ToG

[Murometz]

Velaquo and Belomas

"Onion soup" the footman repeated with a confused look, unsure if he had heard correctly. "Aye".

A few minutes and few draw-bridges later, Belomas, Velaquo (studying the structures as a sapper would, as he went) and Quills entered the "inner courtyard" which may as well have been a small town in and of itself.

The Stag and Crown was an inn proper and impressive, though the footman hurried through, until he got to an private alcove in the vast taproom and pulled back a curtain, revealing a large man, almost as wide as he was tall, slumped against the wall in a divan, his face as pale as milk, his eyes, black-ringed like a racoon's.

A shield reclined against the table near the man. A cockatrice, with a struggling serpent in its beak, was the design. Beside the shield leaning against the wall, was a ferocious-looking morning-star-club hybrid, studded with countless iron balls.

"This is he" the footman said, and withdrew to order a bowl of onion soup.

Velaquo and Quills looked about, taking in their surroundings, lost in thought. If they had two-hundred able bloody-silks right now, they'd take the bloody Iron-Throne of Westeros itself.

[Murometz]

Kat, Rheyna, Odrin

They examined the swords best they could in the moonlight. The blades seemed sturdy enough but not the finest steel. Their coin-purses were nearly bare, a few dozen silvers coins between them, yet coin nonetheless.

Odrin mounted Dagmer’s uncooperative beast, and with one-hand hoisted Rheya up behind him. Shrill’s more steady gelding accepted Kat without struggle, and soon the trio rode out beneath the mocking moon. Even by moonlight riding by night was dangerous, especially in this terrain, so they mostly walked, moving faster only when they dared.

The Wall, Odrin pondered silently. He had heard of the wall even in Norvos. But why go there to freeze? He had been promised word by raven, by the Bearded Priest who sent him on his mission, yet he did not know when a raven would come, nor did he even begin to guess how a raven would find him in the first place, as he traveled.

Serve. Obey. Protect.

He hoped that the bird would find him soon.

By the time dawn speared the night with its first lances, Rheyna was asleep, her head resting uncomfortably against Odrin’s ample back.

Kat was still vigilant, and yet she too was tired. As morning came they were alone along some other dusty road. To the east, Kat knew was The Neck, where a man could get lost, sometimes forever. But she knew the swamp as well as she knew the alleyways of Barrowton.

The Wall was north, and they would have to turn that way soon, or end up in the vast bog separating the north and the south of Westeros.

But why The Wall, she thought, why there? The closest thing she knew to a “home”was close now, even the frogs seemed to be serenading her return.

Rheyna dreamt. She dreamt of giant, horrid kraken, with their grasping tentacles, and of giant axe-men who faced them in battle, unafraid.

[Silveressa]

Kat smiled at the sound of the night peepers sending their last calls into the breaking dawn; the thought of frozen stone and icy winds sending a faint shiver up her spine.

"A word Odrin," she called, slowing her horse to walk nearly an arms length beside him and her sleeping lover. "The land east of here was my home once, within the reeds we would not be found lest we wish it; and safety this close is far wiser then a long uncertain journey to the frozen reaches."

She smiled confidently at the mention of her familiar hunting grounds and the thoughts of friends long forgotten, and a past crime she hoped would not be soon recalled. The stirring of Rheyna in the saddle behind Odrin broke her thoughts; and she waited to see if her suggestion had disturbed the resting beauty, and if their course would lead them into the welcoming safety of the fen, or through House Starks lands and the war raging at their borders.

[Murometz]

Korley and Gargalen

Korley strode in confidently, bowed to King Joffrey and the Queen Regent then surveyed the council room’s long-table, without moving his eyes about rudely.
 
There was young King Joffrey, Sweet Seven, he did look more like Jaime than Robert Baratheon, and Queen Regent Cersei, as beautiful as he had remembered her to be, and Tyrion the dwarf, his face barely visible from behind his huge wine goblet. Lord Tywin himself, steel-eyed and still, yet coiled as if ready to strike out at any moment. A true lion.

