Castle Pebbleton, Seat of House Merlyn

**Poach** · December 16, 2015, 04:50 PM

1. Family

See here

2. Incomes

Base: 40,000 Dragons
+ Traits: 15% (3 Wealth), +6,000 Dragons
+ Edicts: Merchant Taxation, +20,000 Dragons
+ Trade routes (1 max), +10,000 Dragons

Total: 76,000 Dragons

3. Military

- Land -

Levy

Militia

Professional Troops

- Naval -

Militia

Professional Ships

**Jokern** · December 17, 2015, 01:08 PM

A man with a small retinue comes before the gates of Castle Pebbleton, requesting a place to stay for the night. Their leader, the Drowned Priest Urron Squideater, also requests a meeting with the Merlyn.

**Poach** · December 17, 2015, 01:24 PM

The retinue are permitted the use of a storage shed that presently lies empty, with the guard on the walls casting a glance every so often to make sure the group were up to no good. After a time, word is sent for the Priest that Lord Merlyn can spare some time now.

Urron enters Sargon's study, escorted by two of Sargon's men, to see the desk strewn with parchments, maps and tools useful for plotting courses at sea. Sargon himself is sat lazily in the chair, slouched backwards and fiddling with a compass.

"What is it, Priest?" asked Sargon irritably, "Are the inns of Pebbleton charging too much this week?"

**Jokern** · December 17, 2015, 02:16 PM

Urron gave the maps and the tools on Lord Merlyn's desk a quick glance before answering. A grim expression showed on his face, his grey eyes cold and sharp. It quickly changed to a more relaxed visage, though.

"The Merlyn should pay more respect to a servant of our Lord God if he wishes to be ally with the sea. The tales of the captains who scoffed at me, only to join their ancestors in the Drowned God's halls the very next day, are numerous. But that is for another day. I am here to see if you have properly honoured our Lord God who drowned for us, as is my duty. You who style yourselves lords and kings often forget who gave you your strength, who aids your ships with good wind, who you will one day feast beside til the end of days. I am merely a vessel for his will."

**Poach** · December 17, 2015, 04:04 PM

Some Drowned Men were devout servants of the Drowned God, concerning themselves with anointing the newly born, blessing ships and delivering sermons, living humble and selfless lives. Others abused their position to burden themselves upon their people, demanding acts of devotion while consuming their hosts' firewood, food and ale, living corrupt, selfish lives.

"And what, pray tell, do you want of me, Priest?" he asked scathingly.

**Jokern** · December 19, 2015, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by Poach

Some Drowned Men were devout servants of the Drowned God, concerning themselves with anointing the newly born, blessing ships and delivering sermons, living humble and selfless lives. Others abused their position to burden themselves upon their people, demanding acts of devotion while consuming their hosts' firewood, food and ale, living corrupt, selfish lives.

"And what, pray tell, do you want of me, Priest?" he asked scathingly.

"Just that you truthfully answer my questions and that you let me anoint you if you pass, no more nor less. All I wish is that those who rule over our islands are worthy of their power. Now, House Merlyn has always been a strong family on Great Wyk, its ships has sailed the Sunset Sea for ages past. Do you honour our Lord God who drowned for us with blood and battle and song, with reavings against the green landers? Do you have salt wives, thralls and treasures to prove your devotion? Is the iron price or the gold price ruling Pebbleton? I saw many merchants and traders when I walked its streets, does the Merlyn himself mix with these vile cowards? Last but not least, do you pray to the Drowned God and slay the false prophets of the seven demons who come to our shores, spreading their lies among the Ironborn?"

**Lucius Malfoy** · December 18, 2015, 01:46 PM

A raven arrives, requesting the presence of Lord Merlyn to Hammerhorn Castle.

**Poach** · December 19, 2015, 10:46 AM

Sargon laughed harshly.

"Is your life so bereft of anything useful that you must waste the time of others with petty interrogations?" he asked, "Tell me, Priest, do you have reason to suspect me of heresy? Do you not hear word of my reavings, or see that my ships leave harbour? Do you not see the thralls and salt wives while you burden my halls and my time with your inane rantings? Have you spied a church of the Seven inside my walls?"

He pointed out of his window, to the lights of Pebbleton in the distance, "Finally, do you see my bloody banners over the town of Pebbleton? I don't. I am not the High Reeve of Pebbleton, you fool."

**Jokern** · December 19, 2015, 01:34 PM

The Drowned Priest's face grimaced in frustration and anger.

"My life belongs to the Drowned God, you think my duties to him are petty and inane? I have both seen and heard of your exploits, but I desired the Merlyn's own words, to see what kind of man you were. Actions speak only half the truth of a man's intentions. You are clearly an Ironborn, in soul and body both."

Urron quickly took a swig of his saltwater to calm himself down. There was no point in getting riled up against a lord within his own solar. The Squideater knew that while the Drowned God would surely smite the Merlyn if he killed a priest, it would not be for the benefit of either. For the moment at least.

"Very well, if I am but a fool, then I shall leave your presence and be on my way at dawn. I have no more business with a lord who laughs in my face. The Lord God who drowned for us thanks you for your hospitality. May your ships have favorable wind and your enemies fall before you."

**Poach** · December 19, 2015, 04:07 PM

"Good evening, Priest." said Sargon as the man left. It was one thing to be vigilant against those who would taint the Old Way, but to harass law-abiding men arbitrarily demanding they prove their devotion was, to Sargon, nothing but the ego-inflating crusading of petty, small minded men. Perhaps the Priest had a small dick, or something: the thought prompted a chuckle.