S03E10

## The Game of Thrones

### Summary:

The courtiers of House Glenbain, united with The Dread Company, are judged by King Robert for their actions in the Greyjoy Rebellion.

## The Game of Thrones

The Glenbain Courtiers and The Dread Company were treated to a bittersweet reunion in the streets of King's Landing|King's Landing. The courtiers had been held in the Black Cells for the week since the invasion of the capital on New Year's Day. And the Dread Company had been hauled from The Westerlands for a month, captives of Lartel Dyre and Tywin Lannister.

Citizens of King's Landing boo-ed and jeered as they were pushed along in shackles. As they approached the Red Keep, home of the Iron Throne, the walked past the hanged corpses of Rebels in long rows. Among the bodies, they spotted Barrish Cherrane and Ser Connor Waynwood. They stood broken - stripped of all possessions, titles and awaiting judgment.

The royal court was packed with onlookers. King Robert sat on the throne, watching and deliberating. Tywin Lannister stood as the prosecutor. One at a time, the party was led into the throne room and put on trial of their life.

## Maxir and Fiyona

Maxir Glenbain, who had saved the world from Maedalyn Dyre's occult meddling and came so close to being King Maxir stood accused by Lady Alyssa Ruttiger. There was no one to stand up for him but Lartel Dyre. Lady Alyssa testified that Maxir had been her adulterous lover and when she bore him a child, he killed it. The audience was shocked by the allegations - there is no greater crime against the gods than kinslaying. Lord Lartel Dyre actually stood up for Maxir, despite their feud, declaring Maxir a noble and honourable man only pursuing his ancestral right to the Westerlands. In the end, it was not enough, Maxir was found guilty and demanded a Trial by Combat.

When Fiyona Riser was called to the stand, Aline, a servant in a brothel, testified against her. She claimed that Fiyona had poisoned her mentor, one Vorora Swyft. But without seeing the poisoning herself and having no evidence, Aline's accusation fell apart. Tyrion Lannister stood as a character witness for Fiyona, he always appreciated their friendship - and her trade. Fiyona was found innocent.

## Torrhen and Alon

Torrhen Grove was brought in. The prosecution called upon Cley the Woodscutter to testify. Cley swore that while walking through the woods, he had seen Torrhen, "in romantic congress with a bear." The court was stunned. For his defence, he saw Sebaston Farman, the Lord of Fair Isle and uncle of Maxir Glenbain. Sebaston testified that Torrhen had led a clandestine attack on the Pirates of Red Isle, saving Fair Isle from their attacks. Despite the shocking accusation of bestiality, Torrhen was declared innocent.

Alon Redywne found that he was being accused by Seargent Griff, his jailer while he was the captive of House Dyre. Seargent Griff testified that he had been spying on his prisoners, watching them while they changed and used the privy. He told the court that he had seen Alon naked and that Alon had female private parts. Griff shouted at the court that Alon was a fraud and should be punished. Renly Baratheon took up the defence. He told the room of Alon's character and expertise. Tywin Lannister tried to accuse Renly and Alon of a romantic affair, but it didn't compel the court. Alon was found innocent.

## Christor and Hamza

Christor stood trial. He was accused by Lord Jarden Krey. Jarden, the father of Branton Hill and the man who had Christor's family murdered, claimed that Christor's family were savages, filthy cannibals guilty of numerous atrocities. The court was astounded. Beth the Brute, a bandit of the sweet spring whom Christor had taken mercy on attested to Christor's character, but was discounted because of her life as a bandit. Christor was found guilty and asked for a Trial by Combat.

Hamza Sand was incriminated by Margery Hunt, recent widow of Barrish Cherrane. She showed the court a contract Hamza had signed with her husband, promising his personal services. Margery claimed that Hamza had fled the invasion of Ashford, breaking his contract. And for Hamza stood Lady Alta Sardfold. Hamza and the Glenbain Courtiers had saved Lady Alta from kidnapping on the road to Ashford. Hamza was able to prove that it was Barrish Cherrane who had fled Ashford and was declared innocent.

## Rook and Minnie

Rook shuffled into the courtroom and found Ser Jon Norridge facing him. Ser Jon, a lord from The Reach proclaimed that "Rook" was really his serf Uldritch. When Robert's Rebellion had broken out, House Norridge was called by the king to provide troops. And so Uldritch had been sent, untrained and ill-equipped to The Battle of the Bells. Uldritch stood on the front line, a corps of troops who were slaughtered by the forces of Robert Baratheon. He was knocked unconscious and buried under corpses for two days. Confused and beside himself, the young man spent days wandering through thick forest in a horrifying fog. When he emerged, he was never the same, taking on the new identity as Rook. And he was eventually taken in by Cassen Glenbain. Ser Jon claimed that Rook was a deserter who had fled from his rightful Lord and should be put to death. Farmer Hannah, who had cared for Rook after he had escaped from imprisonment by House Dyre, came to his defence. In the end, King Robert ruled that Rook was innocent.

