Saw some more reviews I wanted to respond to so here we go.
HereticSmurf: Thanks for that! Yeah, if I made the MC too overpowered too quickly then the first world would be over in like 5 chapters tops. There's no realistic way someone who can cast fire storms or cut through an army like it's nothing wouldn't just immediately steamroll everything in their path and call it a day.
Sakra95: 1:Trust me, I can imagine how long you've waited for a gamer SI in Game of Thrones, I've been waiting for something to pop up for a hella long tome. There was one fic that I remember where the MC was reincarnated into Daenerys's older brother (OC not Viserys for whatever reason) but it only had like 2 or 3 chapters and I don't think it's been updated in a while.
2: The reason Jon Arryn didn't send out letters to the lords of the Vale is because of the shitstorm that would immediately follow. Sudden changes in the line of succession have the potential to stir up some serious shit, especially when you call the fidelity of the daughter of another Lord Paramount into question. Jon also risks tipping Cersei off. after all, if he sniffed out one illegitimate child who's to say he won't sniff out three others? Jon wants to expose Cersei before he goes after Lysa and Baelish since (to him at least) the Lannisters are the bigger threat.
3: The north isn't exactly the least populated of the seven kingdoms. The north is almost as big as all of the other kingdoms combined, but is much less densely populated. So you'll go a lot longer without finding a town or settlement in the North than you would in any of the other kingdoms, but there's still a lot of people up there. MC is about to turn 16 so he's about the same age as Robb and Jon in the show, a little older since he was born a month or so after the rebellion started.
Asonia99: Medieval armies usually settled matters with wicked dance battles, but unfortunately there's no mention of that in either ASOIAF or Game of Thrones. I decided to bridge the gap a bit and gave the MC a whistle to coordinate troops during battles. That's just step 1 of course, by the time the White Walkers and Daenerys pull up the united Westerosi dance force will step to beats so fresh, they'll have no choice but to surrender.
AzureSoulReapaer: Traitors will be dealt with for sure, but it'll be more selfishly motivated than anything. The MC doesn't really care all that much about betrayal unless it happens to him or someone he likes, which at the moment is limited to Trysta and maybe Lyonel and Lyn. Anything else? He'll take care of it, but only since he'll be able to gain something from it. "Oh? House so-and-so declared for Lord What's-his-name? I'm going to fuck them over and take everything their House has for myself."
2: I'm glad you like Jon Arryn here. We don't have much to go on about him in the show or books, so I decided to just wing it.
The guest that mentioned the chanmail thing: Thanks for the correction. I've gone back and changed it.
Drizzy: You're Welcome!
(Mountains of the Moon, 297 AC)
The sounds of battle normally don't include as much hollering and howling as they currently do. Yelling? Sure, there's a whole lot of that. Anguished screams? The six men I just cut through like butter stand as proof of how common it is in battle. But howling? No, I can't say I've ever heard a man howl like a fucking monkey before rushing to their death.
'Which is really all they're doing at the moment.', I think to myself as I dodge a swing from a crude stone axe before cutting off the limb it's attached to, only to find myself blocking a blow from a woman with a bronze sword. Quickly knocking her unconscious with a blow to the head from my shield before stabbing the man I disarmed in the chest I turn to find the battle has already been won with no casualties on our side.
Thank god the guard I set up in the camp has been on point. There was one incident where I caught some fucker slacking off and of course, it was a noble. Gyles Grafton, youngest son of Lord Gerold Grafton. He bitches and moans anytime I tell him to do something, so when I sent him to join the guard one night I knew he wouldn't take it seriously. It was no surprise to me when I found him in his tent with a whore. I had him flogged in front of all the other men the next morning to set an example for them.
No one caused any problems after that, least of all Gyles.
But back to the important part, our first encounter with the mountain clansmen was an ambush on our camp that failed tremendously thanks to the sentries I had patrolling the camp. The ambush itself tells me that we're close to their main settlement though.
"Have Terrance Lynderly, Luceon Templeton and Harrold Hardyng brought here. Tell them it's urgent." I say to one of the soldiers who had just finished cleaning his blade on one of the bodies.
