Campaign of the Month: December 2020

House Jasper

Lessons in Warging

Following the departure of the Plankytown group, the maester beckons me to leave my post next to a very injured August to assist him with builing a funeral pyre. Out of respect for the maester, as well as House Jasper’s fallen friends, I agree to help, though I fear my cluttered mind full of distracted thoughts about poor August keep me from being very useful.

The next morning, I receive a knock on my door and am happy to see sweet Thomas present for a visit. I invite him in and gives August some loving head pats in exchange for hearty tail wags. He compliments us on our role in the battle with the Ironborns, and asks if I could teach him how to warg. Puzzled, I think about the process and shrug-“I’m not sure if it’s something that can be taught, but we sure can try!”. I suggest he squeeze his eye shuts and think of August really, really hard. He follows my instructions enthusiastically, and I have to admit he looks quite silly doing so, but when he opens his eyes and asks if it worked, I ask if he felt anything unusual. “Hmm, well, I do feel hungry…is August hungry?” I quickly warg in an out of the hound, and reply, “No, not particularly…” He tries to hide his disappointment, and shares that while he’s excited to become a knight, he’s never seen anyone do what I can do and wishes it were a skill he could acquire. I share that he’s welcome to spend as much time with August and I as he likes, and while I may not know how to teach warging, I can certainly help him improve upon his equestrian skills. He happily accepts, and departs to find his next meal.

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4
MAR/2021
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Mar 05, 2021
Ser Darron’s Journal 22

Ideas to get a horse off a ship:

Teddy’s big plank (doesn’t exist)
Tip Rambis (“bad idea”)
Tie rope around horse and lower down (RIP Lucky)
Yardarms? (too hard)
Pile sand next to the ship to use as a ramp (lots of work)
Use the Maester?
Build a gangway using large tree (no large trees)
Stand below to catch horses (dangerous?)
Catch horse with blanket?
Tell Carsen that someone on shore is looking to buy horses?
Beach a second shorter ship beside the Rambis
Can Summer turn horse into a dog?
Sail Rambis back to sea. Float horses off as she sinks (clever)
Wait for foals. (too much time)
Teddy can command horse to leave?
Cut hole in the ship (worked!)

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25
FEB/2021
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Mar 04, 2021
Ser Darron’s Journal 21
A day late and a Dolins short

Leave no man behind! That’s part of the knight’s code you know!
Have I ever broken the knight’s code? Sure! A time or two! Who hasn’t?
Have I ever left a man behind though? No, Never!
Well, perhaps it’s happened once or twice. But I’ve never abandoned a fellow knight!.. Certainly not recently!

Ol’ Dolins is probably the only one of us that everyone likes so I can only assume my friends just don’t realize the danger he’s in. Personally, I know a lot about those Ironborn. Sick bunch. They’re probably going to eat him.

It was hard to watch that longship escape while Thaddeus steered towards the coast. I swear I shall not sleep until his bones have been laid to rest next to his wife, Mrs… hmmm… That’s strange. I don’t think he ever told me his last name… I thought we were friends.

Do the others know his last name?

I’m going to be upset if Gregoriy does and I don’t.

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25
FEB/2021
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Mar 04, 2021
Surrounded by Bad News and Water

Panting, another set of loud thuds hit behind me. I spin to see two more strange men land on the deck, and lunge after one of them, drawing blood on my initial attack. The man tries to grab me, and I squirm away, snapping at him again. I feel exhaustion taking over, and my attacks just aren’t having the same effect as when the battle started. My second and third bites result in the same trickles of blood, and the stranger’s annoyance with my pestering results in a swift and severe blow to my side. I wince and desperately try to bite the man for a forth time as Thomas approaches with a swing that bounces off the man’s armor when an arrow from above drives into the man’s wet and salty face. I look up to see brave Ser Darron wielding his bow and arrow expertly, and know that he surely saved my life today.

As the battle winds down I look around to see pure carnage aboard the Rambis. Member’s of the Order of the Darkwash appear to have lost limbs and lives, and Ser Carsen has a horrifying gash across his face, and poor, sweet Ser Dolins was kidnapped by House Greyjoy and carried away. I can’t bear the sight and return to my own human form, and am met with equally terrible news, as I find myself sitting in a pool of water. The ship has sprung a mighty leak, and now we must find safety.

