111 AC
King's Landing, Tourny grounds
First Person POV,
Aemon Targaryen
XXX
I watched as the next match was announced. Arnold had already left to visit his father in his tent after his loss and I had already placed my next bet. A few lords had surely already gone bankrupt from my last one, as I had placed quite a few good dragons on the young Stark's victory.
Well technically he's older than me at least physically but I'm not sure how old I am mentally. Whatever I'm sure it doesn't matter.
The announcer shouted out the next match as the two armored warriors entered the jousting arena from another tunnel.
Greyjoy vs Tyrell. To be honest as of right now I have no true interest in either of them for now. Still, there's money to be made and so make money I shall. I crossed my arms and yawned. Then I heard footsteps walking up behind me.
I turned to see the masked figure of Darth Sidious walking over to me. We locked eyes, then Sidious bowed and waited for my command.
"Rise. We have business to discuss." I said turning my eyes back to the field. Tyrell entered first, all flowers, all guided pageantry. A prize fighter if I've ever seen one, I doubt the man has ever seen real battle. Even so, he's quite the spectacle.
"Very well my master. If I may ask for what business have you summoned me?" Sidious asked in a gentle and reverent voice. I felt his emotions, he's still loyal still observant, and he is ever eager to serve. Meanwhile, Tyrell threw a fake rose into the crowd, one of my own make. I smirked, the banners I had created waved into the Tyrell corner. Tiny flags billowed in the hands of Reacher lords and small folk alike.
"First off a simple report on the profits we've turned so far," I said my eyes never leaving the figure in green and gold.
"Ah yes, Stark won us much gold indeed. No doubt due to his youth. We're still counting but several thousand gold dragons have already changed hands. By the end of the next match, we estimate at least 20,000 gold a conservative estimate at that. It's a faster profit than we've made in one day, and that's just this first match not including everything else from the games." A slight thrill at the number ran through him. Something that the two of us shared. I smiled, my eyes finally leaving Tyrell as he took his place and switching to Greyjoy, who rode in. His armor gold and black, shone like obsidian but something was off about it. His cloak seemed to hang off him like wet seaweed and unlike lord Tyrell, Greyjoy just took his place. He didn't relish in cheers or showboat for the crowd he just readied himself.
"Good. How did the second meeting with our Lysen connections go? Did they give us what was required?" I said starting my work. Emotional manipulation is a delicate art. It requires care, patience, and the willingness to do things that even I find distasteful. However, it's made easier by one aspect of the ability I only discovered in the aftermath of my first battle.
After I discovered the true strength of this skill I've been using it to have as great an effect as I can manage without being noticed. After all, anyone when pushed too far in a certain direction will notice their own odd behavior. Now I've refined it so well that causing the normal outcome of a fight to change was one of the easiest things I could do.
In truth, if I wanted, all I needed was a mildly upset crowd, and I could whip them into a full-blown riot. But that's not this skill's true strength. Using it I've forged connections not just all over Westeros but even in Essos as well. I forged loyal spies, trade partners, and even enemies who have no idea I even exist.
But it's not enough, not yet, it's still too thin. Those connections are too tenuous, I've held back on the products I can sell. I've held back on the network's true potential. But when my work here in the capital is over that will all start to change.
"Yes, master. Your plan is proceeding smoothly," Sidious said a hint of excitement creeping into his voice.
I frowned, the last thing I needed was him becoming overconfident. I turned away as Greyjoy and Tyrell traded their first lances and the crowd cheered.
"Don't say that, never assume everything is going to plan, always assume there will be a problem, even if you can't see it yet," I glared slightly and enhanced the intimidation he felt from me. Sidous bowed once again, cowed slightly.
"Yes master I shall take your teachings to heart," He said this time I nodded at his words and turned back to the match.
Greyjoy charged at Tyrell like a raging wave, all fury no precision, and precision is the name of this game. Tyrell dodged his lance entirely before striking and breaking his own lance, earning himself another point.
Greyjoy nearly fell off his horse but managed to recover and call for his next lance but not before Tyrell got his. By the time the Kraken lord turned Lord Tyrell was already charging at full speed.
They met again and lord Greyjow was sent flying this time like he had been flung from the deck of a ship caught in a storm. Then he crashed into the arena floor like that deck of that sinking ship. His lance snapped, his shield flew from his hand, and he groaned in pain so loud, that I'm certain they could hear it all the way up in the royal box.
I was going to start my work now. I bet on Greyjoy specifically because so many did lord Tyrell. I smirked, thinking about all the people who were about to be affected by this upset.
But as I increased his rage and humiliation at this defeat I sensed the telltale signs of a question building up in Sidious behind me.
"What is it?" I questioned, I don't have time for his hesitation and it's rather irritating to split my focus this way even if it's not that difficult.
"Have you still not decided the matter of the swapped lance?" He asked, and I paused at that. Arnold's earlier words rang around in my head but I was still concerned about the risk Ser Christon could pose to my plans. Besides if I learned anything about the Dornish from the series and the books, it's to never trust one of them. Incidentally, I feel the same way about Sidious.
I hummed again rolling over the decision once more before coming to my conclusion. Cole hasn't done anything wrong just yet and it would be a little racist to kill him just for being Dornish. Not to mention it is still true that I need another talented war general.