"Those of you who haven't taken any serious wounds come help me tie up the prisoners." Only the man who spotted them in the first place had to go see a healer for an arrow he took to the shoulder. Not a single one of my men took any immediately life threatening injuries during an ambush in the middle of the night which was a great sign so far, especially now that they've finally seen combat and will be expecting it from here on out.
Now we move on to the prisoners. I had instructed the men to try and take a few prisoners every battle, no more than 5 if we can manage it. About 50 Clansmen attacked us and we have 4 prisoners from them including the woman with the bronze sword. Judging by her higher quality of weapons and armor she's most likely someone important in her clan.
"We are here, lord Corbray." I hear the Luceon Templeton say from behind me. Turning to face him I also see Terrance Lynderly, Heir to House Lynderly along with Harrold Hardyng standing beside him.
"We have prisoners from the ambush to attend to. The woman with the bronze armor is likely their leader." I say to the three of them.
"So she must be high up in their clan, related to their chief perhaps?" Questioned Terrance.
"My thoughts exactly. What we have before us is an opportunity, we'd be wise to make the most of it." Mountain tribes are few in number, so any leaders you see among their raiding parties are either related to the leaders of their clans or they ARE the leaders.
"So, what's our next move?." Harrold says with an uncharacteristically serious face.
"Wake her up. We'll see if they can be reasoned with. If they're willing to hear us out, we'll see about opening negotiations with their clan head, if not, we kill the non-valuable prisoners and use the woman as bait." I didn't need to tell them what we'd do from there.
Observing her I find that she's actually rather attractive. None of the Mountain clansmen had inch thick coats of dirt on their faces, or extremely tattered clothes like in the show, which makes sense I suppose. There's a bit of dirt on them and wear in their clothes, but that's about it. Hell, the woman actually has a bronze chest plate bronze on. You can tell even with the armor on that she has quite the body hidden underneath.
Splashing water onto her face she wakes up with a start, ready to fight before she realizes that her hands are bound. I see her moving around, perhaps looking for one of the daggers she had hidden on her.
"If you're looking for any of the weapons you had hidden in your clothes you won't find them." I say to her, holding the two stone daggers I found on her in my hands.
"You son of a whore!" She screamed at me.
"Wonderful." I say, thoroughly un-amused. "Now if you're done acting like a child, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"I have nothing to say to a lowlander CUNT like you!" She said, near hatred in her eyes.
"Not even if it concerns the survival of your people?" I ask, dead serious. This just seemed to make her angrier, though.
"Save your threats. Your people have been trying to wipe mine out for longer than any of us have been alive. It never worked." She smugly informs me.
"That wasn't a threat." I say back, "You should know as well as I do that winter is only a few years away. Possibly the longest anyone has ever seen." I pause for a second to let that sink in, "Your people don't do very well in winter now, do they? Few travelers to attack, Treacherous mountain paths covered in snow, entire towns with not enough food for five of you, cold winds killing your children days after they're born." I make sure to put extra emphasis on that last part.
"Now imagine a winter that lasts nearly 20 years like this summer has," I instruct her, "and double that."
"If your people somehow manage to survive that without having to eat your own dead, or even survive at all, I'd be genuinely surprised." I tell her, seeing my words take effect on her.
"What's all of this got to do with you?" She questions, reasonably suspicious.
"Why, everything, of course. If you all get desperate enough, you'll grow bold enough to attack us in force like your people did 150 years ago." I said.
"My job is to stop that from happening. How I go about that with the Howlers is entirely up to you. We can either come to a compromise and your people survive the coming winter and beyond, or I can go to that little village of yours, you know, the one with the longhouse in the middle?" I see her freeze at that.
"Yeah, I can go there and light a nice little campfire, and my army can celebrate around it with all of the women and drink we find in your little huts." I would feel a bit guilty about using such threats, but considering what the mountain clans do to women they find during their raids I couldn't give less of a fuck. Besides, it's clearly working if the look on her face is anything to go by.
"Now, I'll give you until tomorrow morning to give me an answer. I hope you give the right one, for your sake." With that we leave her to stew in her thoughts.
Instructing a few of the men to tie the captives to wooden posts away from each other, I hear Terrance speak up.
"If you already had all of that planned out, why did you send for us?" He asks me.