There was some ancient Maester, who was actually asleep, swallowed up by his high chair. There was a bald man in red robe with tiny dancing eyes like that of a sparrow. Korley had heard whispers of King Landing’s notorious spy-master Varys.

And near the tables but clinging to the shadows were two white-cloaks of the Kingsguard, deadly blades both, the eerily fish-eyed Ser Mandon Moore, and the brutish and hairy Ser Boros Blount.

“Welcome to King’s Landing nephew.” Came Lord Tywin’s even voice, “I trust the roads between Casterly Rock and King’s Landing are still safe? Sit, have wine. Tell us of your adventures.” He gestured to a servant, who poured a golden wine from the arbor into an ice-chilled brass goblet for Korley. “We heard you had an incident in Tumbleton, slew yourself a cockatrice?”

Tywin’s fleshless lips peeled back momentarily. A smile. Tywin’s greeting was followed by King Joffrey’s high-pitched one.

“Tell me, have they heard of my great victory over Stannis in the Westerlands yet?”

[valadaar]

Shaking his head and focusing on the task at hand, Belomas examined the victim.  That he had survived thus far was a testament to his strength, for a lesser man would have surely passed on by now.

Examining the wound, Belomas noted how clean the entry was - and that it looked unlikely anything got pressed into the injury. That was well, for the wound was deep.  With no major vessels severed - a miracle - he had some time to act.  First he covered over the wound loosely with cloth, and then gave the man some of the soup, carefully to avoid drowning him.  He then waited several minutes to sniff the wound.

"If I do not smell onions, he should live. If his stomach or bowels have been breached, he is beyond my skills..."

[Murometz]

Belomas and Velaquo

If Quills thought the quick trip to the palace's inn would make Velaquo forget about the Tale of the Coin, he was sorely mistaken.

Uninterested in the injured man his new friend, the Maester, was tending to, Velaquo kept looking about the palace grounds, as if calculating something, then turned back to Quills, and raised both oily brows in question.

"Like I said, we buried it. Me and the some of the other lads. Not many know, maybe seven. Two may be dead though. But it is as I said, we would need a ship. Its not far though, only a few days sail." Quills whispered all this as Velaquo listened.

----------------

For a moment Belomas thought he smelled the aroma of death, or in this case, the onions as it were. He sniffed again in earnest and realized the smell was awful, but not of onions. The Maester was a man of knowledge and sense, not a religious man, yet this huge knight before him was surely a leaning miracle. Still, he would need tending too, and if the wound became infected...

[Scrasamax]

"Thank you, and the roads between Casterly Rock and King's Landing are quite clear and safe to travel," Korley said and took a small sip of his wine. "And word of your victory over Stannis has spread only slightly slower than the rising of the sun my King." The words were said to Joffrey, but Korley made sure that he was looking at Tywin as he spoke.

"But yes I did attempt to slay a cockatrice in Tumbleton, the fool spouted about insults and claimed to be one a Stark'sman. The Cockatrice seemed ready to fight and I wasn't going to disappoint him. So I ended up sticking him before he was fully erect and the cockatrice in question went limp. Only then did the piss drunk bastard mumble something about being summoned to King's Landing. I made sure that he survived the trip here and have made sure that his life is in the best care that I was able to procure." He took another small sip of his wine.

[valadaar]

The sword cut having failed to reach stomach, or bowel, or major vessel, the enemy now was blood fever.  Carefully he cleaned the wound, and he called for help from those nearbye. "I will close the wound now. Please ensure he does not interfere."

[Murometz]

Korley

Joffrey seemed quite pleased with Korley's reply, pleased enough to lean back in his chair and shut up.

"Summoned to King's Landing you say? We summoned no such man." Said Tywin "Now i am intrigued. where is this wounded cockatrice? We will question him."

