The Thorny Patg to Power
Chapter 3: The Thorny Path to Power
The Job Offer
A week had passed since Sam's first successful trade with Tom, and his confidence was steadily growing. He was making decent coin, improving his skills, and getting to know the people in Oldtown. But Tom, his new ally, seemed to have something bigger in mind.
"So, Sam," Tom said one evening over a mug of ale, "are you ready to step it up a notch?"
Sam glanced up from his drink. "Step it up? What did you have in mind?"
Tom leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper. "There's a certain noble in Oldtown—let's just say he's well-connected. He needs some discreet assistance with a shipment. High risk, but the payout… let's just say we could make enough to hire a small band of mercenaries."
Quest Alert!
Noble Connections
Objective: Assist Tom with the noble's shipment.
Rewards: Major coin, reputation boost, and access to higher-quality goods.
Sam's excitement flared, but he kept his cool. "Alright, I'm in. But what's the catch?"
Tom chuckled, taking a long drink. "It's a shipment of weapons. Apparently, this noble wants to send them north to the Riverlands. They're short on fighters, and there's word of war brewing."
Sam's mind raced. He knew the situation in Westeros well enough—skirmishes were common, especially with rival houses and rebellious lords testing their strength. But weapon smuggling was no small matter. If they were caught, it wouldn't just mean a fine; they'd be lucky to escape with their heads intact.
---
Setting Out
Early the next morning, Sam and Tom met at the docks to prepare the shipment. The goods were hidden in crates of grain, and the cover story was simple: they were transporting food supplies. Sam's system displayed the quest objective with a subtle countdown indicating their estimated time to reach the drop-off point.
As they loaded the crates, a short, stout man approached. "You two the traders for House Leyton?" he asked, eyeing them with suspicion.
Tom nodded smoothly. "Aye, that's us."
"Good," the man grunted, handing over a small, sealed letter. "Your directions are in here. Don't mess it up, or the deal's off."
The man disappeared as quickly as he'd come, leaving Sam and Tom alone with the cryptic letter.
"Well," Sam said, raising an eyebrow. "Looks like we've got our orders."
---
The Road North
As they traveled north through the winding roads of the Reach, Sam kept a wary eye on their surroundings. Bandits weren't uncommon in these parts, and the cargo they carried made them an especially tempting target.
"Think we'll make it without a hitch?" Sam asked, half-joking.
Tom grinned, unbothered. "If we're lucky. But hey, we'll handle it. Worst case, we toss a few crates overboard and make a run for it."
The journey remained quiet for a few days, and Sam used the time to improve his Knowledge skill by studying maps and landmarks. Every bit of information could be a potential advantage in this world.
Knowledge +1!
But just as he was starting to think they'd make it to their destination without incident, trouble appeared in the form of six armed men blocking the road. They wore mismatched armor and carried rough weapons, but the greedy look in their eyes was unmistakable.
"Stop right there!" the lead bandit barked. "What've you got in those crates, boys?"
Tom muttered a curse under his breath. "Bandits."
Sam's system flashed an alert:
Combat Opportunity!
Engage or Negotiate
Engage: Fight the bandits.
Negotiate: Use Persuasion to avoid conflict.
Sam clenched his jaw. He could try to talk their way out, but he wasn't sure these bandits were the negotiating type. On the other hand, they didn't look too organized. Fighting might actually be feasible, given the training he'd been doing.
"Let's negotiate first," Sam whispered to Tom. "We don't need bloodshed if we can avoid it."
He took a step forward, trying to look confident. "Gentlemen, we're just merchants on a delivery run. No harm in letting us pass, right?"
The bandit leader scoffed, but Sam's system pinged as his Persuasion skill activated.
Persuasion Check: Success!
The bandit leader's posture shifted, and he motioned to his men to lower their weapons. "Alright, alright. But don't think we're letting you off free. We'll be taking a toll for the trouble."
Sam sighed and tossed him a pouch of coins. "There, now you can enjoy a drink on us."
The bandits accepted the payment and slinked back into the woods, muttering among themselves. As soon as they were out of sight, Sam and Tom quickly resumed their journey, not wanting to push their luck.
---
The Drop-Off
After days on the road, they finally reached the arranged drop-off point—a secluded clearing near the Riverlands, where another set of guards awaited them. Sam watched carefully as they unloaded the crates, keeping an eye out for any funny business.
The guards inspected the goods and nodded approvingly. "Good work. House Leyton will be pleased."
As Sam pocketed the reward—enough silver to fill a small sack—his system chimed:
Quest Complete: Noble Connections
Reward: 500 silver coins, +5 Reputation, and access to noble trading networks.
Tom grinned, clapping him on the back. "Not bad for a couple of 'merchants,' eh?"
Sam laughed, feeling a new sense of accomplishment. "Not bad at all."
---
Returning to Oldtown
Back in Oldtown, Sam's reputation had grown. The success of their last job brought more contacts and even a few whispered invitations to meet with nobles interested in "discreet" trades. For a newcomer to Westeros, he was doing well—but he couldn't let success go to his head.
One evening at the tavern, a man approached him—a slim figure in dark clothing, his face partially hidden under a hood. "Sam Wilson, the 'merchant'?" he asked, his voice cold but polite.
Sam tensed, glancing at Tom. "Who's asking?"
"A friend," the man replied smoothly. "One who has noticed your recent success. There's a job—if you're interested. High pay, but not without risk."
Sam narrowed his eyes. "What kind of job?"
The stranger leaned in, his voice barely above a whisper. "Information. We need someone who can move quietly and gather intelligence on certain… political rivals."
Quest Alert!
Spies and Schemes
Objective: Gather intelligence on a noble house's rivals.
Rewards: 800 silver coins, Stealth skill unlocked.
Sam's stomach twisted. This was a different game—a game of shadows, deception, and betrayal. If he misstepped, it wouldn't just cost him a few coins. But the pay was tempting, and with his system offering a new skill, he felt compelled to accept.
"Alright," Sam said finally. "I'll do it."
The stranger gave a slight nod. "Meet me at the docks tomorrow night. I'll have more details."
As the stranger vanished into the crowd, Sam felt a shiver of excitement mixed with dread. He glanced at Tom, who looked equally intrigued.
"Looks like you've got quite the adventure ahead of you," Tom said, raising his drink in a toast.
Sam chuckled, clinking his mug with Tom's. "Here's to survival in Westeros."
---
Preparing for the Spy Mission
That night, Sam went through his system menu to review his stats:
Sam Wilson - Merchant Class
Charisma: 6
Trading: 13
Persuasion: 8
Endurance: 3
Melee: 4
Knowledge: 2
Reputation: +10 (New Connections Unlocked)
With every stat, he felt more capable. But this new mission required a skill he hadn't yet developed—Stealth. If he was going to make it out alive, he'd have to be smarter, faster, and more cautious than ever before.
The following morning, he went back to his combat trainer and requested a few pointers on moving quietly, blending into crowds, and avoiding notice. His trainer taught him some basics of foot placement and shadowing tactics—enough to give him a small edge.
Stealth Skill Unlocked!
Current Level: 1
Satisfied with his progress, Sam spent the rest of the day planning. If he succeeded, he'd gain both money and reputation, which could open doors to even bigger opportunities. But failure… well, he didn't want to think about that.