|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 14, 2019 20:29:31 GMT 1
The air was tense and full of nervous excitement as the crowd slowly filtered out of the great hall at Summerhall. It would take a truly remarkable event for them to forget the Bastard Blackguard's assault on Lady Lysette and his upcoming duel with Blackfyre. More importantly it meant that the fragile illusion of peace in their corner of the Reach was shattered, none could ignore the fact that the two houses would come to blows and House Starling would need allies if it was to stand against the larger and more powerful house. Fortunately, potential allies were already here at Summerhall, but first Daeron would have to sell his idea to Lord Starling. Even though it was a chaotic moment for everyone, if they were to succeed, the Starlings would have to act now before the Merryweathers could gain the initiative. Approaching the presumably harried Lord Willem, he cleared his throat to indicate that he needed to speak with him. "A moment my lord?"
Coalition of the Willing-Meet with Lords Starling; Florent; Fossoway: 3#6d6k4+6 27 21 18(Going to go ahead and roll Status to meet with these three in advance) |
|
|
|
Post by Father on Apr 14, 2019 21:57:33 GMT 1
Ser Daeron called the meeting, the lords came. Lord Willem motions for Ser Daeron to tell them what this is all about. |
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 14, 2019 22:41:52 GMT 1
He bypasses the honors and formalities that the assembled lords might have expected from a sworn sword beneath their station and gets right to the point.
"My assembled lords, House Merryweather's aggression has broken the King's Peace and dared to flaunt it in front of the king himself. Now that he has faced no consequences for his actions, Eldon will only be emboldened to escalate his attacks on House Starling. What I am proposing is an alliance of friends and honorable lords who will stand against the Merryweathers, striking first if need be."
One by one he looks towards each man and explains why he thinks each of them would want to share in this alliance, starting with House Starling.
"Lord Willem, the walls of Kingsbridge are strong and the Companions are unrivaled by any other company of knights, but neither can resist the might of Longtable indefinitely. The Merryweathers command a larger force and vast economic resources that allow them to sustain a long campaign, and I have no doubt that they will rally their own banners and what few allies they might have against us."
"Lord Jaime, it is a simple matter of whom you think would be a better neighbor. Do you honestly think that House Merryweather won't look with envy upon your fertile soil, horses, and daughters once it has removed House Starling as an obstacle? If they are willing to ascend at the expense of their own bannermen, then why would their neighbors be immune to their depredations.
"Lord Reynald, the upcoming marriage between Ser Aemon and Lady Lysette, and Ser Aladore and Lady Jeyne duly invests your interests with ours. Why go through the effort of seeing your nephew as the future Lord Protector of House Starling if House Starling is diminished or destroyed? They might not be your neighbors or offer a threat to your lands, but the bigger the slice of pie that goes to Lord Piggy, the less that remains for the rest of us."
|
|
|
|
Post by Father on Apr 15, 2019 14:42:23 GMT 1
Neither of the lords thinks such fears justified, Lord Eldon may be many things, but a fool? No. Kingsbridge would soon be surrounded, this much is true, but that act alone would put an end to Lord Eldon's reign. Besides, Lord Foosoway notes, that man is a craven.
|
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 15, 2019 15:24:12 GMT 1
He purposely avoids addressing him as "Lord Eldon", a petty slight, but the best that he can manage.
"That is part of the reason we are here, to ensure that any move by him will be countered swiftly and decisively. Kingsbridge would like to know that its friends will be prepared to stand with us when that time comes. As the kingdom slips into greater unrest, the circle of allies that any of us can turn to steadily grows smaller."
"As for him being a craven? Absolutely, but it is in my experience that craven men can be even more dangerous than brave ones. It's craven men that poison lords, that kidnap children, and assault women. A craven man just defeated the finest knight in the realm by striking his horse. Eldon has managed to survive a great many things that would have led to the downfall of other lords because his opponents underestimated him and how low he might be willing to sink in order to get what he wants.