"He is outside... the inn the Crown and Stag, mi'lord" came the mellifluous voice of Varys, "a Maester tends to him as Ser Korley has said. Shall we have him summoned,mi'lord?"

"Yes," answered Tywin, then paused,  "And so a cockatrice is summoned to King's Landing after all. Ser Boros, bring him here, and the surgeon who tends to him."

Turning back to Korley, Tywin said, "You are a direct young man, that is what I've always admired about you. My brother's able bastard. Need to take a hill, send Hill, is that what they used to say back in Casterly Rock?" Another lip peel, a smile. "And so I will be direct with you. I seek your service, your blade, your will, and your loyalty."

Tywin paused again and speared Korley with a stare...judging the man and his heart.

Tyrion belched loudly.

[Scrasamax]

"You flatter me, mi'lord," Korley said, unflinching from Tywin's gaze. "I am your man."

[Murometz]

Korley

"Good. That is very good. Now let me tell you what I offer in return. Do this one service for the Crown sucessfully, and you will never be called Hill again. Men will call you only Korley Lannister. Or they will hang."

Tywin paused.

"And you will be given your choice of post. The Kingsguard could use some fresh blood, if you want to follow in Jaime's footsteps. Or, I can offer you some land, and a title, to go with your new name."

Pause for effect


"Now, let us drink, and glance upon this wounded cockatrice, and later we will speak again, you and I, and I will tell you what the Crown needs done."

[Scrasamax]

"Then it shall be that I will never be called Hill again," Korley said, "Because I will be Lannister or dead." He took a drink from his cup, a real drink rather than a sip. He was curious to find out what service to the crown would be great enough for him to cast off his bastard surname and be brought fully into the family. It was as he said, it would be something he would accomplish, or would die in the trying. He did hope that it wasn't something suicidal.

[Kassy]

Rheyna woke slowly to the sound of hooves plodding along the road, her joints stiff and hurting a little due in no small part to having slept on horseback leaning against a burly warriors back for most of the night.

At the mention of the Marshes she could feel her ears prick, did Kat really think it wise to go through there? If you didn't know your way you could lose yourself for a long time. Many who didn't know, rarely made it back.

Reluctantly she spoke to Katrina, "If you're sure that you know the way through then this would be the safer route. The open road is risky, but at least we'll know our way."

"What do you think, Sir?" she asked Odrin, while rubbing sleep from her eyes.

[Dossta]

Odrin detested swamps.  He had become intimately acquainted with their unpleasantness several years back, while protecting a young lordling en route from Norvos to Volantis.  Their river barge had caught an unexpected outcropping and the repairs had taken nearly a sevenday to complete, during which time Odrin found that bloodflies had a real taste for his blood.  It seemed to Odrin that the wretched creatures had left off biting everything else -- including the pack animals -- to torment him.  He had fervently hoped that he would never see another swamp as long as he lived.

None of that showed on his face, however.  What Katrina said made sense, and he knew it; without better knowledge of the lands around, Odrin would simply have to trust the girl to find them a safe haven.  By the forgotten gods, how blind he felt now!

"If miss Katrina is certain that she can find shelter within the swamps, then we should heed her advice, mistress.  At the very least, it will give us some time to consider our course."

As he nudged his horse forward after Kat, Odrin did not curse.  But he fervently wished that he could.

 

[Silveressa]

Katrina listened carefully to both her lover and Odrins opinions, unsure for a few moments if indeed she was making the correct choice in returning to the familiar realm of her childhood, nodding in agreement at Odrin's observation that they cold always leave at a later date if they so chose and return to the open road.

"I was raised here in the Neck, and the Reed people are my family, within these lands nothing will find us lest we wish it, and the bounty of the fen is plentiful enough to keep out bellies full and packs well stocked should the need arise for us to travel elsewhere."

