This is the fifth report in our narrative campaign series, Campaign of Thrones. Unlike most reports, this one will forgo tabletop warfare and instead majorly advance important plots across the Seven Kingdoms. These events will move us away from the story we know and into an alternative history of Westeros circa 298/299 AC.
The story will be constructed using the same system I’ve used to decide the course of events so far: a mix of creative writing and invented odds based on gameplay results. Each major character was given several possible outcomes with varying probabilities (based on how well they’ve performed in game). The chosen outcome was decided by a roll of the dice. These outcomes in turn affected other characters and storylines. This report will not go into detail on how I decided on these probabilities or the other possible outcomes, but instead focus on the results and how they will shape this new battle for the Iron Throne.
THE EXCHANGE
When word reached Cersei Lannister of the death of her father Tywin (reported to have happened during battle) and the capture of her brother/lover Jaime, Lord Varys convinced her to skip the sham trial of Ned Stark and instead negotiate the release of Jaime and hundreds of other Lannister prisoners. Though King Joffrey desired to lead a retaliatory assault against Riverrun, Cersei knew that they had lost the abrupt war. The Lannister army was in tatters, Jaime was in chains, and Lord Tywin was dead. They had no hope of holding the capital against both the Starks and Stannis Baratheon.
Cersei spoke with Lord Eddard in his dungeon cell. She made him swear that no northerner or riverlander would raise arms against the Lannister caravan and they would have safe passage back to Casterly Rock, including Jaime. Ned agreed to the terms. Cersei admitted that while Sansa was safe in their custody, Arya had evaded the Lannister guards and was currently presumed missing or dead. Ned and the Gold Cloaks searched King's Landing for days. They discovered that Arya was last seen leaving the city with a motley crew of Night’s Watch recruits.
The Lannister and Stark captives were exchanged in a field along the Gold Road, near the Blackwater Rush. Jaime was returned to his sister. Ned and Sansa were reunited with Robb and Catelyn. Though many in the Stark army wanted retribution against Jaime for crippling Bran, and King Joffrey wanted to forcefully subjugate the vile northern traitors, the exchange was completed peacefully and both armies went their separate ways.
Before she escorted the released Lannister prisoners across the field to the hurrying caravan, Cersei Lannister proclaimed, “You are a man of your word, Eddard Stark.”
Ned said nothing in return.
THE RETURN OF THE KINGS
From their seat at Casterly Rock, the Lannisters maintained that Joffrey was the legitimate heir of King Robert Baratheon and the rightful ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. The people of the westerlands quickly soured on the ineffectual ‘Mad Cub,’ decrying him an incestuous demon spawn and unlawful, powerless ruler. Joffrey’s shaky claim was not helped by the brazenness in which Jaime and Cersei conducted their relationship now that their father was dead. Stannis Baratheon hoped to gather intel on his ‘nephew’ Joffrey, the Pretender King of Casterly Rock, so he sent Davos Seaworth and Andrew Estermont to assess the situation out west.
Stannis remained at Dragonstone, even after the Lannisters and their minions vacated King’s Landing. Several advisors close to the king whispered that perhaps he was ashamed that his throne was won by a teenage northerner. When it was proposed that he head north to personally thank the Starks for all they had done, he ground his teeth and declared that the northerners were simply doing their duty. Others believed that Stannis and his red priestess, Melisandre, were devising a way to remove the faith from the capital before his arrival. Eventually, Stannis announced that he would make way to King’s Landing. He asked his brother Renly to make preparations for his arrival.
The night before his departure, Melisandre and the Florents consulted Stannis in the Chamber of the Painted Table. Maester Cressen burst into the room, gasping for breath, drenched in rainwater and sweat. He handed Stannis a roll of parchment.
“I’ve known you my whole life, Cressen,” Stannis said. “I’ve never seen you with such a look of shock.”
“Read it, my lord.”
Stannis unrolled the parchment. “Married Margaery Tyrell? I suppose that is shocking if you know Renly.”
“… the rest,” implored Cressen.
Stannis finished the letter and placed it on the Painted Table. “Fool.”
“What is it, my lord?” asked Alester Florent.
“Renly has proclaimed himself King of the Seven Kingdoms. He sits the Iron Throne this very night.”
LOOSE ENDS
As the Lannisters abandoned King’s Landing, some of its most famous residents also left the capital. Varys, Petyr Baelish, and Barristan Selmy have all disappeared. Rumors say that Baelish has been seen at his family’s holdings on the Fingers, and that Varys and Ser Barristan have fled across the Narrow Sea.
Tyrion Lannister, the sellsword Bronn, and Gregor Clegane have not been seen since the disaster at the Green Fork.
The Stark forces returned north, though Ned & Robb remained with a sizeable force to search for Arya along the Kingsroad. Roslin Frey joined the northern party. She was betrothed to Robb and would wed him upon his return to Winterfell.
At the Wall, Jon Snow and his newfound friend Samwell Tarly recited their vows before a weirwood tree and became brothers of the Night’s Watch. “I am the sword in the darkness. I am the watcher on the walls. I am the fire that burns against the cold, the light that brings the dawn, the horn that wakes the sleepers, the shield that guards the realms of men. I pledge my life and honor to the Night's Watch, for this night and all the nights to come.”
REBELLION AT THE ROCK
Davos Seaworth and Andrew Estermont were shocked at what they saw when they arrived at Casterly Rock. Two giant lion statues stood proud before the main gate... and five hanging corpses swung from the lions' jaws: Cersei, Jaime, Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen. Irate citizens threw stones and waste at the Lannister’s lifeless bodies.
Davos spoke with a few denizens of Lannisport and quickly learned the details. The nature of Cersei and Jaime’s relationship inflamed anti-Lannister sentiment in the city. A religious group known as the Sparrows deposed the Lannisters and took control of Casterly Rock. Their pious leader, a man dubbed the High Sparrow, has declared that the Rock will be a stronghold for the righteous: the new capital of the Faith of the Seven.
“The Lady Melisandre won’t like that,” said Andrew.
“… neither will Stannis,” replied Davos.
Later that day, Davos and Andrew watched the High Sparrow preach to thousands of captivated disciples. He spoke of the corruption at King’s Landing and how the current High Septon is a whore for flesh and coin.
“I can't say he's wrong about that,” Davos noted.
The High Sparrow introduced the crowd to the first of ‘the Champions of the Seven,’ seven mighty warriors who pledged their sword to the Sparrows’ crusade of purity. They would serve as his avenging right-hand. The first of these warriors was the Hound, Sandor Clegane.
“He looks utterly miserable,” Andrew noticed.
“He looks better than the Lannisters,” said Davos.
The High Sparrow spoke to both the Hound and his many followers. “May the Warrior give strength to your sword arm. We are the many, and justice shall be done against the sinners and nonbelievers of this land!”
WRAP-UP
We’ve totally branched off now and there are tons of possibilities to explore. The next few battle reports will see the free folk battle for control of their swelling army, Ned & Robb team up to defend Arya against a mysterious assailant, the Baratheon brothers begin their war for the Iron Throne, and an exiled Targaryen heir plot his return to power from across the Narrow Sea...
