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Campaign of the Month: December 2020

House Jasper

The Women in Pink

After confirming room at the knight’s paddock is available for the Jasper mounts, I head back to the docks and begin unloading horses when I notice two figures obscured behind crates and debris on the docks. Their both looking away, but notably out of place with their fine pink dresses on. I can see they are two older women with grey hair one with short hair and the other with long hair.
Tugged by my curiosity about these dockside oddities, I approach them gently and ask if they’re okay, but they assure me all is well and their coolness makes it unbearable to stick around. As I walk away I can’t shake how strange the sight was, so return to the ship to lock myself away before warging into August and returning to the scene.
I sniff around the debris and overhear their soft chatter, “it’s just a mutt…”, “…the girl meant to harm….”, “…I know, it just makes me uncomfortable…”. They eventually settle into a peaceful silence and take each others hands while looking out over the water.
It ‘s hard to tell if the scene is romantic so in an effor tto get closer, I grab a bit of broken dock in my mouth and bring it to them to drop at their feet. “Oh goodness, now it wants to play,” one says, “now shoo! Shoo!” I ignore her command and drop into a play bow with an excited waggy to try to get them to pay attention to me, but it is to no avail. “Just ignore it,” the other says, "it’ll go away if we pay it no mind." I settle down a few feet away for some time and can’t pick up on their energy, so eventually return to bring the horses to the paddock.

26

JUL/2023

How do you solve a problem like Ser Bruce?

With Ser Bruce in the dungeons, the council gathers to discuss his fate. Lord Theodore recalls that House Belmore is in good standing with House Arryn, following perhaps only house Royce and a few others. We all agree that keeping or killing Ser Bruce is an almost certain bid for war, however, sending him may also have dire consequences. The rest of the small council ruminated on Lady Alys’ warning about their two kills for our nine, along with taking their horses and imprisoning their son, and how that would look to other houses. I reminded the others that it’s important to control the narrative beyond the numbers, that Ser Bruce and his hunting party were systematically hunting down humans and brutally mutilating them, that this kind of cruel insanity going unchecked poses a risk to all in the Fingers. After much deliberation, we agree we will let Ser Bruce go, and send a message by Rhaella to Snakewood’s maester to send to the citadel by raven with a request for new maester. While discussing how to develop more good will with our neighbors after realizing how few friends we have to call on in times of war, we receive an invitation from Lord Daryl of House Pryor, inviting House Jasper to a tournament in celebration of their appointment to Marshall of the Fingers.

17

MAY/2023

Starting a fight with a killer

A few days after leaving Strong Song, we encounter a group of 10 people. It’s a hunting party from House Belmore, Sir Bruce is the leader. I look over to Wilhelm, he gives me a subtle nod that this is the man he saw in his tavern. We make pleasantries with the group for a few minutes. We ask them what they hunt, and Sir Bruce is a bit cagey, only saying they hunt exotic game. He has no regard for land boundaries set by civilized Lordships, claiming he merely “follows the hunt wherever it takes him”. I see he has a battle axe and a purple cloak, exactly the same as the vision I saw in Bethlezar’s eyeball soup! This must be our culprit!

After a few moments with the hunting party at the trail intersection, a line rider begins to approach from the east. Its Ser Darron! What great timing! I feel there’s a skirmish looming and his sword carries great weight! Shortly after, it appears the Dolins tries to pull Darron aside and it makes Ser Bruce uneasy.

As Ser Bruce indicates he’s moving on, Clink pulls out his morning star and clashes it against his shield, accusing Ser Bruce of hunting on Jasper lands and demanding payment. I like Clink, perhaps he’s too blunt, but I appreciate his enthusiasm. Then out of nowhere… AUGUST JUMPS OFF A CLIFF AND LANDS A SURPRISE ATTACK ON SER BRUCE!!! AMAZING!!! We must get in there to help August! I pull my sword and do what I do best… distract my opponents.

12

APR/2023

Tracking the Lavender Cloak, Pt III

I stick around long enough to learn that “Sir” is Ser Bruce, a man with red hair that dons a faded purple cloak every time he complains of a draft. This has to be the man I’m looking for, so I remain, watching and waiting, until an opportunity to get closer arrives. Until then, I can’t help but notice two things. One, that Slim remains in one chair just out of sight for the remainder of our time at the lodge. He occasionally speaks and others bring him food and water to drink, and change his chamber pot, but he does not leave the chair. Two, the lodge is littered with weapons, spears, bows, and most importantly, an axe always within reach of Ser Bruce.

