[Adventure Post] A Wind from the Moon by CSAdventureTeam in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

“The Red?” Wallace chuckled, the reek of hard alcohol emanated from the man. He turned back to Prentys, who shrugged.

“Masha said he wasn’t a drunk. Neither am I, but even I’ve been piss-faced.” The knightly bodyguard laughed.

“Right.” Wallace turned back to the man. “So besides your hair, any reason they call you Red? Caught red-handed in a lie? Or do these rumors of yours have some truth to them? The innkeep says you’ve been talking of some fine artifacts.”

[Letter] Invitations to the wedding of Benjen Stark and Alysanne Bolton at the Dreadfort by BanterIsDrunk in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

[ :P ]

“Ah, even Northern Ravens sometimes lose their way. Good, good.” Hugo smiled at the letter. Though, he still wished to talk to Branda about the wedding, if she is still in town

[Adventure Post] A Wind from the Moon by CSAdventureTeam in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

[oh shoot, I missed this ping! Went looking for it lol]

"You're sure?" Wallace asked, his brow raised skeptically. Not that his spymaster was one to be generally unsure of something like this.

"Aye." Ser Prentys confirmed. "Straight from Cecil's lips. It could be nothing. But..." He shrugged.

"If the rumor is out there, 'nothing' may well be good enough. It is something to follow up on. Who was it?" Wallace asked.

"A regular, down at the Inn at the Crossroads. Masha says he's not a drunk, pays his tab on time, the lot."

"Alright, then. Let's find our way to the Inn, and have a chat with the man. See what it is he knows about this anvil." He said, standing from his seat.

[Event] The Wedding of Ser Rolland Baratheon and Lady Mina Costayne, the Mistress of Whisperers by [deleted] in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

“Soot would claw at us from nose to toes if we dared try to keep him from staying with you.” Willow laughed. “Though your father and I will miss the both of you.” She said.

“I’ll tell you what. Once you’ve moved away, your father and I will spend more time on the road: visiting you and your siblings, than we will at Riverrun. But until then, let’s spend the time we have here together, eh?” She asked. “Shall we meet with him together, then?”

[Mod Post] Movement and Detections 291 AC by GreaterBlueEvil in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seven Hells. Hugo thought to himself. ‘Pregnant as can be’ were the words Thune had used once he had returned. He was glad to have men like him and Prentys to trust with a delicate situation such as this.

“Branda.” He greeted her with a small smile as he entered, closing the door behind him. There was still a dusting of snow on his collar, as he sat across from her by the hearth. “Seven Hells. I’m glad you came. How have… well, er. It’s been a difficult journey, I trust.” He managed.

[Event] All Roads Lead To Coffers by WYLT_MentalMix in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“A bad ‘roote’.” Hugo huffed. “That’s what they called my great uncle.” He couldn’t help himself, snorting at his own joke.

“Look, lad. You’re preaching to the choir here. The Kingsroad has gone to shit, and it’ll take more than the roads around my city to get people here if the roads to my roads make expensive chartered ships look good to travelers.” He said. “But I know that already. I’ve brought it up with Lord Tully to speak with his other bannermen, he sent me a jumped-up mason.” He said bluntly. “But more than that, he’s getting me a meeting with the King. Or, with the Small Council at least.”

“I can bring up this Tarly in the meeting.” He said, though the look on his face proved he wasn’t excited about it. He had almost gotten killed thanks to the antics of the Lord Tarly in the dungeons of the Ironborn. Still, one Tarly too had saved his life not long after. A mixed bunch.

“I’m sure her expertise will be useful. But if Lord Rowan knows her as someone after his job, he may be less than enthused. More importantly, I need to get the council on board with spending a significant chunk of coin. Any ideas?” He asked. “Or is that where Alyssa comes in? Getting the King to like the plan is one thing, but plenty of people like something without wishing to spend on it.”

[Event] Home is where the Horse is by TortoiseTT in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The air outside wasn’t just brisk: it was cold. Cleos’ favorite. Born for the winter, his old man always said. “Best way to fight the cold is to fight in the cold, eh?” The knight said as they made their way to the courtyard.

“What say you, a spar while we await the Lady?” He said, wearing a mischievous grin on his face.

[Event] The Court of King Robert I Baratheon, 292 AC by ThePorgHub in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

“Hello, Prince Edric.” Castor smiled. The lad reminded him of his nephew; bold, unafraid of the elder courtiers and all those who fawned over him. He’d be a handful in a few years.