Turning from the road she guided them into the largely unknown regions of the neck, the familiar scents and sounds bringing back a flood of emotions and comforting sense of safety. For a time at least, she could let herself relax a bit, and perhaps get some much desired rest before long.

[Murometz]

Kat, Odrin, Rheyna

Kat began guiding the trio into the wild and boggy fens of the Neck.

Legends claimed that when the First Men crossed the Narrow Sea ages ago, and began to settle Westeros, the Fae Children who dwelled there, fought back against the human migration to their shores. It is said the Children attempted twice, through powerful magicks, in keeping the humans from settling their mysterious continent.

The first time, the Children’s primal sorceries destroyed the massive land-bridge that separated Essos from Westeros. This resulted in the land-bridge breaking up into hundreds of islands and atolls, and the area is now known as the Stepstones.

The second attempt the Children made was even bolder, when they tried to cause the seas themselves to separate North Westeros from the South. They failed however, but not before the entire area became a giant swamp…The Neck.

Here, the trees are half-drowned and covered in fungus, quicksand (and worse) hides beneath the soggy soil, and the very land itself “moves” from place to place.

Like the deepest Northern Forests, the Swamps of the Neck were still one of the few remaining places in Westeros, where ‘wonders’ from myth and history could still be found. Here could be encountered giant carnivorous flowers, lurking Lizard-lions, bog-devils, witches, and the ancient, dying Fae, the Swamp Children--both vile and benign.


(Part II of post to come shortly)

[EchoMirage]

Velaquo grabbed the cockatrice knight's arms as the Maester worked, and as the giant struggled, he waves a few hesitant guards over to do the same - still they were almost tossed off amidst the knight's struggle and roars.

Somehow, Belomas still managed to clean and sew; somehow, the knight managed to stay awake. Catgut went in and out, cleansed immediately prior in hot water.

Velaquo smiled and observed intently - with a learned man at his side, he might lose only half as many soldiers.
"I'm impressed - at your skill, and at the drunk's vigor. Let's make sure he lives, men like that are rare."

[Murometz]

Odrin, Rheyna, Kat

They moved quickly the rest of that day, at times walking their horses across shallow streams, minor tributaries of the Saltspear. That night they reached the edges of the fen, without any further mishap (though earlier they spied an Ironborn Dragonship making its way along a wider tributary, but hid out of sight before continuing on) and paused to gaze upon what seemed to be a forest of shoulder-high cattails and sedge-grass, with an occasional willow tree or stunted alder in the distance.

Not a great place for horses and riding, Odrin considered, more than once as they slowly made their way now through the bogs. At least it was warmer here. The icy, northern wind did not dare enter this ancient realm.

As they traveled, Kat occasionally paused to collect some shrub or handful of leaves from the ground. The shrub she told Odrin to chew on. When he raised a brow in question, she explained that the herb acted as an internal blood-cleanser, and would help heal his shoulder wound faster. Infection, and even gangrene, could set in quickly here in The Neck.

At one point, Kat leapt from her horse and raised her hand for Odrin and Rheyna to stop their mount as well. Poking around with a broken branch ahead, she quickly identified a sink-hole, and the trio proceeded to circumnavigate the natural hazard.

It was getting dark now, and just as Odrin was about to suggest making camp, Kat pointed ahead, and there in the distance, Odrin and Rheyna could see a feint light, and a thin snaking smoke rising up to the moon. Now in fact, under their feet was a soggy, make-shift beaten path, and after a few more minutes, a ramshackle inn came into view.

The Sleeping Toad was the only inn a hundred leagues around, serving as a way-station to those coming in and out of the great swamp. Here could be acquired supplies, and even a guide if one was lucky enough. A stable catered to those who wanted to mercifully leave their mounts before sloshing deeper into the maze-like fens.

Here could be found mushroom pickers, snake-tamers, reed-weavers, eel-hunters, and all kinds of other folk who made their living on the outskirts of The Neck. Here could also be found those who did not wish to be found, or simply those escaping the raging wars and bloodshed.