Two days after I arrive, early in the morning, some commotion raises my hackles. Several men in the party saddle their horses, and Ser Bruce walks out into the cold and crisp morning air, shouting at the rest of his group that they are to mount up, as they have a long day riding east ahead of them. Castle Snownook and Jasper lands are east…I can’t let him hunt down another innocent person.

I follow the party from not far behind as their shaggy horses carefully pick their way down the mountain path until we reach an intersection. I’m not sure if the gods have blessed or cursed me when I see the House Jasper party reaching the intersection at the same time. The two groups speak for a few minutes, and there is palpable tension in the air. I creep closer, perched on higher ground, and get close enough to notice subtle but knowing glances among all of House Jasper’s riders. Ser Bruce confirms he’s going hunting but refuses to divulge what exactly he’s hunting for, which tips Clink over the edge. He explodes, shouting, “we know who you are!” Ser Bruce is visibly confused, opening the door for me to descend from above.

I pounce from the stony ledge and sink my teeth into Ser Bruce’s neck, shaking him back and forth, spraying my fur with blood. The shock and horror is clear in his eyes and he screams “rabid dog!” as he pulls his battle axe to swing at me. It hits, but I’m surged with adrenaline and leap at him again, this time, mostly getting a mouthful of fur. I am relieved to see House Jasper charge towards us from twenty yards away as Teddy yells “I bet you eat your victim’s heads too!” raising his long sword above his head. As an arrow from Ser Darron whizzes past us, I fully realize the damage Ser Bruce has imparted on me with only a moment to decide whether to run or continue to fight….

12

APR/2023

Tracking the Lavender Cloak, Pt II

After realizing one of the voices is Slim, I lean in towards the building a bit harder only to hear a few quick footsteps towards the front door. I bolt out front to see a middle aged man toss some more dinner scraps out to the two guard dogs. Seeing an opportunity, I crawl towards the man while the other dogs are distracted and do my very best to win him over. He leans over with a smile, and happily offers up some belly rubs, giving me the opportunity to get a good look at him. The man has light brown hair and freckles, and is dressed in furs and tailored garments and fine leather boots. I make note that he is also carrying a dagger on his hip.
After a few minutes, the man stretches his back and goes to walk back inside. I do my best to convince him that I am, in fact, an indoor dog and not one of these mangy mutts, but with a laugh, he says aloud that “Sir wouldn’t like it if I let you in,” squeezing through the door leaving me out in the cold. Hm…Sir. Who is Sir?
I carry on trying to listen to the goings on of the lodge, deducing there are probably at least a half dozen people milling about, including one pacing in a lofted area above. Between the conversation with Slim I overheard and the yet-to-be-seen man in charge, I decide it’s most important to stick around and continue to observe.

5

APR/2023

Tracking the Lavender Cloak

Feeling a bit shoved aside by these newcomers, Clink and Clank, and not wanting my contributions and value to the house to be overshadowed, I hastily make the decision to pursue the lavender cloaked red haired killer myself, in hopes of ending his reign of terror before the house’s newest additions have the chance. I tuck myself away and warg into August to set out in pursuit of the murderer.

After two weeks of tracking, I catch a whiff of something new…other dogs. This strikes me as odd, so I slow my pace and hunker down to observe over a cliff. I spy two dogs lounging outside kennels of a hunting lodge. Occasionally, a bundled up man or woman will come out to check on the horses. A lavender banner flaps in the bitterly cold wind. After a few hours of limited activity, I slink closer to the building to get closer to the windows.

The backside window peeks into a store room, so needing to get closer I tiptoe towards the next window. The guard dogs are good at their jobs, and come ripping around the corner, snarling and sprinting towards me. I crouch with a low wagging tail, and taking an appeasing stance. They soften and sniff and circle before moving on moments before a woman’s voice rings out into the cold air, banging pots together and calling for meal time. As quickly as the guard dogs arrive, they depart, and I follow on their heels.

