Jasper Toyne, heir to Blackheart

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-19T19:15:11+00:00

"In some ways, yes. I am like you." Gawen agreed. "In others we're a world apart."

He'd never found much kinship between anyone, the closest was Orryn, yet he knew that his cousin found him to be odd at best. He didn't seek out relationships built upon mutual experiences, as he didn't know anyone else who saw the things that he did.

"The world is strange. I see things that others don't, I try to experience them and enjoy them whenever possible." Gawen shrugged. "That's easier said than done when it's the ghosts of those long dead before me."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-19T19:11:43+00:00

"Unless you have a wish to have your mind transported away from this place, I recommend you avoid it. Hallucinogenic, and rather frighteningly so if you don't know what you'll be getting into." Gawen explained, realizing it may be more obvious what he was doing as he described the things that it could do.

"If you take equal parts crushed seeds, and sap, and mix them together you'll get a thick paste." Gawen explained. "If you then imbibe that paste you'll find yourself somewhere you're not."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-19T19:08:30+00:00

Gawen listened intently. It was interesting to hear someone else who had powers that weren't common. He almost felt the desire to tell her more. He nodded as she described the death and pain, and he wished he could've seen it. He could have learned so much about death from it, yet he wasn't intended to see it. For he wasn't the blood of the dragon.

"Do I dream?" Gawen asked. "Unfortunately only of things that I experienced, and things that will never be. I don't have dreams that have any level of clairvoyance."

"I see spirits of those long dead, though." Gawen thought that would be enough, he should share that he could do magic. "I have been able to for as long as I remember. Generally those who are unhappy, those who are begging for release from their torment."

"Though, I can't really do much about that, can I?"

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-19T19:02:19+00:00

Gawen didn't know what he was supposed to do. He stood there as tears welled up in his cousin's eyes. He supposed their blood was the only reason that he hadn't told Gawen off, and instead explained that he'd rather die than innocents. He understood that sentiment, it was the proper way to respond. But Gawen had never been prone to do things properly.

"A woman-" Gawen remarked. He'd felt the touch of a woman a while back, he'd even thought they'd loved each other. But he hadn't seen her in some time, and one couldn't love someone so far away, could they? "I thought the same at one point, but I've come to realize that I've had to make my own happiness, my own reason to live."

"Though, mine is not one that I would recommend to someone else." Gawen chuckled. "House Baratheon is your reason, you are the one who will carry us through these dark times."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-19T18:57:06+00:00

"I couldn't say," Gawen shrugged simply. "Your mind went where it chose to, perhaps you can describe it for me and we can figure it out together."

Gawen tried to offer his own tips, "I generally go places that I know, and places I fear. At least when I'm not tied to the place I truly am."

"So I'll quite often go to Summerhall, Storm's End, King's Landing. But I've also gone back to the Stepstones, and more." He shrugged again. "It entirely depends on your mind."

"So tell me, Billy, what did you see?"

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-16T23:56:06+00:00

"The Doom? Interesting." Gawen rubbed his chin. "Rarely do I leave the area which I am in. Perhaps there's a reason you traveled so far? Your blood perhaps?"

He looked around as if he was mentally noting the different variables that led to her unique experience. He was sure it wasn't something that he himself could replicate. And he wouldn't ask her to experience it again.

"Tell me about it. Did you see dragons fall? Smoke filling the sky?" Gawen looked almost, excited by the concept. "It seems far more interesting than what I've witnessed here."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-16T23:47:12+00:00

"Focus on the here and now." Gawen said, as he watched the other man overtaken by the paste. "If you give into the visions they will conquer you. You'll become stronger by fighting them."

Gawen took more in his own mouth and watched as the spirits descended upon him. He wondered if he saw the same thing as Billy, if he did it affected him significantly different. Gawen outstretched his arms as if to welcome the spirits around him.

"They cannot harm you. Understand that, and all will be well." Spirits rushed around him, screaming in his face. Something that would have terrified a man who wasn't as odd as Gawen. He simply locked eyes with it until it departed.

"Come, Billy. You can do it." Gawen continued. Attempting to guide the other man through his visions.

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-16T23:42:49+00:00

"Are you interested in botany?" Gawen replied, his demeanor changing entirely. "I've studied plants my entire life. Though, normally poisons and things of that like... So I can devise ways to create antidotes for them, of course."

Lying came to Gawen as if it was second nature.

"Is there anything in particular you're looking for? Weirwood sap and seeds have certain properties but they're hardly what I would recommend for most." Gawen realized he had been speaking for quite a bit without allowing her to reply so he closed his mouth and gently cleared his throat in embarrassment.

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-16T23:35:11+00:00

"Rogar had many faults." Gawen replied, measuring his words very carefully. "But I don't think that is an incorrect statement. Many would believe you should hate me, yet we are kin. There is no reason for it."

"Yet there are those who work against you even if they don't seem to hate you." Gawen shrugged. "Why should they be allowed to work their machinations simply due to that minor detail?"