"Intimidation factor, mostly. I also wanted to present a united front to her, let her know that the lords of the Vale are sick of their shit and are finally putting in the work to put an end to it." I inform the three of them.
"For now you should three get some rest. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow." I say to them before departing for the night. Heading back to my tent to tend to some unfinished business.
"Where were we again?" I say as I enter the tent.
"I believe we were going to play come into my castle, my lord." Came the voice of my favorite serving girl. Trysta was there on my bedroll covered in nothing but the furs I brought along with us.
I had gotten permission from my father to bring Trysta along with us. I had told him that I wanted to bring her along because she would make a good assistant and keep me on track, but it's clear why I really wanted to bring her with me. Still though, he gave his consent which is all that mattered to me.
Getting into bed with my loyal servant I let all thoughts of dealing with the Howlers tomorrow leave my mind as I sink into her soft body.
(Next day, Howlers settlement)
The Leader of the Howlers was extremely confused, not to mention outraged when his daughter Merka- That's the bronze girl's name by the way - pulled up on their village with all 100 of the men I brought with me in tow. Thinking that his daughter had sold them out to save her own skin before I revealed that I already knew where their village was. That took the wind out of his sails, but he quickly bounced back, asking me what the fuck I wanted.
Fair enough question, I suppose, "I want to make a deal with the mountain clans of the Vale before winter is upon us."
"Merka, you trust this lowlander." He questioned his daughter. Honestly, I expected more fight out of him, but he seems to know that he's been beaten. The only advantage the mountain clans ever had was the fact that they could just run away back into the mountains of the moon whenever anyone was sent to deal with them.
"He can kill us all whenever he pleases. He has no reason to trick us." She says with a look of distaste on her freshly cleaned face. What? I hate ugly things and dirt is ugly, so I had the captives wash their dirty faces. She looks much cuter like this way.
"Right..." Merka's father says to her before turning to me with a calculating look in his eye, "So that must mean you want something from us." He says to me.
"Like I said, I'm here to make a deal with your people." I remind him, I figured giving him the opportunity to set the pace of the conversation would help heal his wounded pride and put him at ease a bit.
"Very well," He says with less venom than before. "Spit it out then, I haven't all day you know." He says, giving me the floor.
"Our terms are simple, you and yours will no longer harass the the people of the Vale. Lead us to the other tribes so that we may convince them as well. In exchange for your service not only will your people live to see the next summer, but I will also allow your people to settle in the lands of House Corbray, so long as you obey our laws and aid me whenever I call upon your people. I will also personally see to it that you have enough coin, furs, food and whatever else you may need to live comfortably. The Howlers will be chief among the clansmen of the vale should you accept my offer." I inform him, seeing no need to mince my words.
"And if I refuse?" He asks me, seemingly considering that option.
"Ask Merka. I'll be expecting an answer by tomorrow. You have everything to gain if you accept my generous offer," I pause before taking a step towards him, bringing my voice to a near whisper "and everything to lose should you refuse."
" We'll be back at our camp. Don't bother running, we tracked you down once, we'll do so again." With that we take our leave. I could have been a bit more accommodating, but there are only about 100 or so Howlers left after their ambush failed. It looks like that was their main fighting force because nearly a third of the people I saw in their were either children or crippled in some way. Either I get a few mountain clansmen on my side or I wipe them out as a warning to the others. I win regardless.
To the surprise of no one, the Howlers capitulated and sent 40 of their warriors, including Merka to join my forces. The first thing I did was introduce them to some proper fucking hygiene so as to reduce the risk of disease, followed by getting them armed and armored. Training came right after that, though they'll likely have to hang back during the next few battles while we get them up to snuff and used to formations.
In the weeks after we had little trouble getting to the Redsmiths, Sons of the Tree, Milk Snakes and Moon brothers who were more receptive than the Howlers once they saw proof that I'd keep my word in the form of Merka and her tribesmen. Turns out that most of the Mountain Clansmen were totally down with the idea of NOT starving to death in the mountains this winter, who would have guessed?
I have a total of 207 clansmen in my army, not to mention the 500+ that are waiting for me to finish going around to the other settlements back in their villages. I've made sure to integrate them among the other men, even though the clansmen seem fine with how things are going, you can never be too careful. If they begin to fall into one group of fellow Tribesman, they might end up getting ideas and that's the last thing I need.
