An: will be introducing concepts I have for the north in this chapter. Along with the obvious talk about what has become of the iron islands and their inhabitants. Hell, I might even throw some blacks pov in there.
Sorry I haven't been around. I was sick. I don't know how many of you write, but doing so while sick is the last thing you want to do. Hope there no hard feelings. I honestly don't even know how long the chapter will be. Just gonna write until I feel satisfied 🤷
Hope you enjoy!
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Whiteharbor, The North, 128 AC
Harald
I wake up on my ship after a night full of fighting and drinking. One of the favorite pastimes of my men. I introduced pankration to all my men along with jujitsu. I wanted them to be just as dangerous without weapons as they are with them.
Unlike the UFC and sport based jujitsu, when used in a real setting where rules don't apply— jujitsu is extremely practical. Especially against someone who doesn't know how to defend it.
In a world such as this where surgery is pretty much as advanced as amputation, breaking someone's shoulder or shredding their knee is as good as killing them.
This also allowed us to have fun like lastnight when drinks were rolling and blood was warm. With a few guidelines like no eye gouging or biting and ropes around our hands and wrists to prevent breaking— such things became a fun way to earn money and get out some frustration in a constructive manner.
We even had team fights much like tag team wrestling. The amount of coin changing hands only fuled others to get into the ring to win it back themselves. This allows the thing to come full circle. The men are having fun, training, and making money or better friends within the ranks.
I enjoy such things and you know what they say, many times groups take on the personality of the leader. I won't say such things should be considered gospel, but it rings true for my own company.
I make my way around the ship to see where everyone is. Within 5 minutes I find Gage asleep atop a barrel with a mug in his left hand that's almost spilling onto his lap.
I chuckle and try to take the cup from his hand only to see him clinch up his hand as if not to let his most precious treasure leave.
I shake his free handed shoulder and speak to him, ""if you don't wake up I'll hit you again you big dolt. Come on. It's time to speak about the future.""
I see his eyes heavily open and stare at me in a daze for a moment as I speak. By the time I finish though Gage is wideeyed and stands up head and shoulders above me.
In a hungover voice he speaks,""old gods be good. I feel like one of my ancestors has stepped on me and then decided to sleep there for the night.""
I laugh and pat his shoulder again, ""yes yes. Let's go. If we have time I'll give you something to settle your stomach.""
He looks inquisitively at me but I don't give him the chance to speak. I make my way towards the plank onto the dock and on the way I find Edris coming towards us.
I call out to him, ((Edris! Come with me. I need to speak to my brother. Where i Torrent? I would like him to accompany us as well.))
Edris reaches Gage and I. He gives a nod at Gage then speaks, ((I already tried waking him Harald. I don't think he's keen on getting up. He's quite spent from the team match between himself and Gage along Turin and Dwellin.))
I laugh remembering the team match where each bigger guy was paired with a dwarf. Such things were fun and Gage got to see for himself how strong the little guys were.
I sigh and just motion with my hand to continue on. No need waking him up. I myself hate to be woken. So I try not to do so with others if it isn't important. Both he and Edris have been with me forever. I've already laid out my plans for the North to them a hundred times. The only variable is Fafnir and Athena. While very unexpected, it's a variable i plan to take full advantage of.
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Cregan Pov
I'm informed via a servant that my brother and Gage have entered the keep. I make my way to the great hall and inside I find them both along with my brothers companion Edris.
Dusk immediately wants pats from Harald and he obliged without preamble. After a few pats he looked up to me and spoke, ""I did something you may not like.""
Instantly I'm on guard. My brother doesn't embellish things like that. If he says I won't like it it's probably going to be an understatement...….
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My ears are ringing in my head after Haralds words. ""I killed the iron born. More of them were on there way North to Bear Island.""
I sigh. Of course my brother would go cause me issues. Now I'll have to placate Eugene Greyjoy the Lord Reaper of the shithole known as the Iron Islands. I answer in kind, ""you know the dragons will have issues with you killing a ship of iron born bearing the Greyjoy banner.""
He laughs. Laughs at me during this serious moment before becoming deadly serious. His eyes darkening before he speaks, in a voice so cold it sends a shiver down my spine. Me. A Stark. ""No Cregan. I killed THE IronBorn. All of em. There is none left.""
