One Positive Change at a Time (ASOIAF: Viserys SI) Dead.

[R.A.G.]

"It was the son again who argued in our families favor. That the Reach needs a proven winner against the Baratheons and Lord Randall Tarly was the only one in his service." Her eyes are shining with dreams of what this cold mean for our families growth but I'm just looking forward to being so close to the Citadel.

Click to shrink...

Should be 'could', lol.

Also, surprisingly cool real loyalists. Also logical, its in their best interest to die here heroically because then their families might yet be saved.

 

[Flightless Man]

Should be 'could', lol.

Also, surprisingly cool real loyalists. Also logical, its in their best interest to die here heroically because then their families might yet be saved.

Click to shrink...

Fixed, hanks.

Show Alliser's final line really stuck with me and made me really like him even more.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 38: Rivers Converge
Daenerys Targaryen
​

"I'm so sorry my Grace," Father's voice is thick with emotion as he uses his special name for mother. She may not be the Kingdoms' Queen anymore but that just means he gets her all to himself. "I know I said we could see Viserys before he left but the roads are far too dangerous. It would not have been safe for you."

It hurts when I think about Viserys. Knowing I'll never see him again or hear is hard to understand and worse when I think of Baelor and Jaenaera. The twins won't even remember our brave brother. Why couldn't the Maester's save him? Don't they know everything?

"I wanted him to get over his distaste of our home nearly as much as you." Father runs a hand the his long reddish brown hair and I notice a few streaks of grey making themselves known. I better remind him to apply more dye before Mother's nameday. "My own temper cooled years ago and I only wish I had the courage to admit it to him."

"No one's perfect Hoster," Mother answers with a sad frown but I have to correct her anyway.

"Viserys is." I confidently assure my parents and glare at Ser Desmond when he giggles behind a hand. "He is!"

Desmond concedes before I really need to yell at him for being mean. "I'm not arguing. I've heard of four songs so far about the Stone Dragon."

"Really?" Mother bounces my sister on her knee and swats her exploring hand when it grabs a lock of hair. "Any good ones?"

"The one about the Dirty Dragon finally being given a bath by the Princess of Dorne was quite a funny one I can share once Daenerys has gone to her lessons." Answers our castle's master of arms with the wiggle to his eyebrow that always makes me laugh. "And the one about the dragon and stag saving each other at Summerhall might even make Brynden tear up."

Mother smiles wide and blinks away a few tears. "Next time you hear a good one… that's also appropriate, send the bard to me please."

"And make sure none of the Frey's get any bright ideas when they get here on the morrow." Father's scowl becomes a wink when he makes eye contact with me. "Keep Dany in the family quarters until they get their orders and leave."


…

​

Duncan Selmy
​

The woman and children with us have quickly gotten over any fright my friends may have caused by the first meeting. In fact Bella was even letting the leader of the pack sniff and lick at her days before the horses started to settle down.

Milk-Eyes as the Rivers girl has started calling him, will vanish for hours at a time. When he returns though it's always to the grumbles of Sandor.

"Again?" He snarls down at the silent animal before jerking his reigns to the left. "Fine! Looks like we're going the wrong again everyone." We're lead off the road and along a game trail beside the stream. "Hope you don't mind taking the scenic route ladies, because the pack doesn't seem to like the road anymore."

"Last time you tried to argue, we ran into a whole group of those Second Sons…" I can hear the scowl in Bella's voice as she holds tight around my waist.

"And it got us enough horses you can all ride double. Don't know why you keep saying it was the wrong choice." With less bluster than normal Sandor doesn't push the point any farther and lets us ride in near silence.

The road may be faster, but I'm finding I like the varied scenery of the stream a lot more. Willow trees line the bank and create a dense canopy shading us from both the sun and being seen from the road. Even just watching the little yellow ducks paddle along in the current is enough to make me smile.

Once we get to Riverrun, Sandor will finally be free to take me North. I'll finally know if Ned Stark is my real father or if the rumors of it being his brother Brandon are true.

Bella shows her inexperience on a horse and whines in my ear. "How much farther? My backside is really getting sore and it's only been a few days."

"I've been riding every day since I was five and I would have done it sooner if Mother allowed me." It took 'Aunt' Lyanna convincing her on one of her visits before I was allowed to practice on a pony. "It takes months to really get used to it I'm afraid."

The honest answer doesn't make Bella any happier and I try not to flinch when she bangs her forehead against my shoulder. "When are we stopping for food?"

"Whenever White-Eyes decides it's safe." I still don't know why he decided not to eat me but he can at least never lie to me. "He hasn't been wrong yet."

"The beast is wrong just for existing," Counters Melisandre with a warning hiss when one of the coyotes gets too close to the Red Woman. "You don't trust me know and when you head my words it will be too late for you to turn back. You're letting an animal lead you to your death."

Sandor snorts at that with almost enough scorn for he both of us. "Better than trusting fire to show you the future. I still think you've just been breathing in too much smoke, get light headed, and make shit up."

"If you insist on sending me away at Riverrun, I won't be able to keep saving you from the scary fire each meal." Her mocking words succeed in riling Sandor's temper but he makes himself swallow whatever comeback he had ready. Shame, he looked mad enough to get really creative this time.

"I'm not scared of fire, just not fond of how… unpredictable it can be." Sandor denies the accusation with a not very believable grumble. "I can't figure out if you or White-Eyes pisses me off more, you seem to keep outdoing each other."

"I won't lose to an animal." Of course the scarlet haired woman only takes this as a challenge. "You are how I will find the Prince who was promised and I will follow as long as the flames continue to show you shielding him from my view."

Frowning at the repeated argument, I realize before Sandor does that the pack has frozen stiff in warning. "Quiet, someones coming!"

Everyone goes silent immediately, not eager to witness another defense by my friends if we draw attention. It doesn't take long before we can hear the sound of men marching in far greater numbers than last time and I realize we'll lose if these men want to fight.

"-far the pack has only gone after the enemy but that can change with the next attack." A confident voice speaks loud and with no fear of drawing notice. "We need to deal with them before they find a village to settle around." Doesn't sound like the 'bandits' to me and it seems Sandor agrees.

He looks to me with a nod, letting me see the relief in his eyes. We just let them pass and go on our way safe and sound. It doesn't work out like that though as soon the sound of galloping horses is heard coming from several directions.

"Ambush!" Roars the one I'm nearly convinced is on our side, and I can hear swords being drawn nearly in unison. "They've saved us having to hunt them down today. Such luck!"

We cower a dew dozen feet away from what sounds like a bloody battle, flinching when a very dead body rolls down the bank towards us. Seven keep us safe and I'll never swear!

I have no idea who's winning but realize in horror we've been found as a pair of men follow the body. I don't even hesitate for a second.

"Get the bad guys." My words are a grim promise that the pack soon rushes to fulfill.

The break their frozen state and charge up to the road. The sounds of terrified screams soon become screams of agony, but the pack is not unharmed.

Yelps and whimpers also fill my ears and it's only Bella taking the reigns that keeps me from charging into the battle like a foolish child. "They're protecting us, you need to let them." She's right and a better friend than I deserve for teasing her so often.

