The Search for Seles Wilder

## Overview

> *Lief: Were not going to actually sit here and wait for them to come to us are we?*
>
>

> *Zelos: Of course not, your going to head out now and check on a lead. we can not let them decide how this goes.*
>
>

Following Aegons well timed attack on the Wilder convoy, Zelos returned to Wild's Den irate, his wife was alive and well as was Victorian Whent but they were all shaken up by the experience. Zelos told Lief what happened and the two proceeded to start planning out how to proceed from there though admittedly they were unsure of how they could, since they knew so little about the enemy. Though there connection to Jon Black finally gave Zelos an idea, if they knew him they must know his right hand man Harden who Zelos had a lead on, sending Lief after where a cabin was supposed to be. Meanwhile he remained to train there men alongside Zeto. There house was not one that was particularly big and they knew that, thus House Wilder tried to compensate by being a house with a strong army which was again hard when you were new and gaining some land so the knowledge that the Order that took his sister had powerful backing unnerved him, since it meant that in all likelihood he would need to combat another house soon enough, one that almost certaintly had more political and military power then he did.

But for now he could only focus on things from one battle to another and for now the battle he was focusing on was saving Seles, though Gilliane suggested calling for aid Zelos had become paranoid and untrusting of any house that might potentially be behind the attacks and refused any outside help if he could get it. A desire that was undermined immediately by Caim, though the new Knight had been dismissed he still desired Seles' safety and went to any house he thought might help him pull it off. Though he only ended up being able to recruit William Henning to his cause he had informed House Griften whos lord had courted Seles and soon after the fact the young lord was rushing to Wild's Den to pledge his sword in aiding him..

## Lief's journey

> *Lief: Were not dealing with some simple bandit raid. These people according to my cousin are organized and skilled.*
>
>

> *Caim: Too skilled to be bandits, and there clothes...not the kind you just end up taking, there well supplied.*
>
>

With just a horse and his own gear Lief was on his own exploring the crownlands where he came across the cabin..true to the word of his cousin intel it was holding a few bandits, too many for Lief to handle on his own so he waited until the sun went down and snuck in killing two sentries and the other two before they had a chance to strike, leaving just him and the now alert Harden who he just managed to beat when Caim and William arrived on the scene. The three interrogated him forcing him to give them information on there allies but Harden was only willing and able to provide potential hiding spots before they were attacked by another Bandit group, lead by the soon to be infamous Swine King, Harden was killed and the crew barely escaped with there lives making it to the Seat of House Flameheart, they were welcomed by Darron when he made it clear who they were and he sent word to Zelos of the information they had gathered. Darron volunteered his men and dogs to the search and Daniel Youngflower would also come to assist, when he returned from his Reaving in Essos. The small party grew slightly bigger when they went on looking for the hiding spot closest to them said to be near the kingswood.

There they came across another man Ethan Lash and his hunters, and the sight of a bandit battle, Ethan quickly deduced that both sides had much better armor then normal bandits and quickly went about deducing who won and where they went before they followed the trail of bodies further down and were attacked by a party of 12 men. Lief, William, Caim, Daniel, Ethan, and Darron all fought well and despite the skill of there opponents they killed them with no losses. Lief decided it was too dangerous to venture further though and opted to rendezvous with Zelos first.

## Zelos' Journey

> *Rickard: Is the man just been on edge since his sister was stolen or is he always..well..*
>
>

> *Robb: Crazy? Hard to say though hes certaintly not been acting friendly for awhile.*
>
>

Since Lief left Zelos got a letter from Aegon where he boasted he had fallen for Seles and intended to marry her, the truth of the words was blinded by the taunting image it left him and Zelos remained in his fuming state even as Robb arrived which didnt help since he knew about the kidnapping despite Zelos having told no one, unaware of Caim's actions. Gilliane ultimately let him in but he remained uneasy, not event he arrival of his in-laws the Starkwoods would calm his mind. When they finally got word of Lief's findings they had a place to start and Zelos set out with Rickard and Robb, later accompanied by Artos Starkwood to get at one of the locations further in the Riverlands. Finding it occupied by bandits Zelos lead the attack and quickly took them by surprise, killing all but one who quickly surrendered, admitting he didnt know where Seles was exactly but wagering a guess based off what he was told. He was ultimately shown mercy and let off to be punished by Maidenpool as they lacked the time to bring him back to Wild's Den and didnt care enough to let him just leave.

Determined the crew marched off towards the crownlands where they soon met Lief's party and after discussing the plans in detail both parties made for where Seles was most likely being held seeing as there was only one more location in the area that was close the bandits apparently had control of.

