(Lord Osric Stark, Heir to Winterfell POV)
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Osric placed some Adamantium, Doonium, Blackrock Ore, and Beskar into the vat as he waited for the stuff to melt. Letting everyone present get their bearings seemed prudent, and the heat was sufficient to melt the ores anyway. The Iron Sand had a high iron content as well as Titanium and Vanadium, and its magnetic properties were useful for attracting the iron in the other metals and making the bonding process easier. The titanomagnetite in the Sand ensured that the Titanium and Vanadium directly incorporated into the alloy's crystalline structure, with the vanadium creating a fine-grained structure that makes the blade incredibly tough and resistant to wear, while the titanium provided high-temperature strength and corrosion resistance. When the other ores melted, they enhanced the blades formed.
Eventually, he'd be making Armor, not that these southern twats needed to know that.
Eventuall,y Lord Mallister, Ser Garlan, and Ser Rodrik filtered out, leaving only Osric, King Robert, father, and Tywin Lannister.
''Ice has been in our family since Brandon the Builder. Now it's worthless.'' Says Father.
''Already smelting a replacement.'' Osric shrugged.
''Can you make more?'' Robert asks.
''Depends on what sort of quality control you want. A sword like this takes me about four to five hours. Removing the engravings means I can make one in about two and a half hours. So if we assume you want no engravings, that's about four, maybe five a day. I was considering doing a special order of eight. Seven for the Royal Kingsguard, one for yourself, your grace to be passed down to each successive generation of Kings.'' What went unsaid was that if the blade tasted the flesh and blood of the innocent, it would shatter. Of course, that was only true if it tasted Northern blood or blood of the Riverlands, currently he lacked the experience needed to fine tune it to shatter if it tasted Stark or Tully blood, but if Joffrey used this to kill his father, then it'd break irreprably.
''And how much would it cost?'' Tywin asked.
''Out of respect for the bond between the Houses Baratheon and Stark, I'll let the coming eight swords go for free. But future orders will cost. Costs will depend on the quality wanted, a true Masterwork that would survive dragonflame, monstrous strength, or the test of time would be at least two million Gold Dragons, but I plan to supply the Northern Houses with at least one Blade for their Lords and heirs free of charge. Everyone south of the Neck will need to pay, however.'' He explained.
''I'm prepared to pay you your full price for such a sword.'' Tywin said when it was clear Robert was still mentally recovering from the previous events and words and wouldn't speak up just yet.
''I'll need to complete the royal and Kingsguard swords first as well as a replacement blade for father, but if you're willing to give an advance of a Million Dragons and pay the rest upon completion of the blade, You'll be first in line afterwards.'' Says Osric.
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(POV Shift: Lord Tywin Lannister, Lord Paramount of the Westerlands)
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In the end a bargain was struck, a Million Gold Dragons upfront, the rest upon completion and delivery. The Stark Boy making a Sword for the King at no expense meant that he did not have to pay extra for Joffrey when he became King.
Even if his grandson would likely be given a steep discount because of Lady Sansa. The gold in Casterly Rock would not last forever, and he would need to search for an alternative source of gold sooner rather than later.
If the boy delivered as promised, then there might be a possibility of another agreement, maybe serving as the primary distributor to Essos for a part in the profits while figuring out a more permament solution to the eventual loss of Casterly Rock's gold.
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(POV Shift: Lord Osric Stark, Heir to Winterfell)
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Osric finished setting up Basilica's skeleton, but he'd do the engravings later. The Elementium needed time to absorb the Energon and the Lyrium. For the moment, he was busy forging something specific at Jon's request.
Needle.
Forged from Beskar, Blackrock Ore, Dionesium, Songsteel, Depleted Promethium, Doonium, Chromium, Adamantium, Vibranium, Meteorite Steel, enriched Dimeritium, and he wasn't just using Lyrium as a strictly non-magical metallurgical bonding agent this time. The Lyrium was being imbued directly into the eblade to give it a little extra kick, and the hilt would be feature a slight curve to make it fit into Arya's hand more easily and give her greater control.
The deal with Tywin Lannister would be fulfilled before his father died, but Osric needed to start ramping up production of his blades. The order for the Kingsguard and King Robert would be completed, as would a replacement for Ice, but he needed to start production and spreading his blades. He'd send two down to Riverrun for Uncle Edmure and great-uncle Brynden, three to Highgarden, a ceremonial sword for Willas Tyrell, and two proper ones for Ser Garlan and Ser Loras. Additionally, he'd send blades to Storm's End and Dragonstone, Ironoaks, Runestone, Raventree Hall, Stone Hedge, Crakehall, Ashemark, The Arbor, Horn Hill.
Basically specific Houses as much to curry favor as to spread the word. All those would be after the Northern Houses of Course.
The Umbers would get two Greatswords, the Manderly's Two Longswords, and the list went on.
''Osric? The feast will begin soon.'' He turned briefly to regard Waymar.
''Bring our guest to me.'' He instructs.
It's time to strike the bargains.
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Smalljon and Waymar brought the man to him and left with a nod.
''Do you know why you're here?'' He asks as he continues to finish Needle.
''A man does not.'' He said in a thick Lorathi accent, but Osric could still pick up the light hint of Braavos in his voice.
''I know who you are, or rather what you are. Valar Morghulis.'' He says.
''Valar dohaeris.'' The man responds in surprise. ''A man did not expect to find a follower here of all places.'' He says.
''I'm not, not as you know it at least. This sword like the one I made before can shatter or cleave straight through Valyrian Steel. Take this offer to your brothers and sisters at the House of Black and White. When in need of specialist tools, equipment, weapons, and armor of the highest possible quality, come to me, and I will make them without fail.'' Says Osric.
''What does the man want in return?'' The Faceless one asks.
''Many things, protection of my bloodline, if assassins are sent, stop them. When the new King kills my father, get the crow and my youngest sister out, bring the Smith with the crow to me as well. Give my Aunt and my cousin in the Vale the gift of permanent, dreamless sleep forever, bring me the man of the Littlefinger after he betrays my father, and when the banners declare me king, bring me the incestous queen and baseborn bastard son of King. When I head to the Red Castle to save my sister, do not assist or interfere. And when the false Dragons dies in a crown of Gold, kill the Horse Lord and bring his sister and her three eggs to me. Do that and I will fulfill any order you ask of me.'' Says Osric.
''A man will send word to the order, but if the man is lying about the quality of his skills, there will be no hiding from us.'' Says the Faceless man.
''House Stark always keeps their word, because we are always right in the end. Winter is coming.'' He tells Jaqen H'ghar, reciting the ancestral words of House Stark.
Words that for over a thousand years, were far more prophetic than anybody dared realize….
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(Author's Note:
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So quick little note here, one small error in the last author's note from the previous chapter, it wasn't from Tywin's lips that I got the name and Idea for Basilica, it was just the idea. Anyways, welcome to Jaqen H'ghar who was indirectly mentioned way back in Chapter 1 and no one saw that and assumed I'd forgotten about it or it was a mistake. Anyways, couple of things to discuss, With this chapter done I'll begin work on the first chapter of DxD: The Artificer and Star Wars: The Artificer. I'll post them on A03, Fanfiction.Net, and Wattpad individually but on Webnovel they'll fall under the fic known as RaggyCrag Artificer Omniverse, RaggyCrag is essentially a shortened form of my Moniker I file everything under. All my novels and fanfics go into a RaggyCrag folder and just branch out so it's fitting to name the compilation on Webnovel this.
Another matter, I'll still be working on the next chapter of this while working on the other two, anyways, see you guys next chapter, till then….
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