"But they're my friends!" I whine anyways as the worry becomes unbearable.

"They're protecting you but if you go after them… who will protect the rest of us?" She's showing more fear than ever and I realize I'm not the only person who doesn't know what to do.

"Okay." I finally relent and stop trying to reclaim the reigns from Bella.

It feels like we wait most of the day in tense silence for a winner to be decided but I know it can't possibly have been more than five minutes. Eventually the confidant voice from earlier calls out to his fellows and I breathe out in relief.

"Well this changes things doesn't it?" His words are getting louder though I'm too relieved to notice. "Someone told them to help us and the voice came from down here."

A knight with a neatly trimmed beard of white hair and a thick bushy mustache leads some of his survivors towards us and his eyes go wide in shock.

"Well this is really turning out to be an odd day." He snorts to himself before introducing himself warmly. "I am Ser Bonifer Hasty of the Holy Hundred and I thank whichever one of you gave your hounds the command to attack."​

 

[Kolejny dzień]

It's nice to see the good sides of Robert and Alliser. But shouldn't there be a timeskip or something? There's no way that Viserys could have reached Valyria at the same time as all this is going on.

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It's not unbelievable that fighting might stall for a few weeks after the initial uprisings. The rebels wouldn't have even a plurality of their forces raised, I think, just to maintain secrecy if nothing else. They'd be stretched a bit thin by gains made during the confusion and calling levies is... never particularly efficient.

Add to that, the loyalists are on the back foot and probably only just figuring out who's actually on their side and calling their own levies besides. The civil war being mostly static in these earliest phases with some light skirmishes along the edges is actually fairly likely.

 

[fluffy]

It's not unbelievable that fighting might stall for a few weeks after the initial uprisings. The rebels wouldn't have even a plurality of their forces raised, I think, just to maintain secrecy if nothing else. They'd be stretched a bit thin by gains made during the confusion and calling levies is... never particularly efficient.

Add to that, the loyalists are on the back foot and probably only just figuring out who's actually on their side and calling their own levies besides. The civil war being mostly static in these earliest phases with some light skirmishes along the edges is actually fairly likely.

Click to shrink...

Well the thing people don't know about pre industrial warfare is that the vast majority of fighting is skirmishes between small bands. So even when the levies have been drawn and all forces assembled by both sides then they'll have 1 maybe 2 big battles (not counting sieges) before its over.

 

[Kolejny dzień]

Well the thing people don't know about pre industrial warfare is that the vast majority of fighting is skirmishes between small bands. So even when the levies have been drawn and all forces assembled by both sides then they'll have 1 maybe 2 big battles (not counting sieges) before its over.

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Fair enough. Most of what I'm thinking at this stage though is static positions and patrols*. I can't see formations of even a hundred moving with any real regularity at that stage. They'd be to isolated and loyalties would still be shaking out besides.


EDIT: *I mean specifically guard patrols around rally points during the proper mobilization.

 

[fluffy]

Fair enough. Most of what I'm thinking at this stage though is static positions and patrols*. I can't see formations of even a hundred moving with any real regularity at that stage. They'd be to isolated and loyalties would still be shaking out besides.


EDIT: *I mean specifically guard patrols around rally points during the proper mobilization.

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Oh no. Small bands means probably at most 30 men. Typically it was foraging parties that got into conflict, especially when two armies are somewhere in the same region. And patrols wouldn't be done around points but rather would be done rather farther out to get the lay of the land. Think of them less as ants going around specific points and adding new info or reinforcing old info but rather like a blind man's arms (or tentacles perhaps) looking for what's ahead. Or they'd be groups of soldiers sent out specifically to harass the area in order to, well just to make trouble for the enemy.

Now the reason I specified sieges as being different is because sieges made up the majority of conflict in the middle ages (up to early modern warfare actually). And sieges didn't tend to end in battle, they went far more like storms end, simply wait for food or water or morale ot get low enough for the enemy to simply surrender.

 

[ATP]

Whents supposed to be excint anyway,and Alliser would die better.good.
Frey traitors - good again,they should be themselves.

How survive in Valyria till something heal them/and turn Viserys into sexy lizardboy/ ?
Except "becouse magic" they could found some cave with good air/magical artifact still working/ and made base there for exploring.
Later - maybe heal others,order them leave,burn himself wis egg and be healed as lizardboy.Then few year waiting for dragon to grow,go to Westeros/meet cute dragongirl and marry her/
Maybe some hidden tribe of lizardmen living under Valyria?

After that - retaking Westeros if Blackfyre win,plaing dead if not.He do not want be king,after all.

P.S if rebels lost,Samwell could become acolyte in Citadel.Before going North.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 39: Landing Party
Viserys Ashtar
​

The 'Shalescale' runs aground on the beach suddenly, sending many of us tumbling to the deck in a heap. The beam of light is maybe half a mile in diameter and somehow is keeping both the steam and smoke from entering.

"We're stuck until high tide," I growl in frustration at the sight of half the hull stuck in the black sparkling sand visible where we cut a channel in the mist. "Who wants to go exploring?"

The pieces of canvas sail Marya has been sewing into masks are better than nothing and I'm very grateful for it every time I wipe some sticky black sweat from my brow. After watching an entire ship get destroyed by the kraken, no one seems excited about waiting on ours.

"I wont be much use if you find trouble onshore," Marya realizes none of the men are going to volunteer. "Leave a few with me and we can keep an eye on things here for you. Let you boys go play Sea Snake the explorer."

I'm not thrilled with that idea but know someone needs to wait with the ship. "If anything comes out of the water…" We exchange uncomfortable expressions as everyone tries to resist the urge to check the water again. "Just ditch the ship and come find us. We can always search the shore and cobble a new one together from the wrecks."

"Of course you know how to build a boat." Gerold Peasbury rolls his eyes as he hands me a rope.

"No idea actually," I admit with a grim chuckle. "But I think it'll be easier to learn how to do that than fight off another beast like that."

He scowls at the returning mist that's nearly concealed the beach from view once again. Though this chunk of land rises high enough to break free from he steam and lead towards a few hills still connected by solid land.

In the end, Barristan and I climb down to the black silt beach with fourteen people eager to get some distance between themselves and the water. Each step through the muck makes me sink nearly to my knees, creating a chorus of wet squelches with each movement forward.

Only the sickly yellow glow of the mist gives us any light and it creates an imposing ridge separating the beach from the rest of the island. What looks like giant skeletal hands are only visible with black shadows from such a distance and I'm as terrified as I am excited to reach dry ground.

"Maybe the ship is the safer choice?" Arnold whispers from my left with chattering teeth.

Even if it was, I'm not letting you walk back alone. "Too latte to change your mind, walking into the mist alone seems like a horrible idea to me."

Reaching the part of the beach where the steam doesn't reach reveals a carpet of grey chalky grass that crumbles to a fine powder with each step. "The grass burnt so fast, the ash didn't even have time to blow away."

"Are those dragon bones or more strange rocks?" The terrified Arnold points a shaking hand towards one of the skeletal hands in the gloom ahead.