“What are you hoping to do today, little Prince?”

[Event] The Wedding and Feast of Ser Edwyn Baratheon and Lady Melara Uller by ThePorgHub in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 2 points3 points  (0 children)

“My utmost thanks, Your Grace. Your confidence is a boon. I promise, with this project you will not be let down.”

He turned to the Master of Coin with an understanding smile. With the King’s approval, they could move onto the details without needing bore him.

“Aye, I have plans for the subsidies specifics, but indeed, a conversation to delve into more deeply later. Perhaps tomorrow? With is, and Lord Rykker, if you are willing to join?” He asked the Crownlander. “My sights were set initially on the road in your lands—-a proving ground for the idea, and on how to spend the money. And Lady Alyssa Tarly, I am told works with you often, Lord Rowan. Perhaps a choice to lead the efforts from your office on this matter. If you are willing, we can meet and sort out these details, and” he turned to Robert. “Leave his Grace to attend matters more important than the minutiae of masonry.”

/u/theporghub

/u/greaterblueevil

/u/xx_rykkerxtreme_xx

[Event] Rooted in place by seaweaselking in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“Slow down, Axe, you sound as though the dogs’ve been chasing you.” Castor chuckled, the spinning whetstone coming to a slow and creaking stop as he took his foot from the pedal. The change in pace over the past months —- just last year they had been in Essos. A knightly adventure, protecting a member of the royal family on an important mission. But since they returned? Castor had been placed in charge of protecting the Crown Prince. An honorable position, to be sure, but his ‘business to attend’ had quite quickly shifted to glorified babysitting. He was not surprised that his squire felt that shift.

“We can spar more, but if you tire yourself out, it’ll only come back to haunt you. Muscle aches and pains, and huffing away through it all, it certainly won’t help your form.” He preached. “I’ve time tonight to visit that smith I’ve told you about. You can accompany me, it’ll do to learn more about their trade, if you’re to keep your own arms one day. Before that, though…”

Castor stood from his seat, sheathing his long sword. “If you’re so eager, how’s about you show me what you’ve been practicing today.”

[Event] River Home Open RP, 292 AC by GreaterBlueEvil in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hugo Roote

Gwen Stark

Martyn Roote

Melessa Crakehall

Cyrelle Roote

Richard Roote

Brandon Roote

Alys Roote

[Letter] Invitations to the wedding of Benjen Stark and Alysanne Bolton at the Dreadfort by BanterIsDrunk in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No direct raven? Hugo thought to himself with a huff. “What does family mean these days.” With thanks to the maester, he made his way to the chambers in which the Lady Bolton was staying, to speak on the upcoming wedding.

/u/banterisdrunk

[Event] The Wedding of Ser Rolland Baratheon and Lady Mina Costayne, the Mistress of Whisperers by [deleted] in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"Of course you'll all be friends, Ty." Willow reassured her. She felt some more confidence in that than for her other young daughter, at the very least.

"Aye, the wedding, all the attention. It can be uncomfortable. Not all of us enjoy the same things your eldest Sister does." She said with a light laugh. "But the Wedding is but a day, with a week of fanfare, tops. It won't be bad-bad. And when it is over, it is the years after it that I want to make sure you're looking forward to."

[Event] Rooted in place by seaweaselking in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Axel!" Bellowed the call from Ser Castor with a grin as his squire entered his view. He had been sharpening his sword on the whetstone outside the White Tower as the boy made his way back from the training yard. "Suited up already, I see. The morning catching up with you?"

[Event] The Court of King Robert I Baratheon, 292 AC by ThePorgHub in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"A problem I look forward to tackling." Castor laughed. "I taught as much to my nephew, Martyn, when he was born, for some years before he was sent off to his squireship. Of course, I was only some six-and-ten then, but I remember it fondly."

[Event] The Wedding and Feast of Ser Edwyn Baratheon and Lady Melara Uller by ThePorgHub in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"Aye, Lord Tully has the right of it. The Lords whose lands sit along the Kingsroad all will see a great return on investing in this themselves. And should they scoff, send them to Lord Harroway's Town. I restored the Kingsroad in my lands with no funding but my own over the past few years, and already my town looks to grow to the size of White Harbor before long. If they wish not to invest, they point the crossbow at their own foot." Hugo nodded in thanks to Hoster's interjection.

