บท 15: Chapter 14: "Sparring 01"
260 AC: King's Landing; Red Keep
[INSPECT]
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STATUS:
Name: Gerold Hightower
Epithets: The White Bull
Born In: 238 AC
Age: 22
Relationship: None
Loyalty: 0
Abnormal Status: None
Level: 90 (49%)
Job Class: Heavy Knight (Special)
Talents: Unyielding Resolve (Rare); Bull's Strength (Rare); Commanding Presence (Uncommon); Oathkeeper (Uncommon); Kingsguard's Honor (Common)...
OP: 2249
HP: 650/650
Attack: 355
Defense: 725
Physical:
Height: 192cm (6'3.5)
Weight: 124.75kg (275lbs)
Attributes:
STR: 85
AGL: 35
DEX: 60
CON: 65
VIT: 65
STM: 70
PRP: 50
Skills: Swordsmandship (D+ Rank); Unbreakable Stance (D+ Rank); Bull's Charge (D Rank); Other Weapon Mastery (E+ Rank); Leadership In Combat (E Rank); Mounted Combat (E Rank)...
Equipment: Kingsguard Armor Set (D Rank); Kingsguard Castle-Forged Steel Longsword (E+ Rank); Kingsguard Castle-Forged Steel Chainmail (E+ Rank); Kingsguard Gambeson (F+ Rank)
STRATEGY: 78; LEADERSHIP: 85; GOVERNANCE: 41
Evaluation: Ser Gerold Hightower, the White Bull possesses legendary martial prowess and physical strength and stamina. Known for his mastery over a defense-centered fighting style and extremely tough durability, Gerold is able to hold his ground in prolonged battles and withstand significant punishment against multiple opponents at once with no issue. Gerold is extremely honorable, and his full abilities only come to light when he makes a last stand. Currently his physical abilities are still improving, as his body has yet to hit its peak, Ser Gerold Hightower is one of the best knights and fighters to ever walk on the soils of this realm. He currently holds great wariness towards Host.
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Walder's eyebrows jumped, as he scanned through Gerold's information. 'He is definitely the strongest native human I've come across in the past two years.'
During this time, Ormund was ushering the rest of the Riverland lords into the Red Keep. Gerold noticed how Walder had not moved with the group, instead he was just standing there observing him. Gerold with a look of puzzlement asks, "Is there something I can help you with, Lord Frey?"
"In fact there is, White Bull, how about you round up your Kingsguard friends and have a spar with this old-timer. I am heading to war afterall, let me stretch my muscles a bit, how about that. Count it as a return for your earlier offense." Walder smiles, as he looks at the new mission that had just been generated.
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MISSION:
...
• Overwhelmingly Defeat All 7 of the King Jaehaerys ll Targaryen's Kingsguard Simulateously (D Rank) - [Reward: ???]
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Ormund and the Riverland lords stop right in their tracks, and turn around slowly. Some with expressions of curiosity, some with amusement, while others wore expressions of concern. Ormund was especially concerned, as he thought maybe Walder wasn't right in his head. Because in his mind, no matter how large and strong Walder was, could he match a Kingsguard? Especially Gerold Hightower, a young knight thought to be of the same caliber as the previous Lord Commander, Ser Duncan the Tall.
Ormund, as a Baratheon was quite the warrior himself, while nowhere near his future grandson or his father's excellence, he was definitely a qualified knight. He was also not a small man, despite what his astute political mind and more 'noble' mannerisms might suggest. He like all Baratheon men, stood over six feet tall, 188cm (6'2) to be exact, and weighed 118kg (260lbs), so he had quite an accurate judgement in strength, or so he thought. Ormund had doubts Walder's martial prowess and thought Walder was being absurd. This however could not be blamed on him, as Walder was no famed warrior, with no exploits or feats at all, yet he challenged the Kingsguard, Ser Gerold Hightower at that.
Gerold himself was unsure on how to respond, a part of him wanted to refuse the sudden crude request, another part was telling him to accept the challenge in order to remedy his previous mistake, and the last part was his fighting spirit telling to challenge the strong man before him, his pride also had a hard time on passing on a challengesuch as this. While Gerold was having this internal struggle, Ormund tries to smooth the tension, "Lord Frey do not hold a grudge because Gerold's previous actions. It is his duty, as it is all of the Kingsguards' to protect the members of the royal family. You must understand that we were all quite shocked by your presence."
"King's Hand! Surely thou does not think I am such a narrow-minded fool? My old bones just need some warming up before I reap the lives of those savages we are fighting in weeks time." Walder grins as he imagines the terrifying chaos he was going to bestow upon the Band of Nine. While Walder did not have anything against the Band of Nine personally, it was just their unfortunate circumstance of being of the opposite side of Walder in this war.
"Why don't you join in the fun King's Hand, I would very much like to see what the heir of the Laughing Storm has to offer." Walder adds, as he eyes turn to Ormund.