The bundled woman stands out front with scraps that make me drool. I flop onto my back and wiggle around in the snow in an attempt to warm her to sharing with me, or even let me inside with no success. She kicks snow and tells me to get lost, and I slink back around the windows where I started, happy that the guard dogs are distracted.

Through the first window, I see a firepit straight ahead and move onto the the second window, where I see a man standing a talking to another. In the third and fouth windows I peek through into a kitchen, so circle back to the second window to get a closer look at the man, who is speaking animatedly to another just out of view. In hopes of hearing more if their conversation I crouch below the window sill and grow very still to listen intently. “What do you mean it’s not her?” the freckled man shouts. “I don’t know what to tell you, its not her,” the man out of view responded, stumbling over his words and exasperating the freckled man. “I can’t believe it’s come to this!” My ears prick up at a third voice, who says calmly, “just be patient, I’m sure that our new friend here will be able to get us exactly who we’re looking for”.

I recognize this stumbling, bumbling nervous voice-it’s clearly Slim. What is Slim doing out in the Mountains of the Moon? Who are they looking for? Is the freckled man the killer? I hunker down closer to the building to try and gather more information.

22

MAR/2023

1 comment

Last commented on:

Apr 04, 2023

Coming up in the world and refining myself

Clink goes maesterly

All without the constant threat of death. Not a bad way to spend some time. Farewell for now. Carsen

…

Now that I am an Honorable Knight of house Jasper it is time I, Clink, take on some scholarly pursuits. I also wish to document my rise as the finest knight of the 7 kingdoms. It was just my luck that as I passed a farm, I came across a wretched farmer who had a book he no longer needed. The fool didn’t know what he had in his possession, even though he all but said these pages are done in Valyrian Guiding. This book is exquisite, and it only cost me 2 dragons. I almost feel bad for the old man, but as they say a book for a farmer is like nipples on a breastplate. I will do far better with this than he ever would, and worst case I can always sell it for a tidy profit!

8

MAR/2023

4 comments

Last commented on:

Mar 18, 2023

HA! That's what you get

Really, What were you hoping to accomplish...?

Ha! Serves him right! What in the world did the lordling think he was accomplishing coming after me? Me?! His only banner man, and a known servant of the vale. Best case he has no bannerman and looks like a fool, and worst case he has a very unfriendly banner man and looks like a fool. How would house Jasper be better off without me?! Good luck next time they want to steal something, sneak around, or take a long shot (Hehe, puns). I guess they’ll try asking nicely now. Good luck with that! Jon Arryn is truly a just and observant lord. If any more trouble stirs up, I think I’ll pay him a visit myself. With all I’ve done for the realm he would surely take me on as a bannerman and protect us Thornes for all we’ve done for the Vale. I mean really, what did our lord hope to accomplish?!

I digress…Hmm… What’s next? Well journal, I am not sure, but I think things will be a lot less eventful for me in the coming months. I guess that means I won’t be writing in you much. Time for some much-needed rest, a rebuilding of my mine, and the finishing of my castle. All without the constant threat of death. Not a bad way to spend some time. Farewell for now. Carsen

8

MAR/2023

2 comments

Last commented on:

Mar 09, 2023

Farewell, Thomas

As if by a miracle, we make our way back to the Rambis, missing Thomas. Frantically, I ask where my friend is, and Ser Darron makes a joke about not going back to the island to get the easily distracted young man. Gregoriy and Areo speak in Norvosi and notify the house that Thomas was killed in the fight. I collapse in a sob, and sweet August comes to comfort me despite the poor shape he is in. My heart is broken for my sweet friend, who was so close to freedom, and rage for the dismantling of our plan and the results of my comrades’ recklessness.

The next few days are spent silently focused on healing with what limited abilities I have. I focus my attention on Lord Theodore and August, as well as Ser Dolins. With all the distraction, between the healing tasks and being absorbed in my own thoughts, the time passes quickly, and we wake up in Old Town, where I replace my lost stiletto with a small sword, and prepare my horses for the journey in land.

12

AUG/2021

Rescue Mission:Part 4

Alas, my surprise attack provides little support to my friends in battle, and the man I bite whips around and slices my hind quarter.deeply. No sooner after letting out an involuntary yelp do I see the valiant Gregoriy take the man down. I owe this brave priest my life!!

