The Bear Pit

[The Gambler]

The bear pit is ten yards across and five yards across, walled in stone, floored with sand, and encircled by six tiers of marble benches.

[Sigfry Deddings]

Yoren had sought out a place he could think for a bit, a lot had happened and he felt like he needed somewhere quiet and out of view to unwind a bit. The bearpit had seemed a good choice, walking through the stands of the marble benches as he looked down into the sandy floor of the pit.

[Jormun Rivers]

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Hobbling his way down from Kingspyre tower and across the massive keep, Jormun comes to the bear pit and collapses onto one of the marble benches. Leaning forwards, he peers down into the pit and speaks to whoever is around. "Ironic, you'd think I wouldn't like bears now."

[The Raven]

"One can still admire a thing while fearing it." Nearby, there was a short balding man with a broken nose, a potbelly, and muscled arms like a bull. His voice was deep and nasal, but his enunciation was flawless. He was holding a pen and papers in his hands, and appeared to be surveying the pit to some purpose. Jormun recognized him as one of the merchants Belric had appointed to the grain council.

"Imagine if we had lived when dragons flew. Would you not want a peek into their pit?" He approached Jormun and offered an inkstained hand. "People call me Shiv. A pleasure to formally make your acquaintance."

[Jormun Rivers]

Jormun meets and shakes the man's hand, smiling up at him. "Jormun, Master of the Hunt, and a pleasure to meet you as well. I believe every hunt offers a chance to learn, and Olaf taught me much. The chance to meet a dragon, however.. should I be so lucky. That would be the hunt of a lifetime"

Jormun leans back on the bench, letting out a quiet laugh. "I have never seen a bear that size before, but it is certain that there should be one bigger, yes? That means I should now find that bear, and hunt it as well. Until I meet my dragon. What brings you here today, Shiv?"

[The Raven]

"I live here, in a sense. I was one of the last fighters here when it was still open to the common people. Before the last Lady Lothston inherited Harrenhal, people would travel here from as far as Dorne to see warriors of skill hold their own against these magnificent beasts, and each other when such a challenge was unavailable. Here..." He lifted up his tunic to reveal great raking scars across his body. "These were parting gifts from Magnar, the fiercest creature I ever had cause to lay eyes on. Ended my career, but not before I ended him."

[Jormun Rivers]

"Perhaps we should open it back up to the people, then. Capture the mightiest beasts, bring the finest warriors, provide the greatest entertainment. Not to mention, a place for justice to be dealt other than the yard." Jormun tsk'd his tongue with the last bit, apparently dissatisfied with the events that transpired in his downtime. "Who would not like to see a rapist or kin-slayer eaten by a direwolf? But perhaps there are other uses. Why did you fight?"

[The Raven]

"Coin!" He laughed. "And plenty of it! Traders gambled their life savings on my opponent, and thereby made me a wealthy man. I was also paid before even stepping in. House Lothston would receive certain levies for the whole event, while Harrentown profited from the fresh gold delivered by their guests." He took a seat beside Jormun. "And with the war finally open, and so many restless fighting men left without trade... Aye, we can certainly resurrect this great enterprise... And we are always in need of a little justice..."

[Jormun Rivers]

"I have heard nothing to dislike so far. I know of your appointment by Belric, have you mentioned this idea to him? With hunters and warriors both in need of practice, and our family in need of establishing itself, this could be a great opportunity to do both. If that doesn't persuade him, the flow of gold into our lands certainly should." Jormun grinned at the thought.

[The Raven]

"Not yet, though I know Ser Valarr has approached Lady Blackfort with the notion. How she will approach it, I cannot say. Though an audience with her husband might speed along our endeavor..."

[Jormun Rivers]

"Then I will speak to my brother about it. Mark my words, this pit will be the center of attention before long." Jormun stood with a quiet grunt, leaning over into the pit again. "Good things will happen here."

[Ser Richard]

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1st day of the 3rd Moon

Mason Qhorin makes his way into the bear pit, grimy papers clutched in his hands. He has a platter of food from the kitchen in the other, and he sits down one one of the upper level seats to break his fast while he looks over the plans so far.

The place was just too godamned big. Maddening really. Stupid size, wasteful, but fascinating all the same. Still, he was tiring of doing this all by himself. And after he heard about the discovery of the crazy person... well, he wouldn't begrudge a helping hand or two who knew their business.

[Jormun Rivers]

Jormun makes a visit to the bear pit as he works through the mental plan of his bear hunt, whistling cheerily as he takes a seat on one of the bottom benches, not bothering to look around as he stares down into the pit. "Bears."

[Ser Richard]

Qhorin looks up as the man as he munches on the vegetables on his plate, mopping up the grease from the one measly chicken wing he had begged off the cook. "Bears... what?" he asks Jormun. He had no idea who this was.

[Jormun Rivers]

Jormun looks up at the man for a moment, staring at him. "Bears. It's a bear pit. There will be bears. We should have wolves, too. Maybe a lion? How much would it cost to sail a lion over?"