At this rate I'll be done gathering the clans under the banner of House Corbray in no time. The best part? No one will be able to say shit about it. Most of the other noble houses in the Vale believed it to be a lost cause, so they signed away any rights to command of this campaign away after realizing that they'd have to foot part of the bill for it if they chose to do so. I hadn't even realized that part until Luceon Templeton mentioned it to me.
I've seen a few of the fuckers fuming when they think I'm not looking, particularly Harlan Hunter. Considering the fact that he killed his father and tried to shift the blame onto his oldest brother in the books I'm going to keep an eye on that one.
In other news, we're currently marching towards the Burned Men and I'm expecting a fight. The Burned Men are perhaps the most feared tribe in the Vale and for good reason. They're among the biggest of the mountain tribes, numbering at around 400, almost all able combatants and they burn parts of their fucking bodies as a sort of sick coming of age ceremony. Even the other Mountain Clans are afraid of them.
They have a reputation as fearless warriors on top of that. They're most notorious for stealing a daughter of House Waynewood, Harrold's aunt nonetheless while she was going off to marry a Bracken. So, needless to say, we're going to have one hell of a fight on our hands.
"Are you planning on making peace with the Burned Men as well?" Harrold asked me, an intense look on his face. No doubt because of what happened to his aunt Ella Waynewood. He wasn't even born when the Burned Men took her, but she was still family so he's been like this for the past few days.
"Not until we make them pay for their crimes." I assure him with a pat on the shoulder. The Burned Men aren't the only clan I have to worry about reacting violently, so I decided that I'd make an example of them, to keep the other tribes from getting any ideas. Of course, there's also the fact that fighting against another clan would serve to bring the Valemen and the Mountain clansmen under me closer to one another along with preventing any potential scheming with whatever Burned Men I bring with us after we sack their village. A sort of 'us vs them' mentality.
As my men and I are marching toward the Burned Men's settlement I see some movement up in the rocks, quickly blowing my whistle the soldiers, both mountain clansmen and Valemen get into the Turtle formation right before we're beset by arrows. Now that the surprise has been ruined they all come out of hiding to meet us in the middle of the mountain pass we're marching down, even the ones that were shooting arrows at us, which gives us the opportunity to switch formations, which I signal the men to do.
Quickly falling back into a basic shield wall, the hundred or so Burned Men that were sent to ambush us quickly slam into it trying to hack the men in front apart only to be cut down by their spears. Blowing my whistle three times, we slowly begin to advance, cutting the Burned men apart and before long they're either all dead or retreating.
"SWITCH!" I yell out, sending the men that were in front to the back of the formation. Now the second row that I was apart of has taken their place at the front. Normally you wouldn't find the commander on the front lines at all, but I want that sweet EXP, plus it'll raise morale among the other soldiers. With me is also Luceon, Harrold and Mychel Redfort.
Finally making it to their settlement we quickly begin slaughtering anyone that gets in our way. If this were an actual army we were going up against there's no way it'd be this easy, but it isn't, they're just some burn victims that got too big for their britches and need to be put in their place.
One man tries to tear my shield off of my arm only to take the blade of Lady Forlorn to the eye. I see Luceon slash a woman across the face while blocking a blow from the axe of a man with a burnt out eye and then proceeds to stab him in the chest.
We go on like this for a few minutes before I notice a lull in mountain tribesmen and take the opportunity to send the row I'm with to the back, letting the men behind us take over. I stay, however. With my shield as it is currently,
Corbray Ironwood Scutum shield +5: A thick steel plated Ironwood shield emblazoned with the sigil of house Corbray commissioned by Lyon Corbray for his military campaign against the mountain clans of the Vale.
Durability: 1250/1250
MP: 8300/16000
Effects:
+50% HP and SP regen when worn
+75% MP regen when worn
+75% cold resistance when worn
Resist 95% fire damage when blocking
Resist 100% physical damage when blocking
and my much higher stats I can stay on the front line for hours if I need to. It inspires the troops to do better too which is an added bonus.
