"Okay, breathe deeply and do it" I'm looking at a rock in front of me is a chunky one a little smaller than a cart and will it to rise from the ground, and it does; the rock is floating in front of my eyes, I'm MOVING it, side to side, with MY MIND.
"FUCK YES, BITCH." I scream.
DAMN, I'm so excited!
I needed to punch something, and I did, the rock; it was stupid, but I was very excited.
"AHhh, shit!" I scream again.
Yep, I'm not made of metal; the rock just fell by the side and to the ground.
Barely two hours in Planetos, defeated by a rock, and yet I'm laughing like a manic.
I started trying my other cantrips, and man, does it feel wonderful. It's just incredible to create plant life like flowers with Druidcraft and set branches on fire with Firebolt. Feeling the fire take shape in my hands before sending it out into the world is an experience like no other!
"Okay, I need to calm down a little." I feel like a 10-year-old whose parents told me they were moving to Disneyland.
"Okay, what do I need?" I think aloud.
"I need to find where I am and when exactly I am." I look around, and there are no landmarks, just woods.
And then I need a plan for where I want to plant my roots and how much I will change that place. I guess the answer is kind of obvious: The Starks in the North are the best solution, not the ideal, but the best I have in Westeros, at least.
Okay, what are the pros of the North? I will not have a mob trying to burn me just because I have magic. They probably treat me with some distrust and fear, being an outsider and all.
That can be fixed in the rebellion; fighting side by side with the northern lords and healing their soldiers might quell that; saving lives always gets the goodwill of people.
The WALL, I have to go there anyway to gain my boon, and beyond that, there are some interesting animals that I want to see.
The Starks, Being under Eddard Stark, is a pro and con because of his honour.
This means I will not be stabbed in the back while walking in his hall, and assassins aren't coming from him, but he might frown on any dishonest or dishonourable methods I apply, so a degree of discretion will be necessary.
It's pretty poor, so any improvement I make will be quite relevant. It is not a question of another loaf of bread on the table for then, but do we eat this winter or not? It's fucking big as well, so there is probably some keep without a lord where I can turn into an arcane tower for myself, and I like the cold.
The cons of the place? Well, it is a poor place, so anything I need, even with the Stark support, might take some time, or I won't get it at all. After all, why would anyone need a basilisk or a wyvern? It will be seen as a frivolous expense.
There is the threat of the Boltons and his lot, but that can be solved by removing them or making sure that the North is never vulnerable to the point that the Boltons rebel,
It's a huge place with no infrastructure, so it's going to take time for anything else to move. I can fly, other people no.
Ned and Robb do make some very questionable decisions. Maybe I can influence them to think a little more about the consequences of their actions and who to trust as well. The problem is that I'm just assuming that my knowledge is enough to help. I have an idea how a lot of things work, but making them is very different.
And there's the South. Everyone's hobby is scheming, and their religion is against magic, so I'm expecting the Westerosi Inquisition. The Citadel and its Maesters will be a bigger problem because they have more influence there, especially the Reach.
I don't trust any of the great houses of the South. They are too involved in the game; they are brutal, have no compassion, and are not passive as the Starks, the worse of all, they are unpredictable; if I end up in Kings Landing, I will be fucked because I'm planning something that maybe will piss off Cercei.
Essos is too far away from the wall; I prefer to have a hand in the fate of the white walkers. The ideal? They die before the wall falls. I'm afraid if I am in Essos, the people in Westeros will not be able to stop them, and if the white walkers gain too much momentum, I'm afraid not even the Narrow Sea will keep me safe.
So yeah, the North, with all its problems, will be a safer bet than the rest. Being under the Stark roof will give me some peace of mind, even if I have to fight for that roof to keep standing above our heads.
Well, my destination is somewhat clear now, and I need to know where I am.
I go back to the mud path and start walking again; ten minutes into walking, I smack my forehead.
"Why the fuck am I walking."
Okay, it must be like any other spell I tried, right?
Concentrate, will it, and it happens, but what will I turn into? Wait, can I turn into a dinosaur? I saw Jurassic Park, so does it count as an animal I've seen? It's time to test it out.
I have a clear image of a pterodactyl, and I imagine turning into it. I start to change, but then it flops.
Maybe it doesn't exist in planetos, or just seeing it in a movie is not enough. Perhaps I have to see the real thing.
"Let's try something else. A mammoth. I know they exist here, and I see movies where they appear. Let's try it," I think out loud.
I grow a little bigger, and a lot of furs appear, but it also fails. Huh, I have to go north if I want a mammoth, I guess; well, let's try something more common; an owl will do.
This Time, I started to shrink; red feathers appeared on my body and clothing, my fingers fused, and talons grew on my feet. A beak appeared, and my eyes became bigger and golden.
The transformation takes a minute and a half, but now I am a fire-red owl, strange, not Very discreet, and not the colour I wanted, but fucking beautiful all the same.
Let's hope it comes with autopilot. It kind of does. It's instinctual to flap my wings and go for the sky, and oh boy, it is something else; the vastness of the sky is something as exhilarating as using magic.