"I'm guessing petrified trees, which basically just means the wood got turned to stone." My absent minded reply has him muttering about me being a wizard once again and I decide to ignore it for now.

We cover almost half a mile of terrain before the ash grass reaches what turns out to be a petrified orchard. I'm surprised o find something actually growing among the 'trees', but countless stalks of spindly mushrooms reach up to my waist.

A bone white color makes up the majority of the fungus but each cap drips with a faintly glowing yellow fluid. I'm not sure if the mushrooms' roots reach through the stone or are only thriving off whatever nutrients collect on the surface.

Brushing away the ash only shows baked red clay and large slabs of fused black stone. Only a few deposits of obsidian have been seen since leaving the shoreline and they're all the darker bloody red variety. It makes me uncomfortable after prolonged eye contact and so I lead us onto what seems to be a cultivated path towards the pillar of clean air across the ancient orchard.

"Something or someone made this trail," I warn those who might not have realized an easy path in dangerous places is not always a good thing. "Listen well and don't hesitate to call out a false alarm. We've all seen how fast things can end here."

"You're good at this," Barristan remarks proudly when I keep everyone in a single group the entire hike. "Never really had a chance to see you be King Viserys and I'm realizing what the Kingdoms missed out on."

"Just because a woman's good at sex, she doesn't need to be a whore." Smirking at my mentor's roll of the eyes I press forward towards the ever closer pillar.

Now a vague shadowy outline can be seen through the ash in the air and we're all moving just a little bit faster. When we finally cross the stone orchard, the pillar is close enough to see inside of.

It reveals itself to be several acres in total size and some kind of force, is keeping environment inside as pure as it was centuries ago. Three separate structures in pristine condition can now be made out clearly in a grove of olive trees still perfectly cultivated.

"If I melt or something horrible…" I take a deep breath to steady my nerves. "You have my permission to say screw it and sail for the Sorrows." Not letting anyone else test out the clearly magical phenomenon, I leap through in a single clean movement.

No searing agony ignites across my flesh and I don't feel like my brain is going to start leaking out of my ears anytime soon. I blink in relief and start patting myself down when my patches of stone begin to itch in the no longer humid air.

"I'm okay, come on in and we can check the place out." Maybe even use it as our base of operations for a while. If it's really habitable as it seems, this gives us a few places to search next. Better than just sailing around blind like before.

Two of the buildings are made of more fused black stone, with one being an over six story tower without a top. On each window ledge and in a menacing ring along the tower's top walls, stone gargoyles glare down at us.

The other building of the same material is more of a manse in the style of the Free Cities. While beside it the third building is a crypt made from white marble. I can only see inside the entrance and the first few dozen stairs descending below the ground.

"What do you think Barristan?" No reason to ignore good input. "Search them one by one or split into four groups of four?"

"Haven't seen anything threatening yet, I'd rather have this place cleared so we can go bring the others here." He makes up his mind so I assign Elyse Storm and Gerold to us, entering the tower with anxious trepidation.

Nothing attacks us when we enter and I let some tension ease when none of the other groups scream. Inside the wall is covered with tapestries so realistic it looks like the images are alive.

One is of a trio of primary colored dragons soaring above a Valyrian army, laying waste to who appears to be people from Yi Ti. What I find most shocking about the scenes that seem to show the progress of an ancient war is that it's not only the Valyrian side with the flying reptiles.

Nine smaller creatures that look almost like scaled deer are doing aerial combat with the red dragon and slaying it with what I think is breath of glittering white fire. Each looks only about two or three times the size of a horse in comparison to the blue and yellow dragons that feast on them in the final image.

Gerold is the one who mentions the creatures, very intrigued by creatures able to fight a dragon nearly evenly. "What in the Seven Hells are those things? Some kind of lizard-horse?"

"Kind of look like Qilin." I respond before I can censor myself and try to at least create a viable source for this information. "… Or at least what Lomas Longstrider said the statues looked like when he visited Yi Ti."

I only notice Elyse has vanished when her voice echoes from far above, awe clearly audible in her voice. "Whoa! It's beautiful…" Her voice trails of with no more hints and the three of us make a mad dash up the stairs.​

 

[Flightless Man]

It's not unbelievable that fighting might stall for a few weeks after the initial uprisings.

Click to shrink...

Now the reason I specified sieges as being different is because sieges made up the majority of conflict in the middle ages (up to early modern warfare actually). And sieges didn't tend to end in battle, they went far more like storms end, simply wait for food or water or morale ot get low enough for the enemy to simply surrender.

Click to shrink...

Yeah really it's only the North/Westerlands/Riverlands/Vale facing any conflict after the initial strike(and is all skirmishing). Reach was trying to do another siege and got caught in the only real area to move an army that big. Renly remembered where they came last time after he was shown what they did on his progress with Stannis. Only a couuple more big battles are planned.

Whents supposed to be excint anyway,and Alliser would die better.good.
Frey traitors - good again,they should be themselves.

How survive in Valyria till something heal them/and turn Viserys into sexy lizardboy/ ?
Except "becouse magic" they could found some cave with good air/magical artifact still working/ and made base there for exploring.
Later - maybe heal others,order them leave,burn himself wis egg and be healed as lizardboy.Then few year waiting for dragon to grow,go to Westeros/meet cute dragongirl and marry her/
Maybe some hidden tribe of lizardmen living under Valyria?

After that - retaking Westeros if Blackfyre win,plaing dead if not.He do not want be king,after all.

P.S if rebels lost,Samwell could become acolyte in Citadel.Before going North.

Click to shrink...

Brynden getting Harrenhal may have cursed the Tullys.

Greyscale will help keep us alive.But really good guess on what the pillars of light are, each one is safe and can be explored.

Something/someone is alive in the Doom of Valyria and I'll be showing them

 

[R.A.G.]

Brynden getting Harrenhal may have cursed the Tullys.

Click to shrink...

In canon if there's a curse it's effecting Cat and Lysa and Edmure because their mom can from Harrenhal. Bryden might be cursed but its (probably) not connected to the rest of the fam (yet).

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 40: Hungry Like The Wolf
Benjen Stark
​

By the third day hanging in my iron cage over the street of Flea Bottom, I'm growing hungry enough to hope the smallfolk throw more rotten produce in the morning. A light drizzle of rain at least lets me suckle at the metal for a few mouthfuls of water.

I'm not alone in my punishment, another dozen cages along the street in each direction are filled with men loyal to Robert or his Small Council. My status as the Queen's brother has given me a cage all to myself but that just means I'm facing questioning once they break Wyman.

He gave me enough time to to get Lyanna and Jen out of the castle, though It grieves me to know Boros and Amory failed to do the same with Edric. Having a mistress who looks so much like my sister was enough to delay the search for our escape.

Tywin should have gotten the two of them to Dragonstone by now. I consider how fast the two person boat could go and hope Blackwater Bay hasn't been to rough for them.

Going back to find Aegon on my own wasn't my smartest choice I can at least admit after a few days of self reflection. But I couldn't just leave my nephew with only Boros and Amory, I told Lyanna they needed to be replaced.

