This is the thread for the initial discussion of the game. We will discuss: our characters and their playbooks; the creation of your faction or factions; and the options for the setting.

The first topic is this: What part of the world do we want to be the host for our adventures? I'm expecting it's somewhere in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, but if you want to start in the Stepstones or the Free Cities or across the Narrow Sea, we can make that work too.

In reply to Master of Ceremonies (MC) (msg # 1):

I would prefer a Westerosi game to one in Essos.

I would be open to a game that included some Narrow Sea elements like the Stepstones or Disputed lands, as these lands have occasionally been fought over by Westerosi rulers.

In terms of regions within Westeros, I think my preference would be a focus on Dorne or the Vale or King's Landing [likely in that order of preference]. The North is often a fan favourite, but I think the other regions can be just as flavourful.

I would also prefer a Westerosi campaign to an Essosi one. I'd also be open to some of the Narrow Sea elements PC-2 described. As for where it's set, I think a campaign in the Reach or the Vale would be fun.

The Reach is a good setting, because it has a good balance of courtly politics [especially in Oldtown or Highgarden] and powerful lords feuding with one another. Throw in the Dornish Marches and the Starry Sept, and its almost a setting within a setting. I'd be happy with a game set there.

We have three players now, which seems like a good core group to start discussing a time period?

I was about to suggest the reach. I was hoping to get buy-in from everyone before we moved on, but I don't think anyone would object to the reach.

Now, as for the historical period. I don't want to run a game before, during, or shortly after aegon's Conquest.

We could set our game around the dance of the Dragons, the civil war between Aegon II and Rhaenyra Targaryen, but I feel like that wouldn't be as good a scope for a role playing game.

I have better hopes for the first Blackfyre Rebellion, or the time shortly after it.

I also have good hopes for the reign of the Mad King, Aerys II. That might well lead us into Robert's rebellion, and the setting of A Game of Thrones.

I'm good with the Reach. Either the Blackfyre Rebellion or the Mad King's rein works for me as a time period.

I'm also happy with any of the options suggested. I have a slight preference toward the Mad King's reign, as I've had less experience with that setting than the others that have been suggested.

So we're leaning towards the Reach during the reign of Aerys II. Fine.

Let's talk about your House.

Your group is going to be sworn to a landed knight, himself sworn to the service of a noble house in the Reach. This is the lowest tier of nobility in Westeros. Most noble-born people would consider you to be hardly more than smallfolk. Still, it is a position with certain privileges in the knight's land.

Does anyone have suggestions on what the houses' name should be?

Oof, that is low indeed.

I'm not familiar with many landed knights in The Reach.

One suggestion I would have is "The Lowtowers" as a kind of pun on "Hightowers", and have the knight be distantly descended from that.

Alternatively, if the landed knight is in the Dornish Marches, they could be named after mountains, defending, or a weapon type.- "House Surewatch" "House Trueward" House "Redspear" House "Swordhill" etc etc.

So are we members of the landed knight's family, or actual smallfolk?

I do like the lowtower idea, but I feel like the name would be too obvious in my opinion

If you have relations to the Hightowers, you might be in the vicinity of Oldtown or the Marches.

Other suggestions:
Skytower
Highkeep
Brighttower
Dawntower

In reply to Master of Ceremonies (MC) (msg # 11):

I like Dawntower!

Dawntower or Brighttower both look good.

These are the roles that the knight has in his court. You can select any of these roles and characterize it as you see fit.

1 illegitimate son and 1 illegitimate daughter, of different mothers.

His first wife gave him
1 daughter, then 1 son.

After his first wife passed away, he married again.
The current Lady of the house.
She has 1 son, and 1 daughter.

The knight keeps a ward, who stands hostage against the behaviour of a noble family.

The knight keeps a seneschal, who mainly watches after his coin.

The captain of the army.

The captain of the garrison.

The maester.

A septon.

A Septa.

The sheriff, who keeps the law among the smallfolk.

A courtier.

A fool.

An Oracle.

The knight's Champion.

A lady's maid, a woman of low birth who helps the ladies of the court.

A lady-in-waiting, a woman of gentle birth who keeps company with ladies of the court.