The three travelers approached.

[Murometz]

Korley, Gargalen, Belomas, Velaquo

(ooc: Mourn, hang tight, you can still go with that entrance, but this post is a few minutes prior to that...)

As the Small Council awaited the arrival of the wounded man and his healer, Lord Varys leaned over and whispered something feverishly to Lord Tywin. Tyrion meanwhile scribbled something onto a piece of parchment with a quill.

"Grandfather, i tire of this. I will leave these trivial matters to you. I am getting married tomorrow, after all. The King must have his rest." said Joffrey in his nasally voice, and rose to go without further ado.

Everyone else rose as well, (except the sleeping Maester Pycelle), and bowed, as Joffrey strode from the hall, accompanied by Ser Mandon Moore..

"Whilst we wait nephew, I will ask you. Do you know who The Brave Companions are? A rather blood-thirsty mercenary company, but relatively new to our shores. Recently, they have been in my--the crown's-- employ." Said Tywin casually turning back to Korley.

Cersei for her part, took this moment to glance at Korley who had just drank deeply from his goblet.

That's the second time she has looked noted Korley without betraying his ignorance to the appraisal from across the table, though his heart skipped a beat faster.

-----------------------

Ser Boros Blount marched across the hall, down the stairs, and out into the courtyard, at which point he veered toward the Royal Inn. As he strode in, his eyes adjusted momentarily to the dim light, then he saw what he came for, across the taproom. Some men were holding down a brutish knight, as a maester worked on his bloody body.

"You there" he announced in a gravelly voice, "Ser Gargalen i presume---he did not wait for an answer--Lord Tywin demands your presence. And you Maester." he pointed a hairy, gnarled ginger at Belomas.

"And who are you supposed to be then?" He garbled, looking at Velaquo and Quills now with mean, piggish eyes.

For his part, Rufus belched some more blood, then ranted somewhat incoherently, still not fully conscious..."Ahh, Ser Blount, I--You have once you of heard of he--who-- i heard---fuggers--- little boys." Rufus tailed off, coughed violently and shook.

Boros Blount did not quite hear the last, and remained standing there like a statue.

[Silveressa]

Kat  gestured tiredly to the inn, the effort of a nights ride then the lengthy trip through the fen drawing upon the last of her reserves of strength. "The Toad will give us shelter for the night, along with  a hot meal and bath if desired."

She shook her hair back out of her face, glancing up at the night sky and reaching out to soothingly rub her horses neck "Our mounts could use a rest as well, the deeper parts of the marsh are no place for horses."

It's been years since I last darkened the inns doorway, long enough for my face to fade into memory?

[Murometz]

Kat, Rheyna, Odrin

Entering the inn, the three looked about before settling into a quiet corner table.

There were a few patrons, though none really of note...except for the two Ironborn and Kenett Cray.

Two Ironborn (the squids on their breastplates were plain for all to see) sat in a corner (other patrons gave them space) and noisly drank, while playing that most dangerous game of knives, called the Fingerdance by men of the North and the Iron Islands. Each man would take turns stabbing the table with a knife as quickly as possible between the fingers of his own hand, the palms splayed out on the wood. So far, all fingers seemed accounted for, though the Fingerdance often ended badly.

Kenett Cray sat limply on a stool, devouring a bowl of eels in butter. He didnt even look up as Odrin and the two women entered. Kat for her part, recognized the man isntantly however. Kenett was one of her childhood friends. The Crays were a minor house of the Neck, liegemen to the Reeds of Greywatre Watch. When she stayed at Greywater, she struck up a friendship with the young Cray lad.

Often they would hunt or get in trouble together. Then there was the time they both took a liking to the same girl, and decided to "duel" for her affections. Kat beat Kenett with a staff, until he yelled for quarter that day. The two still remained friends though, as Kenett was not one to keep grudges, and would actually laugh good-naturedly, whenever reminded by other youths of the "beating" he took at the hands of a "girl".

