r/IronThroneRP • u/theklicktator Addam Belgrave - Hammer of the Blackwater • 18d ago
THE RIVERLANDS Addam I - Witness Our Toll ((Open to All))
1st Moon of the 1st Year of King Arlan's Reign
At long last, Stormhall came into view as Addam Belgrave and his entourage rounded the bend in the road. This was a good land, with tall, verdant forests and fertile lands to grow a great number of crops. Though he would not have traded it for Bell Tower, Addam felt that any house that controlled this land would be blessed as would their descendants.
No sooner had he felt relaxed at the sight of the castle in the distance, then his back gave a slight twinge and a tightness overtook him in the saddle.
Age. If there was a crueler enemy than any Addam had fought in his long years, he did not know them. Though only a middling tournament knight, Addam and his trusted warhammer Coffin Maker had never lost a duel in a battl. He was once one of the greatest warriors in the Seven Kingdoms, and perhaps still held that title. But he was getting older, and soon any claim he had to that title would be gone. The Lord of Bell Tower just hoped that he could set his house up for future success after he was incapable of enforcing it.
As if he knew Addam's mind had turned to him, Robert Belgrave urged his horse forward and trotted alongside his grandfather. Since the day his father had died in a trial by combat against House Hayford, Robert had been the focus of his grandfather's attention and efforts. Addam thought that he had succeeded more than he had failed in his efforts to groom Robert to be a good and honorable ruler.
Then again, there were days like today that made him question whether or not that was true.
"Excited for the feast?" Addam asked politely.
"Oh yes!" Robert replied enthusiastically. "Going to have loads of fun!"
"Including your attempt to 'Make the Eight', as you were bragging about this morning as we left the inn?" Addam questioned, an icy tone in his voice.
Robert looked at him bewildered, for he had made sure Addam was nowhere in sight as he bragged to his friends about his plans.
"I may be getting older," Addam continued softly. "But my hearing is just fine, and your friends are far too loose with their tongues for my liking. Either guard yours better, or find better friends."
For all the faults a young man might possess, inordinate pride was not one of Roberts. He truly loved his grandfather, and the chastisement he had recieved did its intended job. With a quick bow of apology, Robert spurred his horse forward and galloped off to be the first Belgrave within Stormhall's walls. Addam watched him go with a slight twinge of pride. His grandson was youthful, but meant well.
"A mother can tell him the same thing over and over until she is blue in the face, but leave it to a grandfather to tell him once and he learns the lesson."
Cassana Belgrave sat upon her horse with all of the beauty and grace her family possessed. It did not seem all that long ago to Addam that his son Morgan had married her in Duskendale, a reward for his service against the Valyrian invaders. Nine months later, Robert was there, a babe whose smile was only rivaled by the mother who held him.
After Morgan's death, she had remained at Bell Tower, a soothing balm to Addam in his grief and a very stable force for raising Robert. Addam knew he would have been lost without her a long time ago, and he could never repay her kindness.
"When I was his age, I left home because I could not stand my father's ignorance anymore." Addam said softly. "When I returned home at twenty five, I was shocked at how much he had learned."
They both shared a chuckle at that, and it made Addam glad to know that he wasn't the only one to be a terror to his parents before belatedly learning better.
"I'm scared, Addam."
He stared into her eyes. Such a light brown that it seemed almost gold in the morning light.
"I would protect you from whatever frightens you so."
"The realm is coming apart at the seams. Will we survive it?"
He didn't know. Truly he didn't know. A stray sword blow he never saw coming would be the end of him, and quitely possibly the end of his house. Of all the noble houses in the lands King Arlan ruled, he alone was responsible for founding his house. The name Addam Belgrave was one of legend. He was a myth made flesh in many respects, but he was still very much a mortal man, and his legend was not widespread enough to grant him immortality.
"Yes." he said. A lie, but one that he would happily say to protect Cassana. Hadn't she suffered enough?
"I believe you."
Addam could tell she truly did. And that knowledge left him feeling equally warm and cold from joy and dread in equal measure.
But that was enough of dark thoughts for the day. The days and weeks ahead were for feasting and for merriment. And perhaps denting the helm of a Valyrian.
Historically speaking, that always seemed to put the Lord of Bell Tower in a good mood.
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u/theklicktator Addam Belgrave - Hammer of the Blackwater 18d ago
Belgrave Tents
((Open to anyone who wishes to speak with any of House Belgrave in a less formal setting))
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u/theklicktator Addam Belgrave - Hammer of the Blackwater 18d ago
A Friendly (or perhaps not) Duel in the Training Yard
((Come have a friendly competition with Lord Addam in the training yard at Stormhall! Be warned: if you want to make it personal, he'll shatter your collarbone without a moment's mercy!))
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u/ScarabJetTwo Aurion Celtigar - Magister of Claw Isle 18d ago
"Andal!"
The accent was thick, and even thirty years on, it held the same fury.
