Annals of Westeros: Volume 1

To a young man's ears, this may seem like any other time.  High lords playing their game, smallfolk and hedge knights being passed around like chattel.  But make no mistake, Winter is coming.  The white ravens haven't been sent, but the proof is irrefutable.  War is coming to Westeros, and with it the Long Night.

Let us review events of recent past.  At the beginning the Hand's Tourney, wherein our great land's knights pledged fealty to one House or another, two lords failed to pay their debts to the Crown.  King Baratheon abides no debtors, and subsequently executed the two heads of House.  Surprising to many, one of them was the relatively young House from the Fingers, Baelish.  Hopefully, under new lordship, the House can rise above its meager beginnings in the conflicts to come.

During the Tourney, many Houses noted how friendly the head of House Banefort was with the King's abundant wine cellar.  The lord was happily signing into his services whichever hedgeknight was most appealing at the moment, at great expense to the House's own stores.  Winter will not be kind to such.

The Maesters of Oldtown have been curiously active of late.  Though typically content to serve the highborn of Westeros with advice and knowledge, this Summer they have been eager in their attempts to recruit, moreso than years past.  Some have even reported sons going missing in the night, only to receive a raven within the next fortnight from the Citadel.  Worrisome, indeed.

It was after the Tourney that the first true signs of Winter made their marks on Westeros.  The Lord of House Tollett had grown wearisome of the supposed slights to his house by his Grace, King Baratheon.  At court, in front of all the Lords and Ladies present, Tollett (clearly lost in his cups) issued a challenge to his Grace.  And there, upon the Iron Throne, King Baratheon issued his command with no more than a flick of his wrist.

Lord Tollett was hanged that very day, and his House torn asunder, his only heir sent to the Wall to serve in the Night's Watch.  Under the storms that ravaged Kings Landing that night, the Game was still being played.  Amidst the chaos, Lord Royce moved his House into favor with the King, gaining the lands and knights of the former House.

This is only the start of what is to come.  Prophesy has foretold of fire and blood, and the Great Houses would take care to make ready.  As the Red priests say, "The night is dark, and full of terrors."