## Finding Aegon

> *Aegon: It is nice to meet you again brother. Since I can actually call you that now.*
>
>

> *Zelos: Wait..I know you..your that knight outlaw ive been hearing about, Aegon the Black Knight. So thats how you've gotten all those resources, you never went rouge at all.*
>
>

> *Aegon: Smart boy. Its true while the 8 Kingdoms may deem me an outlaw and without a lord I have in fact been serving mine to the letter. What else makes a Knight but his utter dedication to accomplishing the tasks his master sets out for him?*
>
>

In the forests before the village they were investigating they were set upon by archers in the trees and forced to take cover. the party consisted mostly of close range fighters, with only Caim and Ethan's rangers being best equipped for such combat and firing back at there attackers. The rest tried to move up as best they could to get at the enemy better while covering for there own offensive fighters, and when one of them fell it was Lief himself who noticed that these men were equipped with weirwood bows, not cheap and not something you just give to people, further confirming the skill of these men and the deep pockets there supplier had to have. Thankfully the archers would retreat after taking some losses giving the party time to catch there breath and ponder what to do before Zelos paranoia got the better of him again, shaken by the attack and the reinforced notion of a powerful force helping him plus the recent loss of his godfather, a slaver who was at Astapor when House brightflame reaved it caused him to snap at his allies and it seemed that a fight would break out amongst them if not for the timely arrival of Aegon himself eager to introduce himself to his new family, confirming he had in fact gone through with his threat of marrying Seles Wilder, and a few other minor noble women but It was clear Aegon valued Seles above them, or at least he mentioned her more to egg on Zelos. Rather then fight Aegon offered a proposal, he would allow Zelos and Lief to enter the village with him with a promise no harm would come to the others or them if they complied. Zelos and Lief not wanting to risk there loved ones harm agreed and entered while the others plotted how to sneak in and help. A rumor circulated that Ethan brought the others into a secret cave where he called upon an ancient Lash magic spell to summon wolves to aid them but like many things pertaining to Ethan Lash it was a farce, Ethan merely suggest using some tunnels he knew about in a cave to flank the enemy unaware, no such magic exists that allows someone to call upon wolves made of dead Lashes.

Once inside Aegon brought them directly to Seles who he had forced into a marriage with him and was in a state of distress that left an ominous feeling for her concerned family that she had been raped. Aegon didnt notice or acknowledge this and then offered his deal, he would leave and let them take the girls and go. But he wanted Zelos to promise him he would not pursue them for now, not even a promise of leave me alone for ever. Jus that they would let them escape today. Lief was against it wanting to kill aegon now and learnt he whereabouts of his leader but Zelos who had no intention of risking Seles' life further agreed to the deal. Both parties proved trustworthy, as the bandits cleared out and made no effort to harm them or the captives and Zelos made it clear he would not attack, this only angered Lief further and the two traded verbal jabs before there encounter got more physical and the two fought in front of there mentally scarred sister. Eventually her pleas reached both and they did stop fighting but nothing could heal the rift between them and Lief stormed off with Zelos mocking him over the fact no one would follow or check on him. To his disgust he was right, the rest of the party checked on the girls and Zelos, none came for him or even asked about him, none except Aegon who had heard there display and waited until Lief was far away enough from the rest to confront him.

## Aftermath

> *Lief: And How do I know this deal will help me? Im not looking to be Lord for a day, why should I have the stain of kinslaying on my conscious.*
>
>

> *Aegon: You dont have to do the deed yourself. Just allow me the time necessary to do it myself. As for trust, all I desire is your cousins death. If you were to stay aligned with me I promise the plans we have for the rest of the Kingdom will not hurt you, and ill make sure to provide the necessary men to help you keep your new Lordship.*
>
>

Zelos, always a man of paranoia was not helped by this venture. In fact It only made it worse, after Seles was found to be pregnant something that drove Zelos into a pure rage, he began hunting furiously for Aegon and the Order and he was very cautious of any aide he was given by anyone, knowing the full extent of the risk of trusting the wrong person could cost him. Though this caused him to be stern and cross with many of his allies at a serious risk of burning bridges and making it easier to isolate him. Something Aegon would take advantage of in due time. Robb Griften who had been smitten with Seles for some time had also begun his own search independent of Zelos, this put him in great danger, as while he had the men to fight and was skilled himself he had even less resources on hand then the Wilders. This would cost him when during the Second V-L war he was pushed kidnapped and brought to Aegon where he would lose his hand to Aegon's torture. The third person most affected by this trip was Lord Ethan Lash who Aegon would strike at Wolfhaven killing his men and leaving messages that implicated him conspiring agaisnt Zelos, messages Zelos got and another misunderstanding was made splitting Zelos from a potential ally in his personal feud with Aegon.

Lief would change most of all from this venture, when he was retreating from the fight Aegon would soon reach him and use the newfound wedge between him and Zelos to convince him to help him murder his cousin, promising that they only wanted im dead and that he could secure his place as the rightful ruler of Wild's Den, a long coveted desire of the older cousin who held the sentiment he had been cheated out of his birthright. Lief was a plotter through and through and quickly made arrangements with Aegon to do so, though he also sought revenge and was plotting just as much against Aegon as well in ways the Black Knight had no way of preparing for.