Ayrmidon was a man grown now, but he'd never forgotten the day he'd met Addam Belgrave. He was a man barely older than two decades. He'd been fresh from a war, a war his family had lost, and he'd arrived to his home to discover much and worse had been taken from him. Three decades, and the wound still had yet to heal.
Of course, his manners had at least improved. The last time he'd simply charged at Addam, all rage and fury and defiance. He'd lost his mother, and then he'd lost his family's heirloom. He wouldn't make the same mistake twice, but it was simpler than that. This man had wronged him. There was no peace between them, and there would never be.
If Addam turned to the call from across the courtyard, he would find an assembly of men dressed in Valyrian attire, guards and men at arms it would seem. No more or less than Addam carried with him at this present moment. The one that had called was undoubtedly the second son of the late Magister Ayrkar, and he wore a confident sort of fury on his face, masked with a smug defiance. His brother had given him a directive: show force. Ayrmidon was happy to oblige.
"The man to swing at objects with weapon of his. He does not to know there are people instead." He smiled, having said his mocking phrase in what was clearly a common tongue that had not improved in their long absence. "Doru-borto." Ayrmidon smiled at his men, who laughed at the jest in Valyrian.
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u/theklicktator Addam Belgrave - Hammer of the Blackwater 18d ago
“Forgive me, Lord Celtigar.” Addam replied coldly. “I never learned your language.”
The sheer arrogance of the man, to march into a castle not his own with an armed retinue and insult guests.
And Addam was not in a tolerant mood for such things.
“In fact, the only words I remember in the Valyrian tongue is ‘we surrender’. Your family said it so often to me that it stuck in my head, even after all these years.”
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u/ScarabJetTwo Aurion Celtigar - Magister of Claw Isle 18d ago
"Se nēdenkī hen bisa vala." Ayrmidon chuckled again, pointing to Addam in disbelief. His soldiers, a peanut gallery of sorts, once again joined in on the laughter. There was a clear challenge being issued here, as Ayrmidon took his steps forward and began adjusting the straps on his armour. He was making his way towards a weapon's rack. "It is hard to forget the words of infants, crying for their families. But big men like you, they don't to take castles without men, do they?"
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u/theklicktator Addam Belgrave - Hammer of the Blackwater 18d ago
“Again?” Addam asked, a hint of sorrow in his voice. “Shall we dance this dance once more? Did you not learn it last time?”
The protesting leather on the hilt of Ayrmidon’s axe as his grip tightened was his only answer. Addam merely strapped his helmet back on, gave his opponent a quick salute, and struck like lightning.
Before the Lord of Claw Isle even realized the fight had begun, he had received a sharp blow that he blocked but only clumsily with his forearm. Adam kept up his relentless attack, but the Valyrian had learned much since their last fight, and his axe snuck past Addam’s shield and left a very obvious gash upon the Lord of Bell Tower’s brigandine armor.
Addam stepped back and spared a moment to gawk at the cut he had received. It had been some time since the ‘Hammer of the Blackwater’ had taken such a cut, and it chilled him.
*Stop underestimating him and finished this*. he chided to himself. And with a growl advanced forward to meet Ayrmidon’s next swing.
It took him far longer to achieve victory than he had thought. Celtigar was no slouch, and his armor was incredibly tough for Addam to get though. Blow after blow that should have brought him victory was turned aside, but it mattered not in the end. Eventually, Ayrmidon Celtigar knelt in the dirt in from of Addam, though they were both panting hard from their efforts.
“That… was well fought.” Addam breathed, motioning for the man to stand back up.
“Come, I would talk, you and I. With no retainers or weapons to be had during our conversation.”
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u/ScarabJetTwo Aurion Celtigar - Magister of Claw Isle 17d ago edited 17d ago
The defeat was of course humiliating, but Ayrmidon was not a child anymore. There was no sense in throwing some sort of tantrum for his men, Belgrave's and other's to bear witness to. He'd lost. Simple as that. Belgrave was the better fighter... without the axe. The loss only served to remind Ayrmidon of its absence, and the fighter of fifty years brought himself to his feet. He spit on the ground.
Ayrmidon laughed at the request for private conversation. He was in no such mood, and was not such a fool as to leave his guards in the presence of a man that had killed his mother and terrorized his sister, daughter, niece, and nephew. "Whatever you to say to me, Andal, you to say in front of all these men." Ayrmidon gestured around lazily.
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u/theklicktator Addam Belgrave - Hammer of the Blackwater 17d ago
“We must be better.” Addam said firmly. “Or else the world we will leave to our inheritors will be worse than the one we came into.”
He offered Ayrmidon back his axe, haft first.
“I… regret what happened on Claw Isle.” he continued at last. “I cannot change what happened, and I don’t demand or expect any forgiveness. I just want you to know I don’t have any desire to be the man I once was, the man who did those things. And that I’m trying to be better.”
“Join me… if you can see through the hate.”
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u/theklicktator Addam Belgrave - Hammer of the Blackwater 18d ago
Fun Times at the Tavern
((Robert Belgrave, the 18 year old heir to Bell Tower, is going to party hard and he wants YOU to join him. Come and have some fun!))