I refuse to underestimate him again."
|
|
|
|
Post by Father on Apr 15, 2019 18:51:15 GMT 1
There will come a time after the unrest, Lord Florent notes, Lord Leo will likely remain upon his seat at Highgarden and while he had always wanted to relieve Lord Levalle of his title, a point of frustration for Brightwater Keep that predates both Reynald and the Longthorn, nothing would please him more than to have just cause to strip Lord Eldon of his title. Lord Eldon knows this, and that is the main reason why it for the most part are Lord Eldon's smallfolk who have suffered for his appetites, and why it is likely to remain that way. That handmaiden he raped is a bit of an exception in that regard. Lord Eldon's way is to act upon his displeasure with Kingsbridge and others by showing favor upon such lords and knights as oppose them. Lady Kyra, though merely a foul and unpleasant character, acts as her brother's agent in such matters, there is no doubt in Lord Reynald's mind that she has little love for him, but she craves power and influence and by being the only Merryweather others can stomach dealing with, she can wield a great deal of it.
She certainly encouraged House Levalle's rather vocal campaign against Septon Abelar, though Lord Reynald knows not how much influence her words had on his bannerman. The Daverhyl's were enlisted as well, he believes. Ser Eustace did bring Lady Lynesse to Lord Eldon's tent according to an associate of his, logic would suggest that he seeks a union with Longtable, and Lord Levalle's interest in the same is hardly a secret. There are always those who would lower themselves to bow and scrape for men such as Lord Eldon Merryweather, as should be clearly evident if one scrutinizes the long list of men readily accepting appointments and honors from King Aegon IV.
|
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 15, 2019 21:03:44 GMT 1
For a moment Daeron thought that Lord Florent was refuting his argument, but the Great Bastard was not such a political idiot as some might assume as he concluded the clever man was offering alternative ways to get back at the Merryweathers.
"Are you suggesting that we hit back at the Merryweathers by denying them political allies?"
Such a plan, while not as satisfying as tearing Longtable apart stone by stone, might be just as effective in the short-term, at least until we have a chance to draw steel against him on our own terms.
"Although I might argue that many who opposed Abelar did so for their own reasons, you're right that Lady Kyra is very much is an agent of influence for her brother. If we can convince her that she might find power and influence through different means, she might be willing to give up being his mouthpiece. Perhaps a suitable marriage for Lady Amerei would be a good start? I'm sure that she would be happy to make a contract with a house more prestigious than House Willum.
As for the Levalles and Daverhyls..." Daeron ponders his words carefully, thinking of ways to not offend Lord Florent "we might be able to find more suitable partners for them as well. If Lord Alliser wishes to improve his house's reputation, then perhaps there are other lords or knights with whom he might be able to find to marry Lady Ellyn, the same goes for Ser Eustace. Lady Lynesse can surely attract plenty of suitors who might provide legitimacy to whomever is actually running that house."
|
|
|
|
Post by Father on Apr 16, 2019 10:17:38 GMT 1
Lord Eldon will never run out of knights of high ambition and low honor to bow and scrape for him. But nor is he like to hire assassins or swords to commit wicked deeds, no. The danger from Longtable is like to remain the sort such as Ser Sandor Daverhyl who nearly slew Ser Roland. Nor should it be forgotten who it was that Lady Kyra had intended to face off against Lord Karl for the avenging of the insult done to her daughter.
The Knights of Kingsbridge should watch their backs in the melees to come, and be wary of whom they might face should insult be offered by wicked men and women.
|
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 17, 2019 3:46:53 GMT 1
Daeron agrees with the lord's sentiments, there was no additional lesson to be learned from being kicked by the same horse twice.
Realizing that he had done too much of the talking for the Starling interests, he cedes the floor to his lord, hoping that Lord Willem would be more successful in obtaining a more concrete affirmation of support and friendship from the other lords. They clearly felt that he was overreacting, but an older and more level-headed man such as Lord Starling has the gravitas to sway respectable men, where Wildfyre might not.
|
|
|
|
Post by Father on Apr 17, 2019 11:56:52 GMT 1
Lord Willem was never much of a diplomat, and he is confident that the knights of Kingsbridge have the valor and ability to honorably beat back any vile trickery that Longtable can muster. He is nontheless impressed that young Wildfyre displays such zeal and agency in acting upon his concerns where other knights might freeze and fail to muster the will to approach men of the stature of Lords Florent and Fossoway.
Let's say /scene
Daeron gets +1 Disposition with Willem.
|
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 17, 2019 12:33:58 GMT 1
/scene
|
|