With the rising of the sun I look East and my eyes widen in shock. Dozens of sails with friendly colors are in the harbor and I can feel a panicked energy rising among those already out and about.

I can see flames and smoke rising at the docks, signaling that those loyal to King Robert are fighting to lower the harbor chain. In my excitement I fail to realize how few of Aegon's men are actually moving to counter the returning King.

The clamor of battle comes steadily closer as the streets are cleared one at a time. Soon the action spills into Flea Bottom and I almost sob in relief when my cage comes down. Will insist it's only the rain until my dying day though.

Lord Commander Lomas Estermont and Ser Hugo Vance help me stand on legs shaking from hunger but I refuse to sit out this battle. "Just get me a weapon and I'll be fine."

"Lynderly is with the King and clearing the way to the Red Keep," Hugo explains when he hands me a spear taken from one of his fallen foes. "We're facing far less resistance than expected. They must be holding everyone back for a single defense in the castle."

"We'd better catch up before King Robert charges right into that trap." Groans the always whining Hugo but I shut him up with a snarl.

"The King has no idea I got Lyanna and Princess Jennelyn out of the city with Lord Tywin." He's mellowed out since I first came South but Robert will have nothing left to lose if he thinks his whole family is dead. "He needs to know he still has something to live for!"

Charging towards to Red Keep with scores of men leads to no resistance and I grow concerned at what awaits when I see no bodies. How many men are crammed in the castle waiting for us? Can we even retake it with these numbers?

We reach the gates and finally start to find signs of resistance. Bodies of 'Aegon's' men litter the hallways but still with less than half of the number we would have manned the gate with.

"Where is everyone?" Lord Commander Estermont agrees with my thoughts and scowls at the empty throne room. He starts sending groups of men to secure the most vital sections of the Red Keep and I strain to hear anything that can point us in the right direction.

Sudden clanging of steel from the dungeon has me break into a sprint only a step behind Hugo as we race down the narrow stairwell. The rage filled bellows of King Robert echo off the walls and I nearly trip over Ser Lynderly's body in my haste.

"I'm going to turn your brains into fucking paste!" Stone explodes as his foe avoids a blow that would cripple.

The single torch still providing light down in the lowest level of the dungeons is close to flickering out, Before we're left in the dark, I lift it above my head and cast an orange glow over the battle taking place.

One of the instigators of this entire insurrection is deftly avoiding the powerful swings of Robert Baratheon. Oberyn ducks under a blow that would cave in his ribs and tries to counter with a thrust for our King's face.

It barely even cuts the Demon of the Tridents cheek but leaves the Dornish prince open. Robert reverses his swing with tremendous strength and drives the spike of his warhammer into Oberyn's back.

Robert lets go of his weapon and the momentum sends the gurgling Dornishman crashing down onto the black stone floor. "This is for my children!"

He grabs Oberyn by the ankles and swings his broken into the wall. The screams end on the fourth impact but the sound of his skull shattering will remain with me forever.

"You look like shit Benjen," The King finally realizes it's me holding the torch. "What did they do to you?"

"Doesn't matter right now, I'll live." But I'm still only seeing three bodies down here, where is everybody?

Robert is red faced and breathing heavy. "Connington is holed up in the Tower of the Hand with Gerold Hightower. They ran for it as soon as we breached the gate."

"Lyman and I came down to free anyone who was fit enough to help retake the castle," He pants out and so I start checking the cells for occupants. "But these craven had been hiding down here in the dark."

"I don't think he was hiding." I see the bloody face of Lord Manderly inside the last cell and get Hugo to bring the key. "I think he was trying to get answers out of Wyman."

When I pull open the door the metal rusted from years of blood screeches. "You still alive in here Wyma-" I start to ask only to jerk back in disgust at the swarm of rats that emerge from the cell.

Wyman groans at the light from he flame and covers his eyes, so I step back and allow Hugo to get the shackles off. "Took you long enough, was getting worried it would be found before you could get here."

"What would be found?" Hugo presses the Master of Whispers who laughs darkly.

"The poison I was filling the wine with before they found me," Snorts Wyman with more savagery than I can remember the large man showing. "Made sure to dilute it enough to get as many sick as I could all at once. Over half of them should be shitting their guts out or still in bed wishing they where dead."

"That's why we haven't had many bastards to kill." Croaks Robert from behind me and I whirl around to a worrying sight.

Blood is leaking from his nose and the corners of his eyes like crimson tears. His face is a swollen angry red and I can hear him wheezing for each breath.

"Don't look so worried," His grin becomes a grimace as he tries to stay awake. "Stannis will do a far better job than I have…. and Jon won't have to fight him every step of the way."


…

​

Robb Stark
​

Mother finds us in the Winterfell woods with an expression of relieved confusion. With all the lords and their children gone with the army, only Domeric, Gendry, and Jon remain to help me outnumber the women in the castle.

Beth and Jeyne follow Sansa's every word as they pick a very specific arrangement of flowers. While Edith is quite pleased with herself at having convinced Gendry to finally eat the worm she found and Arya's giggling assures me she's going to be just as wild.

"Your father has sent word from Karhold." They're back from subduing Skagos already? "The Greyjoy and his fleet had left for parts unknown… weeks, maybe even months ago. Everything but the stone buildings themselves had been taken and not a single living person remained to greet your father's army."

"Is he coming home or going to help hunt down the wildlings?" Even the Wolfswood is no longer safe for small groups anymore.

She smiles with pride at my attempt to act like Father. "No. He's going to Eastwatch by the sea, to learn how so many of them slipped past the Wall in secret."

"Wouldn't have been a secret if we had a fleet of our own."

"You can bring that up with your father when he does return." Mother smirks at my comment and takes a seat with Edith before she can feed Gendry another bug. "You're getting old enough to start sitting in with him and find out how to rule.


​

 

[Livianne]

One of the instigators of this entire insurrection is deftly avoiding the powerful swings of Robert Baratheon. Oberyn ducks under a blow that would cave in his ribs and tries to counter with a thrust for our King's face.

It barely even cuts the Demon of the Tridents cheek but leaves the Dornish prince open. Robert reverses his swing with tremendous strength and drives the spike of his warhammer into Oberyn's back.

Click to shrink...

Oops, does that mean that Robert has been poisoned now? We all know how Oberyn likes to play.

 

[R.A.G.]

Robert is bleeding from the eyes and nose and is wheezing, so ye.

Even if he does manage to survive (unlikely) I can't see him staying around as king after this. He'll probably be all but crippled (or acting like he is) and he's already named Stannis his heir, etc.

The other thread has covered what Stannis's court would be like, and how that won't smooth tensions across the kingdom, but what I'm wondering about is (ironically?) fostering. There's a fostering tradition among noble children (especially for 2nd sons and the like), and with Stannis shooting to the top I wonder if Tywin (or officially Jaime) won't try to get grab the chance to foster Prince Joffrey for the sake of ensuring strong ties with the Lannisters.

 

[Mr Zoat]

If Robert has surviving children, they would become king/queen. As far as I could tell, Robert named Stannis because they haven't told him there are survivors yet.