Fueled by his brilliance in battle, I whip around to see another Iron Born crawling towards his sword, and charge. My canines sink into the man’s face and I shake…hard. A quick snap, and the man is surely dead.

My courage doesn’t last much longer. I hear a thundering roar of “WHAT IS DEAD MAY NEVER DIE!!” behind me, and a crushing blow lands on my back. I’m blinded by the pain, and think perhaps I am dying when I see a flash of hot light. Gregoriy isn’t the only brave warrior tonight-our fearless leader, Lord Theodore saves us ALL by hurling his lantern at the Iron Born. He goes up in flames, and I take my opportunity to escape before I bleed out on the beach.

I am met with more disappointment. Teddy and I quickly spot that our boat has been taken by Ezzelina’s captors who are heading toward the Rambis. I return to myself aboard, and scream that the Ironborn are coming. After a moment, I see two very scared looking little girls peering back at me. Seven hells…it is up to us to protect this ship. They assure me they can shoot a bow and arrow, and I rise with a cloak of confidence, trying to hide my shaking hands.

We rush to the deck and prepare to fight.

29

JUL/2021

Rescue Mission:Part 3

Ser Darron swiftly steps in and assist me with getting up the steep cliff to where the action is. And the action is not far behind. We find Thomas and Darron manages to disguise himself with the clothes of a dead Ironborn. Hearing commotion, we travel through the forest until a ramshackle building erupts with Ironborn soldiers. Fearing for Thomas, and fueled by the rage of his kidnapping, I charge at one of the men repeatedly, and after taking a sword to the leg sink my teeth into the man’s jugular, blood spurting everywhere, and the man crumples to the ground. I turn, hearing Thomas, and sprint past him, hoping to get his attention-he follows suit, but when I head towards the cliff and leap into the water, I don’t hear a splash behind me.

Nervously I pace back and forth on the beach, the silence deafening. When Thomas never comes, I slink back towards the rocks under the bridge, and sneak through to find a few of my comrades surrounded by Ironborn. All I can do is leap towards the nearest leather clad man and hope my jowels successfully find themselves around the right artery…

15

JUL/2021

A Search for Treasure

Avoid Certain Death

So our lordling has decided we are to “Rescue” Dolins (dead) and Thomas (good as dead) from the Ironborn. Just great, a fight against insurmountable odds AND A trip on the open Seas. With us as good as dead I might as well make provisions for myself. This pirate base will have a season’s worth of booty, and I cannot imagine my companions making anything less than a ruckus. That should provide the perfect diversion for me to steal the treasure, and leave this forsaken island alive. I will miss these friends, but with as much wealth as the Ironborn should have… I am sure I can buy new ones.

16

JUN/2021

Rescue Mission:Part 2

We make a quick plan for me as August to run ahead as scout, and I hand my stiletto over to Isabella. “I hope it serves you well..I would like it back when you return” I tell her with a soft smile and a hand on her shoulder.
We land on the island but quickly see it is less a single island and more a cluster of cliffed plateaus surrounded by beach, and the fires are well above our heads. I run ahead, and hear familiar voices of the encampment when Thomas had been held, and try to indicate to the group what direction to head. Carsen scales the wall, and I try to find a way to follow him up, but only find beach, cliff and sea. Perhaps a strong climber can assist me…

27

MAY/2021

Rescue Mission:Part 1

Once we’ve set out to sea, as night falls, we approach an island with fire burning. As House Jasper debates what to do, I quickly offer to warg into the nearby raven and scope out the island before the House approaches. My offer is accepted graciously and I take wing towards the island.
Sure enough, it isn’t long before I see men in soft leather, and hear murmurings of the “iron price”. I’m confident the island has been temporarily inhabited by the Iron Born, and see a structure boarded up near the fires. After listening for some time, I hear what seems to be a delivery of food to a young boy. My heart leaps-it sounds like Thomas!! I squeeze through the board but see only darkness, and squawk into the room. “Hey, how did you get it here?” the young boy responds. Now I know it is Thomas, and I am overjoyed we’ve found my dear, brave friend. I nuzzle up to him, hoping to communicate to him that it’s me, Summer, and he is not alone.
After leaving the structure, I warg back into Summer, and tell everyone what I’ve seen. We make plans to land on the island, and rescue Thomas. I’ll be heading ashore in August, and can’t wait to see the look on Thomas’ face when he sees his furry friend.

