S03E03

## A House Divided, Part 1

### Summary:

The Courtiers travel to the capital of Westeros at King's Landing, where the Eight Future Kings have taken the city and fractures in their alliance are already appearing.

### Characters:

Alon, Fiyona, Hamza, Rook, Wilfred

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## A House Divided, Part 1

It was a swift journey from Ashford to King’s Landing, traveling on good roads in a luxurious carriage. And when the group finally saw the capital, they were surprised to find the city under the green flag of the Rebels.

They approached the Kingsgate, to find it already controlled by Rebel soldiers and regular traffic moving in and out of the city. A friendly guard explained that Jon Arryn, the King’s Hand and chief adviser, had opened the gates to the Rebel army, on the agreement that the city would not be sacked and burned.

The party explained that they were important courtiers of Barrish Cherrane, and the friends and family of Maxir Glenbain. The guard was impressed, and said that the Inner Council would probably like to speak to them, but he didn’t know exactly where the Inner Council was meeting. They would have to wait for one of the regular messengers to come by. The group, fearing an ambush, decided that they would spend the time observing the city, coming back only when the messenger was due.

## A Conquered City

They discovered that the atmosphere of the city was rather pleasant. The citizens were glad to avoid a siege, and didn’t care much about the politics of who ruled in far off lands.

The group returned to the Kingsgate to discover two people eager to meet them: Cheyk, daughter of Rulfa, a barbarous mountain chief and Ser Connor Waynwood, a noble knight of the Vale. They had served with the Dread Company, fighting with them at the Battle of Fairmarket and were glad to meet friends of Maxir, Minnie and Torrhen. Connor explained that the interests of the Westerlands were being represented by Lord Winston. The party explained that they didn’t know a Lord Winston, which Cheyk and Connor found upsetting. They took the group to see the Inner Council right away.

## Meeting of the Inner Council

The Inner Council of the Rebels, known to themselves as The Eight Future Kings, were meeting in the Great Sept of Baelor, under the protection of the church. The party was shocked to discover that Lord Winston was none other than Brokenose Winston, the former bandit king captured by Torrhen, tortured by Ser Clyde and released by Wilfred Hill. But this was a different Brokenose, dressed in fine silks and debating reasonably with a table of kings. When Lord Winston saw the group, he relinquished his seat at the Inner Council table to Wilfred Hill, blood relative of King Maxir.

The subject of discussion was control of King’s Landing.
Queen Gabrelle Mollen of the North argued that King Robert, with his experience and good reputation, should be left in charge of the capital as a separate Barony, independent of the other kingdoms.
King Gerold Grafton of the Vale thought the capital should be ruled jointly by all eight of the kings.
King Balon Greyjoy of the Iron Islands felt that he was owed ancestral lands in the Riverlands, and since he was going to be given those, he should be given the capital as repayment.
King Marc Mudd of the Riverlands said that bastards born in King’s Landing are named ‘Rivers’ as if they were from the Riverlands, so obviously, he should rule the capital.
and King Ronnel Penrose of the Stormlands believed that since King’s Landing is near the border of the Stormlands, he should control the city.

There was a raucous argument, with many insults, accusations and threats being hurled on all sides. But finally, it was agreed upon that King’s Landing would be governed by a council of eight, each member appointed by one of the Eight Kings. The city’s taxes, troops and resources would be used only in service of the city and her people.

## A Jubilant City

After a whole day of tiresome discussion about trade tariffs and road construction, the group were happy to leave and join the city’s celebration. The people were celebrating the apparent end of the war with fireworks and drinking. The group, who had been captured, fleeing, traveling, fighting and arguing for months now took some well-earned rest.

Alon, a man fond of revelry, fell deepest into his cups. When he was stumbling to an inn, he was stopped by a small beggar boy. The boy brought a message from The Spider: “Beware a red scarf.”

## A Suspicious Wench

The next day began with another Inner Council meeting, this time even more dull. King Gerold and King Ronnel seemed especially argumentative on the subject of highway maintenance. King Marc didn’t even show up. Queen Gabrelle actually invited Jon Arryn, the former Hand of the King, to advise them. It was tedious and dreadful.

Amidst the boredom, Wilfred noticed that one of the serving wenches had a red hanging scar across her neck. He stood up and warned everyone that they might have been poisoned. The wench was captured and questioned – they took her to a private room to interrogate her. They found an expensive wooden ring on her finger carved in the sigil of House Mudd. She tried to taunt them into killing her, but eventually she gave up.

“King Marc has outplayed you,” she said. “Even now he is being coronated in the throne room. King Robert, the High Septon and the Grand Maester are all there at swordpoint to bare witness. The smallfolk will hear of this and tear you to bits for their new king.”

## Stop That Coronation!

Rook and Wilfred raced for the throne room in the Red Keep, while the rest gathered the Rebel forces to follow. Rook dashed through the streets, still thick with revelers, using his acrobatic skill to make his way quickly. He reached the Red Keep and saw Mudd soldiers at the gate. So, he deftly jumped onto the castle wall and climbed his way to an open window. Using all of his stealth, he made his way to the throne room, seeing only Marc Mudd, King Robert and two soldiers. Wilfred took a more direct approach, ploughing threw people on the street like an ox. When he came to the gate of the Red Keep, he showed the guard the wench’s sigil ring and they let him through. He came barging into the throne room at almost the same time Rook was sneaking in.

Wilfred and Rook attacked, quickly besting the two guards. King Robert, a capable warrior himself, took up one of the guard’s swords and threatened Marc Mudd.

Rook couldn’t help but say, “Your name is mud.”

King Marc surrendered and soon the group arrived with troops. Marc announced that he had committed no crime because there was no king of all of Westeros for him to commit a crime against. He should be free to leave, to go back and rule the Riverlands. Wilfred Hill found this unacceptable and challenged Marc do a duel in the name of his nephew King Maxir. Marc Mudd had no choice but to accept the duel, but because he was a king, he demanded a king’s duel – a Trial of Seven, the seven best warriors of House Mudd facing off against the seven best warriors of House Glenbain in a duel to the death.

Everyone began preparations for the Trial the next day.

## Experience

- Alon, Fiyona, Hamza, Rook and Wilfred each earned 12 XP, 1 Glory and 150 Silver Stags

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