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11
FEB/2021
In for the Kill

In August’s small body, I hurl myself at the closest armed stranger I see. My teeth sink into his neck and blood fills my mouth before the ship lurches to the starboard side. The man comes back at me and I see a flash of steel before I feel a searing pain in my leg. Boiling with adrenaline, I snap at the man again and rip his throat out, spraying the deck red. I spy another man hulking towards the young squire Thomas and the lordling, who has been knocked down, on the other side of the ship, and lunge at the stranger’s turned back. It does not take long until his insides have spilled into the sea water sloshing across the deck as well. Several loud thuds ring out above my head, and I see that a host of new enemies have boarded the Rambis. Tired and panting heavily as the efforts of my kills weigh me down, I head towards the man closest to Teddy and Thomas, but my efforts barely break through the fray.

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4
FEB/2021
Return to the Rambis

We return to Castle Snownook only for a brief time, with a quick turnaround before needing to head back out to sea. While in the stables, I’m visited by my father Edric, who communicates concerns of my “unladylike” adventuring on behalf of my mother. I stiffen at the implication that my exploring beyond Felliston should cease, and defend my departure by expressing my belief that House Jasper finds my services useful. In an unexpected moment of softness, Father affirms this, and compliments my animal handling. He tries to warn me of some of the less talented members of the house (namely the Lordling and Ser Carsen, who he describes as a dolt and money grubber, respectively), but says he thinks I can handle myself. Father has never been this generous of spirit with me before, and I’m taken aback by his kind words. Before leaving, he pats my back with a small sniff and turns to walk away. I run to him and wrap him in a big hug, which he returns, and relish this rare moment for a long while.

On the seas, I spend most of my time below deck tending to the horses, always with August by my side. I take great pleasure in my time on the Rambis, and when no one is around, I pretend I’m a pirate on my way to pillage a faraway city! My imagination quickly turns to reality however, when we hear the distressed call from Ser Darron from the top deck, and a ship-shaking THUD that tells me we’ve been hit. I position my body in a hidden corner in a horse stall and warg into August and sprint towards the others. When I reach the deck, the spray of the rough water and smell of blood hit my nose, and I set my sight on a strange looking man…

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28
JAN/2021
Thoughts from a Lordling in a Wedding

From Teddy’s position at the front of the hall he sees a room full of people from all over the Vail. Jon Lynderly walks his sister, Jana, down the aisle.

…Thoughts going through Teddy’s head as Jana walks down the aisle…
I feel a little sick. It’s not that I am trying to impress her – I’m sure she doesn’t want to be doing this any more than I do – but there could be a Lynderly trap at any moment! Wait, I was poisoned earlier today, that must be what I’m feeling. Let’s get this over with. Jana and I are going to be stuck together the rest of our lives – I hope we can garner some type of palatable relationship – it will be exhausting if we can’t get along. Oh she’s cute! Jon is an ass. Snakewood will belong to House Jasper soon enough – Carsen will help to make sure of that… muahaha!

Jon Lynderly removes the cloak from Jana’s shoulders

That’s right Jon, your sister isn’t a Lynderly anymore, get that horrid cloak off her. No murder attempts yet, this is a good sign. Jana looks good in that dress.

Teddy removes his cloak and places it around Jana’s shoulders

Another win for House Jasper, claiming what is ours! Nice shoulders, Jana.

Teddy and Jana lean in for the ceremonial kiss when BAM!!! The door to the chamber slams open!

OH SEVEN HELLS ITS HAPPENING I KNEW IT I’M GOING TO DIE!!!! Wait… Is that… Ser Darron? He doesn’t look well. Where has he been? I forgot he never returned with us from Gulltown. What was that, four months ago? A curt nod. He breaks into the hall in the middle of the ceremony just to give me a nod. And he’s sitting down, like nothing happened.

The septon reminds Teddy and Jana they need to kiss

Oh right, I was just being forced to kiss this person. I’ll meet her half way, but no further. Wait for it…. There it is. Okay, ceremony is in the books. Just need to seal the deal.

Teddy and Jana cut the pie

They gave me a sword, Jon Lynderly trusts me with this? I could cut Jana down right here and no one could stop me! Is that a smile I see on her face? That’s an actual, warm smile. She’s really quite pretty. Okay let’s cut this pie… Crows??? I’m confused. Why are crows coming out of this pie? Is Jana in on this? No one has been murdered yet, so it could be worse. I can’t let the wrong birds bother me tonight, there’s more pressing issues to attend to!

