text | un: stormsend

[bruxisms]

GREETINGS. I AM STANNIS BARATHEON, ONCE RIGHTFUL KING OF WESTEROS, AND LORD OF DRAGONSTONE AND STORM'S END, THOUGH OLD TITLES MATTER LITTLE HERE.

I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR ALL "REFUGEES".

[ is he using capslock because he believes that is the proper way to type? because he accidentally got his phone stuck on it? because he just wants to? the true reason will likely be lost to time, and none will ever know. ]

HAVE ANY OF YOU EXPERIENCED AN ODD OCCURRENCE WHERE YOU MEET SOMEONE THAT YOU ARE ACQUAINTED WITH, AND THEY RECALL EVENTS FAR DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU? NOT MERELY A LAPSE IN THEIR MEMORY, BUT ENTIRELY DIFFERENT EVENTS, SUCH AS A MAN STILL BEING ALIVE WHEN YOU KNOW HIM TO BE DEAD, OR HEARING THAT YOU MARCHED YOUR WIFE AND CHILD INTO BATTLE WHEN YOU KNOW THAT WOULD BE UTTER FOLLY AND RECALL LEAVING THEM SAFELY UNDER GUARD?

[ he still cannot believe that anyone would do that, least of all a man who seems to share his name, personality, and so many of his memories, yet is very much not him. ]

I WOULD KNOW IF THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR THINGS WITH THOSE THEY KNOW. AS THOUGH THERE WERE TWO VERSIONS OF YOUR WORLD. ONE THAT SOME OF YOU RECALL, AND ONE THAT OTHERS DO.

AND EVEN IF YOU DO NOT, I WOULD ALSO HEAR OF WHAT YOU KNOW OF DRAGONS FROM YOUR OWN WORLD. AS A MEMBER OF THE SIMWE INSTITUTE, ONE OF MY TASKS IS TO STUDYING THEM, AND I WOULD HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

YOU HAVE MY THANKS, AND DO NOT WASTE MY TIME.

Comments

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SO THAT'S WHO YARA IS.

[Wow that's one mystery solved. He though the Dany brigade had been onto some weird stuff. Actually...]

I WAS TOLD MY NEPHEW AND NIECE WENT TO MEREEN IN MY PLACE TO MEET WITH THE DRAGON QUEEN. FURTHER IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT MY BROTHER HAD ALLIED WITH THE LANNISTERS EVEN AS WE PILLAGED THE LANDS OF THE REACH.

[Until now, he just assumed that this was all some trick Euron was playing on him. He still did. That was more likely than an extra Westeros.]

[bruxisms]

AYE.

[ gods be good that the turncloak was not the only one to remember it the correct way.

even if Victarion was still technically a traitor. ]

PRIOR TO THE STORM, I HELD BOTH YOUR NEPHEW AND NIECE OUTSIDE OF WINTERFELL. YOUR BROTHER HAD NOT YET REVEALED HIS PLANS IN THE NORTH. IT WOULD SEEM THAT WHILE MANY THINGS REMAINED SIMILAR, MUCH MORE CHANGED.

[ it was not the first conclusion he wished to come to, but given what he's seen, he has little choice. ]

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WERE YOU GOING TO KILL THEM?

[He didn't know they were with Stannis, so that was kind of interesting. Theon was... well, he was already written off his dead. But he would have been dismayed if Asha was killed. He did like her. Enough that he was less concerned about multiple versions of events.]

[bruxisms]

THE NORTHMEN THAT MADE UP THE BULK OF MY ARMY WOULD NOT FORGIVE ME IF I LET THE TURNCLOAK LIVE, AND THE PUNISHMENT FOR TREASON IS DEATH.

YOUR NIECE, HOWEVER, WOULD BE SPARED. SOME OF MY MEN WISHED FOR ME TO OFFER HER AS A SACRIFICE TO THE RED GOD, BUT SHE IS FAR MORE USEFUL ALIVE. NO, I WOULD HAVE KEPT HER ALIVE, AND DECIDED LATER WHAT TO DO WITH HER. I BELIEVE ONE OF MY KNIGHTS WISHED TO WED HER, TRUTH BE TOLD.

[ though he is not quite sure Asha would be a particularly good wife. ]

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I WOULD NOT FAULT YOU FOR KILLING THEON, THOUGH I WOULD NEED TO REVENGE HIM ALL THE SAME.

[It wouldn't be personal against Stannis, but that's just how it is. Stannis would no doubt feel the same had Victarion killed a Baratheon.]

ASHA WOULD MAKE FOR A POOR WIFE. SHE THINKS HERSELF TOO MUCH A MAN. SHE EVEN TRIED TO MAKE HERSELF QUEEN OF THE IRON ISLES.

[bruxisms]

AND I SUPPOSE I WOULD HAVE TO DO BATTLE WITH YOU ONCE AGAIN.

[ and know how well that went last time. though one-on-one, Stannis was dead. ]

I COULD IMAGINE. AND QUEEN? AN ODD THING, WHILE HER BROTHER AND UNCLES YET LIVE.

[ still, they were all traitors. ]

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THINGS WOULD NOT END AS THEY DID LAST TIME. I WILL PROMISE YOU THAT MUCH.

[Because neither of them have armies now, so it would certainly be melee combat.]

MY LORD BROTHER FILLED HER WITH MANY QUEER THOUGHTS,
THOUGH SHE IS MORE THAN HER REMAINING BROTHER'S EQUAL.

[This was actually very unfair to Asha. She was his better in every way, except for in claim.]

[bruxisms]

I WILL NOT DENY THAT YOU ARE BETTER THAN ME IN COMBAT.

[ for though he can wield a sword well enough, he is not a great warrior. he is a strategist. ]

FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN OF THE BOTH OF THEM, I BELIEVE THAT IS INDEED THE CASE.

[ Asha attempted to negotiate with him. it had done little good, for the law would always be absolute, yet he supposes he could respect her. the turncloak...

...that was another story. ],/small>

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MORE THE PITY THAT THE ILLNESS TOOK HER. SUCH IS THE WAY OF PLAGUES.

[He's sad, but he deals with it in his own way.]

WOULD SACRIFICING HER TO THE RED GOD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE?

[He's genuinely curious. His own red priest had not quite got around to informing Victarion about blood and blood.]

[bruxisms]

SHE ONLY SLEEPS. SHE MAY VERY WELL AWAKEN YET AGAIN.

[ though he cannot exactly say that he is sorry for it. the girl had been trouble to him at the time, and she remained as such. ]

I WOULD NOT HAVE SACRIFICED HER, FOR SHE WAS OF FAR MORE USE TO ME ALIVE. I KNOW NOT WHETHER HER DEATH OR HER BROTHER'S MIGHT HAVE IMPROVED THE CONDITIONS I FACED.

[ pray harder, he'd said. and that would remain his thoughts on the matter. ]