[Day 1, Late Afternoon] Princess Rhaenyra arrives

[Reader]

Princess Rhaenyra arrives
The clouds have broken and the run is shining by the time Princess Rhaenyra and her entourage arrive, winding their way towards Riverrun.

Princess Rhaenyrais clothed in a deep purple, with Myrish lace weaved in an intricate pattern at the hem and neckline. A blue diamond necklace worth a lord's ransom completes her outfit, and reminds onlookers of her descent from House Arryn of the Vale. The improving weather has drawn a larger crowd, with the smallfolk cheering rapturously as she passes. Despite the enthusiastic welcome, Princess Rhaenyra's mouth seems turned downward, although this is dispelled when she breaks in to a smile periodically and recognises the crowd's enthusiasm.

Her uncle and second husband, Prince Daemon Targaryen, rides beside her, one hand resting on the pommel of his Valyrian steel sword, Dark Sister. Despite his reputation for severity and rumours of a wild youth, he has the appearance of a warrior and statesman, sharing a joke with his companions and waving to the waiting crowds. Among those sharing in Prince Daemon's humour is Ser Erryk Cargyll of the Kingsguard, one of the famed Cargyll twins that bring honour to the Kingsguard.

[Characters are welcome to post their observations, discussions and responses below]

[Loreia]

Among a small grouping of 3-4 guardsmen, Loreia looks up when one of them notifies his fellows of the Princess' imminence. As they await patiently, she tries to get a view from her spot as the gathered crowd sweeps itself from the path of the entourage even as it follows.

[Baelon Drakeson]

I could go back to the baker's daughter - what was her name again? No matter. No, I should find somewhere to stand where I will be more prominently visible.
Not that Baelon didn't already stand out - his silver hair and amethyst eyes set him apart from the dun-haired crowd pretty much anywhere.

He positioned himself along a curve in the road where he had clear sightlines to the approaching procession and, more importantly, where they would have clear sightlines to him.

As the procession approached, he caught the eyes of the one person here he actually cared to see, and silently nods in greeting.
Hello Father. Take a good look - this is the man I've become. This is not the last you will see of me during this tournament.

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyneth Marsten found a good vantage to observe the royal procession, though her mind was on other things. She wore her blue silk dress for this, with the lovely golden embroidery along the shoulders and sleeves that set off her hair and eyes. In her hands she held a pretty bouquet of pink and yellow flowers. She spied Baelon not far away, just at the bend in the path, and stepped back a bit into the crowd. She needn't have bothered though;
her erstwhile escort was entirely occupied with staring at the oncoming Princess.

Not that Gwyn could blame him. She was quite a sight in that dress, and with that outrageous gemstone. The cheering of the smallfolk lit a sickly green fire in her heart. Would the people ever cheer for her like that? What had Rhaenyra done for them to merit such accolades? And yet, the Princess seemed occupied as well. Her smiling and waving wilted into an oddly pensive expression occasionally.

What is weighing on your heart, Princess? Gwyn wondered. She was, after all, at her height it seemed. Did an eagle in flight pause to frown at the shadows on the ground?

Well, no matter. Gwyneth had more pressing matters to attend to. She shaded her sky-blue eyes from the sun filtering down through the thin canopy above, and searched the crowd for the Tullison delegation. Dunstan would be among them...no matter how he might think it a waste of his time. Anything other would be an insult.

[Jon Cobb]

Jon leans on his chased silver maul, watching as the royal procession approaches. His eyes linger appreciatively on the princess. Ah, but she's a vision of loveliness! I can understand why the Prince wanted her in his bed enough to marry her!

His stomach flutters as his thoughts turn to the Prince. Calm yourself, you fool! Brom needs your help and the Prince is your best chance for it, so don't bloody cock this up! He takes a swig from the wineskin he bought at the Painted World to steady his nerves, and his mind drifts unbidden to events long ago... My prince - my king! Do you still remember your loyal vassal and captain? Do you still honor the sacrifice of the Bloody Hundred? Just have to catch his eye, and then I'll know whether I'm wasting my time...

As the Prince draws near, Jon shoulders his way to the front of the crowd, raising his silvered maul to catch the sunlight and roars out above the sound of the crowd, "
Three cheers for Princess Rhaenyra! And three cheers for Prince Daemon Targaryen - King of the Stepstones and the Narrow Sea!"

[Loreia]

The other guards had mentioned the man with the giant hammer, and one of them recognized who he was. Loreia tears her gaze away from the Princess to see Max--er, Jon's silver hammer go up in the air. As he starts shouting, she contemplates lending her own voice to the cheer.