 

[R.A.G.]

His son is dead, and women can't rule as per the Dance (iirc), which is why heirship moves to Stannis.

 

[ATP]

His son is dead, and women can't rule as per the Dance (iirc), which is why heirship moves to Stannis.

Click to shrink...

Indeed.Stannis would be better king.Lannisters arleady have everything they wonted,so they would not undermine him.Unless Ironborn get krakens,or Reach knights brains,rebellion is over.
And Viserys could now gather treasures,but he still need heal others and find a way to safely return.

There is good french cartoon "Mysterious cities of gold" where old indian cyvilisation built ship powered by sun,which was discovered by 3 childrens and used to sail through world.
Viserys could found something like this to deliver others home.He still need dragongirl waifu.
And he could heal himself anytime by burning himself with egg to get dragon.When you have dragon,ships are no needed anymore.

 

[Flightless Man]

Oops, does that mean that Robert has been poisoned now? We all know how Oberyn likes to play.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, Robert's not living the day.

Robert is bleeding from the eyes and nose and is wheezing, so ye.

Even if he does manage to survive (unlikely) I can't see him staying around as king after this. He'll probably be all but crippled (or acting like he is) and he's already named Stannis his heir, etc.

The other thread has covered what Stannis's court would be like, and how that won't smooth tensions across the kingdom, but what I'm wondering about is (ironically?) fostering. There's a fostering tradition among noble children (especially for 2nd sons and the like), and with Stannis shooting to the top I wonder if Tywin (or officially Jaime) won't try to get grab the chance to foster Prince Joffrey for the sake of ensuring strong ties with the Lannisters.

Click to shrink...

Tywin will have a hell of a lot of clout for saving Lyanna and Jen. He can basically ask for anything.

If Robert has surviving children, they would become king/queen. As far as I could tell, Robert named Stannis because they haven't told him there are survivors yet.

Click to shrink...

If Gendry is legitimized he's an issue. If Jenn was old enough to have her own supporters, she could argue the Dance undid the great council ruling of no female heirs. Stannis was named because Robert didn't know Lyanna and Jen survived, as you noticed. But Stannis is really the only one in position to take it, even Renly won't have a big enough power base to challenge him for a few years. .

I also want you to know how much you inspired me. I read Purple days and then With this Ring, right as I was going through a friends murder. Discovering the SI genre gave me an escape and I started writing fiction about 15 months ago because of this (instead of just writing D&D adventures/Articles for websites). My five biggest inspirations in writing come from KA Applegate, Stephen King, Robert Jordan, Brian Jaccques, and you. I'd never considered a Superhero novel before and when I finish my first novel that is going to be a blend of Redwall/A Wheel of Time, I'm mailing you a free copy. If I never found your work, I'd probably still be trying to find a way to claw myself from my misery.

His son is dead, and women can't rule as per the Dance (iirc), which is why heirship moves to Stannis.

Click to shrink...

It's because of the Great Council from before. The Dance almost undoes the whole "Woman can't be the heir" thing, by having so many side with Rhaenyra. Since her son wins, it kind of did actually undo the ruling.

It's murky enough an army can easily be gathered to change the answer

Indeed.Stannis would be better king.Lannisters arleady have everything they wonted,so they would not undermine him.Unless Ironborn get krakens,or Reach knights brains,rebellion is over.
And Viserys could now gather treasures,but he still need heal others and find a way to safely return.

There is good french cartoon "Mysterious cities of gold" where old indian cyvilisation built ship powered by sun,which was discovered by 3 childrens and used to sail through world.
Viserys could found something like this to deliver others home.He still need dragongirl waifu.
And he could heal himself anytime by burning himself with egg to get dragon.When you have dragon,ships are no needed anymore.

Click to shrink...

Very true, Stannis will be easier for Tywin to control then Robert. Stannis really should have been fostered with Tywin considering Steffon and Stannis had been friends.

Well, tell me a few of your favorite magical animals (not species) and I'll see if any work for my needs.


I think I remember seeing tthat on the French channel as a kid. I'm going to look it up now.

It might not be a dragon girl, but I really do like the magical biology and you'll see something strange

 

[Shadowwarp]

If Robert has surviving children, they would become king/queen. As far as I could tell, Robert named Stannis because they haven't told him there are survivors yet.

Click to shrink...

Nah no daughter inheritance outside of Dorne, but the most likely outcome is Stannis is marrying his son to Robert's daughter to combine the lines into one and prevent any potential issues a generation or two down the line.

You know, what Viserys the First should have forced his children to do when he flippantly disregarded the precedent set by the very same grand council that handed him the throne.

 

[ATP]

Here,trailer of cartoon.Ship would be at 1.45:


Good series - each episode with added short film about real cyvilisations.I liked it as child,and i like it now.

About Viserys - any monstergirl capable of living there would do.Lizardgirls or lamias are nice,too.Maybe insectgirl? as long as it would be no mantis-girl.You knew,what they do to males.
Or some mammal or bird which like dessert

About magical animals - flying snake is nice.Even if for Aztecs was god.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Nah no daughter inheritance outside of Dorne, but the most likely outcome is Stannis is marrying his son to Robert's daughter to combine the lines into one and prevent any potential issues a generation or two down the line.

Click to shrink...

As I understand it, that's not the case. There is a law stating that every male relative takes precedent for... Some things, so Stannis would come ahead of his brother's daughters, but women can inherit. In the post-Targaryen era it hasn't been tested. Dorne is different because it doesn't have male primogeniture; women inherit on an equal basis to their brothers.

I also want you to know how much you inspired me. I read Purple days and then With this Ring, right as I was going through a friends murder. Discovering the SI genre gave me an escape and I started writing fiction about 15 months ago because of this (instead of just writing D&D adventures/Articles for websites). My five biggest inspirations in writing come from KA Applegate, Stephen King, Robert Jordan, Brian Jaccques, and you. I'd never considered a Superhero novel before and when I finish my first novel that is going to be a blend of Redwall/A Wheel of Time, I'm mailing you a free copy. If I never found your work, I'd probably still be trying to find a way to claw myself from my misery.

Click to shrink...

Well... Damn. Glad I could help.

 

[Flightless Man]

Well... Damn. Glad I could help.

Click to shrink...

I only read Horror//Romance/Fantasy/Scifi, fanfic and books before reading your story. It opened a whole new world of fiction for me. I had only read comics and had never considered super powers in a novel. I'll always be grateful to you for that.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 41: The Emperor
Viserys Ashtar
​

Atop the tower lays a runic pattern of blood somehow still fresh as the day it was applied. Though the rippling steel cauldron nearby still has enough bubbling crimson ooze to redo the design a few times.

Suspended above the design of repeating S's, is a chunk of dragonglass made from the same blood red variety that unnerved me earlier. It pulses with searing orange light that give the impression of veins filled with magma and seems to breathe with each pulse of orange.

"What is it?" The wonder in Elyse's voice is exactly what I find myself feeling, the warmth of the light draws me towards it like a mosquito to a pregnant woman. Mother was very vocal about it each time she visited.

