Chapter I: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?id=354243
Chapter II: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?id=355128
Jonathan (Jinro)
Jonathan observed King’s Landing from the back of his black stallion. The morning sun glittered on the blood colored bricks of the Red Keep, the stronghold of the capital. The streets felt very alive, as did the entire city. The king however was very dead.
His neatly trimmed beard and shortcut hair immediately gave away the fact that he was of high birth, House Walsh to be precise. The Walshes are an ancient family of the eastern Stormlands, sworn to the great House Liquid. Sadly faction lord Nazgul had met the pointy end of a sword during his vile rebellion against king Lim Yo Hwan, according to Dongraegu at least.
“The only thing that could make his ploughing lie of a story more untrue is the presence of dragons. I wouldn’t even be shocked to hear the commoners gossip about shapeshifters and other supernatural monsters attacking the king.”
It was to his surprise that Dongraegu appointed him Hand of the King, a chief advisor and executor of his Grace’s command. The office usually makes the Hand the second most powerful man in the Kingdoms, though history taught us that Hands sometimes even ruled kings. A popular saying goes “What the king dreams, the hand builts.” Jonathan believed the lowborn version to be more truthful: “The king eats, and the Hand takes the shit.”
Jonathan did not possess any feelings of love for his new king, and he didn’t doubt that Dongraegu felt the exact same way about him. He granted him the position of Hand because he needs House Liquid on his side, and Jonathan accepted it because House Liquid needs the king on its side. Their glorious past faded farther away with every day that passed. Storm’s end could no longer call itself the trade capital of the Kingdoms, House Liquid’s once feared military power no longer made lords think twice about their actions, and the white horse on a blue field banner no longer dressed the walls of the eastern Reach castles. The Fields rebellion stung like a dagger in every house’s back, but only House Liquid had bled empty like a pig.
“We picked the king’s side and lost half of our lands for it, the Stormlords will shed no tears for this murdered king.”
Jonathan entered the city through the Mud Gate, his household guard riding right behind him. The small folk gazed at his magnificent blue armor, proudly signed with the white horse head of Liquid. They did not seem to care much about the recent changes of power, not that Jonathan had expected otherwise. As long as there’s food and whores the people will shout “long live the king” with all of their heart. But in times of war, when the food is scarce and there’s no money for beer and pleasure houses, the king’s head couldn't come off soon enough.
“Unfortunately for our sweet Dongraegu, kingslayers aren't allowed to rule in peace."
Sparrows crowded streets around the sept of Baelor, Jonathan had never liked these religious fanatics. They wore long white robes, sigiled with the mark of the Seven Gods. Father, Mother, Warrior, Smith, Maiden, Crone and Stranger. One God with seven faces.
“A man cannot devote his life to the gods, and give up so much without consequences. It changes him on the inside. The presumed goodness of their gods runs as poison through their veins, and corrupts their hearts. And once the heart is corrupted, it is only a matter of time before the brain commits an act of cruelty. They always felt entitled to having a monopoly on the truth, and they would stop at nothing in the name of their belief.
No, he did not like religious people. “What the gods give they quickly take away, it’s like teasing mankind is a cruel means of pleasure to them.”
More white robed believers walked the streets than ever before. Normally he would say that the faith’s popularity just grew rapidly in times of tumult, but the new High Septon, Aleksey, had been vigorously increasing the amount of followers since long before the assassination of the king.
“I will not take them lightly, there is nothing more dangerous than a man who hears god whispering sweet words to him in his sleep.”
He continued climbing up the hill towards the Red Keep. The slot in his helm limited Jonathan’s vision to what was located directly before him, but when he turned his head left he saw his old friend Sean Plott speaking to the crowd. The lowborn loved him for his daily speech. The high born loved him too, as long as they weren’t criticized personally.
“I will need him, for his friendship and his dailies both.”
Their geldings approached the Keep, and the thunder of hooves boomed over the castle as they rode across the bridge. The newly formed kingsguard awaited them, lord commander Dmytro at the head of their spear point formation. The chilly white cloaks made them look like ghosts, and if the past was any indication they probably litteraly would be soon. Jonathan despised him. When at war a man’s true spirit emerges, and Dmytro had turned out to be a mad dog. During the rebellion his name made men from all across the realm shiver. Dimaga the small folk called him, the Hound of the West . He looted, he raped, he murdered. And worst of all, he was good at it. Most soldiers fear the valiant knights in shining white armor , but there’s nothing half as terrifying as a mad beast like Dmytro. A knight should be of honor and integrity, but he is of savagery and bloodlust. A wolf in sheep’s clothes at its worst.
“His Grace left orders, the executions are not to be disturbed.”
“Open the gate, or it shall be your execution that I will disturb.”
Twenty guardsmen stood behind Jonathan, if it came to a clash of steel they would no doubt have the upper hand. He had no intention of fighting however, the heads of the king's protectors would make for a rather poor welcome present.
The white knights did not move, and just when Jonathan began to fear blood would be spilled they stepped aside.
“You may enter milord. They may not.”
“Thank you ser, I will make sure to tell everyone about your warmth and love", Jonathan said smiling.
He gasped for breath when he entered the throne room. The butcher piled up dozens of heads next to his block, while a long line of men awaited the cruel end of a traitor’s life. Dongraegu sat on the iron throne, and spectated the executions in an amused fashion. His crown came fresh from the smith’s hammer. It was a magnificent golden piece, engraved with the boar sigil and decorated with silver and gemstones. His brand new betrothed, Florence of Dorne, sat next to him. A marriage of love, he did not doubt it. Dongraegu was not the kind of man to marry a girl just for the spears of Dorne.The fact that Johan of House Luchessi, lord of the Dornish castle Starfall, was the only one to survive the throne room slaughter seemed to be nothing but a coincidence either.