OK, focus. I need to find a place to find out where I am." An hour and a half passed until I saw a small village. I land some distance from the village, turn back into my tall self, and start to walk to the village.
The village was what you expect of a small medieval village, shit, and I was being literal over here, shit mixed with mud outside on the "road" The houses are small and not well made.
But what is strange is that probably 100-something villagers live here, and yet there's no one working or outside their houses or going on their days; not suspicious at all.
I get a glimpse of people looking out their windows or shadows under some doors. One two-story building seems quite lively, so I direct myself there.
Well, it's not like I have many choices. What I'm going to do is kick someone's door down and scream, "TALK TO ME, PLEASE!"
When I hunch over the door to enter what I think is an inn, I see inside a group of six good westerosi citizens, meaning ugly, looking mean, stupid, and, of course, unwashed.
They are sitting on the tables by the fireplace, which has a coat of arms on it. There is a flock of ravens surrounding a black shield charged with a weirwood on a scarlet field.
I am far from a specialist on the game of Thrones, so I have no idea which house is that, but it does have a weirwood, so maybe a House close to the neck, on the other side of the room behind a counter there is a classic balding, bearded innkeeper complete with an apron and sweating like he was in a dornish day, he looks pretty pale as well, I'm not gonna stay here looking like an idiot so a go one of the tables and sit there.
When I entered, the day was waning and giving place to the night, so the inn started to darken. The sunlight was not the only thing that darkened.
The mood of the group by the fireplace also grew more serious. They carried some weapons with them: three clubs and a spear resting on the wall behind one of them, and the other two were carrying daggers.
Now that I am analyzing them, I see a girl around sixteen on the lap of one, with brown hair that goes to her shoulders and light brown eyes.
She has a common beauty to her; she doesn't look comfortable at all, and that's Westeros for you.
The innkeeper interrupts my mussing with a "W-welcome milord, what would you like this fine night?" he speaks shakily.
Under the table, I wave my fingers and cast detect thoughts for the First time; what I get is, 'Maybe he can help us with that'.
The innkeeper was starting to get more nervous because I was just staring at him, but I said.
"Something to drink and some information would be great, my good man."
"I will bring something right away, Milord" As he leaves, I direct my gaze to the group on the other side of the room, trying to pick something.
'Fucking lordling, come here thinking he owns the place..'
'That sachel of his might fetch a good price if I...'
'Where are his bootlickers, a lord travelling with no servants...' This one seems less moronic.
'I will look great with that cloak on me...'
'Hurry up fucking idiot. I want my turn with her...'
The last one was filled with lust and thoughts of what he would do; the girl was thinking about a meadow filled with flowers and a black-haired boy with blue eyes, her sweetheart perhaps, she was in her happy place.
The innkeeper returned with a cup with some brown-yellow liquid, some bread, and dried meat.
"There you go, Milord, the best I have in here," he says, cleaning his hands on the apron.
"Good, sit with me," I say
"It is not proper for me to sit with you," he replies, sweating a little..
"I decide who is proper to sit at my table," I nod to the chair in front of me. "Sit."
He does so, and I push the plate to him. It's time to fish for information.
"Eat...You have a rat problem in your inn," he almost choked, and I sensed his nervousness through my spell.
"Six of them, to be precise, and they are quite aggravating. Do your Lord simply let such a pest run around in his land?"
"No milord, the Blackwood's are good to us, smallfolk." he starts.
" When Lord Tully called the banners after the Greyjoys attacked Seaguard, many of our men were called for the war," He says without making eye contact with me.
"And when we can't protect ourselves, the r-rats come," he says with a heavy breath.
That gave me some good information: the rebellion had already started, Lannisport was already burned, and Seaguard had already repealed the Greyjoy attack.
So, Stannis and the Redwine fleet are probably engaging the Greyjoys; I just need to find where they will be rallying and go there.
"And who the girl is?" I ask, looking at the group; some of them stare back at me, sneering.
"My daughter Milord, she's six and ten. She is to marry a man of the village, but he's marching to war now, carrying the Blackwood banner."
The dude went into war, literally carrying a red flag.
"Please, Milord, if you have some mercy, please h..." he's interrupted by one of the men, the one with his daughter in his lap.
"HEY, you fat bastard, you should be serving us, stupid fuck!" he shouts across the room as the innkeeper sighs and starts to get up; I say.
"I have an offer to make you. I have no coin, but I do need a room for the night; I deal with your rat problem, and you deal with my accommodations. Sound fair?"
"There are five of them, I'm not sure milord," he says
"I am." I retort; I have use for them, after all.
He looks at me and at his daughter, who is being molested by one of the men, and nods; by this point, my thoughts have faded, but I can feel the anger, the frustration, and the shame.
"We have a deal then; I will take your daughter from then; you will leave the inn with her and close the door, and when I'm done, I will call you." he swallowed and nodded.
"HEY YOU CUNT ARE FINISHED SUCKING THE GINGER CO..AGHHH"
He choked as I used Telekinesis to grip his throat; as his hand went from the daughter to his throat, I used Telekinesis again to push her to move.