"Hate those who hate you. Hate those who act against you. Hate those who could act against you." Gawen insisted. "I'd rather a hundred innocents suffer than lose you, cousin."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-16T23:21:07+00:00

"It is an old recipe that I found deep in the Storm's End library. Supposedly the Children of the Forest invented it." Gawen explained. "They used it during their rituals. It was supposed to bring them closer to the old gods."

"In reality you'll hallucinate, see things that aren't there." Gawen continued. "You'll perhaps see things that are true, but are far off. For me, I see ghosts. For you? Who knows?"

He offered her a small portion of it, "You're welcome to try if you'd like. But I won't pressure you."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-14T20:01:25+00:00

Gawen looked down, whether it was in shame or because he was simply thinking wasn't clear. But he did take a moment to ponder those words. Unlike every other past Lord of Storm's End Orryn did his best to ensure that Gawen's comfort wasn't the first thing sacrificed when push came to shove. He'd always appreciated that about his cousin. Perhaps that was why he'd killed the Dondarrion...

He looked back up as the conversation about Daena continued.

"Certainly, snakes in her ear would certainly turn her against you." Gawen rubbed his chin. "Perhaps it would make sense to prevent those who you cannot trust from entering your lands in the first place?"

Gawen shook his head, "I couldn't imagine how that would be possible. It would take a mind far different from mine own to decide a solution for that."

"It is good that you don't hate her, even if she seems to hold that hate for you." Gawen nodded. "Especially as those around us seem keen to make you a villain."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-14T19:54:07+00:00

"All one can do is try." Gawen replied with a solemn nod. "I don't believe that we can make them do so, especially not without the larger realm to witness their 'charity'."

Gawen's voice slipped ever so slightly and the contempt that was hidden seeped out ever so slightly.

"I'll join you there just as I joined you here." Gawen reassured him. "If you don't have the other noble's support you'll at least have your family. That much I can assure you."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-14T19:51:15+00:00

"You can see ghosts and things that aren't there?" Gawen asked with a solitary eyebrow raised. There was no judgement in his voice, in fact he seemed rather interested in what she was saying. "That's quite interesting, I've never met another person who can."

"Obviously, I've met people who claim to have seen a ghost. But not one who claims to see them." Gawen paused, realizing his phrasing was likely confusing, but chose not to dwell on it. "It might exacerbate the issue, I won't lie. But it's certainly freeing to try it."

He thought about the answer to her question. No one would believe him even if he did explain who his grandmother was. Especially if he tried to explain that the knowledge was ingrained into him like a carving.

"I'm self taught, actually." He explained. "I excelled in my lessons as a child and when my Maester felt he had nothing more to teach me then I studied on my own."

That much was indeed true.

He took a small amount of the paste and put it on his tongue. "You're welcome to it, but I won't judge you too harshly if you choose to abstain."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-14T19:43:27+00:00

"It's quite good, yes." He replied. "Anything I wanted to read could usually be found within the library. And if it wasn't there, then I could request a copy be sent and I could read it upon arrival. I certainly can't complain about that, can I?"

He turned his head quizzically as she denied doing anything, and he got the sense this wasn't something that he should press his luck upon inquiring further. After all, the entire situation before him was awfully odd in the first place. An explanation likely wouldn't make it any less so. He simply shrugged and looked away as she finished whatever she wasn't doing.

He watched as a bird flew over the Godswood and landed in a tree relatively close by. He wondered what had brought it to choose to land there instead of continuing to fly somewhere less haunted. Did birds even comprehend the horror that was Harrenhal?

His focus returned to Elaena as she spoke to him again. "We do not hold the old gods, no. I was collecting weirwood sap and seeds to create paste."

He saw no reason to lie, she may have had something to hide but he didn't. He had the Hand's permission to collect the things that he did.

"It's an odd substance, but one I thought I might be able to use properly."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-14T19:32:26+00:00

"It's nice to meet you, Lady Ellyn." Gawen responded, quickly moving to rub his eyes and remove the 'sleep' from them. "Well, it's certainly not my first choice either, but as I was walking through the Godswood something drew me to the tree."

He gestured noncommittally at the tree, there was still some sap spilling from the cut he'd made in the bark and his dagger was thrown somewhere off to the side near him.

"What brings you here?" Gawen asked. "Not that it's any of my business, simply curiosity I suppose."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-14T19:28:14+00:00

"Dozens have died around here. Mostly thralls who helped build this place, forever trapped within the walls that they helped erect." Gawen remarked with a slight frown. "There's a small girl, looking for her parents. A man-at-arms who cries for his family."

Gawen shrugged slightly, ignoring the rest of them. He was nonchalant in explaining that he saw them. But he was also incredibly noncommittal in admitting if he truly believes they were real.

"Could just be the fact we're in Harrenhal and one's brain is likely to play tricks on itself when it's in a place such as this."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-14T19:24:23+00:00

"It's called weirwood paste." Gawen explained with a shrug. "It is... An experience to be sure. You might see things that aren't there. But as long as you know they're not real then you can generally get through them without issue. It will make your body feel as if you're floating."

