Anniversary Tourney I
"Discipline. Duty. Unyielding Will. These are the measures by which every warrior is judged. Unarmed, a warrior with these qualities will still find victory, no matter how long or arduous the path. When girded with the sacred armaments of the Adeptus Astartes, such a warrior becomes truly indomitable."
- Rogal Dorn, Primarch of the Imperial Fists
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- Storm's End -
- 272 AC -
(Robert POV)
I block a strike from Jorry Kannor our master-at-arms with my own sword. I feel his strength but don't move from my spot. My strength has increased tremendously since I started training. I find that there is nothing quite like pushing yourself to your limits in both physical training and battle or sparring in this case.
I am a very tall and strong 10-name-day-old child. After I was allowed to start training, I surprised everyone once again with my physical gifts and prowess. My talent for fighting seems second to none and it shows. I have no problem, fighting Jorry anymore.
We both push and try to overpower the other, to gain the advantage in our clash. But we are about equal in power right now. I know that Jorry will try to surprise me and move to the right or left, hoping that I will stumble. But that won't happen. I have long analysed his fighting style and know how to handle him.
Just as I predicted, Jorry suddenly stops pushing and moves to my right and turns. He takes a big step and swings his sword in a wide arc towards my neck, to make me submit of course. His plan is sound because if I were caught off guard, I would stumble forward and he would win instantly. But I don't stumble.
I was waiting for this to happen. I stop my advancement as well and immediately duck underneath Jorry's swing. I am now in the perfect position to attack. I use my free right hand, to deliver a punch to Jorry's stomach, surprising him.
*Bang*
"Pffff", he exhales strongly, surprised at my strength.
Jorry however is not finished just yet. Years of experience serve him well and he is a strong man too. He moves back as fast as he can and that just in time. I threw another punch his way, that missed because of his quick thinking. I don't give up on my advantage and swing my sword with my left hand. The practice sword is heavy, just as I requested it to be made and it hurts if you're hit with it.
Jorry has to parry the attack with I use to move towards him. I am like a bull that is seeing red, although they can't because they can't see the colour red ... I digress. I rush towards him, trying to use my body to crash into him and throw him off balance. But Jorry is not the master-at-arms for nothing.
He moves to the side slightly and throws a nasty left hook my way. I see it coming, but I don't care. I take the damage to deliver an attack of my own.
*BOOM*
His fist impacts my face and the armour does its thing. I feel my head rattle and move to the side with my fist. However, as this happens, my fist also reaches Jorry's face and we look like two Dragon Ball characters hitting each other simultaneously.
*BOOM*
Blood runs down my nose and I have to shake off the dizziness to resume the fight. Jorry is not in a much better state, although he was ready much quicker. The experience truly shows here.
"I believe that's quite enough.", the voice of Father is heard and I look to the side and see him standing next to Stannis with his arms behind his back.
"My Lord.", Jorry bows slightly and my father nods.
"That was quite a spectacle, Robert. You made progress.", Father tells me and I nod.
"It's alright."
"Alright? Managing to keep up with Storm's End master-at-arms is alright? You do realise that you are 10 almost 11-name days old, right? That is more than alright for such a young man."
I see Father stopped calling me boy. It makes sense since I am more man than most nobles I have had the displeasure of meeting in my decade-long life. Bunch of wussies and wannabes. They speak with forked tongues and lie, flatter and plan wherever they can. Their every word is like poison, designed to kill you slowly and-
"Robert!"
"Huh?"
"You were spacing out again. I said we're going to Kings Landing tomorrow to attend the Turney my friend Tywin is hosting to celebrate the tenth year of King Aerys II Targaryen's reign.", Father tells me.
"Do we have to go? Those are so boring. All those pompous pricks with their lies and deceptions make me want to bash their brains out."
"We talked about this! Don't use such words and secondly, you need to get your urges under control.", Father says and then walks away.
"I have my urges well under control. But they challenge my self-control.", I say as Father walks away. Stannis walks next to me and looks at the retreating figure of Father.
"Do you think it's about finding us brides?", he asks me.
"No, Father is good friends with Tywin Lannister and Aerys, who happens to be his cousin. And we have to suffer for it.", I say and move to put away the training sword.
"Nevertheless, we shall do our duty, as it is expected of us. You always do that, even if you tell Father differently. I don't think I have seen someone with more discipline like yourself. If I didn't know better, I'd say you torture yourself.", Stannis says.
"The harder I push myself in training, the better chances I have later on when it matters. Even though it might have seemed like I was on equal grounds as Jorry, I was not. He could have ended the fight if he wanted, but he didn't."
"I see. Nevertheless, it also didn't seem like he was going easy on you. You will grow into a menace."
"Hahaha, we both will."
"What did Father decide about our project?", Stannis asks me.
"He decided to give us free reign to do as we please, but told me he would interfere should the need arise."
"Hm, so proceed as planned?"
"Aye. Proceed as planned. The trip to Kings Landing might bring some unexpected benefits if we play our cards right.", I muse.