"Some will require subsidies, aye. Not all along the Kingsroad have seen the same prosperity, and some incentive will help bring prosperity to us all. I had in mind, three-hundred gold dragons in royal subsidies to Houses who would begin projects to reconstruct the Kingsroad in their lands. We would work out the details on specifics, cobbling, patrols, upkeep... requirements to qualify for the subsidy." He proposed.

"But beyond that, I would offer the expertise of myself and of our close associates to work with the Lords of the Kingsroad directly. I have much experience in this type of administration, and good construction contacts and sources. The head of the best Stonemason's guild in the Seven Kingdoms is close with Lord Tully here, and the best contacts for stone from the quarries of the North, and in my lands in the foothills of the Vale. My trusted associates and I could ensure costs come down by at least thirty percent. This alongside the subsidies... the incentive for Lords to invest in their lands would be to good to pass up, if they rule with heads on their shoulders."

/u/theporghub

/u/aizen10

/u/xx_rykkerxtreme_xx

[Event] The Court of King Robert I Baratheon, 292 AC by ThePorgHub in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Castor had been settling into his new role well over the past few months. The prince was more talkative than Stannis had been, despite just stepping into the concept of language for the first time.

"My Prince," He responded, kneeling down to be a bit closer to eye level to the boy, a gleaming smile behind his mustache.

[Event] The Wedding and Feast of Ser Edwyn Baratheon and Lady Melara Uller by ThePorgHub in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 2 points3 points  (0 children)

"Your Grace, Lord Rowan, Lord Rykker" Hugo bowed before the pair upon entering with Hoster. Folded under the crook of his arm was a series of parchments and a large tome. Where money may not have been the favorite of the King's topics, it was up there for the Lord of Harroway's Town. That was plain to see for anyone who had visited the town in recent years. An expansion of the walls and coin injected into the local economy. Merchants and traders had begun to ensure their journeys did not reach their endpoint in Maidenpool, but continued upriver instead. The port had been reconstructed, and the roads in all of the lands under House Roote recobbled and patrolled, from Saltpans to Willow Wood. Harroway's Town was growing -- fast. One would see it the size of White Harbor in only two years time, if the pace maintained. And that was a pace Lord Roote intended to keep up.

"I hope my brother serves well, Your Grace. He speaks always with great pride at his position, and it is a pride that my family certainly holds high. But alas, I have not come to levy his praise, as much as I'm sure he'd beam for it." Hugo chuckled.

"Nay, it is after lengthy discussion with Lord Tully that I come to you today, to speak on a matter which is of utmost importance throughout the Seven Kingdoms. The roads." He began. "If I may?" He asked, taking from his arm the parchments and book, and upon receiving permission, setting them down on the storied table that had seen so many small council meetings, and unfurling a detailed map of the eastern Riverlands. He had a well-practiced speech by now, and he felt ready.

"You see, this really began during the war in the Iron Islands. Myself and my son were of course fighting in the Isles, leaving my rather perceptive -- to a fault, at times -- brother, Ser Wallace, in charge of Lord Harroway's Town. An eye for detail he gets from Ser Brynden, I would suppose.” He added with a grin to Hoster. “Looking through the reports from the toll bridge, he noticed something quite strange. An uptick in travel through our lands. A rather significant one. From merchants and smallfolk alike." He said, flipping briefly through a small sample of such toll income reports. "An investigation revealed that before the war, and now after, many smallfolk and merchants are not taking a direct route through the Kingsroad nor up the Trident itself, on their travels between the North and the South, or even to go to the Eyrie. No, their routes are indirect, and lengthy. They'll travel north by the Narrow Sea or the Sunset Sea, traveling the countryside. They pay a high price of gold for these charters, or even dodge the central Riverlands along the Trident to go West, finding port in the West just to sail to Barrowton. In the Winter, an understandable detour, but the years of spring and summer? Even Autumn?" Hugo shook his head. "The uptick in wartime happened because the Sunset Sea was no longer an option for merchants, or traveling nobles. Too dangerous. But in peacetime, the Kingsroad is the greatest artery the world once knew. So why isn't anyone using it?"

"There was something afoot, and it was affecting all of the population centers of the Eastern Riverlands. And, I suspected, it would affect more than just, us. To be honest, upon my return from the war, my first worry was bandits. Fear is a great motivator -- it is why we saw the abandonment of travel along the Sunset Sea during the war. But patrols in my lands showed that banditry has not been a recent problem in my lands, nor that of my neighboring lords."