"It took me some time but I've come to a decision… No lance shall be swapped today. If a knight is to die in this Tourny then it shall be the will of the old gods. Besides, we have one target already, best not to push our luck." I said focusing back in on Greyjoy he'd risen to a knee now.
I pushed out his rage and indignation to a whole new level. No doubt his adrenaline would be pumping harder than ever before, and when an ironborn gets angry, well, he might be taking this victory by the iron price.
"Very well my master," He said waiting for me to continue speaking on the next topic. I didn't though instead I decided to give the rest of the match my undivided attention.
"You may go now Sidious, I have a Tourny to watch. Oh and do tell me our total gains when the day is over," I said quickly recalling the last part of my plan for the day.
"Of course master, I shall have the men count throughout the night if I must. If that is all I take my leave then," he said, I nodded and he turned to leave again, stalking back into the soft darkness of the tunnel.
I turned back to Greyjoy who was now calling for a weapon and a new shield. A random lad ran over with a shield in hand but instead of a sword as expected, he handed lord Greyjoy a massive, wicked-looking axe.
Then he roared something at Tyrell who had been so busy showboating and playing for the crowd he hadn't been paying attention to his opponent.
Greyjoy charged and someone in the crowd managed to get Tyrell's attention long enough for him to notice them and have them point behind him. I'd been using my ability to distract him with his own pride as long as I could letting his own arrogance blind him.
But he barely managed to react fast enough to gain more distance from the angry Ironborn and dismount. Greyjoy kept rushing at him any fatigue he felt immediately being banished by my powers. Once he got close enough I'd drive him into a berserker fury while nerfing Tyrell as much as I could. It'd be my best shot at having him win and I'll be damned if I lose money on the second match of the tourney.
Tyrell just barely got his sword and shield in time for him to get nearly bowled over by Greyjoy. He swung again and again with what looked like the fury of the drowned god. In truth it was me pushing him into that berserker rage I'd planned to. No pain, no exhaustion, just pure, unadulterated wrath and the desire to win.
The crowd had grown wild; instead of cheering for Tyrell's victory, they just wanted to see blood spilled. Hell, I didn't even have to rile them up or anything else. These fucking lords like to act all grand and above it all but at the end of the day, they're just the same bloody savages as everyone else.
"Humans." I scoffed shaking my head, I try not to be so inhuman but I do realize that I'm not one, not anymore. Even so, if my destiny is to rule over the people of this land then retaining as much of my humanity as possible is necessary. Luckily for me humans are just as capable of committing horrific atrocities as any other species I'm familiar with if not more so.
That fact in this case is to my benefit. Mainly because Greyjoy has been hacking at Tyrell's shield like a man possessed. The Reach's heir tried to counter and dove but any attack he put in was batted away with ease. Greyjoy was in full frenzy now but I wasn't sure if he'd stop before killing the flower knight.
Eventually, Tyrell's shield shattered entirely and he was taken down with a swift and no doubt well-practiced kick to the stomach which knocked him to the ground. A backhand from Greyjoys' ace interrupted an attempt at a recovery which resulted in a spray of blood from his helm.
It's followed by a fury of blows that drowns any attempt at resistance Tyrell attempts to put up against Greyjoy. At this point the winner is clear the Kracken has won now it's only a matter of whether he will stop in time for Tyrell to survive.
At the rate he is salvaging Tyrell even if he doesn't die here, he may still die of his wounds. There's no honor in this victory, just violence but that's all I need to get what I want out of this.
I've stopped pushing Greyjoy at this point but he's already in his own frenzy. So instead I focus on the excitement, blood lust, and anger I feel radiating from the crowd and the respective boxes of the lords. It is honestly hilarious to feel the panic of all the lords who bet on Tyrell for the easy victory.
I turned to walk away as Greyjoy slammed the pommel of his axe into Tyrell's helm once more. Tyrell attempted to wrestle the Ironborn off of him but it was to no avail. You'd be surprised how often it comes grappling on the ground when in knight armor. It sucks for me because I was never much of a good wrestler but now my raw physical abilities should be enough to deal with it.
'I can't say the same for Tyrell though.' I thought, chuckling to myself as another roar went up from the crowd.
'But hey what's a Tourny without at least a few deaths?'
It wasn't long after that the match ended in an obvious victory for the lord reaper of Pike. The next match was announced fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it wasn't me. Instead, it was announced that the next tilt would be the lion vs the stag.
Borros Baratheon vs Jason Lannister
[Chapter image]
XXX
So I may have fucked up just a teensy little bit, but I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not. You see for the match between lord Tyrell and Greyjoy I used a wheel spin as I did for the other matches. Except this time I also did one for who would be knocked down first. If the loser were to take it to a contest of arms, who would win, and if they were to kill their opponent?
As you can see Greyjoy took it to a contest of arms and he won. The wheel was also said to kill Tyrell. But if he dies right now Lyonell Tyrell is never born which either A ends the bloodline of the Tyrells or B changes said bloodline entirely. Thus erasing basically every single one of his descendants which will probably be a massive issue later.
I'm not really sure what to do so I thought I would ask. And you know how I love my reader interaction. So, which would you guys prefer? This is an AU after all but hey the Tyrells having a succession crisis might be helpful or a pain in the ass.
A: The wheel has spoken (Tyrell Dies)
B: Divine intervention (Tyrell lives)
C: Continue the legacy (Tyrell dies, but Lyonel is still born.)