1.

Intrigue at court. Games in King´s Landing.

As the Hand of the King, Lord Rosby is considering his favorites for the positions open in his grace´s small council, the major houses have put all of their weight behind their respective candidates.

With the court at the Red Keep erupting into political schemes and conflict, not a day goes by without an incident.

Events within the Red Keep have a way of spreading. A court with few secrets well held, a constant fight over the attention of Lord Rosby has led to much gossip.

All 4 fought for positions had important meetings come up in the last weeks, as Lord Hand Rosby tested the candidates in debates and royal audiences...

The Master of Laws:

Lord Melwyn has enjoyed pitting the claimants against each other for the sought-after position. He called a meeting at the royal gardens to discuss the re-distribution of land after the first Blackfyre rebellion. Even though a decade had passed, many lords were still disgruntled with their loss of holdings, titles and positions. All interested Lords and Ladies were to meet in the palace gardens to discuss the possible solutions.

Lady Linda Lefford had been an initial favorite of the Lord Hand. She proposed many options to pit the minor lords against each other in restoring their land rights, as to weaken their resolve. A great idea, all agreed, including Lord Rosby.

As the debates continued though, Lady Jodi Tully retorted on Lady Leffords arguments, one after another. Drawing a picture of manipulation and deceit toward their own bannermen, Lady Tully convinced the gathered crowd of the wrongfulness of the Lannister Widow´s case-by-case approach. As Lady Linda tried to take control back to her argument, Lady Jodi approached Lord Rosby with ledgers obtained from arcchived records about the contributions of minor houses in the Reach, Crownlands and Riverlands. She convinced Lord Rosby of historical redistribution while drowning out the old Lady Lefford´s protest, leaving Lord Rosby with a bad feeling about Linda Lefford´s contributions.

As to stoke the fire, Lady Tully´s contributions were sadly not left to her credit either. Lord John Cormick Bolton, present and watchful, managed to convince Lord Rosby of the strategical acumen of a combination of the two Ladies ideas. Casting both Lady Lefford and Lady Tully´s ideas as incomplete pieces of a grander strategy, putting both women in the proverbial dirt.

Thus, the meeting of the land re-distribution for minor Blackfyre supporters ended with both Lady Linda Lefford and Lady Jodi Tully watching from the sidelines as Lord John Cormick Bolton, a relative newcomer to the race for the Mastership of Laws, walked away with the Lord Hand to continue their military discussions in the Tower of the Hand.

The Iron Bank of Braavos, a silent hand accompanying the wars of Westeros. King Daeron II. had the prolific institution of his side. All men must hope that King Areys I. will too, if he intends to keep his throne.

Fiddle Footly

Ronnal Baratheon

Bryden Tully

year 209 after conquest - 3 Chapters

Linda Lefford

Jodi Tully

John Cormick Bolton

The Master of Coin:

Under Lord Melwyn Rosby´s handship, more coin seems to be flowing into the capital from its 7 Kingdoms than help flows out, as the crown taxes without providing. So the treasury of the capital seemed an ideal place to begin to change the inaction and lethargy of the crown. In a recent meeting with the Iron Bank of Braavos, Lord Hand Melwyn Rosby invited three esteemed lords to help him convince the bankers to extend repayments on some of the loans taken by the previous King Daeron II. to fight off the Blackfyre pretenders.

- Lord Ronnal Baratheon of Storm´s End

- Lord Bryden Tully of Riverrun

- and a newcomer to the Capital, the late arrival, Septon Fiddle Footly of the Starry Sept joined the Lord Hand.

In said meeting, Septon Footly rightly approached the topic from a point of flexibility, shifting numbers around to argue that the bank should invest in further cooperation with the crown to offset the accumulated interest through exports of grain.

Expecting support, Septon Footly was shocked to hear both Lord Ronnal and Bryden argue against his brazenness in dealing with the Iron Bank, excusing the Septon as "Selfish" and "Unseasoned".

Lord Ronnal Baratheon proceeded to present how the crown will surely pardon the minor supporters of the Blackfyres soon, leading to greater tax collection and a swift bulk payment, only to be laughed at by Lord Tully.

The old Lord Bryden Tully filled almost the entire second half of the meeting with a long winded explanation about how justice for the Blackfyres means justice for the realm. How a just ruler cannot forget his allies and that the crown will structure their repayment accordingly to the needs of the Iron Bank as they supported House Targaryen in its hour of need, but how the Bank must wait for them to gather their strength again first.

Satisfied with the result, the Braavosi´s left, with Lord Tully congratulating both Lord Ronnal Baratheon and Septon Fiddle Footly on a succesful meeting, as the two men left the council chambers, with the Lord Hand asking Bryden Tully to "remain for a few more questions of state".

The Master of Whispers:

Dangers to the crown can be insidious. That is why the King needs a Master of Whispers. But how to find such a Lord or Lady? One that has the knowledge of the unspoken? The private?

Such a man presented himself to Lord Rosby at just an opportune time. Because for weeks now, Lord Zyre Redwyne had been hearing about a conspiracy in the Red Keep.

