Skyrim System In Westeros

The journey home after the victorious war was far more relaxed. Robert's flagship was filled with his drinking companions. With clear skies and pleasant weather, everyone gathered on the deck daily to feast on meat, drink wine, and recount heroic tales from the campaign. Even Eddard Stark, usually so rigid about rules, let himself relax.

The "Red Priest" Thoros of Myr, though merely a mercenary, was allowed aboard the flagship thanks to his contributions during the campaign and his friendship with Robert. The guards recognized him as one of Robert's drinking companions and let him through without question. Stepping onto the deck, Thoros saw Renly holding House Stark Valyrian sword, Ice, examining it intently while Wright explained to everyone:

"Valyrian steel is highly attuned to magic."

Most of those present only knew that Valyrian steel was exceptionally durable, lighter than ordinary steel, and exceedingly rare and expensive. They had no idea it had any magical properties. Hearing Wright's words, they paused their drinking and leaned in, eager to learn more.

Wright called for a regular steel sword from a guard and turned to Renly.

"Let's use Flame Cloak together. Be mindful of your footing—don't set the deck on fire."

The Flame Cloak spell, originally defensive, enveloped the caster and their clothing in destructive magic, automatically attacking any enemy who came into contact with them. Wright had demonstrated its potential during his duel with Jaime in the Red Keep, where he had used Lightning Cloak. In Westeros, however, the spell could now extend to the caster's weapon as well.

Wright and Renly moved to the center of the deck, their bodies igniting in flames. The surrounding temperature soared as their swords were similarly engulfed.

Thoros, who relied on wildfire to ignite his weapon, watched the two summon magic flames from scratch, their entire bodies ablaze, and couldn't help but marvel at what he deemed true magic swordsmen.

The magical flames burned far hotter than ordinary fire. Before long, the steel sword in Wright's hand glowed red-hot, softening and bending under the intense heat.

The two ceased their magic. Wright cooled the steel sword with a Ice Storm spell, and with a series of cracks, the distorted blade broke into pieces, clattering to the deck.

Renly, meanwhile, cooled Ice with his own Ice storm. The blade did not turn red during the heating and simply released a hissing steam as it was cooled, eventually forming a layer of white frost. Renly struck the deck with the sword, shaking off the frost to reveal the blade, completely unscathed.

Returning Ice to Eddard, Renly showed no greed for the Valyrian steel weapon. Though such weapons were ideal for magic users, Renly was content. He and Wright had been acquiring Valyrian steel fragments over the years, and Wright had even claimed that with enough magical skill, he might someday forge Valyrian steel himself.

With this victory and Wright's dazzling display of magic at Pyke, the reputations of him and Renly as budding sorcerers would soon spread across the continent. If nothing went awry, the two were destined to become a significant new power in the future.

Some nobles had already considered gifting Valyrian steel weapons to Wright or Renly to win their favor. However, after weighing their purses, they hesitated. Such weapons were already exorbitantly priced, and with today's events sure to spread, prices would soar further. Moreover, even with money, finding one was nearly impossible.

Once the magic demonstration ended, everyone returned to drinking. Thoros approached Wright and bowed respectfully.

"Ser Wright, would you be willing to teach me magic?"

"Haha, of course! But it's not teaching—it's mutual exchange."

Wright was also curious to learn about the magic associated with the Lord of Light. In particular, he was interested in their flame magic and their spells related to life.

Thoros, despite being an exceptional warrior, had only average magical talent and a weak resolve. He initially studied the Lord of Light's magic but failed to make significant progress and was ultimately assigned a menial task: spreading the faith in Westeros.

However, his inability to resist the allure of gold and women led him to become a sellsword instead. Only someone like Robert, with his charismatic and leaderly demeanor, could manage to keep a man like Thoros in line. According to the original course of history, Thoros would later establish the Brotherhood Without Banners in Robert's name, continuing the fight against House Lannister after Robert's death.

Wright turned to Robert and asked:

"Is the book I gave you, The Essence of Magic: From Understanding to Practice, still on the ship?"

