Vex
Lord Paramount
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Post by Vex on Jul 6, 2016 14:16:21 GMT
"I wouldn't know," she said. She'd never have commissioned one herself, either. There weren't many living weirwood trees to go around and to cut one up did feel blasphemous. But since this one already existed... "I didn't make it. It belonged to Brynden Rivers."
In regards to trust, she felt the same way. "I agree," she said. "Are you an archer yourself, Benjen?" she inquired.
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Benjen Snow
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Post by Benjen Snow on Jul 6, 2016 20:57:02 GMT
"I never bothered to learn," Benjen admitted. "Shoddy of a scout to not learn the bow, but the man that taught me the blade said that having me use a bow would be a waste of my frame. No, he taught me the 'bastard sword' as a joke," he explained. That much was true, but he left it vague enough that he could muddle his history if necessary.
"Way I see it, the bow is far too impersonal. If Ikill a man, I want to know that I've done it. Morbid, I know, but I at least admit it."
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Vex
Lord Paramount
what is this
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Post by Vex on Jul 6, 2016 21:26:34 GMT
"Fair enough," Dacey said, appreciating the honesty. "Ranged weapons aren't for everyone. Who was it that taught you?" she asked him, studying him as she waited for an answer.
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Benjen Snow
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Post by Benjen Snow on Jul 6, 2016 22:29:41 GMT
"Crotchety old fucker named Osmund. His proudest moment was signing up as a soldier in service to Lord Whent, and his greatest shame was being kicked out for stealing from the armory and selling the weapons to bandits," Benjen said. Lies, all of it, of course. Yet he told it so effortlessly and with such flair that it would seem like truth. "I joined up with his mercenary company to escape the North, and he told me that I would have to earn my keep if I was going to run with them, so he taught me how to fight. Came back to bite him in the arse, though," He said somberly.
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Vex
Lord Paramount
what is this
Posts - 938
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Joined - May 2016
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Post by Vex on Jul 7, 2016 0:30:50 GMT
Dacey listened to his story with a solid poker face. "Really?" she asked, raising her eyebrows slightly. "Lord Whent... which castle's he a lord of?" she inquired.
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Benjen Snow
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Post by Benjen Snow on Jul 7, 2016 0:36:31 GMT
"No castle, actually. Similar to your family, they were landed knights that got a lordship somehow. Northern end of the Riverlands," He said with a shrug. "Weren't too fond of people making money by selling their property, so my teacher was lucky to get away with half the fingers on his sword hand."
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Vex
Lord Paramount
what is this
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Joined - May 2016
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Post by Vex on Jul 7, 2016 1:25:51 GMT
Dacey smiled a little. She'd been well aware of his nickname at the army camp. She was pretty sure Belric had even mentioned his tales once or twice.
"You're full of shit, aren't you?" she said.
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Benjen Snow
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Post by Benjen Snow on Jul 7, 2016 1:29:13 GMT
"Only after a large meal," he said, knowing he'd been called out. He returned the smile and leaned against the weirwood and gave a shrug. "And I did have quite a bit down at the pub in Harrentown earlier." She wasn't afraid to call him on his lies, and that was an admirable trait all of its own. He would have to spend quite a bit more time with Dacey Blackfort, he thought.
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Vex
Lord Paramount
what is this
Posts - 938
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Joined - May 2016
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Post by Vex on Jul 7, 2016 1:57:03 GMT
It had been a while since Dacey had heard something as bad, though this was far from the worst she'd heard at camps. From his smile and stance she assumed he must've thought he was so clever.
"So, 'Northern end of the Riverlands'. Want to tell me where you're really from?" she asked, doubting that he did.
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Benjen Snow
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Post by Benjen Snow on Jul 7, 2016 2:01:42 GMT
"The North, obviously," he said, giving another ridiculously vague answer. "I was born there, and headed south." Unfortunately for Dacey, she had to be a high-rabking friend to unlock his tragic backstory.
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Vex
Lord Paramount
what is this
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Joined - May 2016
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Post by Vex on Jul 7, 2016 9:41:37 GMT
Dacey studied him for a moment with an odd expression, as if she was trying to decide whether or not his reply had been somewhat amusing. She assumed Belric at least knew more about the man; if not, it would have been slightly alarming to have him as a sworn sword.
"Very well, Benjen from the North," she said, being more of a no-nonsense kinda gal herself, but never the one to press anything that wasn't really her business. "I'll be seeing you on the hunts." With that, she turned from him and the tree, and started back towards the castle.
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Benjen Snow
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Post by Benjen Snow on Jul 7, 2016 13:41:24 GMT
Benjen had a strange little feeling that he and Dacey would be seeing a bit more of each other in the months to come. "Farewell, Dacey," he said with a bow as he turned back to the weirwood. He knelt before the heart tree's face once again and murmured one more prayer, then left the godswood, himself.
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Benjen Snow
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Post by Benjen Snow on Jul 10, 2016 22:04:53 GMT
/////////////////////////////
After his meeting with Belric, Benjen went down to the Godswood for a bit of thinking. There was something about the place that drew him, a truly living grove that allowed him to immerse himself in thought as he lingered before the heart tree. This time, he said no prayers, but instead knelt before the weirwood and closed his eyes, bowing his head in thought. He didn't see anyone in the godswood on his way in, but that didn't mean that they weren't there. It was, after all, quite a large area.
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Vex
Lord Paramount
what is this
Posts - 938
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Joined - May 2016
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Post by Vex on Jul 11, 2016 8:49:54 GMT
Dacey arrived at the Godswood for her daily musing/crow check. Upon noticing someone by the heart tree, she was of half a mind to turn back, but recognizing Benjen, who'd commandeered the tree from her last time, she approached him; it was only fair she return the favour.
She leaned against the tree, crossing her arms and looking down at him, though didn't disturb his prayer.
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Benjen Snow
Serf
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Joined - July 2016
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Post by Benjen Snow on Jul 11, 2016 14:02:40 GMT
It wasn't like she was subtle about it. Benjen raised his head and didn't open his eyes, taking a gamble as to who else lingered near the weirwood. "So did you come by for the heart tree, or did you just know that I was here?" He asked before he opened his eyes and looked up at her. Satisfied that he was correct, he rose and asked, "Oddly enough, I was hoping to run into you."
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