After nearly half an hour of slashing, stabbing and blocking the burned men finally fall back. The shield wall no longer serves a purpose, so I give my soldiers the signal to go wild and they quickly break off, hunting down and killing any burned man they find while saving the women for... other things. Heading into the longhouse that I've learned is usually where the Chief and his family usually live, I open the door to find a woman holding a bow and arrow in her hand.
Raising my left arm right as she looses her arrow it bounces off of my ironwood shield. I ram into her with my shield and knock her to the ground before I hear a whimper coming from the other side of the Longhouse. Turning to look in that direction I see nearly twenty children all huddled up in the corner guarded by a boy with a stone dagger in his hand. Merka and Terrance Lynderly, who had come along with me quickly went to them and disarmed the boy, but did nothing else.
"Right then," I begin to address the woman I had pinned on the ground. "I suppose now would be a good time to discuss your surrender." I say to her.
"And then THIS cheeky cunt, right THERE!" Merka loudly says while pointing to me, "Says to her, he goes 'I suppose now would be a good time to discuss your surrender.' while he has her pinned on the ground in their longhouse as if that wasn't fucking obvious!" Right now we're celebrating our victory over The Burned Men back at our camp. Merka was one of the many who helped themselves to the ale and wine they had stashed around.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa." I say, deep in my cups as well. "Don't let that distract anyone from the fact that Merky here," I swing my arm around her shoulder "screamed like a girl when she saw that dead hound after left the longhouse. You should have heard her!" I laugh, letting go of her before she takes a swing at me with her elbow.
"I am a girl you dumb cunt and don't call me Merky." She says back to me
"That you are." I say taking a good look at her. She's taken off her breast plate and jerkin, leaving her in just a long sleeved tunic, her black hair going down to her neck slightly curling at the ends. If it weren't for those wild green eyes she had I wouldn't even be able to tell that this was the same woman I captured all those weeks ago.
"That I am." She repeats, staring into my eyes with a mischievous smile.
Before long we're in my tent desperately kissing each other while also stripping one another.
"Oh, my."Trysta says from the corner. I hadn't seen her all night so I'd just assumed she'd gone off to bed.
Merka beat me to the punch before I could say anything to her.
"Either join us or get the fuck out." She barely manages to get out between kisses. Trysta quickly begins to strip, but stays in the corner.
"I want you to make me a woman." Merka whispers to me seductively, stroking my face with her hands.
"You've never been with a man?" I question her. You'd think a woman her age in a world where girls are married off as soon as they have their first period would have some experience.
"I was going to fuck someone after the ambush on your camp, but you killed him." She says, without a single care.
"I guess that makes me the better man." I say back to her
"I guess it does." She repeats, right before we start kissing again. Meanwhile Trysta is in the corner, breathing heavily with a glazed look in her eyes as she watches us.
(Next Day)
"That thing you did, with Trysta, is that what women normally do in the mountains?" I question Merka the next day. Last night was fucking nuts, I got two points in END and one in WIS of all things, that's how crazy it was.
"Nah, she just looked lonely in that corner by herself and I wanted to fix that." She says from my left side.
"And fix it she did, my lord." Trysta says from my right side.
"Fucking hell, that was the best night of my life." I utter in awe. It really was, I didn't even know it was possible to feel that good, but it is!
"As much as I'd love to stay, I have work to do." I say to the two of them as I leave their embrace to get dressed for the day. Trysta and Merka share a look before moving closer to the other to cuddle. They seem to have bonded yesterday, I can't say I'm surprised though. After what those two did with each other? There's no way they aren't comfortable enough to cuddle the next morning.
"We'll be waiting for you, my lord." Trysta informs me with a sultry glance.
"Waiting and ready... My lord." Merka hesitated on that last part, but it was so worth it to hear from her. I think I like It better when she's all defiant and strong willed, but submissive Merka is has it's own appeal.
Exiting the tent I find most of the troops already up and about. Since we won't be marching today on account of the hangovers most of them are nursing I have some free time on my hands which I'll be spending in the makeshift forge we had set up.
Just because I have a Valyrian steel sword now doesn't mean I've given up on making my own.
As I heat up the forge and place the crucible I had within I find myself thinking back to yesterdays events.
