Grey King's Hall: House of the Order of the Kraken

[Hengest]

The Grey King's Hall is the site on Nagga's Hill where the Grey King raised his hall out of the bones of Nagga. It is the site of kingsmoots in the Iron Islands. Nagga's ribs became the beams and pillars and her jaws the throne. According to legend, the Hall had been warmed by Nagga's living fire and on the walls hung tapestries made of silver seaweed. The men sworn to the Grey King ate at a table shaped like a large starfish while seated on thrones made from mother-of-pearl. Upon the Grey King's death, the Storm God snuffed out Nagga's fire and the sea stole the throne.

The hall has been rebuilt into a simple longhouse made of upturned ships set upon pillars of mighty northern oaks trunks. A long hearth-pit runs along the centre. Here is the official home of the Order of the Kraken, the first knightly Order in all of Westeros in decades. Any knighted man can seek to join the Order, and give his pledge risking his life in the Drowned Man ritual. Those not anointed as knights under the Seven can join either as squires and be fostered by the knights or join as sergeants to lead the military forces.

Marshall of the Order & Reaver of the Grey Garden: Ser Godric Lefford, The Red Knight

First Knight: Lord William Botley-Flowers, Lord of Lordsport, The Green Knight

Drowned Swords of the Order
May claim income of 27000 Dragons first year, and 18000 Dragons each year thereafter
- Ser Edric Tully, The Clearwater Knight
- Ser Jon Manderly, The Merman


Brothers of the Order
1,500 Order Knights (Dismounted Knights, Elite Infantry)

[Pericles of Athens]

"I hate boats." Ser Jon lamented as he stepped off the ship and onto dry land for the first time in over a week, he had made the journey down from Moat Cailin to Seagard and from there hoped a ship across Ironman's bay to the Iron Islands. Unfortunately a storm hit and blew them off course, delaying the journey by days much to chagrin of the young Manderly. But after all that here he was, the home of the most self-important people in all Westeros and the poorest to boot.. in all honesty it looked like a bunch of stained rocks to him, but then again he'd been living in a decrepit old fortress in the middle of a swamp for the past ten years so he wasn't in a strong position to judge.

He made his way from the simple port up to Nagga's Hill, where he found a longhouse built where it is claimed the Grey King's Hall had once stood, it seemed the Maester's history lessons did come in handy for something after all, it looked much like a foolish attempt to reclaim lost glory. But it was expected as the Islands were a land very much stuck in the past, eerily similar to the North in that regard. 'I hope I'm not making a huge mistake..' the Smalljon thought as he approached the door to the longhouse and pushed his way inside..

[Hengest]

Ifer the Damphair was sat glaring into the fire by the massive round iron dais at the head of the hall. There were plenty of soldiers and servants milling around in the warmth, keen to seem busy to stay out of the winter storms.
Ifer's attention was stirred by a figure that came in from the rain and the cold, he hadn't seem him before. He looked foreign, maybe northern but not quite like a northerner. He stood and beckoned the visitor to him.

[Pericles of Athens]

The Smalljon was all burly muscle and thick fiery red hair all of which had been thoroughly drenched in the torrential downpour outside the longhouse. But he was grateful to be inside now at least, he could only hope the hearth could warm his bones before he had need of his strength.

He approached Ifer in silence, best allow him to make this first move - he did seem to be in charge around here after all, best not to offend his touchy Ironborn sensibilities.

[Hengest]

"Whoever you are, you look like you've come a long way. Drink?" Immediately serving wenches appeared with pitchers of mulled cloudy cider. "You look like the kind of man we need around here. Are you a knight? Who are you? Or rather, who would you rather be?"

[Pericles of Athens]

The Smalljon grunted in response taking a pitchers of the questionable cider from the serving girl, finishing it in two large gulps, as she turned from him to leave he could resists looking at her bottom for a bit too long - he had spent the past week aboard a ship full up with males after all. "I am Ser Jon Manderly, the Smalljon they call me, of the Manderlys of Moat Cailin. Descendent of the Firstmen and the Andals, a follower of the old gods like my father before me, but sworn and bound in the light of the seven." He thought for a moment. "Despite all that I am still uncertain as to who I am, or who I wish to be.."

[Hengest]

The Smalljon grunted in response taking a pitchers of the questionable cider from the serving girl, finishing it in two large gulps, as she turned from him to leave he could resists looking at her bottom for a bit too long - he had spent the past week aboard a ship full up with males after all. "I am Ser Jon Manderly, the Smalljon they call me, of the Manderlys of Moat Cailin. Descendent of the Firstmen and the Andals, a follower of the old gods like my father before me, but sworn and bound in the light of the seven." He thought for a moment. "Despite all that I am still uncertain as to who I am, or who I wish to be.."

"Manderly.... That name is feared in the Isles, but times have changed and the wars are ill remembered. It may stand against you among the Ironborn or be the making of you." He slapped the large man on his broad muscled back.
"As master of all Drowned Men it gladdens my heart to hear you follow the old ways of your country they are not unlike our own gods. And it gladdens me as it should you that you are still unaware of your future, as a knight you have come to seek us here... Now let us see what manner of man you are... for fortune, glory, riches, title, wife?"