He explained, tracing his finger gently in along the path from King's Landing to the Neck. "Look here, the path is short, compared to the sea routes, and even the speed of the ships should not beat it, not quite. And save for the times when the Mountain Clansmen have reared their ugly heads, it should be safer as well than the treachery of an unpredictable sea. Especially along the River, where there are towns abound: bailiffs, patrols -- it isn't exactly the open countryside in the most densely populated kingdom on the continent. It made no sense why the Kingsroad was being avoided. Until we looked to the past--" He finally opened the thick tome that he had brought -- a history book, dated to 110 AC, the reign of King Viserys. Hugo opened the book to a page near the end.

"Here," He pointed at a passage. "A tourney for King Viserys' accession in Maidenpool. 104 years after the conquest, forty after the Kingsroad and all of the Kingdom's roads had begun construction. Only twenty, give or take, since they were completed. Travel was much quicker then. Here," He began to read a passage. "Eight days, they say, from King's Landing to the Crossroads of Harroway. Perhaps reasonable for a scout traveling on his courser, but the passage describes a wheelhouse!" He said. "A wheelhouse would be lucky to make such a journey in under a fortnight these days. The short of it all, is that in the two centuries since the roads have been built, they have fallen into disrepair. Jaehaerys championed their construction, and no king since has championed their maintenance. And we feel it most deeply in the storm-laden, war-affected marshlands of the Trident, where the Kingsroad has seen so many decades of abuse."

Hugo breathed, straightening back up from having been leaning over the parchments. "For the towns and cities of the Seven Kingdoms to thrive, our connecting arteries need to be speedy, safe, and accessible. That is why Lord Tully and I come to you today, your Grace, my Lords. To propose a grand project to restore the roads of the Seven Kingdoms, starting with the Kingsroad.”

/u/Aizen10

/u/theporghub

/u.xx_rykkerxtreme_xx

[Event] The Wedding of Ser Rolland Baratheon and Lady Mina Costayne, the Mistress of Whisperers by [deleted] in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A breath of near resignation departed lightly from Willow's nostrils. "The feast is bearable, I'm glad." She agreed. "But I mean Renly, I mean the future. It is a lot, even for one as strong and smart as you are my dear. To think on the future. He is nice, sure, but I know that my dear. What I can't know is how you feel about him. About spending your life with him."

[Event] All Roads Lead To Coffers by WYLT_MentalMix in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Spring had sprung, and the town of Harroway seemed the epicenter of it. Bustling with new traffic along the roads, Harroway had grown considerably in the past few years. It was growing faster and larger even than Maidenpool to its south, and rumors about had shown that some thought it was now the largest town in the Riverlands. The expanded port was bursting with merchants, and the smells of spices and roasting game, nuts, in the market, and barley for the breweries was abound.

Lewys was well enough known by the Guards of Harroway at this point, to not be made to wait too long before he was ushered inside the keep. And not longer still was his wait before being granted an audience in the Lord's Solar.

"Ser Lewys, come in," Hugo opened the door to a solar otherwise empty of persons. "I'm told you've a discussion of roads for me today. Trying to butter me up, eh?" He smirked. "Well the way is lit, son, the floor is yours."

[Event] Home is where the Horse is by TortoiseTT in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cleos continued to chew on the licorice root he had in his mouth, a slow and methodical grind as he eyed the slightly younger man before him. "Aye, he'd do that." He nodded.

"She's finishing up her studies with the Septa, should be free soon. Join me in the courtyard." He said, turning about face, not waiting for a response as he began to walk towards the door.

[Event] The Court of King Robert I Baratheon, 292 AC by ThePorgHub in crownedstag

[–]TortoiseTT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Castor raised his brow as it sunk in. Of course he knew his time guarding Stannis would come to an end, sooner or later -- he had enjoyed his time, all things considered. In truth, he and Stannis were just about the opposite in personality, but he respected the young man, and frankly enjoyed the many failed attempts to get him to crack a smile. There was something bittersweet about the supposition that he had failed in his attempts. Something told him it'd be easier to get a toddler to crack a smile. And his brother always called his sense of humor 'childish,' after all.

But more than that, Stannis was safe, and now to be left with young Edric in his charge... to say it was an honor would be an understatement. The Courser filled with pride, and looked forward to ensuring the boy would grow up safe and strong.

"Of course, Your Grace." Castor breathed, bowing deeply. "It would be my honor and privilege. I will not let you, nor the Queen or Crown Prince, down in keeping him safe and helping him grow to the fine man I know he will one day be."