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Post by Ser Titus Grafton on Nov 2, 2012 17:32:42 GMT -5
The harbor city of Gulltown, ruled by House Grafton, is the major port and city of the Vale, and possibly the North. The port is a major hub of trade, exotic goods from the free cities are common, as are goods coming from Oldtown, the Arbor and Lannisport.
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Post by Ser Titus Grafton on Nov 2, 2012 17:36:08 GMT -5
Immediately upon mooring, Titus disembarked and made his way through the busy marketplace and up the muddy streets to the Castle that would be his inheritance. As the heir, he is obviously admitted, and seeks out his father, Lord Richard.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Nov 2, 2012 17:54:32 GMT -5
He's followed by Jarvis, who has become his de facto personal bodyguard, and Clarissa Royce. He enters the castle, and sees his father immediately, the middle-aged, overweight, but fastidiously groomed figure of Lord Richard Grafton. He looks his son up and down. "Survived that madness, did you? Good, training a new heir would be so much work," he chuckles.
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Post by Ser Titus Grafton on Nov 2, 2012 18:00:22 GMT -5
Titus chuckled, "Good too see you too, father. May I introduce Lady Clarissa Royce, rescued from the torture of some type of blood sorceress in the mountains. Oh, and this is Jarvis of No Consequence, perhaps soon to be Ser Jarvis of No Consequence if he keeps it up. Things in the back yard are worse than you thought, Father. The clans have never been so powerful, not unless the Maester that trained me knew piss of history. I've come to raise men, not just here but across the Vale, and ships as well."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Nov 2, 2012 18:12:09 GMT -5
Lord Richard greets the young woman courteously, and has his servants take her to her room. "The heir to Runestone now, I believe; her brother died in that debacle in the mountains. Come to my solar, son. We shall talk there."
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Post by Ser Titus Grafton on Nov 2, 2012 18:16:18 GMT -5
Titus followed, though he knew the way. "A shame for House Royce, the son dead and the daughter, I'm not certain she's fully functional. Whatever it is that the woman is doing to these girls in the mountains, it's quite diabolical."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Nov 2, 2012 18:22:23 GMT -5
"Perhaps shell turn out fine. A good match, now..." he sits and pours them both rather generous portions of strong, bitter ale. "Seven thousand men. That is about what I can summon without resorting to pure sellswords and such. A good force, but really, now, is this our concern? I see little enough reward for us...if this Draven wishes to come down to Gulltown, we shall thrash him on the city walls so badly he'd run with his tail tucked between his legs." A drink of the ale. "House Grafton and the Manderlys feed the North in winter, and the white ravens have flown. What do we have to show for it from Eddard's Rest, now?
We pay more taxes than anyone else, and we haven't even been given Lord Devan's boon of nice shiny armada to play with, bought by royal funds that were largely derived from our trade incomes. and now we risk blood for a fight that the Arryns and Royces and Corbrays should be dealing with? I say we take our due."
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Post by Ser Titus Grafton on Nov 2, 2012 18:28:12 GMT -5
Titus paused, and then drank for a bit. "But, what is our due? We take what we earn, and we happen to earn quite a bit. I, for one, will fight this menace, as it's business that I've started and now must finish. Pardon me, Father, but I would feel rather false if I demanded anything of a friend in exchange for fighting an enemy that is mine as well as his."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Nov 2, 2012 18:37:08 GMT -5
"We have many enemies; we do not have to bleed fighting all of them." He sighs unhappily. "You have been unlucky with your women; I sympathize with you, but there are princesses to be had, position to be earned.
Ten thousand Valemen, and as many across the rest of the kingdom will simply volunteer to fight these clansmen out of some misguided belief that otherwise the realm will fall into darkness and snarks and grumkims will eat our bones. If these enemies are so dangerous, those who fight should be rewarded, yes? I want to make this prince your brother."
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Post by Ser Titus Grafton on Nov 2, 2012 18:58:32 GMT -5
"I see nothing wrong with the idea, it's just, do we need to leverage our good name in doing so? Shouldn't the name Grafton command enough respect as it is? I've fought hard along side Prince Benjen and come to know him rather well. I think if I continue to do so, I will have rewards heaped upon me, without ever having to ask. Maybe even a princess and a position. The Manderlys do their fair share, no question, but do the Stark's ever see it? Do they even know? They'll see what I do, Father, that I promise."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Nov 2, 2012 19:10:13 GMT -5
Lord Richard regards his son carefully a moment, thinking. "Very well, then, we'll see how well you can handle the choices of lordship. Three thousand men and the Gulltown warfleet are yours."
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Post by Ser Titus Grafton on Nov 2, 2012 19:19:05 GMT -5
"I won't disappoint, Father. Our house will be stronger when I return, I promise it. As soon as I get the men in order and prepared, I'll be on my way. The longer Draven has to prepare the stronger he'll be."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Nov 2, 2012 19:20:10 GMT -5
Lord Richard nods. "Very well. Don't come back without the promise of a bride to continue the Grafton line."
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Post by Lord Rykker on Nov 4, 2012 1:28:00 GMT -5
\\\\\\\ The Dark Dawn sailed into Gulltown in the pale morning, her oars dipping into the water at a slow even pace. The ships captain stood on the deck with one hand on the railing looking over the city that spread before him. They were the first to arrive as was proper. Uhtred disembarked and headed toward the Castle of the city, and asked for a audience with the resident Lord.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Nov 4, 2012 18:29:39 GMT -5
While it is odd seeing a proper warship sailing into Gulltown so late in the year, He is granted an audience with Lord Richard, though with the fleet gathering in the harbor, it seems his son, the commander of the fleet may be a better person to meet with.
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