Another time, the two accidentally came across and discovered the hidden cave of the feared "Bog-Seer" deep in the swamp, a bogey-woman of the fens, who it was said could see the future and read the hearts of men.

The old, gnarled women offered them her services, after accepting some "gifts" for her troubles, and Kenett was first inside her tent. When he had emerged that day, his face was ashen, and he refused to discuss what the old woman had told him, and insisted that they leave immediately, despite Kat's curiousity. He never did again mention what transpired inside the Bog-Seer's tent.

[Scrasamax]

"You've...the King hired the Bloody Mummers?" Korley asked with a bit of surprise. He had been thinking about the queen regent's fragrant garden, instead. "I've heard of them and their reputation. I must admit I can't imagine why we need their kind of scum and villainy," Korley had a sinking feeling, when you brought in rapists and murderers you were not going to war with the enemies soldiers, you were throwing fire in his fields, snakes in his kitchens. You were going to sow fear and horror. He pondered what outcome this could lead to, sending the Mummers north against the Starks or the Baretheons...

The best thing about leading men like the Brave Companions was that when the time to fight came they were vicious fighters and he seldom felt any remorse for that sort of man when they went to fight and die. He didn't want to be that sort of man.

[Murometz]

Korley

"I must admit I can't imagine why we need their kind of scum and villainy..."

Lord Tywin cocked his head in Korley's direction, "Why, to sow fear and horror of course." Tywin peeled his lips back again, "I' have sent them north to Harrenhal and the Riverlands upon their arrival, to "forage", to harass" Tywin thought a moment, "To muddy the waters so to speak."

"But now I hear word  of that lisping Qohorian animal, Vargo Hoat, and how he has over-stepped himself. And now I mean to put an end to his...employment. Seems the Brave Companions had their own ideas, as to their "recreations" on our shores, and we can't allow these rebel scum to harass us with impunity. We look like fools and they look like heroes; that's how kings fall. I want them dead, every one. "

Tywin summed up, and sipped his wine, studying Korley the whole time.

Korley didn't quite understand the quick leap Tywin took from "We've hired them" to "I want every one dead."

"Father, Korley knows nothing of recent events, I am sure" Tyrion chirped

"Nevertheless" Lord Tywin answered. "A lion does not need to know. A lion needs simply act."

"There are three thousand Bloody Mummers. How many men will you need?" Tywin asked Korley directly.



 

[Scrasamax]

"The lion kills because it is the right of the lion, and it is the role of base creatures like the Mummers to do the part of the dying," Korley said,stroking his chin. "They are rabble and scum. I'd ask for 300 men and horses enough to carry them into the field. The mummers are undisciplined and will scatter rabbits before the roar. The rest is fear and deception. Ravens can carry word of 2000 riding out..." Korley said after some thought

[Murometz]

Korley

"Good. That is very good" Lord Tywin repeated his earlier mantra of satisfaction. 'You will have four hundred men, and four hundred horse, but not a man or horse more. We are spread thin, for the moment."

Tyrion was still writing something feverishly on a yellowed parchment. Cercei seemed suddenly disinterested, and rose to leave.

"Serve us well, Korley Hill, and earn your Lannister name." She said brazenly, as she studied him with her liquid-emerald eyes.

Again all rose, as Cersei sashayed from the Council's chamber.

"Now" Lord Tywin began again. "As to the other task i set before you. I know you fear no man, and I know your blade-work can rival mine own golden son's skill. But can you kill a woman if need be? Or even a child? How strong is your resolve to the Crown?"

Suddenly the room went extra quiet. Even Tyrion wrinkled his nose in distaste.

After a moment, Tywin spoke again. "Do not answer, nephew. I hear Ser Boros returning with your new acquaintance, the cockatrice, and it sounds like there are others in tow. We shall speak once more on this later."