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Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Nov 16, 2009 13:17:49 GMT -5
An ancient road built by the Tyrells and expanded during the Regency of Francis Varner, the Rose Road connects Blackcrown, Oldtown, Horn Hill and Highgarden before continuing to King's Landing. It is the quickest way into and out of the Far Reach and of all the roads in the Far Reach has been maintained the best.
It is also a popular road for bandits and highwaymen as the large distance between Keeps combined with the frequent trade caravans between Oldtown and Highgarden make for many opportunities for those with sinister motives.
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Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Nov 18, 2009 14:08:57 GMT -5
Ser Kenneth and the Astonishing Jonathon Biggs ride at a brisk pace after their assignment to find Alys Webber, the only daughter of Lord Webber. The Bandits were last seen crossing into the Mander so they were already a week behind but Kenneth hoped that he could pick up the scent as they got closer to Horn Hill.
Jonathon, the bard, sang as he rode much to the annoyance of Ser Kenneth and whatever critters not wise enough to run at first sight of the strange pair.
My girl is named Amanda. . .
and she used to weigh ten and two stones,
but since we've been wed
she's as big as a shed,
and now weighs sixty and four.
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Post by The Stranger on Nov 18, 2009 14:12:53 GMT -5
The pair has been riding for several hours, and Kenneth was expecting to see one of the Far Reache's many holdfasts along the road. But as he gets closer to the appropriate mile marker, he sees only smoulder rubble. Someone had burned it as they passed. There was only smouldering timber where once a solid looking holdfast had stood.
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Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Nov 18, 2009 14:22:19 GMT -5
"I wonder what happened here," Ser Kenneth said as he slowed his horse to a walk.
"Fire," the dwarf replied stating the obvious.
Kenneth scouted around the outskirts of the smouldering ruins making sure its safe before approaching closer. The Dwarf on his minature horse followed closely behind.
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Post by The Stranger on Nov 18, 2009 14:38:34 GMT -5
There does not appear to be anyone nearby, and the tracks are old. Likely no one has been by this route in a week or so.
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Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Nov 18, 2009 14:53:34 GMT -5
The pair search the ruins for any clues to the size and composition of the party that did this or being an opportunitstic Knight check to see if their is any survivors or anything left of value in the holdfast, before Kenneth dismounts to take a closer look at the tracks.
[Tracking- Apprentice]
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Post by The Stranger on Nov 18, 2009 15:24:10 GMT -5
There are enough footprints that Kenneth can not determine the party size, except to say that it was a lot. He knows that these holdfasts usually hold a knight and perhaps a handful of men-at-arms, so those who burnt it must have been fairly numerous to overcome the Tarly knight like that.
Confirming those suspicions, are eight large corpses in the ashes of the holdfast. There is also one long but slender corpse, that Kenneth suspects was a woman, and a tiny one, that might have been a baby. Everything else is ruins.
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Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Nov 18, 2009 15:41:41 GMT -5
Ser Kenneth makes the sign of the seven pointed star as he takes in the carnage, "animals," he says to no one in particular.
The dwarf vomits as he takes in the charred remains of the ten people who perished here, he wipes his mouth as he finishes emptying the contents of his stomach onto the ground.
"Lets go," Kenneth said urging his courser forward. "If we pass any hamlets on the way we'll ask if they've seen anyone come through.
The young Knight follows the trail as best as he is able looking for any witnesses that might know more about what transpired.
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Post by The Stranger on Nov 18, 2009 15:57:17 GMT -5
After some travel further northward, They reach the point where the road veers off towards Highgarden. They can see tracks leading away from the road, towards the river. In the distance, there is a large ferry barge along the river side, with a small handful of men standing around it.
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Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Nov 18, 2009 16:03:05 GMT -5
Ser Kenneth approaches the men by the ferry, "I am looking for a group of riders that may have passed through about a week or so ago," Kenneth says pulling out a silver stag which he flips gingerly between his fingers.
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Post by The Stranger on Nov 18, 2009 16:49:41 GMT -5
"Aye. Twenty men or so they were, wearing mail, and surcoats. We saw 'em sure enough. Couldn't hardly miss 'em with that bag they was carrying," the lead ferryman says.
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Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Nov 18, 2009 17:12:37 GMT -5
"Where'd they cross?" Kenneth asked flipping the silver stag to the man who was doing the talking. They sounded pretty well equipped to be your average run of the mill bandit, the thought made Kenneth shudder.
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Post by The Stranger on Nov 18, 2009 17:17:43 GMT -5
"They crossed right here, we ferried them across in two groups. Had to, on account of the horses, heavy bastards," the man said.
"That's when we heard the bag squeak," another ferryman added.
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Post by Ser Kenneth Coyn on Nov 18, 2009 18:09:48 GMT -5
"Squeak eh?" Kenneth said, "like there was a woman inside it?" the knight suggested.
"These men wearing any recognizable colors, you said they had surcoats. Did they have a banner on them also?"
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Post by The Stranger on Nov 18, 2009 20:35:53 GMT -5
"If they had a banner it was rolled milord, and I didn't see nothing that looked like colors. None that I recognized. Mostly roughspun mostly."
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Hope you all are well and happy.