Again I'm Thrown for a loop thinking about what the hell is happening. ""How?""
He gives me a vicious smile before saying, ""I'll introduce you two tonight. For now, let's speak about the future of the north. In truth we need not worry about the IronBorn ever again. Their entire shit-stained home is now a hell scape of ice.""
I shake my head and try to focus on the positives. For one, I'll get to meet an ice dragon. And two I know my brother has planned and replanned over the years. He's not an impulsive idiot. Most of the time.
He speaks again and breaks me from my thoughts, ""now. I have an idea to create a southern wall around the neck and towards the coast. This will ensure nothing aside from a fire dragon could destroy it to get an army into our home.
It's also time to get rid of the Boltons. When my spies return with evidence of their wrongdoing I will slaughter them and their banners to the man.
Lastly, when we give the Bolton land away to another house, we will take 25% of it. The stark land is far too small to be considered the Lords of the North. This is no slight to our banners. However, how can we call ourselves Lords of the largest kingdom when we hold the smallest amount of influence in said kingdom? No. That won't work.
Now, let's go meet a couple of friends I brought with me from behind The Wall. Gage, keep your head when you meet. They are intelligent beings. Not something to be fawned over.""
My brother just drops world changing information like it's just another day of court. I rub my head and try to prepare myself to meet a giant. They've remained shrouded in mystery since they left beyond the wall during the First Long Night.
I speak to Harald as we make our way to the ship, ""what about the Targaryens? They won't like this Harald.""
Again he laughs before speaking. ""The plan is to be far to strong to fuck with when they finally figure out the threat we pose. Besides. They're too busy fighting eachother over the ugliest shit smelling city in the world. One that even they themselves have said was thrown together during a time when the conqueror had 3 dragons, two wife's, a couple hundred men, and a dream to become the king to stop what I myself am trying to stop now. The white walkers.""
All in the group became silent at that. Left to ponder the words in our own way. The rest of the time walking to the ship was spent in silence from our group. The only sounds were the bustling of the city. Merchants trying to sell products. Sailors either returning to land to go drink or waking up from drinking to go back to sea. It created a lively atmosphere that contrasted so greatly with the seriousness just spoken about within the group of 5.
I knew my brothers return would cause ripples in the already turbulent waters of Westeros. I didn't know, however, that said ripples would be a tidal wave.
First the IronBorn. I'm truly nervous as to which of the longtime enemies my brother has his sights on next. Even if he said it was s spur of the moment decision to go to the Iron Islands I knew he'd harbored deep seeded prejudices against them. Granted, most of the North did. But my brother had the power to do something about those prejudices. And he wasted no time. Like a predator that had grown tired of watching it's prey and decided to feast.
As we reach the second black wooded ship Harald speaks that oddly beautiful language to the men, ((please to inform Senju we have arrived.))
The man puts his hand over his chest and runs off while we make our way up the plank. Harald leads us to a big door double door that I assume is usually used for big cargo and food storage now has huge furry creatures with furs.
They turn and all get on their seats when Harald approached. The largest one stuck out his hand and Harald followed. Grabbing his finger and speaking. ""Hello Senju. How was the journey?""
I'm too focused on the fact that the giant speaks back to my brother to notice Gages amazed expression.
""It was as to be expected winter dragon. Cramped. But we will persist. We have a job to do Afterall. You do know forsure we'll be allowed refuge in the swamp?""
He laughs before turning to our group of myself, Edris, Gage, and Karl and nods before speaking.
""This is Senju. Son and heir of giant leadership. Senju, this is my brother Cregan Stark and my friends. Edris Botu. Lord Gage Umber. And lord Karl Reed. The one who will help you in the neck.""
Gage umber squealed and rushed up to the giant like a kid who'd just had his dreams come true and I shake my head while making my way to my brother trying to understand how such beings could speak.
Just another little piece of world shifting information. I guess it's just one of those days. 'old gods keep such days few and far between' I think as I make my way to the group along with Karl and Edris while we begin discussing the future war plan.
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An: hey guys. Just a quick little chapter to get me back into the swing of things. Hope you enjoyed. Sorry, no blacks pov during this chapter. I just wanted to get this meeting the giants and some ideas I have for the north to be relayed out loud to Cregan.
See ya!