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Post by Trystane Sand on Apr 15, 2019 17:07:04 GMT 1
"It seems I find myself in a hive of scum and villainy. And you Reachmen call the Dornish dishonourable," Trystane chuckles darkly as another pass of the wineskin goes around.
"How do you get treated, with regards to our "unworthy father"? Do people expect the same of you? I mean, aside from the Westerosi convention of hating bastards. If there are such things as a "Levalle taint", do people here expect all our father's children to be like him?"
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 15, 2019 18:37:08 GMT 1
He purses his lips in thought.
“The Reach has its villains, but it also has more than enough knights who are willing to stand against them to go around. It is also a region where those who fall short of chivalrous expectations are more likely to be called out and recognized.
Like you in not originally from here, my mother’s family is House Velaryon of Driftmark, so it took me some time to adapt to the cultural differences between the Reach and the Crownlands, but I find that is Great Bastards get to break the rules and conventions a bit more. Few men see us as low as normal bastards and our parentage gives us the opportunity to forge our own destiny. The best and the worst might be found among us, but ultimately we are the ones who determine what people think of us through our actions.”
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Post by Trystane Sand on Apr 16, 2019 0:36:17 GMT 1
"A wise answer, and somewhat reassuring. I certainly hope I can be my own man, and that I won't end up like him. It's odd. My mother painted such a different picture of him. It was jarring to leave home and hear different from so many people. I'm starting to wonder if there was something... wrong there. She also hid my legitimisation from me for a long time after it happened, fearing I'd leave her to seek my fortune."
The thought that his mother's mind was not sound troubled Trystane, and he furrowed his brow thoughtfully.
"How strange, innocence. To trust someone completely and think the best of them, only to find that you've just been looking through the lens they held up to you."
He shook his head and reached for the wineskin again.
"But that's a grim avenue of though I shouldn't really go down with a new friend. Tell me more about yourself, Ser Daeron. How long since you left Driftmark?"
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 17, 2019 3:28:13 GMT 1
He passed it back to his brother, noting that it was almost empty. They might need another one soon.
"Our father was not a good man, nor was he a good king. I suspect that your mother was simply trying to protect you from hard truths and those who would use you."
He then sits in silence for a moment, pondering his new brother's revelations about his mother.
"I left Driftmark years ago, barely a man, full of anger and frustration. House Velaryon is a proud and powerful one, and my lord uncle had hoped to keep his family out of Aegon IV's interests, so when his younger sister bore one of the king's bastards, there was a bit of scandal. I never felt like I fit in, and many members of my family were keen to remind me of my status, even after I had been legitimised. Fortunately for me, my Aunt Alysanne was lady here at Kingsbridge and Ser Vardis was in need of a new squire to shape into a knight. As the maesters might say, the rest is history."
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Post by Trystane Sand on Apr 17, 2019 3:33:32 GMT 1
"Sounds like it was for the better. You seem to be doing well where you are. A respected knight, one of the Kingsbridge Companions. Do you have further ambitions? Anything in particular you wish to achieve?"
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 17, 2019 3:53:52 GMT 1
"What all knights wish to obtain I assume? A beautiful bride and a castle to come with her. Gold, glory, and a legacy that forces its way into the maesters' dusty tomes.
As much as I cherish my position here at Kingsbridge, there will come a time when I need more than to serve as a sworn sword for House Starling and just as I set off from Driftmark to pursue my destiny, a new chapter in my life will ultimately demand that I leave Kingsbridge to continue to chase that same destiny.
And you Ser Trystane? I assume that you desire the same?"
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Post by Trystane Sand on Apr 17, 2019 4:07:47 GMT 1
Trystane nods slowly in understanding as Daeron speaks, and takes the final draw of the wineskin before responding.
"Getting into the dusty tomes would be nice. Gold and glory, well, who doesn't like those? Even the little sparrows in their septs like wealth. Lady and lands, eventually, yes, though I haven't set my sights on anyone in particular yet. Is there someone you have intentions toward? I'd hate to inadvertently tread on your toes."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 17, 2019 15:43:38 GMT 1
This time his laughter is a bit more vibrant.
“At this point any unmarried woman of a noble house who is still young enough to bear children is pretty well what interests me. Feel free to pursue whomever your heart... or whatever else.. desires. Should we share an interest a simple matter of swords will rectify our predicament.”
Daeron’s words were friendly and in jest, but Trystane should have few doubts that his half-brother wouldn’t be willing to draw blood for a lady’s hand... or whatever else..
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Post by Trystane Sand on Apr 17, 2019 19:49:07 GMT 1
Trystane joins in with the laughter.
"Good to know. Not everyone would be so civil, so your forthrightness is appreciated. I'm sure that, before long, you'll be sufficiently renowned that you'll have to fend the ladies off with a stick," he chuckles. "I take it you hold your own on the tourney circuit?"
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 18, 2019 2:31:13 GMT 1
He gives a sly smile and his voice is full of false modesty.
"I do well enough with the ladies and the lists I suppose. I have yet to win any tourneys, but only because Roland Redwyne is a truly formidable foe who made it quite far at the Black Tourney and even won the melee there. I hear you've been similarly held back from victory by Redtusk?"
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Post by Trystane Sand on Apr 18, 2019 2:59:16 GMT 1
"Ah yes, Redtusk. He did indeed thwart me recently. Only made it two passes before being unhorsed. Still, making it to the finals in my first tourney outside Dorne feels like a good start, and I suppose losing to one of the best takes the sting out of defeat somewhat. He was a gracious winner too, which I like. Given his reputation, I was half expecting to suffer a worse fate."
Upon trying to drink from the winsekin again, and remembering he'd emptied it, he excused himself briefly to fetch another, handing it to Daeron.
"I've heard the Black Tourney mentioned a few times now but with little consistent detail. Care to share your account? I have heard some rather grim things about it."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 18, 2019 4:04:03 GMT 1
He takes an extra long pull from the wineskin before recounting the tourney.
"It was meant to be a grand spectacle of the gallantry of the entire kingdom featuring the best knights in the realm; however, from the very beginning it was plagued with scandal and disaster. Lord Jon Hightower was poisoned, sons of lords were kidnapped and murdered, Lady Alicent Yronwood narrowly avoided an assassination attempt and that was all before the riot. A septon from House Blackbriar whipped up a mob that attacked Lord Eldon's pavillion, hundreds died in the attempt, mostly smallfolk and innocent bystanders, but Lord Merryweather survived, cockroach that he is. In the melee, many men died, some at the hands of the Brute of Bracken, including Ser Marlon a fellow Companion.
Beyond that there were dozens of other scandals and sources of bloodshed that cannot be easily summarized."
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Post by Trystane Sand on Apr 18, 2019 4:34:09 GMT 1
"Gods... how awful. Senseless waste of lives."
He shakes his head solemnly.
"So, this Lord Merryweather. I've heard about him and he sounds horrendous. I take it he's got a lot of protection or leverage to be so hated yet still live?"
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 19, 2019 3:34:35 GMT 1
"Aye, he is a very powerful lord with extensive and rich lands. His grandfather was the de facto king when we was Aegon III's regent. Most of all, the Knight of Longtable, if you can even call them knights, are an amoral, deadly, and most of all loyal force that keep him protected from consequences.
He will face his due, but it will not happen without the efforts and sacrifices of good men."
He takes another deep drink of wine.
Have anything more? Otherwise I'm ready to call it /scene
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Post by Trystane Sand on Apr 19, 2019 23:51:53 GMT 1
Trystane offers a small toast:
"To the efforts and sacrifices of good men. May they not be given in vain."
[/scene is good with me too]
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