"I think it's a glass candle but that's only a guess and not fact." She snorts at my attempt to hedge my bet.

Nothing happens when Elyse examines it far closer than I find safe and I slowly let go of my nervous breath as she circles it. "So it just makes magic light?" She sounds far too disappointed by what I realize shouldn't even be possible for another decade. "Was expecting something, I dunno… more?"

Of course the runes made of impossibly fresh blood flicker to life when I step towards the glass candle myself. An infernal red glow bathes the entire top of the tower in it's light and unleashes a deafening screech.

The energy inside the shard of obsidian shines hotter with each second and soon shines a steady and constant white. Red smoke the shade of rusted iron leaks from the runes and coalesces into a humanoid face that sneers at the sight of us.

Several languages are spoken before a heavily accented form of common is used by the enormous head wreathed in red smoke. His skin is such a pale white it seems almost translucent against the pair of gleaming violet eyes.

"Of course it would be one of the savages from the West who finally found a way into my empire." The high pitched voice cackles mockingly. "Everyone with a brain gave up decades ago." The eyes seem to burn my very soul when they lock on to me and it's a struggle to even think of speaking.

"Who are you?" I don't even notice when I begin speaking in perfect High Valyrian that I was only able to barely read a few seconds ago.

The voice snarls with hate that chills my bones even remotely. "Your Master."

"You can't be Dragonlord Aurion…" Only one Valyrian I know of claimed the title of Emperor and he vanished centuries ago with his entire army.

"Pretty educated for one raised on the frontier. Your blood is showing true." No longer scornful, the voice has become more clinically curious. "I guess I can allow you to live… it would be useful to have someone fresh do the searching for once."

My three companions are trying to decipher some of the meaning in our words. Frustration is clear on each one's face at the sudden language change. Narrowing his eyes at Gerold Peasbury who is shouting the loudest, the floating pale face roars with fury.

"You need to discipline your slaves more thoroughly," The power in the voice nearly sends me to my knees as he unleashes it with in a single wave of force. "These ones are far to uppity!"

Gerold's eyes go wide in terror as the wind slams into him and throws him into the air. His scream churns my stomach all the way to the bottom of the six story drop and I grind my teeth to hold in my rage.

"Don't make me step in again or letting you live will just not be worth it." I'm warned with a stern hiss. "My servants will be by tomorrow night to bring you into the fold. But please don't let their appearance frighten you too much, just leave them a slave as an offering on the beach before nightfall."

The head breaks apart into smoke again once something at the speaker's location seems to draw his focus away from me. Swiftly the rust red cloud is pulled back into the pulsating hunk of obsidian with a howling roar and we're left shaken from the experience.

"We need to get back to the ship," I snarl in realization and dash for the stairs. "He said to leave the sacrifices on the beach each night if we wanted to live!"

Barristan catches on and growls with his own worry for the rest of our crew. "Are we bringing them here or going to push off again and try one of the other pillars? One of them may not have a giant demonic head waiting for us."

"We'll bring them back here for the night and decide if we reinforce this place…" If the monsters come out only at night we need to find out before we sail off in a panic. "Or find another home base to use once we have daylight to see with."

When we reach the ground and Gerold's body, the four we left keeping watch are very relieved we decided to walk down. The group who checked the manse style building have also reemerged without finding anything amiss and I find my nerves unable to wait for the final four.

"You four go with Barristan back to the ship and bring everyone here for the night." Elyse can keep watch with the second group, while I check on the four who descended into the marble crypt.

Being able to breathe clean air for even a single night is just to big of a draw for me to hunker down on the 'Shalescale'. I can hear voices talking as I descend the stairs and am soon in a single oval room with the four missing men.

Urns made of only the purest gemstone line the hallway, with the occupant's most prized possession hangs on the wall behind them. I walk past the first few and my jaw hangs in awe.

Each urn contains the warriors of the places families and the prized possessions are made with no simple castle steel. A suit of smoky grey chainmail armor hangs above a topaz urn, while a triangle shield with a very sharp edges reveals it's rippling metal above an emerald one.

At least a dozen swords of various sizes are already being fought over by the four people I was looking for, with Arnold holding up a wicked looking scimitar in glee. I ignore those weapons and approach a sapphire urn that seems to have twice the amount of ashes inside it as the rest.

A pair of Valyrian steel ax heads are mounted on dragonbone hafts, though each one is stained a different color. One is a blue as dark as the ocean under the night sky and the other a bright enough yellow it can easily be called bronze.

"I got to admit," Grabbing the two axes carefully, I try a few practice swings with the incredibly light yet balanced weapons. "I thought something was eating you down here since you didn't react to the giant screaming head."

Though I can understand why they forgot we existed for a while. This find makes all the loss so far not exactly worth it… but like getting dessert after getting tortured. It doesn't fix the first part but none of the crew is going to complain about this.

"You four have dibs, pick which ever one you want and go send Elyse's group down." Once I give that order, I walk back to the rippling chainmail with relief. It's light enough even Marya can wear it and I grab it off the wall before anyone else wants to be smart.

Maybe we don't have to run now. Valyrian steel can kill the Others, maybe it can hurt the 'Wizard of Valyria'.

"And dig a grave for Gerold." I'll explain it properly once everyone is in the same place. "He uh… didn't make it." It's way too confusing to explain more than once.

Letting the guilt for Gerold's death fill my body as I breath in, I release it once my vision begins to grow spotty. The sharp pain remains in my heart but I don't have the breath to let it affect me.

Even only the few seconds of relief as my breathing returns to normal is enough that I can shove the guilt where I keep everything I refuse to think about. The taste of refined sugar was the first thing I had to shove in that part of my brain and it was very soon followed by the memory of toilet paper.


…

Note: Diet, blood type, and estrogen levels are all contributors to a mosquito biting you. A drunk pregnant woman who eats lots of bananas, with (If I'm remembering correctly) B Negative blood type will attract the most.​

 

[ATP]

Now,he need not one,but few miracles to survive.Maybe,when he face wizard he get burned,survive,turn into dragonboy and somehow win ?
I think,that in existing situation Salamander from monster girl encyclopedia would be most effective as warrior waifu.
Here :
https://loginportal.funnyjunk.com/c...o+helia+_8f76ac1ce4eed298851068f904c5c6ba.jpg

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 42: Trial By Combat
Aegon Martell
​

As soon as the Baratheon army deploys at the harbor, Ser Hightower takes command of anyone able to hold a weapon. The sudden sickness that struck after taking the city has left only a few dozen men well enough to shuffle me back out the tunnel to 'Chataya's'.

We emerge onto a street already reclaimed and find the resistance by the gates far to thick to flee. The Lord Commander is forced to lead us to Sept of Baelor and barricade the doors behind us.

"Your King has need of you!" Roars the pale faced and sweaty Connington, causing those already present for worship to cower near the septon in the midst of service. "Help us hold the doors you craven wretches!".

None react how he wants and a few even make a made dash deeper into the expansive building. While my escort tries not to lose themselves to sheer panic, I find a strange sense of calm settle over me as I let the light from the stained glass windows wash over me with a warm glow. That might be the only way I walk out of here alive.