Teddy and Jana seal the deal

Capture.jpg

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21
JAN/2021
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Jan 26, 2021
A Feast for Crows

After some strategizing, we decide that I shall attend the wedding as August by Maester Thaddeus’ side. We face a bit of trouble at the entrance of the ceremony but the wise Maester convinces the guard to let us in. The ceremony appears to go smoothly (aside from an abrupt but joyous entrance from Ser Darron-huzzah!), and following the exchanging of the vows, there is a tremendous feast.
Still a bit nervous about our circumstances, I indicate to Thaddeus to let me smell his plate of food, but nothing seems out of place, and when I sit down with a huff of relief, he sneaks me a nibble under the table.
At the end of the night, the bride and groom take part in a pie cutting tradition, but when they slice in, the guests look on with horror. Instead of doves and blue birds escaping from the dessert, crows flap about, cawing forebodingly. Teddy looks around nervously, but shrugs before the bedding ceremony whisks him away.
.

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21
JAN/2021
A Dolorous Friend

Having never been to a wedding before, let alone a noble wedding, I’m excited to explore the celebration. Sadly, the atmosphere of the parties at the encampment is one of tension. Feeling out of my element, but still wanting to experience the encampments, I head towards where the horses are tied up. I spy an impressive gray coursier and August happily follows me over to the beast to admire and pet him, until I overhear a young man and an older gentleman.
“Come now Eddison, we’re at a wedding! If you look so glum, our hosts may take it as an affront!” The boy mumbles in response and is reprimanded swiftly, “Speak clearly when you’re speaking to a lord! You’ll be known for melancholy if you don’t change soon.” The lord walks away exasperated, and not wanting to be accused of eavesdropping, I busy myself with the horse.
My strategy is to no avail, and the young man approaches me. “What are you doing to that horse?” I spin around quickly and explain that I’m not doing anything, just admiring and giving some pats. When it becomes obvious that there’s no way I could’ve missed his conversation with the man, I ask if he’s okay. He shrugs, seemingly unconcerned, and we make introductions. He explains that he’s the squire for his uncle, Uthor Tollett, but seems to hate it! I share my envy for his opportunity for such adventure. “Ugh, the adventure, that’s the problem! Sharpen this sword, clean this mail…I think even if I were killed the work would follow me into the after life.”
It’s such an absurd sentiment I can’t help but to giggle. Eddison continues to complain about all sorts of things I didn’t even know one could complain about-too hot fires, horses, even this very wedding-and his bizarre perspective puts me into fits of laughter. “I like talking to you, Eddison!” He smiles a bit at this, and appears to warm up a bit.
After a bit more complaining, he vaguely shows me his horse, a brown rounsey, not quite as impressive as the coursier, but a lovely, well cared for horse nonetheless. I share with him my role within the House Jasper ranks, and my enthusiasm for animals, admitting that I sometimes think I like them much more than people. Eddison chuckles and we agree to go for a ride together sometime, should his workload allow him.

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14
JAN/2021
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Jan 26, 2021
The Calm Before the Wedding

It is the day of the wedding and we’re on the way to Snakewood.

Sir Bennet of the Snakewood, who I have never heard of, meets us at the gate. He doesn’t seem very excited for the wedding, I was expecting a congratulations! How rude! Typical Lynderly behavior. He offers to take our gold for us. I don’t know who he is, so I insist to take it to the castle.

After we’re through the gate, I ask Ser Carsen if he would like me to join him in introducing his son to Lord Lynderly. He tells me his son has run away and “couldn’t be found”. Ugh, I don’t want any part of this. I’m holding up my end of the deal with this wedding, I am not taking a fall for this.

I lead our caravan to the castle. While the reparations payment is being unloaded, Nestrr Royce introduces himself. He indicates there are over 1,000 soldiers from multiple houses in the city to keep the peace and maintain order, which gives me some feeling of security. He also asks to see the boy who is to ward with the Lynderlys… This is Carsen’s sword to fall on, so I tell Lord Royce that Ser Carsen is here in the city and can meet with him.

Best of luck to you, Ser Carsen.

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7
JAN/2021