*Cobb, check with Reader, you may need to make a Persuasion: Charm test to get people in the crowd cheering.*

So caught in the display is she, that she has to remind herself of her personal feelings towards the Targaryens as a House. Her grin is lost when she notices Rhaenyra's uncle following behind her.

[Jon Cobb]

*Cobb, check with Reader, you may need to make a Persuasion: Charm test to get people in the crowd cheering.*

OOC: Per the first post, the crowd is already cheering - Jon is just trying to get the prince to notice and acknowledge him. :;
): Of course, if you and the crowd want to do some extra cheering, you're more than welcome! (and if the Reader demands a Persuasion test, I'll be more than happy to roll)

[Theomore Tullison]

"
Well now, look who it is!"
Theomore's voice rings behind Jon. "
Your skills to hide in a crowd has not exactly improved, Ser Jon."

[Dunstan Tullison]

Dunstan eagerly followed behind his uncle, hit mind set upon seeing the legendary Prince Daemon Targaryen. A little disappointed upon realizing they are not arriving on Caraxes and Syrax, he still stood on his toes in order to better see the Prince and the Princess, looking more like an enchanted boy than a Lord.

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan sat on the rooftop of the Painted World. It gave a secluded and commanding view of the market and the Princess' arrival.

Extending his Far-eyes, he took a closer look at the Princess. She certainly was beautiful. That was easily one reason so many supported her. Nathan wondered if those that did had given much thought to the far reaching consequences of her succeeding her Father. It was unlikely that the young Lord's or Heirs that cheered her on had elder sisters waiting to take their titles. If a first born daughter could succeed as King, then she could succeed as a Lord as well.

Scanning the crowd, Nathan made note of those there, and those conspicuously absent. Whoever was to succeed the King needed to be decided soon, and hopefully before the King joined his ancestors. The nobility was apt to play their games, but the price was usually paid by the common folk.

[Jon Cobb]

"
Well now, look who it is!"
Theomore's voice rings behind Jon. "
Your skills to hide in a crowd has not exactly improved, Ser Jon."

Risking a quick look over his shoulder, Jon sees Ser Theomore close behind and flashes him a grin. "
That's because I'm not hiding, friend Theomore - I am merely granting these poor souls around us the opportunity to bask in my glory! Come forward, my lad, and greet the Prince with me!"

[Theomore Tullison]

"
As you say, ser"
Theomore makes a wave in the direction of prince Daemon, perhaps more theatrical than it should be, but long as one acted as if one were perfectly entitled to do so, one usually got away with it. "
Oh, and allow me to introduce my Lord nephew. He once upon a time had every minstrel he met sing that awful wrecking song, good thing he grew up and started to take a liking to the one's with girls in them."

[Jon Cobb]

"
Lord nephew, is it?"
Jon sketches a quick bow towards the young man, before turning back to watch the Prince. "
Then I'll wager you're Dunstan Tullison - Ser Theomore speaks quite fondly of you when in his cups!"
Jon shouts over the noise of the crowd. "
You should pay no heed to your uncle's bellyaching, my lord, "
The Wrecker at the Bridge"
is a fine song. I do believe Ser Theomore just doesn't like to be reminded that while I was shedding blood to save the lives of Lord Velaryon and our comrades in arms, he was back at the Prince's camp, folding His Grace's laundry!"

[Garret Snow]

Garret stood alongside the Coldbrook soldiers as the royal entourage made their arrival. He had never seen a Targaryen in the flesh. The dragons rarely had reason to visit the north, but even in the kitchens of Karhold or his fathers Castle, Garret had been raised on stories of the House of Houses.

Prince Daemon had the air of a conqueroring hero;
or a king. Garret's father had once said that Prince Daemon was the most dangerous man in the Seven Kingdoms, and Garret had no doubt that his father had the right of it.
Princess Rhaenyra was another matter. An old hedge knight had said that the Princess was the most beautiful woman in the world. Yet despite the finery that she wore, Garret could see that while Rhaenyra may once have possessed the legendary beauty of the blood of old Valyria, recent years had not always been kind to the princess of Dragonstone.

But beauty or not, Garret knew a queen when he saw one. Nudging the man to his left, Garret raised his face as the procession passed.

"
May the old gods, and the new bless the Princess"
Garret cupped his hands and called in a loud, clear voice.

[Dunstan Tullison]

"
Lord nephew, is it?"
Jon sketches a quick bow towards the young man, before turning back to watch the Prince. "
Then I'll wager you're Dunstan Tullison - Ser Theomore speaks quite fondly of you when in his cups!"
Jon shouts over the noise of the crowd. "
You should pay no heed to your uncle's bellyaching, my lord, "
The Wrecker at the Bridge"
is a fine song. I do believe Ser Theomore just doesn't like to be reminded that while I was shedding blood to save the lives of Lord Velaryon and our comrades in arms, he was back at the Prince's camp, folding His Grace's laundry!"