Mad Minnie was brought in. To accuse her, Tywin Lannister brought in Septon Rud, a religious scholar and 'expert' on Wildlings. Rud testified that Minnie had the distinctive physical characteristics of a savage born North of The Wall, and should be put to death. Minnie responded with her own accusations that Septon Rud looked like he had the features of a Vale Mountain Clansman, and was a savage himself. And with Dolf son of Dovor, a Mountain Clansman, to back her up, Minnie convinced the king of her innocence.

## Whistler and Wilfred

Whistler Seagrave went to trial and found himself accused by one Corporal Tanea. The corporal was a Lannister soldier who had been transporting gold under the command of Ser Robert Brax. When he was relieving himself by the side of the road, Tanea heard a noise. He raced back to his company carriage, only to find Brax and two other soldiers murdered. There was a figure riding away with their carriage (and gold). Tanea testified that he saw Whistler riding away. Two support Whistler, Lady Anya Waynwood, Ser Connor Waynwood's mother, spoke of Whitler's great heroism and prowess at the Battle of Fairmarket. Whistler was declared innocent.

Wilfred Hill stood trial again, first accused by Sambert, a baker. Sambert told the court the story of how his father worked all his life to save up and buy a small plot of land to house his bakery. Sambert learned the baking trade from his father, and life was good for years and years. Until one day, Wilfred arrived with an official document revoking Sambert's rights to his land. Sambert and his family were forced out of their home - with the war on, they plummeted into destitution. Wilfred explained that he had been ordered to do this by Maedalyn Dyre, but the court was unimpressed. Ser Hacks, once Hacks the bandit, came to Wilfred's defence, recounting that Wilfred had freed him and given him a place in the Glenbain army. The court seemed moved by Hacks's testimony, but when the king rose, he found Wilfred guilty, saying, "To reasons private to the crown, we find Wilfred Hill guilty of treason." Wilfred asked for a Trial by Combat.

## Clyde

Before his trial even started, Ser Clyde Flay called for a Trial by Combat. He didn't want his secrets aired in court. But the king declared the hearing anyway. Tywin Lannister was allowed to call Pyp of the Night's Watch, an expert ranger. Pyp testified that Ser Clyde was once a member of the Night's Watch, but broke his oath and fled the defence of The Wall. And breaking your oath to the Night's Watch meant immediate execution. Ser Maurice Figgybottom arrived to testify for Ser Clyde. He told the court that Ser Clyde was his good friend and mentor and that though Clyde was a master of torture, he only applied his trade fairly and with justice. The court was scandalized and eagerly awaited his Trial by Combat.

## Trials by Combat

Trial by Combat is always a risky affair, and King Robert lined up some of his best fighters for the occasion.

Ser Clyde Flay stood against a Lannister Elite soldier. The soldier's heavy armour and slow swordplay were no match for Clyde's dexterity and Braavosi Water Dancing style.

Maxir Glenbain was pitted against Ser Barristan Selmy, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, the man who had single-handedly ended The War of the Ninepenny Kings by killing Maelys the Monstrous. Maxir fought valiantly, wounding Ser Barristan. But standing toe-to-toe with the veteran knight, Maxir was eventually worn down. Selmy put his sword through Maxir's belly, and the would-be king of The Westerlands was soon dead.

Christor was made to fight Ballos Vynen, a celebrated Braavosi fencer and sellsword. At first Ballos's quick movements put Christor on his heals. But Christor was able to throw a net onto Ballos, and it sealed the smaller man's fate. His foe immobilized, Christor was able to use his massive, guantlet-ed fists to pummel the Braavo to death. It was a brutal scene, Christor throwing his fists into a net full of bloody meat.

Whistler then stood as champion for Wilfred. This was doubly risky, as a defeat for Whistler meant death for both of them. Whistler was set against Areo Hotah, famed axe-master of the Bearded Priest style and personal guard to Prince Doran of Dorne. Areo closed the distance swiftly and dealt Whistler a savage blow. Whistler was desperate to use his speed and mustered a flurry of attacks that pierced through the weak points in Hotah's armor. It was a dangerous dance, but with a little luck, Whister wore his opponent down. The match ended when Whistler slid his Braavosi blade through Areo Hotah's throat.

## King Robert's Judgment

The group had endured the trials, losing only Maxir Glenbain. They awaited the ordeal to be over and expected to be set free.

But the king gathered them and declared: "You are innocent of the crime of treason in the sight of gods and men. But you are still a danger to the Kingdoms. You are hereby banished from all of the lands of the Seven Kingdoms, its islands and its holdings. For life. You will be branded on your faces to mark your treacherous nature and then given free passage to a Free City of your choice. Should you ever set foot on Westeros again, you will be put to death."

The judgment was carried out. The group was dragged away, branded on their faces one by one and sent to the port in chains.

## Experience

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