I got up and walked to them carrying the cup the innkeeper gave me.
As I passed by her, I said, "Go to your father, girl," and then louder to the group.
"Friend, you seem to be choking on something—your arrogance, perhaps. Here for you. A drink may help."
I throw the liquid at them. At this point, the one I'm choking passes out; I hear the door banging on my back, and the group of now five got their weapons.
"Now, now, there is no need for all of you to die. Just drop your weapons and leave, and I will let you live."
Of course, they made the wrong choice as they started to charge me; I threw five blindly brilliant balls of light using Dancing Lights at them.
"AHhhA FUCK HE BLINDED ME, MY EYES!" one of them screamed as they thrashed around.
As they are occupied with their eyes, I use Telekinesis to pull their weapons from them and gust to push them into the wall; as they try to get up, I use Telekinesis once more to throw the five of them onto the ceiling and hold them there.
When I try to do the same to their pass-out friend, he just flops on the floor. It seems that five is the limit of the creatures I can affect.
"Now that I have your attention and your bodies at my mercy let's talk," I say calmly as I put Dancing Lights around the inn.
"We have nothin' to say to you fucking witch" one of them spat.
"I-if you kill us, our group will raze this village!" said another one. The one who thought it was weird that a noble had no servants.
He's the smart one, so I bring him down and hold him, sitting on a chair facing me.
I lean forward, fixing my gaze on him. "Why don't you tell me about that group of yours," I say with a slight smile. As I quietly cast Detect Thoughts, I plunge deep into his mind. To my surprise, there was no group; this guy was trying to bullshit a magic user. I can't help but feel a twinge of respect.
His name is Leon. He is the son of a farmer named Gilbert. His mother is Helena, and his little sister is Ellen. They lived on Frey territory; he left his home after some bandits killed his family—ironic, huh?
His worse crime is murder, but it was another bandit, so fuck it really, no rape, and he takes no pleasure in suffering; I guess he will fit nicely in the job.
As I sever the connection with his mind, I see blood leaking from his nose and eyes. It was not supposed to happen, but ok, he's trembling, and his eyes are looking anywhere but at me.
"Leon, look at me," I said with a dry tone, his eyes widening at the mention of his name.
"Don't listen to this fucke..." one of them starts, but I force his jaw shut.
"Quiet now; we are having a conversation down here." I look at the man in the ceiling and then back at Leon.
" .me. NOW! " I commanded in a booming voice. His gaze met mine as my words echoed through the room, and I could see the fear in his eyes. However, it wasn't enough. I will plant the fear of God in this man.
First, let us make him uncomfortable with a change of attitude.
"You see, Leo, can I call you Leo? I will do that anyway. I want to build a reputation, but if I kill everybody, it will be complicated." I see I've picked his attention.
"So this is what's going to happen: I will let you go so that you can tell what happened here. You might exclude yourself from the group, but you will tell the tale of how this wizard used his power to help the people of this village against the terrible bandits. Do you understand?" He nods but does not say anything.
"You may embellish as you wish, but the tale has to reach the northern host that is coming to the Riverlands; you may use any help you see necessary." I stop and think for a moment, and an idea blossoms in my mind: I got this one from a fantasy book.
I grab a dagger from the ground. I cut his finger just deep enough to dirty it with his blood and used Fabricate to make a simple ring, just the right size for his finger.
Then I invoke one red electric-looking dancing light and make it fade as it touches the ring.
"Put it on" I give the ring to him, and he looks horrified; I look him in the eyes, daring him to say something.
He trembles and puts it on his bloodied finger; as he puts it, I explain.
"I gave you a mission; if you try to sabotage said mission, try to give up on it, try to remove the ring, or try to .over..." I pull his hand with Telekinesis to the front of his eyes, showing him his new ring.
"I will know and punish you for it." I am, of course, talking shit enough to fill the seven kingdoms; bullshit was a branch of magic I always was a professional at. But unlike me, he can't read minds.
He's trembling, crying, and nodding frenetically, and I smell something acrid, a liquid running down his legs; now, That's what I call putting the fear of God on someone.
"I knew you were the smart one Leo, now leave" I snap my fingers using thaumaturgy to open the door as he leaves trembling and crying I close the door once more, this pretend thing is kind of tiring, now the difficult part I turn to the others five.
"I used to be a man of peace, often avoiding conflict. I'll let you in on a secret - I've never taken a life and rarely found myself in fights."
"But now I'm in a world of violence, and it will force my hand one way or another, but you guys will help me change from a man of peace to a man who can do the necessary."
My hand trembles, and I raise it. "See this. I can't have this happening."
"I want you all to know that I take no joy in this, but I can't appear weak in front of others, not in this world. I hope you all will keep my weakness at this moment as a secret."
I'm tearing up, but no tears fall, it's fear, excitement or all of my emotions on a fucked up cocktail, I can't say. I take a deep breath and steel my nerves.
"I always was told that six people keep a secret better when five are dead."