AGOT - Winter is Coming - Solo - Chapter 1 & 2

[Widowmaker]

Brandon nods "I will see you later." He then starts walking towards the Stark encampment. Tyler follows behind you, as do your guards.

You make your way over to the King's Tent. You see his pavalion tent is twice as big as any of the others and twice as luxurious. There is a aroma of Myrish incense burning, you can also hear the sounds of bards and singers. Also outside the tents you see over a hundred Gold Cloaks.

As you make your way over to the entrance you are met by a host of guards. They inform you that your guards will have to wait outside. Afterwards they allow you to enter the tent. As you make your way into the dimly lit tent you are hit by a blue/green cloud of smoke form the Myrish incense. The smell is so strong you almost gag. In the large part of the tent you see many of the younger nobles of the Seven Kingdoms. Many look to be drunk or worse.

You are escorted off to one of the side rooms on the tent. The smell slowly dies away and finally there are few doorways between you and the large group. As you enter into the waiting area you see gold statues and antiques that must be worth a fortune.

As you stand and wait you can hear the muffled sound of arguing coming from the next room. You then hear a deep laugh. A few moments later you see Lord Jacen Mallister walk out, followed by a few of his men. His face shows obvious anger and his eyebrows are furrowed. He sees you and stops, he almost has a look of suprise on his face "Lord Stark, it good to see you. Your father wishes you his best. I saw him just a week ago before I sailed here. I have a message for you." He hands you a message tube that is sealed. "Becareful when you see the King, he and his men are not in the best moods. You must forgive me I have other business to attend to." He then turns and leaves, almost storming off.

One of the King's squires escorts you into see the King. The room is medium sized, it appears to be big enough to hold 30 men comfortably. Inside the doorway two of the Kingsguard stand. Off to one side of the room is a table with a map of the Seven Kingdoms. You see different pieces along the map. A large cluster of men stand over the table. They are talking rapidly. You cannot hear what they are saying.

You recognize a few of the men around the table. You see the vastly overweight Hand, Lord Cedric Butterwell, the cunning Lord Brynden Bloodraven, Grand Maester Hareth, and the Lord Commander Ser Ryen Corrington. A few of the other men you don't recognize. And of course off to one side it the King. He has sharp purple eyes and a bronze hair that stands out from the rest of the group. He sits on a rather large chair, listening to the others speak. The group notices your presence and quiets down. There eyes turn on you.

The Hand slowly makes his way over, the fat on his body bounces with each step. Lord Butterwell speaks with a high pitched scratchy voice that does not match his body. "You have been called here to answer questions for the King" he states "More directly the King has need to know what business you have with his brother and where the loyalty of House Stark stands?" He stands looking at you.

 

[Starman]

Karrwin stands there in quiet shock for a moment. Uhm, this seems rather more direct than I would have expected. Of course, perhaps Lord Butterwell is trying to put me off guard. He's succeeded. What do I say?

Taking a deep breath, Karrwin prepares for this dance of words. I will need all my wits about me. He looks at the King and addresses his answer to him. "My lord, I am honored to meet you. While my father has had disagreements with you, he respects your strength as a ruler. I am here to tell you that the loyalty of House Stark is where it has always been. As for business with your brother, I admit confusion. I do not know of any business with him."

 

[Widowmaker]

As you think to yourself about your answer. You notice something out of the corner of your eye. When you look you do not see anything.

Lord Butterwell looks at you blankly as you give your answer. He then turns walking away from everyone walking towards a chair on the far side of the room.

Lord Bloodraven, Ser Corrington, and the King all have smiles on there face as they focus on Lord Butterwell. It takes you a few seconds but you quickly realize that Lord Butterwell is being mocked and the others are laughing at him. The worst part is that Lord Butterwell doesn't even realize it.

Lord Butterwell sits in the chair and puts his hand to his fat chin. He is about to speak when the King stands.

