand child as he arrived at the home of the Florents. “Doesn’t he look just like Dacey,” she cooed as she pinched his cheek.
“Yes dear,” Alphonse said his white beard swaying to one side in the moderate breeze.
Dorian seemed a little overwhelmed by his over bearing grandmother, he tried to draw away slightly but her grasp proved too strong.
“Are you hungry? You look skinny, is Lady Varner feeding you enough? Doesn’t he look skinny?” Sybill said.
“Yes dear,” Alphonse added again
“Well we have lots to do, we have to get him new clothes, and start his language lessons and of course there is dancing in the afternoon,” Lady Florent commenced to give the entire schedule an impossible amount of activity for a month but all seemed pressed into one day.
Dorian tried to feign interest but all he really wanted to do was escape with a book in some hidden nook of Brightwater Keep. His grandfather seemed to pick up on this discomfort.
“Don’t worry,” he whispered well below his wife’s audible range, “You’ll get plenty of chances to do men things too,” he smiled
“Doesn’t that sound great Alphonse?” Lady Sybill asked about her latest statement that Alphonse with years of practice had managed to phase out.
“Yes, dear” he said before muttering to his steward, “You know sometimes I wish I was back in Prison.”
///////////
While both Irwyn’s developed differently under their foster parents, they both performed well. Loren improved his martial skills under the watchful yet stern eye of Lord Tarly while Dorian with the encouragement of his domineering grandmother received a more culturally progressive education filled with study of languages, while being dragged occasionally by his grandfather to the training yards for some training in sword and shield.
Loren proved successful with the Axe and riding while his brother still found time to read, sometimes by candlelight, even with the busy schedule his grandparents forced on him.
Results:
Loren improves towards Master Great Axe
Loren improves Horsemanship to Expert
Dorian improves Longsword to Noteworthy
Dorian improves Languages Braavosi to Apprentice