When the door's start to shake with an attempt at forced entry, I look over to those who have claimed to swear their lives to 'my' cause. I'll give you a chance to prove it.

"Enough!" My raised voice echoes in the hall and even I'm surprised by the forceful clarity. "We can end this madness now and only one more person needs to die."

Connington and Hightower exchange a long drawn out stare as they wordlessly argue. Hightower seems to win out and lets me walk up to the door, making my choice of champion very easy.

"You will be the Crown's champion to prove my innocence Ser Hightower." He nods stiffly as I ignore Connington's own arguments and stride to the cracking doors.

"I am Aegon Martell!" Bellowing over the noise is barely enough for my voice to be heard outside and it takes two more impacts of the battering ram to stop. "I demand trial by combat to prove my innocence in this war before the Seven themselves!"

No one answers for nearly a minute and I start to worry the attack will begin again. It's only when the miraculously still living Benjen Stark answers, that I let the delusion of living through the day take root.

"What reason do we have to blame a kidnapped child for all of this?" The ability of the late Queen's brother to think beyond righteous rage is a huge relief. "It's 'your' army we intend to put to the sword."

The men around me grow resolved in the face of certain death and I decide to try again before it's too late. "Let the True King of the Seven Kingdoms face his challenger and decide this war today!"

Ser Gerold seems confident in his ability to kill a King and I hope he can finally show the shred of honor he still has. Benjen isn't the one to answer, instead it's an unfamiliar voice.

"If you wish to prove your innocence before the Seven, shouldn't this be a Trial of Seven?" No! That will ruin everything I'm trying to pull off.

"I won't let an innocent man die for the crimes committed in my name." This needs to be single combat or I lose any control over the result. "The King versus the 'Usurper' and we settle this now."

The gruff man speaking for King Robert reveals another dishonor I need to defend myself against. "King Robert will not be able face anyone. Your Uncle bit back before dying." I know that means poison and can only hope it's one of the slower ones.

"If I can name a champion so can he." This removes any remaining hesitance over fighting a child and the snarling voice agrees readily. "If I win." I'm not stupid enough to think they'd just give us back the city. "You let us walk free and the horrors done in my name are cleared."

"And when you lose?"

"I surrender this war and go to the Wall. As is the right of any man facing the block!" I need to make sure that second option is reinforced in everyone's minds.

My offer is considered and soon found tolerable by everyone outside. "Open the door and send out your champion."

"No." That's just asking to be betrayed. "I open the door and the fight will be held under the gaze of the Seven. I will only accept their judgment in my guilt!" And that's just ensured the Faith back me as long as the terms are held to. It's just like Uncle Doran says, politics is just like playing a thousand games of cyvasse at the same time… with each board missing different pieces and in a vastly different shape.

"Alright." Agrees the slightly less snarly voice. "Whenever you're ready."

I give the command twice before 'my' men start to obey, while I wait it the rainbow light with Sers Hightower and Connington on either side of me. Two men in the pristine white armor of the kingsguard stride at the head of thirty grim faced and resolute soldiers.

The Lord Commander Estermont and Benjen Stark at his side. I can almost see the age around them like a cloak and it makes me swallow nervously when they stop a few paces away.

"Ser Hightower will fight for the King of Westeros." I speak with a calmness not my own and find some hidden strength guiding my actions.

I draw the ornate short sword hanging from my hip and take a few steps away from a very confused Gerold. "I will of course be defending myself."

"What?" Gasps a horrified Ser Hightower. "But you are my King and I am to be your champion!"

"If I am really your King, you will do as I have commanded." I refuse to back down and raise my blade with a trembling arm. "And I commanded you to be the Crown's champion… and look, I don't have one on my head."

"You either prove your oaths mean something and face me!" Charging forward with vision that blocks out anything, I watch for him to react. "Or you show everyone this insurrection was all for the pride of a few old men!"

He doesn't fight back and only avoids my untrained swings with ease. "Stop this madness your Grace!"

"Madness is sending Greyscale after Viserys and claiming it's for my family!" I stab for his belly and growl when I once again miss. "Madness is allying with pirates and savages to bring blood and fire to the Seven Kingdoms in my name!"

My next few dozen attempts all end with equally embarrassing results and I can barely lift my arm for another try. "If you live, I die. So how loyal are you really!"

Throwing myself at the sword I Gerold's hand has him drop it hastily and leave himself open for my own thrust into his side. The spray of blood is hot when it splatters across me and I instinctively close my eyes.

"Gerold!" Cries out a shocked Jon from the sidelines, his voice filled with concern for the elder Hightower.

It makes me open my eyes to see a still standing but now profusely bleeding Gerold. "If that's what it takes." He grabs the sword still in his ribs and finishes the job of shoving it into his heart.

The look of betrayal in his eyes would hurt if I was as easily mislead as Oberyn. But after all this death, I find a perverse satisfaction at being the one to end Ser Hightower.

Silence fills the hall when I stand victorious, my own ragged panting the only noise I can hear. "That means I'm innocent, right?"

"You are, yes." Agrees an impressed Benjen Stark. "And your men can leave." He adds after some start to voice concerns.

I breathe out slowly and hope my actions are as positive as my Uncle's single day as King. Give them a ship and enough supplies for a few months at sea." Turning to the only Septon brave enough to remain as a witness for my trial, I smile hesitantly at him. "Would the Faith be willing to accept me as a member?" It's better than the Wall at least.

Benjen interrupts before I can get an answer either way. "Why are we giving our enemy a ship and so many supplies?"

"If they truly want to serve a Targaryen King, the only one left is sailing for the Sorrows now. I think it's only fitting you make sure they suffer as he did for using such madness as a weapon." The look on the Stark man's face immediately becomes one of savage understanding. "But you'll need to treat it like sending them to the Wall. They can still escape and hide in Essos if your men aren't careful."
​

 

[R.A.G.]

Aegon really is his uncle's nephew. Albeit less afraid than Vis was when he went for this sort of last minute survival play.

 

[ATP]

Aegon out of the picture,Robert dead.Ideal,or almost ideal,ending for Blackfyres - if Reach and Greyojs would follow them.Would they ?
Reach must fight to the bitter end now,but Ironborn - if they take Arbor,they should be safe on their islands.

 

[Flightless Man]

Chapter 43: Watchers In The Night
Viserys Ashtar
​

The tension in everyone eases when Barristan and the others from the 'Shalescale' enter the barrier, only to skyrocket at the sight of skeletal figures stalking through the shadows beneath the stone orchard. With arms and legs far longer than a normal person, they seem to skitter across the ground sniffing at the trail only recently used.

I can't get an accurate count of the watchers, losing count each time the glowing green eyes blink. They refuse to come close to the barrier of yellow light and settle down to observe us with only the occasional hooting screech to break to foreboding silence.

"We found some loot, I almost feel like a real pirate now." Barristan is the one man here I still know can handily defeat me and even his eyes shine with child like awe at the sight of the weapons. "Pick whichever one you want… looks like we're going to need them soon."