"Forgive Lord Butterwell he see conspiracies and worries too much, I suppose that is why he is the Hand. I believe Lord Butterwell's concern is misplaced. He told me earlier that you were at my brother's, Lord Blackfyre, tent yesterday and spoke with him in great depth. The Hand thinks that House Stark will rebel along with my brother and try to overthrow the me. I had to ease Lord Butterwell and explain to him that Lord Stark and his sons are loyal to the Crown." As he speaksto you he slowly makes his way over to a small table. He picks up a goblet of wine. He picks another up for you, he lifts it seeing if you want it.

Lord Butterwell faces slowly starts to glow red, he starts to shift in his seat. You realize that the game is being played right here in front of you and you are being used as a pawn. The King and others have turned on Lord Butterwell.

"I will simply take Karrwin's word that there is no intention of rebellion, will that satisfy you Lord Butterwell?" The King looks at you and then the Hand.

Lord Butterwell attempts to stand but he is so fat that the chair is stuck to him. He pulls it off and then walks over to the table with the map. "He is not Lord Stark, his word is not the same as his father's, but if it will do for the King it will do for me!" He looks at the map never looking at you or the King.

The others in the background nod, a few exchange coins as it appears bets were made, and a few giggle. Tyler steps up and whispers in your ear. "There is more to this than you know, be very careful." he then steps back before any have noticed.

Grand Maester Hareth steps forward. "It has been many moons since a Stark has come to a tourney. It is good to see the entire Kingdom is here. We should welcome Karrwin properly, tradition says that you should be honored tonight at the dinner. I would be honored Karrwin if you would sit next to me."

The King looks at the old Maester and smiles, he then looks over his shoulder at group "Once again the Grand Maester beats me to punch." The Maester smiles and then retreats. "Hareth
has a tendency of doing that, that is one of the things I like about him. So it would be my pleasure if you would sit at the head table tonight."

One of the squires walks in to the room, the King looks at him. "You will have to excuse me Karrwin, some dignitaries that have travelled very distant have arrived. Until later." he nods at you and turns walking back towards the group of advisors.

 

[Starman]

Stark bows even as the King is turning away. He steps back and then turns, walking out of the tent. He walks very quickly back to his tent. Once there, he pours himself a glass of wine and proceeds to drink it all.

"How long were we in there, Tyler. It couldn't have been more than a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity. Look at me. I'm sweating like a deserter from the Watch." Karrwin takes another long drink of his wine.

"I'm no expert at this game, but even I can see that there are games afoot within the King's council. Lord Butterwell seems to be a mockery. I wonder how much pull he has and who he is allied with. Why can't men simply state their mind? Why must they play these games?" He takes another gulp of his drink.

"What do you think, Tyler? What did you see there?"

 

[Widowmaker]

As you leave the King's presence and back out, you nearly run into a group of men and women dressed very strangely. They are dressed in light robes and have covered faces.

Tyler looks over at you "We were only there a few minutes, ten at the most. It was a very long time indeed." As you mention the last part about the Watch, Tyler looks at you in confusion.

Tyler looks at you after you finish "I am not sure if Lord Butterwell is incredibly stupid or smart. He played that very . . . strange. I have never met him, but I cannot imagine the King having such an incompetent Hand."

"As for the game they were playing I don't know who was playing who, all I know is that you were a pawn in the middle of it. For some reason you have attracted there attention, that is good and bad."

"Did you see the group when we were leaving, the were Dornish. I have only seem them a few times, but I remember them. The King is up to something I can feel it." Tyler states.

"What does the message from your father say." Tyler finishes.

As he finishes both Eon, Jeremiah, and Brandon walk in.

 

[Starman]

"The message! I completely forgot about that." Karrwin pulls it out and reads it.

 

[Widowmaker]

You pull out the message tube, you realize that there are two messages in it. One has the seal of the Starks, the other you recognzie as the Mallister seal.

Your fathers messages says:

Karrwin,

Things have turned sour here in the North. The Ironmen and their ships have been raiding up and down the coast since you left. Your Uncle, Lord Jacen Mallister, and I have suffered first hand from these attacks. A ship carrying your aunt and my sister, Lady Alyssa was attacked and sunk. Your cousins Jeyne and Martyn were also on board the ship. There bodies washed ashore a few days later.

