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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Apr 22, 2014 13:15:39 GMT -5
The headman tugged his forelock to Rhaegar. "It was very big, m'lord. Red with black markings, like stripes. I never saw anything so big in all my life. It comes from the east. We think it's probably found a cavel, but we can't go follow it back. It steals our sheep." Meanwhile Ser Aurane leaned close to Elyas and whispered "Don't worry about him. Remember, we're here to make sure he gives no trouble to our people, and to serve as witnesses should he succeed." "I do not care for his pretension and entitlement. I understand not why the marchers believe he should be king. I have seen more regal material in my chamber pot." Elyas muttered, watching the Targaryen speak to the dornishman. |
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Post by Vhagar on Apr 22, 2014 13:39:16 GMT -5
Aurane burst out laughing. "Hush, Elyas! This is no time for you to be making my laugh," he protested. "For myself, I don't believe I ever examined the contents of my own chamberpot. As for this dragon, we shall see what he can do."
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Maekar
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Post by Maekar on Apr 22, 2014 13:43:10 GMT -5
Lord Osmund frowned at the two men that the Princess had sent, laughing together off to the side. "There is another village about a day's ride east of here, Prince Rhaegar, and from there we'll only be a few hours from the coastline, where the dragon is most likely roosting."
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Apr 22, 2014 13:54:29 GMT -5
Aurane burst out laughing. "Hush, Elyas! This is no time for you to be making my laugh," he protested. "For myself, I don't believe I ever examined the contents of my own chamberpot. As for this dragon, we shall see what he can do." Elyas grinned at his own joke, but bit back laughter when he noticed Lord Osmund shooting them a foul glare. It was, he reflected poorly done to display merriment before a population cowed by a dragon. He would have to beg the forgiveness of the village's overlord that evening. "It was not my intention to jest, Aurane." Elyas replied. "If this Prince succeeds, Sarella may consider wasting Dornish lives on his claim. No Targaryen is worthy of such sacrifice, especially one who believes himself to be king already." |
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Post by Vhagar on Apr 22, 2014 14:07:00 GMT -5
"He does, doesn't he?" Aurane sighed. "I agree, as it happens. So does Princess Sarella. She is hoping this dragon kills him, so he will stop plaguing us, and then the Marcher lords will keep their fool mouths shut without this princeling to unite them in one purpose."
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Apr 22, 2014 14:21:12 GMT -5
"He does, doesn't he?" Aurane sighed. "I agree, as it happens. So does Princess Sarella. She is hoping this dragon kills him, so he will stop plaguing us, and then the Marcher lords will keep their fool mouths shut without this princeling to unite them in one purpose." "I see..." Elyas replied. "But what of the other dragon? Either way, one of them will survive the encounter, and we shall still have a problem." |
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Post by Vhagar on Apr 22, 2014 14:29:58 GMT -5
"Indeed. But we haven't sought trouble, it came to us. We must do what we can to be rid of them both," Aurane replied. "And this is as good a way as any."
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Apr 22, 2014 14:32:08 GMT -5
"I suppose." Elyas replied. "If we're fortunate he'll wound it and then one of us may be presented with an opportunity to be rid of them both." He continued to speak sufficiently quietly so the other members of their party could not discern the details of their conversation.
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Post by Vhagar on Apr 22, 2014 14:47:32 GMT -5
"Let's hope so. In an ideal world they'll kill one another but that's probably too much to hope for," Aurane whispered back. "I shall pray to the Warrior for such an outcome."
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Apr 22, 2014 14:53:58 GMT -5
"Let's hope so. In an ideal world they'll kill one another but that's probably too much to hope for," Aurane whispered back. "I shall pray to the Warrior for such an outcome." "It's likely too much to ask for." Elyas replied. "From what I've seen he's no Sarella." He helped himself to a drink of water from the flask hanging from his saddle before scanning the skies again for a sign of the elusive dragon. |
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Post by Lord Jacaerys Velaryon on Apr 22, 2014 16:16:40 GMT -5
Lord Osmund frowned at the two men that the Princess had sent, laughing together off to the side. "There is another village about a day's ride east of here, Prince Rhaegar, and from there we'll only be a few hours from the coastline, where the dragon is most likely roosting." "Very well Lord Osmund." said Rhaegar. He shot the two Dornish observers a sharp glance before turning to the headman. Rhaegar took out a gold coin and handed it to the man. "For your losses." he murmured. "I thank you for your assistance. We will do our best to see that this dragon does not bother your village again." |
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Post by Vhagar on Apr 22, 2014 16:21:25 GMT -5
The peasant gazed at the gold in wonder then bit it to test that it was real. "My thanks, m'lord." He couldn't stop looking at the coin as if it were a king's ransom. "Please kill it, m'lord."
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Post by Lord Elyas Dryland on Apr 22, 2014 16:21:40 GMT -5
Lord Osmund frowned at the two men that the Princess had sent, laughing together off to the side. "There is another village about a day's ride east of here, Prince Rhaegar, and from there we'll only be a few hours from the coastline, where the dragon is most likely roosting." "Very well Lord Osmund." said Rhaegar. He shot the two Dornish observers a sharp glance before turning to the headman. Rhaegar took out a gold coin and handed it to the man. "For your losses." he murmured. "I thank you for your assistance. We will do our best to see that this dragon does not bother your village again." Elyas looked on with confusion as the Targaryen gave the Dornishman the gold. Has the heat gotten to my head? He wondered, resolving to take another drink of water to combat his obvious dehydration. |
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Post by Maekar on Apr 22, 2014 16:27:46 GMT -5
As they rode away from the village, Lord Osmund turned to Rhaegar. "You have given them more coin than most of them would see in a dozen lifetimes, my lord Prince. One would think that a man seeking a throne would need every gold coin he could get his hands on," he said, a note of surprise in his voice, though Rhaegar could also detect a hint of admiration as well. The ride was uneventful, and they made camp when the sun fell, before rising the following morning to continue onward. About two hours after sunrise they reached the second village, which was in much the same state as the first; the smallfolk were mostly inside their homes except for a few of the more courageous folk who had dared to drive their cattle into the sparse fields of dry yellow grass.