"
Aye Ser, I am Dunstan. It's an honor to meet you! Ser Ulbert always wanted me to practice with a sword as a lad, but every time I picked a warhammer, to be like you! It is true, a fine song indeed!"
Dunstan says, overjoyed. He was as happy as a child left alone in a room filled with lemoncakes, with the Prince passing and Ser Jon talking to him.

As a good nephew, he chooses not to comment the japes made at the expense of Theomore.

[Theomore Tullison]

"
A squire does what a squire is told."
Theomore just shrugs. "
But while this man's face was quite green hanging off the side of a ship, I was flying overhead on a dragon."

[Loreia]

"
Ugh, 'may they' indeed,"
Loreia murmurs to a soldier, or perhaps in Garret's range of hearing. "
At least the Warrior does. The Prince certainly has a mind for strategy in war."


*After a little research, I've had to make changes to Loreia's opinion of the current ruling monarchs and the upstart royal couple.*

[Jon Cobb]

"
Aye Ser, I am Dunstan. It's an honor to meet you! Ser Ulbert always wanted me to practice with a sword as a lad, but every time I picked a warhammer, to be like you! It is true, a fine song indeed!"
Dunstan says, overjoyed. He was as happy as a child left alone in a room filled with lemoncakes, with the Prince passing and Ser Jon talking to him.

As a good nephew, he chooses not to comment the japes made at the expense of Theomore.

"
Hah! I wish I could've had a warhammer at hand when I stood on that damned bridge, m'lord. But no, my shield was shattered and my sword was lost - one of these was all I could find!"
Jon exclaims, gesturing with his maul. "
Still, a maul cracks skulls as well as a hammer, if you know what you're doing,"
he says with a meaningful wink at Dunstan.

"
A squire does what a squire is told."
Theomore just shrugs. "
But while this man's face was quite green hanging off the side of a ship, I was flying overhead on a dragon."

"
True enough, true enough! Those cursed tubs'll be the death of me one day, I'm sure! I dare say riding a dragon wouldn't have agreed with me any better!"
Jon laughs.

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben stands a ways off of from Dunstan and Theomore , helping Ellie to find a good vantage point. He can hear the two old roosters banter, but pays it little mind. He wish he had some of Dunstan's enthusiasm for great heroes, princesses and grandeur.

The things he had seen in his short life made the close/small things seem the most important. The moment we are living in precious not the past or future. He squeezes Ellie tight at those thoughts.

[Theomore Tullison]

"
Riding a dragon feels much like riding a horse, actually. A big horse."
Theomore doesn't seem to think sea-sickness would be an issue on dragonback. "
Just more wind, and it's cold up there, magnificent view though. But one afraid of heights would likely not agree, no."
A wicked smile directed Jon accompanied the last quip.

[Colin Corbray]

Cursing his luck Colin comes late to see the queen but still in time for Princess Rhaenyra. He looks around for a way to get a place from where he can be seen. Mumbling excuses to those of noted birth he scuffles a little to find this place among the gathered people.

[Yoren longshore]

Hearing talk of dragons a tall, but gangly man walks over to these men, who seems to be so misinformed. "
A dragon is a blessed creature, never mistake it for simply being a better way of traveling. Never mistake it for an animal either. Dragons are blessed by having fire from their insides, while men like you and me will have to seek out the flame to become enlightened."
Amost as an afterthought he introduces himself: "
My name is Yoren Longshore, who are you, if i dare ask?"

[Theomore Tullison]

"
Of course not, but travel by dragon still beats travel by boat if you ask me."
Theomore looks quizzingly at this weird man, or rather, his words. "
I have the pleasure of being Ser Theomore Tullison."

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren looks the man up and Down: "
Being an iron islander i am quite fond of ships, but i believe you are right, travel by dragon might be better than by boat, although don't tell my family i said that, i might end up with an axe through my face. How come you have experienced riding a dragon, you presented yourself as a ser, at least from what i remember of Westeros most owners of dragons are lords, of course, my information is outdated."
He looks a little to the side before he adds: "
Of course, you cannot own a dragon, much as you cannot own a man. Rhollor would frown upon such actions."

[Theomore Tullison]

"
A dragon will only accept those with Targaryen blood in their veins to bond with it, as it is called."
Theomore happily explains. "
Kings, queens, princes and princesses, mostly, a Velaryon knight might suffice as well, if the blood is strong enough."


"
I have no such thing, though I had the good fortune to squire for prince Daemon, and so he took me along for the ride south to the stepstones."

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