I expected at least some major hurdles during my campaign, but so far it's been smooth sailing. Against over 350 burned men we only lost 14 of the 300 men I marched with yesterday, 9 during the battle and 5 after due to injuries.
The Burned Men on the other hand were nearly wiped out. Of the near 400 that were there at the start, only 130 remain including the children. That woman with the bow wasn't one of their chiefs or related to one in any way, but she was the one they looked to for guidance since all of the other Red Hands fell in battle, so I brought her along with the 50 other Burned Men I conscripted. They'll be hostages as well as bodies to fight for me.
It was a shame to kill so many potential soldiers, but it had to be done. The men were getting antsy without anyone to fight and I needed to send a message to any other clans that were planning to fight back.
Hopefully I'll be done and out of the mountains by the time Jon Arryn dies.
Current Stats, Skills, and Equipment
Lyon Corbray
LVL: 7
Class: [Lord] 6/25
EXP: 840/7000
HP: 380 HPR= 3.1% per min (+1.55% with shield)
SP: 420 SPR= 3.5% per min (+1.75% with shield)
MP: 190 MPR= 2.6% per min (+1.55% with shield)
STR: 30
DEX: 27
END: 35
CON: 31
INT: 26
WIS: 26
CHA: 36
Points: 8
Perks:
Boon of The Seven Who Are One: +20% additional increase to all forms of EXP. Choose 7 major Skills to gain an additional 7% EXP increase. Every level gained in a major skill grants an additional 7 EXP. Major skills will start with +7 levels.
Heir to a noble house: +5 to all Noble skills. +15 REP with members of lesser noble houses. +10 REP with members of all noble houses of equal standing. +5 REP to all great Noble houses.
Blessed By The Seven: +20 REP with those Faithful to The Seven. The Faith of The Seven are willing to overlook any minor crimes and acts of sin you commit. Members of the faith are more likely to listen to you. +70 HP and SP, -70 MP.
Skills
COMBAT
One-Handed Swords: 65/100 * 7
Two-Handed Swords: 15/100 *
Daggers: 10/100
Armor: 57/100 * 7
Block: 42/100 *
Mounted Combat: 23/100 *
Archery: 30/100 *
Unarmed: 10/100
Physical Resistance: 43/100 7
Hunting
Tracking: 17/100
Stealth: 14/100
Skinning: 19/100
Crafting
Smithing: 67/100 7
Cooking: 23/100
Diplomacy
Speech: 60/100 * 7
Acting: 20/100
Writing: 30/100 *
Negotiation: 35/100 *
Warfare:
Commanding: 60/100 * 7
Geography (Westeros): 40/100 *
Geography (Essos): 10/100 *
Misc:
Disease Resistance: 40/100 7
Etiquette: 40/50 *
Corbray Ironwood Heater shield +5: A thick steel plated Ironwood shield emblazoned with the sigil of house Corbray commissioned by Lynus Corbray for his military campaign against the mountain clans of the Vale.
Durability: 1250/1250
MP: 11600/16000
Effects:
+50%
HP and SP regen when worn
+75% MP regen when worn
+75% cold resistance when worn
Resist 95% fire damage when blocking
Resist 100% physical damage when blocking
Corbray Longsword +3: A Longsword Forged by Lynus Corbray for his campaign against the mountain clans of the Vale. Featuring an ironwood grip with magic used during it's forging this blade is a cut above any other castle forged blade, though it's not on the level of Valyrian steel.
65+1.5x(STR+DEX) slashing and thrusting damage.
MP: 15000/20000
Effects:
+20% rust resistance to blade
+20% chip resistance to blade
Lady Forlorn +5: The ancestral Valyrian steel Longsword of house Corbray. It's name is derived from an older blade owned by house Corbray during the coming of the Andals. Generally passed from lord to heir, there have been cases of lords lending the sword to family members for a lifetime.
150+3x(STR+DEX) slashing and thrusting damage
MP: 1700/16000
Effects:
Complete Rust Resistance
Complete Chip resistance
Bypasses all resistances
Blade never dulls or degrades
+2000% damage against undead.
Gains +6 base damage for every undead slain. Current - 0
I wanted to make this chapter a bit more fast paced than the others, so it's a bit montage-y. Character sheet is at the end since I don't couldn't really fit it into the chapter.