“This fucking city and its fucking politics, there isn't the slightest sense of honor left in this place.”
The corpses of the old king, queen and the children lay at the foot of the throne. Their bodies had been stabbed multiple times and were horribly mutilated. The once valiant members of the kingsguard were spread out on the floor, he could see the faces of Alicia and his four comrades. The sixth body must have been of Moon, but he could only assume because the head was nothing but a mash of blood and brains. Battered with a hammer until it couldn’t even be recognized as the face of a man. The sight overwhelmed him with a feeling of disgust, yet the king kept smiling. Dongraegu looked at the corpses of the dead children, of the king he had sworn to protect, and Dongraegu smiled.
“There will be vengeance for this, but first there are alliances to forge.”
Jonathan quickly found Dan of House Stemkoski among the spectators, the Master of Law and probably his only friend in the small council. Of simple birth he may be, but he was one of the five small council members. They adviced the king and handled the day to day business in terms of their position. The king sits on the throne while the small council rules the kingdom.
“My lord Hand, you are a most welcome sight.”
“As are you, my friend.”
“LORD JON OF HOUSE ANDERSON!” the names of the convicts echoed through the throne room one last time, before they would meet the sharp end of the headsman’s greatsword.
“Lord Nazgul died during the rebellion, do you have any information on what happened that day?”
“I presume the pointy end of the sword turned out to be…pointy. I take it you do not believe the king’s fairytale, and you want to see justice. I must urge you to be careful, the city is a dangerous place now. Everyone has smelled power, and like sharks they are swimming towars their prey. Once they smell blood, they go for the kill.”
“LORD PHILIPP OF HOUSE SIMON!” The headsman missed the neck, and the head exploded in a mess of gory remnants.
“He is a kinglsayer…”
“…who is a king now”, Dan finished.
“He must be brought to justice”, Jonathan said furiously. “He killed the king, he killed every lord in that throne room, he killed the queen…the children…even the goddamn children, Dan. I will find evidence and bring him to justice. You’re the master of laws, I could very well use your help.”
“LORD ADAM OF HOUSE MERLO!” The headsman used an axe this time, he had always been very fond of variation.
“I’m sorry but I will not help you. Don’t do anything foolish, Jonathan, the king controls the realm. For now at least. Rumor has it lord MC escaped the slaughter, and is trying to make his way back to the Eyrie in order to call his banners. The king in the north has risen once more, but there’s a lot of goddamn land between Winterfell and King’s Landing. No, the king is the winning side, and I always pick the winning side. Besides, Dongraegu will make my old friend Shaun of House Clark Master of Coin. We grew up in the same town, he’s my oldest and best friend. Even though he went to live far away we still played chess, sending our moves to eachother by ravens. With him in the small council things are looking very bright for me, I have no interest in rebelling now.”
“SER BRADLEY OF HOUSE SEYMOUR!” The sword swung once more.
Jonathan sighed. “The Master of Laws doesn’t even care about justice anymore, I almost forgot what it was like in the bloody capital. The man deserves to die Dan, he should be the one on that block right now.”
“LORD KYLE OF HOUSE HOLLET!” One more head for the pile.
“Look around you, Jonathan, no one cares about anything but themselves. Do not trust these peope. If they talk to you wonder why, if they help you think about how it favored them as well, and if they declare their loyalty to you simply kill them right there, they have no other interest than using you, and stabbing you in the back once they have what they came for. Justice is dead, and I’m happy it is, because I don’t want it to catch up on me.”
“SER KARL OF HOUSE ANGELES!” Even the unbelievably cruel headsmen seemed to have lost pleasure after all these men.
“What happened to you, the man I once knew came to this city to bring justice.”
“LORD JULIAN OF HOUSE XU!” The wooden executor’s block colored deep red.
“What a foolish man he was.”
“LORD BRIAN OF HOUSE FRANCIS!”
“I don’t believe that man is dead, I cannot believe it, I shall not believe it. You are not the man I fear you have become.”
“SER ANDREW OF HOUSE PENDER!” Dongraegu smiled more with each decapitated head.
“Jonathan, I’m sorry but I will not help you. When Shaun enters the small council I will have a guaranteed man behind my back, the difference that makes is enormous. I will be able to pull so much more power and money towards the justiciars, and then I can truly change this city. You are my friend, but that is not good enough a reason for me to risk my life. The king has eyes everywhere, if I was to move against him my head would be up on that block. Not a spectacular sight down there, I heard.”
“LORD AARON OF HOUSE DEIR!” More bloodshed in the name of the king.
“Come on, Dan. I know you aren’t alright with this, you still have hope. You came here to help, to do good. Then do so.”
“SER JOSEPH OF HOUSE LOPEZ!” And off with his head.
“By the Seven, Jonathan. I will not help you, just stop insisting for the love of…”
“LORD SHAWN OF HOUSE CLARK!” The sword swung.
Dan stood there motionless. His eyes followed the movement of the sword, going up and up and up. And then down. A strong blow to the neck was all it took for the head to come off, and it was no different for Shaun’s. His head fell to the ground and rolled down the small stairs. Step by step, by step until it landed in a pool of blood. Dan’s eyes found Dongraegu, and the king smiled. An evil grin from cheek to cheek. He never stopped smiling. Dan turned his head at Jonathan, remaining completely silent. His eyes locked at Jonathan's.
"LORD ANDREW OF HOUSE BLAKE!"
“I will help you.”