A Game of Thrones - Before the Targaryens

[jackjaques]

This will be the space for me to sing the adventures of a few brave man that lived more than three hundred years ago, at the end of the Age of Valyria.

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Lonys Crane was an handsome young man with a seat at King Gardener's court. His skill with the lute was famous all over the Reach.

Lord Crane, his father, favoured the Florents of Brightwater against the Tyrells though, so Lonys was to be his ears in Highgarden. But the coming of Aegon the Dragon changed all that — joining forces with the King of the Rock to defeat the invasor forces, the King of the Reach left behind Ser Tyrell as his steward.

When the Gardeners were destroyed on the Field of Fire, Aegon raised the Tyrells to supremacy, although a few defended the Florents would had a better claim. As his first act, Ser Tyrell hanged all the dissidents and sent those with high birth to the North, to take on the Black.

* * *

Lander Harlaw was born in one of the Iron Islands to one of the minor houses and he proved himself to such an extent that he was apointed to the Riverlands as a man-at-arms to keep the order in the name of Harren the Black.

When words came of the defeat of Loren of the Rock and Mern of the Reach, the King Harren hid in his epic castle of Harrenhal only to learn that Aegon's dragons could melt even stone.

But Lander was long gone. He had defected as soon as he heard about the release of the dragons and was long living from scraps when the troops of Torrhen Stark, last King in the North, approached The Twins from the south, returning home after their king's surrendering to Aegon without a fight. He was then taken into custody and sentenced to the Night's Watch.

* * *

Half Wit, as he was known in the Wall, was born a giant but, from an early age, lived as one of the Brothers.

His mom died protecting him from a group of defectors running away from the Wall who were fond of raping her. She managed to cut two of them down before falling into a crevice, though. The rangers that found him add pity on him and took him with them, and leaving the escaping deserter to die in the snow.

He was then trained in the ways of battling, but he was naturally more inclined to rock throwing. A couple of years later he said the Words and was accepted as an equal by all.

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Lonys Crane, Noble 4
Lander Harlaw, Man-at-Arms 3 / Knave1
Half Wit, Giant 4 (using the Savage Species D&D supplement)

[jackjaques]

LONYS CRANE
Male human, Noble4
Medium humanoid (human)
Initiative: +7

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DEFENSE

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Armor Class: 18 (Leather)
Hit Points: 18
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +4*, Will +6

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OFFENSE

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Speed: 30 ft. (9m)
Base Attack: +2, grapple +3
Attacks: Rapier +6 melee (1d6, 18+), or Longbow +6 ranged (1d8, x3)
Full Attack: Rapier +2 melee (1d6, 18+) / -2 Dagger (1d4, 19+)

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STATISTICS

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Abilities: Str 11, Dex 16, Con 10, Int 17, Wis 15, Cha 16
Skills: Appraise +7, Bluff +9, Decipher Script +9, Diplomacy +10, Gather Information +7, Hide +7, Intimidate +6, Knowledge (history) +7, Knowledge (nobility & royalty) +9, Knowledge (stewardship) +5, Knowledge (warfare) +8, Move Silently +7, Perform (lute) +4, Ride +9, Sense Motive +9
Feats: Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Braavosi Blade), Finesse, Improved Initiative, Literacy, Silver Tongue
Talents: Command +2, Mandate +1, Noble Standing
Defects: Stigma
Reputations: Well-educated +2, Dedicated +2

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DETAILS

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Region: The Reach
Social Status: 2, ECL +1
Player: Ingrid

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* +2 while mounted.

[jackjaques]

LANDER HARLAW
Male human, Man-at-Arms3/Knave1
Medium humanoid (human)
Initiative: +3

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DEFENSE

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Armor Class: 23 (Leather, Wooden Shield)
Hit Points: 31
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +2

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OFFENSE

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Speed: 30 ft. (9m)
Base Attack: +3, grapple +6
Attacks: Battleaxe +7 melee (1d8+3, x3)

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STATISTICS

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Abilities: Str 16, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 12
Skills: Bluff +4, Climb +9, Diplomacy +2*, Disguise +3, Hide +9, Intimidate +9, Knowledge (warfare) +8, Profession (sailor) +4, Sense Motive +4, Sleight of Hand +6, Spot +7, Swim +9
Feats: Blood of the Ironborn, Brawl, Brute, Hero's Effort, Knockout Punch, Streetfighting, Weapon Focus (battleaxe)
Talents: Armour Compatibility +1, Illicit Barter
Defects: Outcast, Blind Fury
Reputations: Warrior +1

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DETAILS

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Region: The Iron Islands
Social Status: -1, ECL +0
Player: Raquel

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* +5 class bonus when dealing with the black market.

[jackjaques]

HALF WIT
Male large giant, Giant4
Initiative: +2

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DEFENSE

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Armor Class: 17 (Natural)
Hit Points: 31
Saves: Fort +8*, Ref +3, Will +2

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OFFENSE

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Speed: 40 ft. (12m)
Base Attack: +2, grapple +7
Attacks: Club +7 melee (1d8+5, x2), or Rock Throwing +4 ranged (1d8+5, 60 ft.)

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STATISTICS

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Abilities: Str 20, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 7, Wis 13, Cha 8
Skills: Climb +11, Craft (trapmaking) +3, Hide +0*, Jump +8, Survival +7
Feats: Brute, Cleave, Fame, Great Fortitude, Power Attack,
Talents: Earth subtype, Language (giant)
Defects: Outcast, Blind Fury
Reputations: Strong +3

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DETAILS

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Region: The Wild
Social Status: -1, ECL +0
Player: Coral

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* +2 racial bonus vs cold
** +8 racial bonus on Hide checks on rocky terrain

[jackjaques]

On our first session Lander and Lonys meet at Winterfell and are then taken to the Wall. On their way, they stop at a small village. Not the regular village, though, but the last trace of civilization they would ever see before reaching the Wall. Queenscrown was the name of that village. The Watcher that guided them decided to stop for a drink at a tavern before taking them to the Wall.

There they heard all types of insults from the patrons:

If ya goin' to put your manhood aside, may be that I can feed it to my dog. Is been a while since he's heaten smoked meat tha'one. — one said to Lander, starting the first round of laughter.

Oooh, ain't this a pretty one, hey lads? I'm sure them crows will all wish your lips to service them! — spit a second one, looking to Lonys.

But when a third was to deliver his taunt, Lander was faster and gave him such a punch that made him fly over the tables, he did. That was all it took — in a few seconds the pair was surrounded by the worst scroundels that walked the Kingsroad. The ones who had already taken the Black were calm as a Summer born baby, enjoying their hot ale.

After a few blows were exchanged someone approached from the back of the room. It was a lot of a silhouette to be a someone, it was more of a something by the size of it... a giant. "A giant if I ever saw one!" — thought Lander. And, to his terror, he grabbed his club and was about to swing it when the Watcher that guided them barked:

Be sure not to break both of their arms, Half Wit, else they won't be able to eat by themselves. — and it took only the mention of his name to disperse everyone.

He then offers a mug to the new ones and explains them that they will follow the giant the rest of the way to The Torches, they will.

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Not much happened in this first session because I had to make some final adjustments to the characters, go over their particular backstories and over the historical context they were living in. After that I thought of using the good old tavern cliché to go through the basics of surprise, initiative, combat rounds and the use of reputation (which is really put to a good use in this setting).
Next installment: Session #2 - The Torches.