We were preparing to attack when a raven arrived. We know not who sent the raven, but the message sent said the King was the one behind the attacks. Our best guess is the King wishes to provoke us into war with the Greyjoy’s, so we are focused elsewhere other than on the south.

We need you to find out the truth. After the tourney the plan was for you to return to home, I have need of you to stay in the south and be the North’s envoy. I have already sent men to King’s Landing to make arraignments for your arrival. All minor details will be taken care of before you arrive.

If things do turn for the worse you are to make for the North. I cannot risk having you taken hostage, I cannot risk losing more of my family. If you go by land make for Moat Caitlin. If you go by see avoid White Harbor that will be the first place that is attacked.

Winter is Coming,

Your father,

Lord Edward
The others reads:

Karrwin,

I wish I could stay longer. I make for Seagard immediately. I am sure your father has already told you the news. If what we have been told is true so help me none of the gods will be able to stop me from killing those responsible.

If you have need of anything let me know, I am depending on you.

Uncle Jacen

 

[Starman]

Karrwin stumbles to a seat and puts his head in his hands. Without bothering to look up, he holds the letters out to the others. He sits there in shock for a few moments, not hearing anything his advisors say. Then his face sets and he comes to a realization. This is what I was meant for. This is my fate. I am a Stark of Winterfell.

Karrwin stands up, his face hard. He looks around his tent meeting the eyes of these, his friends, advisors, and confidants. His voice is low and iron. "The King does not realize what he has started. We are not meek southroners to be cowed by his base actions. We are men of the north! I am a Stark of Winterfell. Winter is coming. A winter such as will never be forgotten by these fools. The King has put himself above the realm. It is time for us to show him the error of his ways."

 

[Widowmaker]

Jeremiah takes the letter from you. In your blurred state the others are talking when you start to snap out of it. They all stop and listen to what you have to say.

Eon is the first to speak. "I cannot read, but if what you say it true then let the loose the giants for the Umbers are on there way." You can see Eon supports you one hundred percent.

Maester Jeremiah speaks next "I am here as your advisor, but I can see I am not from the North and do not understand what you are feeling. I comprehend and have been told what to expect, but I just don't understand. My advice would be to make sure the King is the one behind it, your father said he did not know who sent the raven."

Tyler chimes in. "Oh I believe it from the stories I have been told and the little I have witnessed he is perfectly capable of it. I would advise you to be cautious, it is time to start gathering allies to your cause."

Jeremiah blurts out "What if the King was not behind it, I mean his enemies could have done it to turn you against the King and therefore to their side. Just a thought."

Brandon states "Karrwin what do you plan to do?"

Eon speaks out "I will tell you one thing. We should not waste our energy or men on this tournament. Let the Southern's play there games!! Not to get off task here Karrwin, but you asked the guards to be on the lookout for things. One reported back that he was with a whore and she mentioned something about a Redwyne Lord being sent to Pyke."

Jeremiah states "On that news there has been rumor of shifting of troops from some southern areas near Dorne to other areas. The Baratheons and Tyrells are furious."

Tyler states "That may explain why the Dornish were in the Kings tent. There are to many options, we need more information. I guess that lays on your shoulders Karrwin. I will speak to my cousin Lord Fossoway, he may prove a ally."

 

[Starman]

"We must know where all the players stand. Tyler, speak to Lord Fossoway. Jeremiah, I know that Maesters are rare amongst the Greyjoys, but surely you must know of one. Would it be possible for you to talk to him and find out what they are up to? Brandon, I'm sure you've befriended someone amongst the Baratheons or the Tyrells. Talk to them and find out their position.

"Eon, the worst thing we could do is not participate in the tournament. That will cause talk. We must look as if nothing is going on. Any of the men who wish to participate will be allowed to do so. I want you to stay here and make sure a vigilant watch is maintained. I don't want anything to happen here.

"As for me, I will speak with...ah, Tanya Redwyne later tonight to see what she know of her family's dealings.

"Questions or suggestions?"