"Like what? Connections or something?"
"Yes, that but most importantly ... information."
"Information? About what and why is it the most important?"
"If you know yourself and your enemy, you must not fear the outcome of a thousand battles, Stannis. Remember that."
"Who said that?"
"Probably some misquoted guy. Nevertheless, it has merit. Information is the key to a fight. If we know what goes on in Kings Landing, which is the heart of the Kingdom and the cesspit of all schemes, we have a good chance of learning and adapting our strategies in the future. Even just mingling with the common folk will yield great results, I reckon."
"Hmm ... there might be some truth to that. Very well then, let us see.", Stannis says.
"Indeed. Let us see. Now come, it is time for some food. I haven't broken my fast yet. Jorry kept me going for hours already."
.
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(3rd Person POV)
King's Landing is the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, located in the crownlands on the east coast of Westeros. It is situated along the Kingsroad at the mouth of the Blackwater Rush and overlooks Blackwater Bay. King's Landing is the site of the Iron Throne and the Red Keep, which is the seat of the King, Aerys II Targaryen of King's Landing.
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The main city is surrounded by a wall, manned by the City Watch of Kings Landing, also known as the Gold Cloaks. Kings Landing is the most populous city in Westeros, but unsightly and dirty compared to other cities. Poorer smallfolk built shanty settlements outside the city. The stench of the city's waste can be smelled far beyond its walls.
King's Landing, the principal harbour of the Seven Kingdoms, is rivalled only by Oldtown, which is larger in area but less populous. Nearby towns include Rosby and Duskendale to the northeast and Tumbleton to the southwest, while Kingswood is found south of the capital across the Blackwater. Driftmark and Dragonstone in the Gullet protect the bay from the narrow sea.
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King's Landing is roughly square-shaped, sprawling across several miles and defended by tall walls. It is dotted with manses, arbours, granaries, brick storehouses, timbered inns, merchant stalls, taverns, graveyards and brothels. There is a fish market. Hundreds of quays can be found in the harbour. The roads are broad between buildings, lined with trees and branching alleys and streets.
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The House Baratheon travelled north of Storm's End to Kings Landing by boat. As Stormlanders, they were more than used to harsh weather, especially in Storm's End and Shipbreaker Bay. The journey was boring for Robert and Stannis, which is why Robert tries to keep his mind busy. He has noticed that his demeanour has become more and more like one of his favourites, Rogal Dorn if a bit brighter.
He had a stern and naturally unsmiling face. His zeal was the fire of a son who believed in his father's dream for the Imperium without reservation and without question.
Robert shares many similarities but also differences with Rogal Dorn. Just like Rogal, Robert is a being of thunderous zeal and stone made manifest, which is how many described the Primarch of the VIIth Legion. Rogal Dorn's idealism drove him and his Legion ever onwards, never compromising, never stinting in any aspect of duty. The stone in his soul was his ability to bear whatever was needed of him, an unyielding nature, which made him both a master of defence in war and an indomitable aggressor on the attack.
Those things were shared between the two. Robert was not stone cold, that was more Stannis. He liked to joke around a lot but he knew when the right time for that was. He could switch from happy-go-lucky to serious fighter in mere moments and use his head to analyse the situation. Just like Dorn, Robert had a natural love for building things and getting them to their best possible states.
Robert just like Dorn, didn't have a major weakness, he didn't have daddy issues. This alone makes him a special case in any world and therefore makes him all the more dangerous. He will not give up, no matter how insurmountable the challenge may seem, Robert will plough through the problem and come out on top.
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However, that is where their similarities end. Rogal Dorn was one of the most devoted sons of the Emperor of Mankind. His zeal was the fire of a son who believed in his father's dream for the Imperium without reservation and without question.
This devotion is something that Robert doesn't have. He loves his family, but he always questions something his father tells him to do or learn. Everything can be a deception or misinformation. This doesn't mean that Robert distrusts his father. He is just careful, because it may be that his father just doesn't know the truth either. The warning of the ROB before he was reincarnated struck Robert and he has tried to put as much knowledge to memory as possible.
He is putting in a lot of work in terms of academics and martial prowess, to one day lead either his House or the entirety of Westeros as their King.
During his short decade of life in the new world, Robert has made use of his perfect memory. He can't forget something anymore. That might be considered a weakness to some and it can indeed be seen like that. But with this, Robert managed to catch people in lies. Especially the nobles who visited Storm's End and did business with his father tended to lie or use unnecessary flowery words to get what they wanted. This cautioned Robert even more and made him realise the truth in the ROB's words.
Apart from getting to know life as a noble and his duties as the future Lord of the Stormlands, Robert has also spent some time getting good at reading people. He spends hours simply listening and watching people talk to each other and then tries to interpret their words and intentions. Micro-movements of the facial muscles are what he focused on at the start. It is something that humans can't control and Robert has gotten really good at it.
He will become a dangerous player in the Game of Thrones in the future.