This book, authored by Wright himself, was more of an introductory manual on magic. It discussed the forms, qualities, and attributes of magic in a way that even non-magic users could understand. By reading it, they could differentiate magic from other natural phenomena. For those with magical abilities, the book enabled them to control the flow of their inner power. However, it offered no advanced knowledge and wasn't particularly rare. Truly profound magical tomes were locked away in the secret chambers of Storm's End by Renly.

Robert asked Jaime Lannister to retrieve the book from the ship's cabin. When Wright had originally given Robert the manuscript, the king had summoned a royal scribe to bind it in a luxurious cover using the finest materials. Initially, Robert had taken to reading it diligently, but before finishing even half, he had cast it aside in favor of drinking. The book was not a secret; with Wright's permission, it had circulated among many in the Red Keep. Robert brought it on this voyage simply because the royal clerks had cataloged it as one of the king's favored items.

Thoros received the book, opened its ornate cover, and, after a mere glance, regarded it as if it were a priceless treasure. His previous studies had been deeply entwined with the religious teachings of the Lord of Light, with true magical content comprising less than a tenth of what he had learned.

"No need to hide it," Wright said. "Let others read it too, but make sure it gets back to the king when they're done."

Wright's intent in having Thoros return the book to Robert was to create opportunities for the two to strengthen their relationship, ensuring Thoros remained by Robert's side. Without Wright or Renly present, Robert wouldn't even have a single magic practitioner in his retinue.

Additionally, Wright intended to make Thoros abandon his faith in the Lord of Light and give up his missionary work, focusing instead on studying magic under Wright's tutelage. Wright was confident that Thoros wouldn't resist a thorough indoctrination process. In the future, there would be no "Red Priest" Thoros, only "Mage" Thoros.

---

Lannisport, the most critical harbor of the Westerlands, was bustling with activity. Under Tywin's meticulous organization, the wreckage blocking the port was swiftly salvaged and cleared. Tywin spared no expense, knowing well the principle of money begetting money. Without a functioning harbor, the flow of wealth into his coffers would be choked. By the time the returning fleet arrived, Tywin had already made the necessary preparations to welcome them.

Watching Robert, Tywin, and Stannis huddling together in hushed conversation, Wright knew they were plotting how to make a fortune off the upcoming tourney. Over the past few days, Wright had been suffering from a back injury, painfully realizing that a man's back was his true weak point — injure it, and he was as good as crippled. Even healing magic had little effect, prompting him to delve into the cause.

Most common soldiers had already returned to their respective lands. Those remaining in Lannisport to attend the tourney were either nobles or soldiers who had distinguished themselves in battle. The port's inns were packed to capacity, while the nobility found accommodation in Casterly Rock. Tywin Lannister, widely acknowledged as the richest man on the continent, spared no effort in hosting his guests.

During the banquet, Tywin gave a generous speech about the upcoming tournament, flanked by two fully-armored knights:

Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane and Sandor "The Hound" Clegane. Their family had been staunchly loyal to the Lannisters since their grandfather's time, rising in the Westerlands as landed knights. Their sigil, a yellow field bearing three black hounds, reflected their heritage. Yet, their ruthless conduct earned them the disdain of even many Westerlands lords, leading to numerous dog-themed nicknames within their family.

As Wright's gaze settled on the towering figure of the Mountain, he mused:

I need to find a way to hand the Mountain over to my father-in-law, Oberyn. Should I strike a deal with Tywin, or simply kidnap him under the cover of darkness? Thoros could handle the Mountain in a one-on-one fight, but smuggling a brute of his size out of the castle without a sound would be a monumental challenge.

Over the years, rumors about the Lannisters secret involvement in the massacre of House Targaryen had gradually leaked out, including the Mountain's atrocities — personally raping the Dornish princess and murdering her two children.

Prince Oberyn, who had been making a name for himself as a sellsword in Essos, had heard of these crimes but dared not send a letter directly to Robert in King's Landing for fear of leaks. Instead, he wrote to Renly at Storm's End. This was a debt the Baratheons owed Dorne. After some deliberation, the Baratheon brothers had agreed to find an opportunity to "send" the Mountain to Dorne.