(Third-person perspective)
Two years have passed since Aermir began building his secret network and organization. The initial efforts proved challenging, but thanks to his Druid identity, he successfully gained considerable support among the common people. Aermir used his skills, especially his Plant Growth spells and various rituals, to heal the sick and bring prosperity to the people.
This benevolent approach effectively drew the common people to his side, and their unwavering loyalty became a crucial barrier against the nobility's covetousness. His spies infiltrated most of the towns and villages throughout the North, operating covertly under the guise of religion. Aermir's ability to perform miracles attracted many, and he consistently attributed these miracles to the Old Gods, thus strengthening his bond with his followers.
Although many of these people were seen as assets rather than true members, Aermir maintained strict control over the recruitment process. He would only allow them into his inner circle and reveal his true identity to them when he deemed them valuable and loyal. The sheer power of a young man often filled them with awe.
For commoners and some minor nobles, the image of the Druid represented the will of the Old Gods. This connection made it increasingly difficult for the lords of the North to find and destroy Aermir's intelligence network. More than a year ago, when the Lord Stark finally realized Aermir's activities, he was furious and confronted the young nobleman.
(A year and a half ago)
As soon as Aermir entered the room, Eddard's voice erupted with a barrage of accusations.
"Are you trying to rebel against the lord and the royal family?" he roared in fury.
Aermir replied, puzzled, "No, why do you say that?"
Eddard's frustration was palpable. He retorted, "You say you're building an information network, but you're building a militant army. They're no different from Faith Militant."
Aermir tried to clarify his intentions, arguing. "Of course, there's a difference. They're not working for a corrupt archbishop, nor are they here to suppress others."
Eddard continued, disappointed. "When you said you didn't want to rule the North, I believed you; your vision surpassed mine. Is that what you mean? You intend to build an army? What is your purpose in building an army? Do you want to be king?"
Misunderstood, Aermir angrily asserted. "I don't want to be king. We don't have time to argue. That army serves three purposes: First, they will end banditry and create internal security for the North. With internal security, trade will flourish. Second, we can exert influence over the Faith of the Seven and prevent their expansion in the North. The third reason is to have a standing army. In the event of an invasion, they can resist or delay the destruction."
Eddard, worried about the potential consequences, asked, "Who will lead this force? I don't think you'll hand the reins to anyone else. Six months ago, I said I didn't need your oath, but things changed when I learned of your army plans. I need one now."
Aermir assumed a solemn posture, took the oath, and firmly grasped Ned's hand, declaring. "I created this organization not to become the High Lord in the North or the King of Westeros. If I am lying, may I die immediately."
Despite his reservations, Eddard sensed the sincerity in Aermir's oath. He couldn't fully comprehend Aermir's true motives, but he sensed that this religious army was not simple. He pondered for a long time but still couldn't figure it out. Aermir's fundamental reason for forming this army was the imminent threat of the Night's King.
Aermir suggested, "We can resolve this by placing the Knights under your jurisdiction. As a knight, I will join the Knights and serve as their commander."
Eddard was still worried about the dynamics of power, and he asked, "But you will be the one who rules it, won't you?"
Aermir assured him, "My lord, as long as your high moral character does not cloud your judgment, it will obey your leadership. However, this order will primarily serve the North."
Eddard was furious and demanded, "What do you mean by 'affecting my judgment'?"
"My lord, how many innocent people of the North have died for your honor, just because you refused to act before informing the King during the rebellion? How many more would have died if I hadn't acted?" Aermir's voice was firm, his gaze fixed on Eddard.
"You have an unhealthy obsession with honor; perhaps this is because you grew up among hypocrites like the Knights of the Vale. You cannot place your sense of honor above the needs of the North."
A surge of anger welled up in Eddard's heart, and he slammed his fist on the table, the sound echoing through the room. "You can't talk to me like that! Why did you call Jon Arryn and the Knights of the Vale hypocrites?"
Aermir's accusation hung in the air, leaving Eddard speechless for a moment. Undeterred, Aermir continued, "My lord, you and I both know the truth. I haven't told a single lie. As for the Knights of the Vale and Jon Arryn, what did he do after the Mountain's attack on the capital and the killing of the Targaryen children? Did he champion the punishment of that monster, joining you in your chorus, or did he simply let it go, or even worse, did he urge you to cover it up? And the Knights of the Vale? You must have witnessed how they treated the Mountain Clans of the Vale. Did they even consider them human beings?"
