1.
Spring Sickness, Summer Drought.
The veil of death looms large over Westeros as the Spring Sickness, bane of Kings, rolls through the countryside like an enormous wave, drowning the unfortunate.
As news from the Citadel forecast a long summer, the news feels dire as many smallfolk do not return to the fields, ravaged by disease.
As the countryside suffers from sporadic outbreaks, lawlessness will increase.
In the cities, men of means remain in their estates, worried of the looming killer roaming the realm. Many a servant of the Red Keep is heard cough one day and perish soon after. The Spring Sickness knows no bounds.
As bells ring in many cities across the 7 Kingdoms, many shield and pike are left unattended. With the small folk in disarray, more mercenaries disembark at westerosi harbors.
year 210 after conquest - 3 Chapters
2.
Violence at Court.
As the Hand of the King struggles to decide on who will become Master of Laws in his Small Council, tensions run high. While the weeks chase the months, like the string of a bow being drawn taught, something is ought to snap, to be released into the heart of the Red Keep. Finally, it does.
On an unassuming day, the sun beats down on the city as Lord Jon Cormick Bolton prepares for a meeting between him, Lord Rosby and Lady Jodi Tully. His preparations are interrupted as he hears a commotion. He opens his doors to see city guards, Goldcloaks, posted in front of his own guards, outnumbering the Bolton men three to one. Behind the Goldcloaks, Lord Bryden Tully, the Master of Coin, explains that he will have remain in his quarters until the recent matters at Winterfell are investigated. Understanding the futility of the situation, Lord Bolton resigns to await Stark reinforcements to break this siege, knowing full well, he will miss Lord Rosby's set meeting.
In a courtyard nearby, Lady Jodi Tully is stopped by the Master of Ships, Lord Billy Mormont, with several sailors and knights in tow. Lord Mormont provokes the Tully guards, his men outnumbering them by at least five to one. As Lady Tully tries to force their way past the arrogant Lord, a fight breaks out.
Many of the Tully knights are killed as the Northerners push them back. Lady Jodi is injured in the fighting and escorted to her chambers.
Lord Mormont leaves several Tully bodies behind as he returns to his chambers, eventually relieving Lord Bolton's situation, with neither side having seen the Hand of the King.
The Master of Whispers:
As the Wolf and the Trout battle for dominance, now having drawn steel within the castle walls, the Falcon swoops high above the Stag as Lord Jon Cafferen has proven to be a temporary novelty around the tower of the hand. In a quiet ceremony, only involving a few noble lords, the maester known as Bugeater is anointed Master of Whispers, joining the Small Council amongst his neighboring kingdoms.
In one of his very few public speeches, lord Bugeater addresses several Lords about his commitment to deal with the emerging Blackfyre threat. The old bird speaks of how revolt has rocked the Vale and might consume all of Westeros if the Houses don't band together to stop the Black Dragon from taking control. He urges all in King's Landing and in their castles at home, that if the Blackfyre's manage to depose King Aerys, they will surely cast all of those down, that served the Targaryens and replace them with ambitious rival houses.
Bugeater
3.
Waking the Lion.
Lord Tyrrel Lannister, head of his house, Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West, gathers his banners. Although he has not called his Lords to his service, many rumors spread of ravens sent across the Westerlands, for all lords to train and arm as many forces as they can. As steel, horses, wagons and orders travel to his bannermen, Lord Lannister is also heard to have sent word across the Narrow Sea, his daughter departing the capitol on a ship bound east, to pay mercenaries for the Lion of the Rock.
"If this force ever marches, the seven hells will tremble under its weight" - a minor lord of the Westerlands is heard saying at court in King's Landing.
With steely resolve, Houses Baratheon, Tully, Tyrell and Arryn also strengthen their forces.
Past Omens of Winter...
Reavers Attack:
With his recent success, Lord Dagon Greyjoy seems to feel invincible. He has split his fleet, traveling speedier to multiple targets at once.
As more Ironborn join his cause, he must supply them with both treasure and glory. He has given each arm of his warfleet a goal. One will continue raiding the unassuming westerosi, while another will find a vulnerable fleet and burn it at anchor.
- To protect against the two-pronged attack, the kingdoms must support their lords in being vigilant and ready to defend themselves. All lords must pool through bids:
A total of 2 coin, 2 supply, 3 materials, and 3 arms.
Failure: if the minor lords are not supported to fight them, the Ironborn will destroy 1 fleet of the lowest bidder and raid the second lowest bidder, costing them 1 coin, 1 supply and 1 arms.
The Reavers decimate all before them.