A midwife, a woman who provides healing and advice to the smallfolk, especially related to pregnancy and children.

I'm thinking an illegitimate son or a ward

Oooh, a very interesting family line.

I'm particularly interested in the son of the second wife. Just confirming that that would be a son of the knight, not a step-son? Also confirming that I'd be able to play him as an adult or young adult character and not a child?

Alternatively I'd be interested in the son of the first wife.

I am deliberately not stating the ages of any of the characters, only their birth order. The second wife has no children prior to her marriage to the Knight.

The Knight is past 60, and not in good health. It is entirely appropriate for him to have multiple adult children.

I'm thinking that I would like to play the knight's second daughter.

That could be cool. We might be direct siblings!

I kind of like the idea of playing the second legitimate son as a spur and giving him a small company of hardened fighters from the Dornish Marches called [creatively] "The Bordermen"

MC, will we have some input into our mother's background etc.?

Sure, if no one picks her as a character.

Sorry if this is a bit premature, but it is what I have so far.

Ser Felren Dawntower

A young knight who wears heavy chain armour and a flashy blue cloak. He wears a personal coat of arms, a blue-wren, quartered with the house's colours


He has an open face, with attentive ocean-blue eyes, and a leanly muscled frame, tough as iron from his military routine. He can be a little impatient and rash, and is often on the move, seeking out conflict or some tempestuous endeavour, which has landed him in trouble more than once.

He is widely known for his piety to the Seven, and for his constant hounding of brigands in the Dornish Marches, which has given him some small manner of fame among the smallfolk. He commands a small band of loyal riders known as "The Bordermen" who share both his respect for the Seven and their servants, and his hunger for conflict.

His most important relationships are likely his siblings and half-siblings, the lord and lady of the house, and the septon/septa.

He may also fill another role in the house, like Captain of the Army, depending on the size of the house.

Sorry, pc4, I just want to clarify. You are looking to play the knights eldest legitimate child? His first daughter with his first wife?

No, no. I was wanting to play his youngest daughter. The child of his second wife.

Got it. So, third daughter, youngest child.

Ah, so the presumption is that the bastards are the Knight's eldest children, from before his first marriage?

Yes, or early during it.

PC-2 wants to be the 3rd son, currently 2nd in line of inheritance. They want to play the Spur. They have named their character Ser Felren Dawntower.

PC-4 wants to be the youngest child, the 3rd daughter, currently 4th in line of inheritance. They would like to play the Lyre.

Does anyone else have any characters they would like to take?

The house has 1 fortification: a motte and baily castle somewhere in the Reach. It's probably near Oldtown, the seat of the Highgardens, your family's ruling house. Depending on your preference, I would suggest either in the mountains east of Oldtown, or nar the Roseroad towards Highgarden, or on the coast of the Whispering Sound. Each presents different options for resources.

I would suggest the name Brokenspear, as a reference to your family's victories over the Dornish and as tribute to Baelor Breakspear.

Being on the road towards Highgarden is my vote. Being between the two large cities seems the most interesting.

I think I'm gonna go for the simple courtier role. On the road is fine by me, good travel links are always a plus.

I'll play the illegitimate son, or potentially a legitimate younger son if that could work

PC-1 I'm currently the younger legitimate son, but I could switch to either the heir or the bastard if you have an idea that is better suited to the younger son. What did you have in mind?

Once everyone has decided which member of the Court they would like to play as, we can begin characterizing ourselves. For example, I will begin creating the characteristics of the NPC members of the Court.

PC-4, if we are to be siblings, do you mind if I put some ideas together for our mother? Happy for you to have as much input as you would like.

No problem, go ahead. Let me know what ideas you come up with.

In reply to PC-2 (msg # 31):

I'm fine with either option!

Can everyone tell me what they want their characters name to be? Once I have your name, I'll change It in the game.

In reply to Master of Ceremonies (MC) (msg # 36):

Alyn

Just trying to think of where to go from here.

Do you have strong opinions about what to do with the wall? If not, you might try to work out what everyone else's position is. Once you know what your half-sister and your mother have in mind, you might be able to persuade your dad.

In reply to Master of Ceremonies (MC) (msg # 39):

I don't.