Eddard was struck hard by Aermir's words and found himself utterly powerless to refute them. Ultimately, Aermir's persuasion began to weaken Ned's resistance, making him see the potential benefits of the Knights Templar. Jon Arryn's initial opposition gradually became insignificant, as King Robert, at Eddard's request, approved the formation of the Knights Templar.
As a Knights Templar, they needed a sacred site for protection. Therefore, for the next two years, Aermir shifted his focus from the Plant Growth spell to a new task. He began to build a forest between the territories of Manderly and Dustin, adjacent to his own territory north of Moat Cailin.
While it cannot compare to the vast Wolfswood in size, it still reaches an impressive 30 square kilometers. The tallest trees reach 3-4 meters in height. Although it is a young forest, it is thriving, a testament to the magical abilities of the Emre the Druid. During this time, a temple dedicated to the Old Gods is being built in this newly discovered forest.
Aermir was occupied with various tasks every day, with almost no time to rest. During this time, he formed a bond with a female snowy owl Skadi Skadi, who became his familiar. Skadi then managed to tame 60 other snowy owls, effectively establishing a wide reconnaissance network beyond the Wall.
However, these snowy owls could not venture deep into the " Lands of Always Winter." Aermir, concerned for Skadi's safety, strictly forbade her from going too far. Losing her would be unbearable, for she held a special place in his heart.
Aermir's scouting network had never encountered Others or wizards, yet he keenly sensed their presence. He meticulously mapped the territory beyond the Wall, extending all the way to the " Lands of Always Winter."
The largest Wildlings settlement is the Thenn tribe, who are relatively sophisticated among Wildlings. Although they are inferior to the North, their society has a legal system and a clear administrative structure. They use bronze weapons, and due to their location in the basin formed by the Frostfangs Mountains, they enjoy a more favorable climate than most areas outside the Wall.
The Thenns communicated using their First Men language, " Old Tongue." Aermir found learning this new language surprisingly easy, thanks to his ability to use " Identification," which streamlined the learning process. This skill allowed him to make connections between different pieces of information, greatly facilitating the memorization of words and phrases. Notably, he mastered the basics of Old Tongue in less than a month.
In his in-depth study of the complexities of the Old Tongue, Aermir made a startling discovery—the existence of Giants. The Thenns, fluent in the Old Tongue, had extensive communication with these behemoths, more so than any other Wildlings group. The Giants came in two sizes: the smaller Giants were about 3.5 meters (11 feet) tall, while the larger Giants reached an astonishing 5 meters (16 feet) in height.
The Giants are covered in fur and have small eyes. Due to their limited vision, they rely mainly on their keen sense of smell. They resemble apes but are far from being wild beasts. In fact, they communicate using Old Tongue dialect and are organized into small tribes scattered throughout the Frostfangs Mountains.
With the support of the Lord Stark, approximately 100 nobles joined the Knights Templar, forming a new organization known as the " Paladins of the Old Gods." These nobles were not high-ranking members of their respective families, but rather consisted of heirs and bastards who were often overlooked in the line of succession.
Meanwhile, the temple's construction was nearing completion, and surprisingly, Aermir hadn't spent a single copper coin on it. Volunteers and loyal workers took care of every aspect of the construction, while Aermir used his Druid abilities to craft stones. The lords, eager to gain the Druid's favor, generously provided all other necessary resources.
Aermir never solicited donations, yet the temple still attracted many nobles and commoners on pilgrimage. These visitors contributed everything they could to the temple's development. However, the temple lacked a crucial element— weirwood with a face.
Aermir had tried to plant one, but whenever he attempted to carve a face into the tree with magic, it would always revert to its faceless state. Because the tree lacked a connection to its intricate root system, he couldn't use a blade to create an artificial face. Despite leveling up a few months ago as a sixth-level Druid, his efforts to establish this connection remained fruitless. Even when he tried to replant an existing weirwood, the connection was severed the moment he unearthed it, and the tree's face vanished.
Over two years, Aermir honed his magical skills while studying the bronze armor of Royce and Nightfall. This newfound understanding of enchanting significantly impacted his level progression, allowing him to reach level 5. While he couldn't craft items with Valyrian steel weapon calibers, he could infuse weapons or armor with magic, such as enhancing their durability or sharpness. Although these spells couldn't match the superior quality of Valyrian steel, they granted these items qualities superior to standard steel weapons and armor.