13

MAY/2021

A House Riff

With everyone back at the Rambis, we gather for a meeting. Ser Carsen immediately launches into a plan to go find the Valyrian steel sword, and I cannot hold in my shock. “Surely we’re going to find Dolins and Thomas, right?!” A tense silence hangs over the room as everyone hesitates. The maester suggests a plan involving a ransom, but I argue, perhaps foolishly, that that could take weeks. “If any of you were captured by the Iron Borne, Ser Dolins would have been the loudest and most insistent that we go and rescue any of you! I can’t believe you’re going to let him and Thomas suffer!” Ser Carsen scoffs at my idea of a rescue, and in disgust with this knight, I shove away from the table and leave the room, hearing Gregoriy following close behind.

I learn later that wise Lord Theodore made the final decision that we are, in fact, going on a rescue mission to Pyke. Thank the gods we have such a noble, generous and intelligent leader at our helm!!

29

APR/2021

Where's Thomas?

In the morning, I wake up to an eerily quiet ship. August and I head to the top deck and after a sniff around, notice that Thomas seems to be missing. “Thomas! Thomas!!” I shout into the wind, to no response.
Heading back down I find the maester, “Maester, have you seen Thomas lately?” He shakes his head no, and I hop on Kusa to follow August’s track. He brings me straight to the castle, where I’m greeted by a sheepish guard and another who runs away at the sight of me, bringing back Ser Aaron. “I imagine this is your doing?” he asks me. He sees my confusion and explains their Iron Born prisoner escaped when one of his sentries fell asleep on duty. I put two and two together and and ask August to track again. He takes off like a rocket down the shoreline, and Kusa and I run towards him, Ser Aaron’s shouting fading into the background.
We ride half a day out to the edge of the peninsula where August circles and whimpers. I look to the sky and find a raven, and warg in to it, circle a bit until I see a row boat. I approach and see a very sad and scared Thomas and the Iron Born rowing out at sea. I dive bomb his eyes, but barely make a scratch, and hope that Thomas knows it’s me and that I’ve seen him.
I zoom back to the ship and tell the maester everything. He thinks out loud how unlike him it would be of Thomas to sneak into the castle, but I think to myself that that sounds exactly like Thomas. I bet he heard how frustrated we were with how poorly the interrogation went and wanted to save the day! Maester Thad suggests I try to find them again and see where they’re going.
After a night a day and another night, I come up empty handed. Ashamed I return to the ship with nothing to show for my efforts, except a heart full of fear for my poor friend.

8

APR/2021

2 comments

Last commented on:

Apr 29, 2021

To no avail

I ride back to the ship as fast as I can and approach shouting for the maester to mount his ride straight away and head back to Ser Aaron and the Iron Born prisoner. But returning with Thad has little impact on the task at hand. The man remains stubborn and despicable, and more importantly, unyielding. What’s worse, is that Ser Aaron insists the man will be executed in the morning. After our multiple failed attempts to get information from him, we give up and head back to the ship in hopes of finding the rest of House Jasper.

1

APR/2021

Shouldering New Responsibilties

The wise maester has given me my very first task! With August all healed up, I am directed to ride Kusa to deliver a message from the maester to a nearby house in need of his talents. Upon arrival, I am greeted by a guard who responds with surprise when I share my identity. “Are you from that ship?” I nod with pride-you bet I am from House Jasper! He explains that an iron born washed ashore a few days ago and the knight of the house, Ser Aaron, has him in captivity, and allows me to enter to small castle for both tasks.
I deliver the message to Ser Aaron, and he is quite kind to me, clearly understanding the importance of the opportunity to interrogate the man. In a barred pit below, after drizzling a little horse urine on him, I ask where Ser Dolins has been taken, but to no avail. His brusqueness rattles me, and I think to myself that a responsible representative would notify the upper echelons of the house right away of this matter. Ser Aaron urges me to ride quickly however, as the guard is fed up with their prisoner and wants to put the man’s head on a spike straight away.

25

MAR/2021