The group of riders slowed as they approached, and three men made their way toward the group from the village. They recognized lord Osmund immediately, and bowed deeply to their lord, who did not dismount this time. After propriety had been observed, they all began speaking at once, until Lord Osmund held up a hand to silence them.
"Prince Rhaegar has been commanded by Princess Sarella in Sunspear to rid our lands of the dragon that has been terrorizing them," he said. Rhaegar immediately understood the implications of Lord Osmund introducing him as a prince, rather than merely as a foreign lordling. "Tell him all that you know of the beast's whereabouts, that we might seek it out and destroy it."
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Post by Vhagar on Apr 22, 2014 17:08:50 GMT -5
"The dragon is in the mountains. It comes out and takes our livestock. Not every day, but every two days mostly. The cave is in the mountains. One of the boys followed it halfway and he saw the cave."
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Post by Lord Jacaerys Velaryon on Apr 22, 2014 18:21:10 GMT -5
As they rode away from the village, Lord Osmund turned to Rhaegar. "You have given them more coin than most of them would see in a dozen lifetimes, my lord Prince. One would think that a man seeking a throne would need every gold coin he could get his hands on," he said, a note of surprise in his voice, though Rhaegar could also detect a hint of admiration as well. "A king needs to be generous to those that help him and serve his needs." said Rhaegar to Lord Osmund. "I may be Targaryen by name, but I have an affinity with the Dornish due mainly I think to my mother. She raised me with many stories about Dornish history and achievements. Most of my father's family have rejected me. I can only hope that my mother's people will regard me with more kindness." |
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Post by Lord Jacaerys Velaryon on Apr 22, 2014 18:23:04 GMT -5
"The dragon is in the mountains. It comes out and takes our livestock. Not every day, but every two days mostly. The cave is in the mountains. One of the boys followed it halfway and he saw the cave." "This boy. He is here? Will he be able to find the cave again?" asked Rhaegar. |
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Post by Vhagar on Apr 22, 2014 18:26:29 GMT -5
"Might be, m'lord, but he won't go for your say so. He saw the dragon burn one of the farmers yesterday, he's not risen from his bed since then. He'll not do it for nothing."
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Maekar
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Post by Maekar on Apr 22, 2014 18:30:40 GMT -5
The Lord of Blackstone's eyes flashed dangerously at those words. He'd so far been affable, and even friendly, with the small folk they had encountered, but he clearly did not appreciate the implication that one of his subjects would not do as he was ordered. "Rouse this boy out of bed, goodman," he replied firmly, "and tell him that he will be leading us to the caves."
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Post by Vhagar on Apr 22, 2014 18:35:18 GMT -5
Nervous though the man was, he tried to defend his position. "He won't go, m'lord. He sits and stares at the wall all day, nd sometimes he shakes. His man says he has bad dreams."
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Post by Maekar on Apr 22, 2014 18:41:56 GMT -5
Mertyne just stared coldly at the peasant in silence for several long minutes before speaking. "You are old enough to remember my lord father, the Mother rest his soul. What do you think he would have done, goodman, if he were told by his own men that they would obstruct him from attending to the business of the Princess of Dorne?"
His voice was dangerously low, and he clearly had no intention of negotiating with his own peasants. "If the lad wants to lead us to the caves from aback his own horse, or tied over the saddle of mine, he may choose which he prefers," he said.
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Post by Vhagar on Apr 22, 2014 18:43:48 GMT -5
The man quailed. "i will fetch him, m'lord." He ran to fetch the boy, perhaps ten year old, very gangly. The boy stared up at Mertyne with big, frightened eyes. "Please, m'lord, I never done anything wrong."
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Post by Maekar on Apr 22, 2014 18:47:19 GMT -5
"I'm certain you have lad, for I've never met a boy who couldn't find some trouble if he tried hard enough," Lord Osmund said with a genial smile, utterly at odds with his earlier expression. "You are going to do your village a great service this day, and perhaps you will even witness a great event in Dorne's history. These brave men and I," he said, gesturing at Rhaegar and the Marcher lords, "have been sent by Princess Sarella to slay the dragon that has been sighted nearby. It is a worthy and honorable quest, to be sure, and I am told that you are the only one who knows where this dragon hides when it is not in the sky."
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Post by Vhagar on Apr 22, 2014 18:50:51 GMT -5
The boy shivered and hugged himself. "It frightens me, m#lord. It was so big...and I thought it was going to kill me. The cave's up there." He pointed in the general direction of the cave. "I'll show you, but please m'lord, don't make me go in the cave. It will eat me for sure."
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Maekar
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Post by Maekar on Apr 22, 2014 18:57:23 GMT -5
Lord Osmund fought the urge to roll his eyes, and had a small horse brought forward for the boy. They rode east for about an hour or two, until the craggy cliffs loomed. They could see the sea through breaks in the cliff, but for the most part they could just hear it crashing violently against the opposite side of the cliffs. From there, they would need the boy's directions to the particular cave, and Lord Osmund gestured for Rhaegar to come to the front of the column. "Perhaps you would take the lead, my lord Prince? It was to you whom Princess Sarella offered this quest, after all," he said politely.
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all alone and also really bored 
Hopefully going to kickstart the festival too