"My lord," Ormund began, his voice steady but firm, "We stand on the edge of war—a war that will test the strength and unity of the realm. The eyes of the realm are upon us, and every action taken now will echo louder than usual. To demand a spar with all the Kingsguards, especially in such tense times, risks more than just your honor or theirs. It risks sowing division when we need unity most.
You are a man of great strength and influence, and that is precisely why I entreat you to show restraint. The realm needs your wisdom as much as your sword. A show of temperance will speak louder than a blow struck in anger. Let this offense be resolved through words, not ste-" before Ormund could finish.
*NOTE: Ormund wanted to say 'steel' in case some people can't discern that
"Lord Baratheon, they say the winds of the Stormlands forge men of iron and thunder, yet it seems the gilded airs of King's Landing have dulled your edge. Tell me, is it the weight of the Hand's chain or the softness of a Targaryen bed that has made you forget how to stand tall like a Stormlander? Perhaps the only storm left in you is a whimpering drizzle." William interrupts Ormund, taunting him. William as a fellow Lord Paramount would not skimp at certain jabs if opportunities such as this presented themselves. As all of the great noble houses of the Seven Kingdoms had great tension between them, stemming from strife since ancient times. But most of all, William and all the Riverland lords were also eager to witness the mysterious Lord Frey's strength.
"Soft? Cowardly? It's a bold tongue you have, Lord Tully, though I'd wager it's braver than the man behind it. Were I the kind to let insults slide, you might think your words true. But you'll find this Baratheon neither soft in heart nor weak in will. Say it again, and we'll see if you have the steel to back your talk—or if you're just another riverlord who barks louder than he bites." Ormund's presence suddenly shifts, the previous diplomatic appearance disappearing, his voice contained restrained fury, as he seems to try to suppress something inside himself.
'Baratheon's Fury... truly a bloodline gift' Walder thought with intrigue, as he easily perceived Ormund's sudden change and rise in strength with his heightened perception. "Hahahahaha EXCELLENT! I see you have not yet forgotten your roots Lord Baratheon! This is how the son of the Laughing Storm should be, STRONG and COMMANDING! Men should be like this! Not like the effeminate males of the south!" Walder booms, his loud laughter and voice travelling far and wide. Birds could be seen suddenly fleeing from the trees at the sudden fright. While the babe Prince Rhaegar at the otherside of the castle started balling due to the laughter akin to the howling winds during a hurricane, the crying had the maids scrambling amongst themselves as they try to comfort the small Prince, while all the servants, guards and Kingsguards all recoiled at the sudden loud sound that crashed into their day. All the people in the Red Keep just suddenly heard this deep, rich laughter followed by honestly, what can only be decribed as quite the offensive distastful words about Southern lords.
"Lord Baratheon what say you to a friendly spar, it will allow for us to loosen our muscles a bit and ease the tension. Ser Gerold you must also want to fight, I have been watching you twitch with eagerness since I mentioned the proposition." Walder continues to speak with a much more mellow tone.
"Lord Frey, I accept your request for a sparring, but I do not have control on whether the rest of the Kingsguard will agree." Gerold replies quicker than Ormund, as he indeed was itching in his boots for a spar, the curiosity to see just how strong this huge lord's martial prowess was, for him to dare to ask to fight all the Kingsguards and even the King's Hand.
Ormund seeing how Gerold agreed to Walder's request, hi final apprehension fades, as he to, now that William had aroused his fighting instincts and anger, was also in need of blowing some steam. "Very well Lord Frey, let us go to the training fields once I have directed the servants to give all the lords the appropriate refreshments."
"Good!" Walder laughs, as did all the present lords, for they now had a good show to watch. Prince Aerys at this time was watching all this going on with concealed glee, he felt a certain budding feeling inside him, which he couldn't quite discern what it was exactly, he just felt a sudden rush of joy, and arousal when he watched Walder make the outrageous request, creating such chaos. Perhaps, Aerys as a hotblooded young man, a Targaryen at that, was just eager to witness the spar that was going to take place.
Aerys decided to quickly rush back into the Red Keep, towards the royal family's sleeping chambers, for he thought it would be a shame if his father and child, albeit a babe would miss this great event. Ser Harlan Grandison immediately followed after the running future king of Westeros.
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mori04
mori04 As a fan of the ASOIAF series, one of my favorite characters I've come across is Lord Lyonel Baratheon, the Laughing Storm. Because firstly, he has one of the best epithets out there, secondly, the man was a beast, a 6'10 juggernaut with few to match his prowess (Targaryens should have counted their blessings and felt lucky they had Ser Duncan The Tall), thirdly, he has a backbone to crown himself Storm King when the Targaryens broke their pact.
So this said, I made sure to incorporate some aspects of him in my fanfic even though he was dead by this time.
Again thank you for your support, comment if you enjoyed the story and drop a Power Stone if you think this story is worth it. Cool cheers y'all, see you in the next chapter.
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