Lord Redwyne, a merchant himself, and well connected with the mercantile class, had heard rumors of a conspiracy of servants: kitchen maids and wine merchants, rat catchers and guardsmen, that wished to depose King Aerys I. for his younger brother Rhaegel, the Prince of Dragonstone.

For weeks lord Redwyne apparently followed the clues and spoke to his contacts until ready to present his findings to Lord Rosby.

In the meeting, Lord Redwyne shared this plot with the Lord Hand, only to recieve a joyful response of admiration, not for Lord Zyre but for a figure emerging from the shadows: lord Bugeater of the Eyrie.

The strange old man explained to Lord Redwyne how he had planted the evidence and created the whole story to prove his usefulness to Lord Rosby, tricking a major lord, like the now humiliated Zyre Redwyne, into believing a whole ploy against the King was afoot. Bugeater recieved high praise for the setup, while Lord Zyre was pitifully congratulated on "being a good sport".

Zyre Redwyne

Bugeater

The Master of Ships:

Weeks rolled into months at court without any sight of Lord Billy Mormont, the brazen lord sent from the North to serve in the capital. Many had believed he might have returned to Winterfell to assist his liege lord in organizing the grand tourney.

When, quite recently, Lord Melwyn Rosby presented the aging lord admiral to the court.

During a discussion on the recent Ironborn raids, most of which had hit the North, the Lord Hand called in Lord Billy Mormont.

What followed was an accounting of the northern seafarer, that he had spent the last month traveling to Duskendale, Driftmark, and Dragonstone, all places where remnants of the royal navy were anchored. Lord Mormont recounted how much the fleet of House Targaryen were in disrepair. And how many had been repurposed or put to shore.

The Lord argued that the Ironborn would keep raiding and were already venturing into the Narrow Sea. Then, dangers of the golden company and Deamon II. Blackfyre loomed in Essos. If the Crown wanted a fighting chance, it would need a new navy.

So with Lord Mormonts recommendation, Lord Hand Rosby put forward a royal decree: the immediate rebuilding of the Royal Fleet was to be comissioned. All attening knew instantly, this meant taxes.

Billy Mormont

Melwyn Rosby

The maneuvering and politics seem to be far from over as Lord Melwyn has not nominated anyone for the council yet. But getting in his good graces often enough will net some the opportunity to sit on the small council of the King.

Lord Melwyn´s favorites:

As the Hand of the King reflects on the last months activity at court, he seems to show clear favoratism to some of the contenders for council positions...

2.

The Ironborn attack:

The Reavers of the Iron Island land all across the northern bays, raiding the Barrowlands, the Wolfswood, all the way to Torrhen´s Square. Smaller parties detach from a large covering fleet to burn and raise by night and just as quick as they arrive, they sail south again.

Dagon Greyjoy, the Lord Reaver of this destructive armada, sails fast and hard for even the fortified coasts of Westeros. His is a fury the mainlanders yet have to match. With the pitiful showing at his last raids, he has grown emboldened, strengthening his forces with the bounty acquired.

Dagon will reave again, and name himself a new Harren, so he announces to the realm in letters of indignation.

As the realm holds its breath, the Westerlands continously put galleys in the water at Lannisport. May this be a sign?

3.

The Tourney at Winterfell!

Somber may be the circumstances of the gathering, but looking at the faces of the Hedgeknights ready to compete for glory and the Lords and Ladies of the court gathered in eager anticipation, somber is not what comes to mind.

Lords Borys Baratheon and Edward Stark have let the occasion been a reminder of their strength and might, with feasting and fighting galore.

Although the festivities might have interested most, some came for the connections. During the Tourney there were three persons of interest, wishing to curry favor with the major lords of the realm:

A socialite and political climber from a minor house:

D8, Resourcefulness 2, Stewardship 2

A general, experienced in combat with outlaws and raiders:

D8, Fortitude 2, Command 2

A builder from Braavos, who has impressed many with his stories:

D8, Fortitude 2, Stewardship 1

The Lords interested in recruiting these Characters must send envoys to Winterfell, paying the travel toll on the Omen of Winter, and then must bid on one or more of the three Characters, any ressources that they may, with the winning bid recruiting the Character and all other bids being generously returned.

Past Omens of Winter...

The Tourney of Remembrance at Winterfell:

As Winterfell opens its crypts and the Lords pay their tribute to the late Lord McLeod Stark, Castellan of Winterfell and brother to the Lord Paramount Edward Stark, the North remembers.

The North always remembers. Rumors about the demise of the Lord Castellan are silenced as the Warden of the North decrees:

Lord Borys Baratheon will host a grand Tourney at Winterfell to remember the dear friend that was Lord McLeod.

- As the Tourney begins, Characters may attend for a low price of travel, be it for a single Character or more:

A total of 2 resources of your choice.

Success: The Tourney will host many contests for knights, performances by bards and minor lords vying for a place in the inner circles of power. Characters may be recruited here through hidden bids with the highest bid winning.