The Death of Kings: Gameplay Thread (Turn 4)

[YPestis25]

Benjen

White Harbor was the only real town north of the Neck, and Benjen Stark could only be thankful that the slaughter of the Ironborn had not reached it. In the overcast sky, above the Wolf’s Den and New Castle the Manderly Merman and the Stark Direwolf fluttered proudly, in defiance of the Kraken which had broken on its battlements just weeks before. Still there was much work to be done.

Benjen paced through the fast-growing camp which had sprouted up around the port. What had started as a motley collection of structures had rapidly expanded to encompass much of the city walls. He had never expected war to come to the North, at least not like this. But if the Ironborn wanted a war, it was a war they’d get. As he approached the center of the camp, the smell of mud, feces, and sweat grew stronger, gradually enveloping the salty smell typical of White Harbor. It appeared as if this glorified raid had awoken something in the North. From Last Hearth to Stony Shore men were gathering. Umber, Karstark, Bolton and all the rest were rallying to defend their homeland. If they would not leave, the Greyjoys would be forced backed into the sea.

Benjen’s tent was crowded with the sons, brothers, and uncles of the Great Lords who had ridden South to fight. The Smalljon, barely a man, but already towering over nearly everyone in the tent was in the midst of some story, which commanded most of the room. Still, when Benjen walked in, most of the tent fell silent. Having led the defense of White Harbor and halted the Greyjoy advance, he was the senior commander in the room, and after a brief deliberation their course was decided.

That evening, Benjen, atop the walls of White Harbor addressed his men.
-We did not ask for this attack-Benjen began, his voice rising-They came not for honor, not for family, but for blood and gold.-
-Aye!-The men below answered.
-Let’s remind these Greyjoy Squids what it means to attack the North.-
-Aye!-The men below again answered, growing louder.
-The North does not easily forget, and winter is coming for each and every Greyjoy still in the North! They came for blood and gold, and I assure you, they will get blood.-
And the host began to march.

[YPestis25]

Lord Eddard Stark Takes The Stand

My lords, I had hoped to return to the Stormlands under better circumstances. Unfortunately, I stand here under the current conditions. You are all honorable men, and I trust in each and everyone of you to conduct this trial in a fair manner. With that said, I must unequivocally repeat that I am not guilty of the charges which have been brought against me.

My lords, I loved Robert as a brother, you all know that. I would never have betrayed that man. I fought beside Robert on the Trident, and his death nearly shattered me. I went to war for Robert and Lyanna, and my loyalty to them was undying. Please tell me, what evidence do you have of this treason, and if there is none, I would wish these charges dismissed at once. One only need look to my family, who have already taken to calling my first born son Robb, to understand my devotion to Robert Baratheon. I wish I was there with Robert when he fought Rhaegar so that he was still with us, and I still greave for the loss of your Lord, and our King.

I will however, concede that the matter of the late Lord Stannis Baratheon and the events which took place immediately following Robert’s death do bear some explanation. When word arrived that my sister had lawfully wed Rhaegar and had given birth to a legitimate son, our alliance was faced with a quandary. Should we support Stannis, as dictated by Robert’s claim, or should we support my nephew, as the one Targaryen far removed from Aerys’ crimes. My lords, this decision did not come easily to either of us, least of all Lord Stannis. We tried in vain to convince Lord Stannis to back Jaehaerys, but to no avail. Stannis, right or wrong wished to maintain his claim to the Iron Throne.

And tell me my lords, what would you have done in such a situation? If we rushed south to relieve the siege of the Baratheon seat, our armies would have been smashed between the Tyrell and Martell forces, leading to the destruction of not just Lord Stannis, but of myself, Lord Tully, and Lord Arryn. Furthermore, should we have recognized Stannis as the rightful ruler of Westeros, and he had perished in Storm’s End anyhow, the rebellion would have been crushed, and we would have been trapped under the tyranny of those we swore to overthrow. My lords, we were tasked with an impossible situation, a situation which we negotiated with Lord Stannis in good faith.

However, as much as it pains me to divulge this, Lord Stannis did not negotiate in good faith with us. As it became clear that it was not feasible for us to relieve him or to recognize him as King, he even began plotting with the Greyjoys! Yes, those Greyjoys which sacked the North, and profane the rightful seat of House Baratheon with their presence. I have a copy of the letter dispatch to Lord Quellon here on my person. (I’ll send this to Dereich directly, but the gist is the same as what I said.) And now tell me, how should we have reacted on this news? Rush south to relieve the man who was now actively working against us? Turn and attack Lord Stannis? And yet we did neither.

Lord Arryn, Lord Tully and I determined that those Stormlanders who were remaining at the Trident should have the option to go home, and in fact they began on that journey as you all know. It was only the arrival of the Freys, who had unknowingly declared for Stannis that caused the situation to devolve into chaos and bloodshed, and for that I am deeply sorry. But despite the bloodshed and ill will generated by that pointless battle, and as a demonstration of our commitment to Stormlander lives, Lord Arryn has even allowed the Stormlanders who were taken captive in that tragic battle to sail home via Gulltown. If we had truly plotted the demise of the Stormlands, would we have released our captives? Would we have let the Baratheon army march home? No more Stormlanders needed to have died at the Trident, and better planning could have averted their deaths. But, mistakes in planning are not cause for treason.

My lords, I understand your anger, your sadness, and your rage at the course this war has taken, and there is nothing I can do to assuage that other than apologize for whatever role I played in causing it, however I did not commit treason.