"Those things came out of the cliffs on the beach and followed us the entire way back." He explains as he starts to test the balance of the different blades, finally nodding with satisfaction at what I recognize as a curved Chinese Dao style.

The tapestries in the tower flash in my mind and I can only guess this was made after some war with Yi Ti. I can't think of anywhere else this kind of sword would be made… so was this one an import or merely a replica?

"From the cliffs?" I notice the odd location and bring it to Barristan's attention. "Not from the water?"

"… Yeah." His eyes widen in understanding.

"We know who left the trail now."

Elyse tries to hide her body behind the triangle shield she claimed for herself and glares at the watchers. "What do they want from us?"

"A sacrifice." Remembering what the Emperor said has my indignation grow. This is my crew and you won't get any of them!

"I'm not going to be able to sleep with all those eyes watching us," Admits Arnold the bard, his knees knocking against each other as he shakes in place.

The strings of the three dragonbone bows we found need to be replaced before being usable, but a few hundred obsidian arrowheads mean I don't need to be stingy with my shooting anymore. I draw it and take careful aim at the closest pair of glowing eyes only to hiss in anger when they close.

"Start cutting branches and get as many arrows made as you can." If I can't rely on careful aim, I'm going to need to treat this like shooting in a storm.

Predict where they'll be with each flash of lightning or in this case blink of the eyes. I exhale and shoot to the left before the creature can react. And fire the moment it goes dark.

A pained howl chills my blood and soon the whole crowd of creatures is shrieking. The cacophony rises from all around the barrier and drowns out even the beating of my own heart.

Any time a pair of eyes are visible for even a second, I let fly another shaft into the gloom. Less than a third impact our stalkers but the frequency does force them to retreat for now.

"I have some spare strings, do any of you know how to shoot a bow?" I won't be able to keep this up forever, no matter how much I'm enjoying the looks of amazement from everyone.

My record is only a little over an hour of constant firing and my fingers bled for days afterwards. My arms just can't last if this is going to be an every night occurrence. The arrows won't last either, not unless we try finding the ones I shot in the morning.

When I get a few men who have at least a skill level I'll call passable, I hand my bow off in exchange for a handful of green olives. No idea how these are still growing fresh but I'm in no position to complain since we left nearly everything edible on the ship.


…


None of us get a restful sleep in the manse and I see everyone has bags under their eyes in the morning. Even after we all decided to sleep in the entrance hall with a rotating watch, it's not enough to make anyone feel safe.

The creatures howl and shriek until the ash in the sky glows orange, signaling a new day has dawned in this hellish terrain once called Valyria. I only catch a glimpse of one creature before it flees and can only compare it to a charred skeleton.

Blackened and blistered skin is stretched across bones grotesquely long, with long jagged claws dragging along the dirt. Only a few strands of wispy white hair are still on his head and I realize he or his ancestors had once been human.

He has an ash grey cloak wrapped around his body that looks like it could be made from some kind of skin. Once he turns his back to the tower, I can barely see the outline of his body ripple with movement.

"If they don't like the light, we need to leave before nightfall." Barristan cracks his neck once it's clear the threat is gone for now. "Unless you think this place is worth dying for?"

"The Emperor will keep looking for us now but he seemed distracted by something. We need to find him first." My words come out with the confidence of a man on the gallows and Barristan nods in agreement. "Make sure we grab all olives and the tapestries in the tower, I doubt we're coming back here again." Sleeping where he knows we are, is just asking for a surprise visit.


…

​

Mya Stone
​

Since being rescued by Lord Baelish and his men, I haven't been allowed outside without an escort. The repeated claim of both pirate and clansmen activity in the Fingers is becoming less believable by the day, as the Menderly ships have finally joined with the Vale fleet in retaking the Three Sisters.

The Dornish girl Nymeria Sand is supposed to keep me company but I haven't been given an answer for why she was here waiting for me yet. I doubt I will, the tension in this tower is growing thicker with each dreary day.

The constant rain beating down on the little rocky peninsula reminds me of Father's tales of the Storm's End. Maybe this just means he's going to come get me himself? Lord Arryn hasn't sent anyone yet and I don't think the Queen would leave me to die.

Lyanna's the one who said I could come to King's Landing if I wanted. I thought my name was enough to keep me safe and said no… but I'm definitely rethinking that choice now. The sky scraping peaks don't seem like a comforting embrace from the Kingdom anymore and instead feel like jagged talons keeping me confined.

"King's Landing has been taken by Aegon's forces…" Lord Baelish growls as he strides into the dining hall with a letter clutched in his grip, knuckles white with tension. "And already been retaken by your Father's army. Aegon has been proven innocent of having any hand in the war and is going to be sent to the Faith once the Reach is safe to travel again."

Nymeria freezes with her spoon halfway to her mouth and lets the crab soup splash back down into her bowl. "What happened to the other instigators?"

Big word for a bastard, one of your parents must be nearly as important as my Father. But of course that thought only reminds me Father makes me a target with no special protection. Queen Lyanna said the Selmy boy was quite the catch and he lives in Father's ancestral home. Maybe I should ask to live with my Uncle Stannis.

"Prince Oberyn was slain in single combat with King Robert Baratheon, though the poison has left him on his deathbed." My rescuer frowns even as his words make my blood freeze. What!

"His brother Stannis will take the throne, while Prince Renly brings Aegon with him to force to enforce the Reach's surrender." Rage flickers in his eyes and I realize he really did care about my father. "I will be bringing you South once the sea is safe. It seems we have a few openings on the Small Council." That kind of emotion can't be faked.

Nymeria looks even more concerned at this and I start to wonder if she's loyal to her Dornish family after all. "But what about the Iron Islands and the Westerlands? And I thought the Golden Company was moving into the Riverlands?"

"Lord Tywin will march through the Riverlands on his way to reclaim Casterly Rock. While the Golden Company will be trapped between him and Lord Tully's armies." Adds Lord Baelish as he starts filling his own bowl. "With his son bringing the entirety of the fleet to hit the West coast and both armies with him afterwards to subdue the Ironborn."

"What about Quentyn Martell and Rhaenys? Aren't they both still missing?" Proving herself faster with all of this political thinking, Nymeria has more emotion laden questions.

Lord Baelish looks a concerned over the idea but does answer eventually. "Pentos will either turn over those responsible… or the real war will be against the Free City next year."

​

 

[R.A.G.]

Petyr Baelish for Master of Ships I joke, but if he applies himself he could do well there, probably streamline things, and perhaps start some kind of trading fleet, idk.

But yeah, even with his original plan tanked he's gotten himself a massive step up here. To think, all he had to do was get himself involved in a war, and with another on the horizon!

 

[Flightless Man]

Petyr Baelish for Master of Ships I joke, but if he applies himself he could do well there, probably streamline things, and perhaps start some kind of trading fleet, idk.

But yeah, even with his original plan tanked he's gotten himself a massive step up here. To think, all he had to do was get himself involved in a war, and with another on the horizon!

Click to shrink...

Wyman and Gerion will be retiring. Tywin will become Hand. A few Kingsguard spots and 2 new roles Stannis is adding are options.