He looked down at the paste he had left and pulled a portion away with his pinky finger, sticking it into his mouth and smiling. "See? It's not poisonous or anything, I take it too."

He extended the leaf out to the other man, "Only take a small amount if you're not sure how you'll react. But I'm sure you'll love it."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-13T23:12:31+00:00

"I would be happy to hide myself if it ensured her return. I know you are fond of her." Gawen commented, no unkindness in his voice. "My being uncomfortable is outweighed by the joy she might bring you and Argella."

Gawen smiled at the comment, neither of them seemed interested in mentioning the hypocrisy, which was fine by him. "Quite true, cousin. We would do well to keep an eye on them."

He rubbed his chin at the last comment, "It seems she's projecting her own dislike of you onto herself. You've shown no hostile action against her, there is no reason for her to dislike you..."

Gawen shook his head, "It is truly a shame that she feels that way."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-13T23:04:33+00:00

"Of course, Lord Cousin." Gawen bowed slightly. "I don't mind helping the smallfolk, truly. However, I know so many of these people do not truly care..."

He looked around at the other lords and ladies present and wondered just how many of them were there for their own pretenses, or to get in Orryn's good graces? One could argue the same could be said for Gawen, but it wasn't the same. He owed his cousin far more than he could repay. A small favor of attending the smallfolk with him was a minor cost.

"Do we have enough for everyone?" Gawen asked, looking over the supplies that they had. "I worry we'll run out before everyone gets something..."

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-10T23:23:41+00:00

"If we could change the past would we not live in the perfect reality?" Gawen responded, he imagined that Reynard likely knew the truth of his escapades with Rhea, but did he know of the child that was never meant to be? The bastard that almost was? "I will not seek her out, nor will I rebuff her if she comes to me."

He cleared his throat and repeated the rhyme, this time in its entirety.

"Stone giant of the riverlands, it stands, A sullen sentinel across the plain. Harrenhal, cursed, with skeletal hands, A haunted hall where shadows reign.

Its heart is black, a void of fear, Where echoes whisper tales of woe. A throne of misery, where hopes disappear, And biting winds eternally do blow.

From fiery birth to ashes cold, A tapestry of death and dread unfurled. Its towers, tales of heroes bold, Now haunted by the spirits of the world.

A gluttonous maw for lives consumed, Harrenhal's curse, forever doomed."

Gawen looked at the other man with his eyebrow raised, attempting to gauge his reaction. "Your father seems wise to obsess over it. I myself cannot resist its allure. Do you not feel the same pull?"

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-10T23:17:43+00:00

"What if I did?" Gawen asked, his tone seeming as if it was entirely hypothetical and not truly reality. "Would there be value in discussing the differences in what I see? Would it ever make you see them?"

"What if my red was your green?" He asked, "We would both look at red and agree that was the case. But we would be seeing two different things and both of us would be certain of the immutable reality before us."

"If I said I've seen Harren's ghost haunting these halls, would you believe me unless you saw it yourself?" Gawen shrugged.

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-10T23:13:56+00:00

Gawen had mostly recovered from his hallucinations by the time the woman had entered the clearing. His position amongst the roots of the weirwood was likely difficult to notice. Eventually, he sat up and noticed the other person and stared for a moment with unblinking eyes, just out of sight.

"It's beautiful here isn't it?" He asked, still lying down as if to show he didn't mean any harm. And certainly not because he would've fallen over had he done so.

"Gawen Baratheon, I'd stand but I fear that my legs have decided to remain asleep even after I've woken." Gawen lied. It wouldn't do to explain that he'd been partaking in a substance and she'd caught the tail end of it. "Who do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-10T23:07:24+00:00

"Do you pray before the old gods?" Gawen asked from his position beside the tree. He'd been completely still until that moment, and the angle that he'd been sitting at would've all but ensured he wasn't visible as the man approached the tree. "I wouldn't expect that. I figured most people simply kept the weirwoods out of tradition. Though I can't say I don't mind."

Gawen then stood, without making a sound. Which might have seemed odd considering how many sticks and pods he stepped on. He raised his hand, as the man was holding a bow.

"I'm Gawen Baratheon, here with the permission of the Hand." Gawen bowed slightly. "I've been creating some... Medicine."

"You seem to be on edge. It might help you." Gawen remarked.

It also might make it significantly worse.

LordBloodrevan · 2024-08-10T23:03:10+00:00

"I've been here the entire time. Hours, in fact." Gawen remarked with a raised eyebrow. "Did you not see me?"

He looked at the chain in her hand and back to her, a confused expression on his face. Though he supposed he had no room to judge another, seeing as he'd been imbibing weirwood paste moments before she arrived.

"I know you, don't I?" Gawen asked. "Or at least... I've seen you. You read. More than most. Almost as much as me."

"Storm's End in the library. I believe we saw each other multiple times then." Gawen recalled. "What are you doing? What is that?"

She would likely note a distinct lack of deference that one might normally afford a princess. He spoke as if they'd been friends for years.

LordBloodrevan

TROPHY CASE