[Pericles of Athens]

"I seek a land where summer lasts a thousand years, I seek eternal life and a castle high up in the clouds, I seek a love that will be sung of in the tales a hundred years from now." He laughed heartily. "But I doubt I'll find any of that here. So I suppose I'll need to settle for men to kill, women to , and a couple pints of ale to wash it all down."

[Hengest]

Ifer laughed, "Well then you have indeed come to the right place. However," his laughter abated somewhat as he continued "you know the Order requires an oath as well as the rite of Drowning?"

ooc: I added your name to the list above, note that Smalljon can now claim an income as a Sworn Sword

[Pericles of Athens]

"I've made enough oaths in my time, what's one more?" He thought on the drowning for a moment. "I do not fear what is to come, whenever you are ready I shall be baptized in frigid salt and iron or I shall die in the attempt."

[Hengest]

"I've made enough oaths in my time, what's one more?" He thought on the drowning for a moment. "I do not fear what is to come, whenever you are ready I shall be baptized in frigid salt and iron or I shall die in the attempt."

Ifer nodded to himself, "Impressive, fearless man. We need such knights, but I must ask what of your father? I cannot see him having commended you for coming to the Isles. I recall my nephew's attempts to conciliate with the North were rebuffed. You know, there will be some that will suspect you of being a spy. Frankly, I don't care about any of these things, it is your own business, but expect questions. Not just from the locals, the other knights can be guarded against each other. If you make the Drowning ritual then I will accept you as a brother and I will defend your name as any Ironborn. I will await the First Knight before we gather for the ceremony."

[Axis Sunsoar]

William Botley-Flowers arrived in the Grey King's Halls after some time, and joined Ifer. "Is this the man who seeks to become our new brother?" He asked, "Is it time for the drowning ceremony?" He winced as he said that, painfully aware that he had failed his own drowning, and he could still feel the water closing over his head, and the life slipping from his body. Supressing a shiver, he turned to assess the red-haired knight who stood before them.

Edit: I assume I'm taking wages as Lord of Lordsport, not as a knight of the order?

[Pericles of Athens]

"Neither my father nor my uncle know of my coming here, but I will not sit idly by festering in Moat Cailin waiting for my turn at being a glorified gate keeper - it is my intent to carve a name for myself out of blood and steel. As for questions, I've always found that action speaks louder than any words." He saw the First Knight enter, a squirrelly man who seemed frightened of someone or something. "Whenever you are ready, if my time has come it'd be best to get it over with." He laughed at the humor, dark as it might be.

[Hengest]

"Neither my father nor my uncle know of my coming here, but I will not sit idly by festering in Moat Cailin waiting for my turn at being a glorified gate keeper - it is my intent to carve a name for myself out of blood and steel. As for questions, I've always found that action speaks louder than any words." He saw the First Knight enter, a squirrelly man who seemed frightened of someone or something. "Whenever you are ready, if my time has come it'd be best to get it over with." He laughed at the humor, dark as it might be.

ooc: Do you have any survival traits?

[Pericles of Athens]

ooc: Do you have any survival traits?

OOC Yes, +3.

[Hengest]

OOC Yes, +3.

Ooc there's no need to do a roll since you can't die

Ifer nodded to the Green Knight and marched at the head of the troop, Drowned Men carrying sputtering torches until they all stopped at the windswept beach, the fire offered a little light in the cold winter evening. "Henceforth, you shall be known as the Merman. By the power invested in me by the God of the Sea I grant you the right to bear arms and the strength to meet justice throughout this realm without let or hindrance. Be drowned and reborn for what is dead may never die, go fearlessly through life for the death of your death and the length of your life were fated long ago."
With that, the Drowned Men cast him under the dark waves and held him in the cold waters until his body went limp, he was then dragged ashore and his chest beaten until he breathed life anew.

[Lord Dread]

Ser Edric Tully, wearing coat of arms, more representative for his role as the Clearwater Knight than a retainer of House Tully, attended the meeting as well after informations about the upcoming war had been spread across the country.

[Poach]

Godric stood at the head of one of the great tables inside the Grey King's Hall as many Knights filtered in. The Order had grown large since it was founded, with many Knights, Hedge Knights, second and third sons, and other soldiers of fortune deciding that service to this attempt to further Andal-ise the Ironborn promised combat and wealth. The Damphair had decreed they gather, and so they were gathering.

[Axis Sunsoar]

William greeted his new brother, clasping his hand briefly, and then turned to Ifer, "I assume you called us all together to do more than observe this drowning? What else need be discussed?"

[Hengest]

William greeted his new brother, clasping his hand briefly, and then turned to Ifer, "I assume you called us all together to do more than observe this drowning? What else need be discussed?"

The Damphair nodded to the Green Knight. "Aye Lord William, the Order has been called to form under Lord Godric, but I see no Tully here..." His eyes scanned the purple grey clouds lit from behind by a dim blue sky. "War, great and grim, this winter will be harsh."