|
|
Post by Father on Apr 14, 2019 20:45:23 GMT 1
Considering how foul this whole feast had turned out to be, the thought of seeing Ser Rennifer Waters lose his hand brightens the spirits of many, and the hope of seeing Blackfyre take his head in combat warms many a soul that had been chilled despite the warm summer air. Ser Daemon looks splendid upon his black charger and someone had put a great deal of love into making the coat of the mighty steed shine. It is caparisoned with the inverted sigil of House Targaryen, the Black Three Headed Dragon exquisitely tailored upon dramatic scarlet. The squire in charge of his armor is not to be undone as it glitters in the sun, inlaid with a deep red by Tyroshi masters, his helm decorated with dragon wings black as the night, and three small dragon heads have been carved to be protruding from the skull. The Sword of Kings remains sheathed for now, but it will surely bring the blackguard down, once the lances have done their work. Most Reachmen does not believe Ser Rennifer will go down on the opening charge. That might even disappoint them.
His foe looks shorter and thinner in comparison to the glorious visage of the one who looks every bit as a warrior king worthy of the throne should look. Ser Rennifer's steed is a foul tempered Black Destrier bred for war and slaughter, he cares not for caparison or other accouterments, it either helps him in battle, or he doesn't care to carry it. Upon his shield is his sigil of a blood-red flail upon black, his own personal slant on the sigil of House Thorne, with not a single element from his father's house. His father probably finds this preferable. The only qualities of Ser Rennifer that might please a father would be his skill at arms. But only the worst of men would not be appalled by how he had chosen to use such talents.
Septon Yarwick leads the crowds in a short prayer, asking for the Crone to guide the feuding parties to a more amicable resolution if one could be found. He need not have bothered.
King Daeron stands, solemnly proclaiming the words as is commonly uttered for such occasion.
"In the Sight of Gods and Men, we gather to ascertain the guilt or innocence of this man, Ser Rennifer Waters, may the warrior guide the hand of the champions so that the father's justice will be done."
Visors are lowered, lances are couched and on the king's signal, the trumpets sound to herald the thunder of hooves as two of the most capable knights closes the distance in a few moments that seems to stretch on forever. The more trained eyes notes that Ser Rennifer's Lance aims low, much too low. Whether Ser Daemon attempts to save his horse or simply lost his focus in a single crucial blink of an eye is not known as his lance is deflected harmlessly off Ser Rennifer's shield. The Lance of the Blackguard, however, strikes the throat of Ser Daemon's splendid horse. And with his great strength, he does not let go of it, what had once been a gift from Lord Fossoway, a steed fit for a king, an older brother to the charger that Prince Maekar rode in the Highgarden Melee, is lifelessly torn between it's own momentum and the pull of the lance, it's death throes are sickening to behold as the lance finally slips free.
An honorable man would at least have acknowledged that this was ill done. An honorable man would have dismounted. Ser Rennifer Waters is no honorable man. Ser Rennifer Waters expertly wheels around at just the right distance for another charge. The crowd is full of anger, shock and disbelief as the Blackguard spurs his horse to charge in for the kill, no ordinary man could hope to survive on foot against a charging knight on horseback without a strong wall of spears and shields around him, even if that man had not lost his horse from under him moments before. And an ordinary man would have died had he stood in the way of Ser Rennifer Water's second dishonorable charge.
An ordinary man might face that charge trapped under his dead horse, and now be at the mercy of his foe. An ordinary man might have fallen to the ground and find himself trampled before he might put up any sort of effective defense. Ser Daemon Waters is no ordinary man. He lands on his feet and when Ser Rennifer comes charging, he has Blacfyre in his hand, ready to strike. Somehow, he manages to deflect the incoming lance by just enough for it to not strike him down on, he remains standing, though he only just manages to regain his balance. Blackfyre even danced towards Ser Rennifer's neck, but alas it finds no opening through the gorget.
Ser Rennifer wheels around again, even an impressive man, having survived all that, could not be faulted for throwing down his sword and yield. One might even argue that to fight honorably against this fiend until he took your life would only add to the wickedness that already had ruined the day. But Ser Daemon is beyond impressive as he readies himself for what is to come as his foe makes himself thrice dishonored, he throws away his shield to wield Blackfyre in both hands. This time, the lance tears into Ser Daemon's shoulder to gasps and worries from the crowds as the man they are rooting for is thrown to the ground and dragged several yards before finally being freed.
A great cheer emanates from the crowds as Ser Daemon gets back to his feet, the more seasoned men knowing that nobody, not even he, can take much more punishment than this. Some of these men perhaps hopes that the masters would write that this day at Summerhall Ser Daemon fought nobly, Ser Daemon fought honorably and Ser Daemon died. More of these men are elated when Ser Daemon calls for a halt. Lowering Blackfyre to have it's tip rest on the ground. He does not throw the sword on the ground. He does not yield, not truly. His foe is undeserving of that honor. The crowds erupts in an angry cacophony. Profanities, curses and jeers directed at Ser Rennifer as well as the Lord Abomination that he serves drowns each other along with calls to declare the duel null and void on account of this treachery.
Thrice the trumpets sounds before the crowds finally settles down for King Daeron to declare that the Gods have made their will known, Ser Rennifer has been judged by The Father Above to not have done so wicked a deed as deserving of no punishment. Even the king, a man not well known for his passions, says these words with revulsion, neither his choice of words or command over his voice implies such majesty as Targaryen kings of the histories has been attributed with. A king must uphold the laws, this much is true, but the king must also hold the realm together, and the king must be able to show his displeasure. Above all, a king must be inspiring and brook no dissent without provoking more of it. King Daeron upholds the laws, of this there is little doubt, King Daeron administers the realm ably, even most of his detractors agree. But even many of his supporters finds his other abilities worryingly lacking.
As the angry shouts again gathers strength, only a single face wears a smile. And that smile is broad, gleeful and gloating. With this victory, Ser Rennifer has shown that there is no champion that the enemies of House Merryweather can place their hopes upon, for he is one of the richest and most powerful lords of the realm. And now also impervious to attempts at subverting the law to do visit harm upon Longtable. Why should he now not be more assertive and emboldened? Now that resistance has proven utterly futile. Now that none in their right minds would attempt to deny him such pleasures as he is entitled to on account of his high stature. Why can he not afford to begin to wield his vast wealth and power to a far greater degree than previously?
Daemon: PR: 23 CD: 13 AR: 10 Health: 15 Rennifer: PR: 22 CD: 16 AR: 11 Health: 12 (Tough) Charge: Daemon Charges: 7d6k5+6 21 7d6k5+1 25 5d6 18Rennifer Charges Horse: 7d6k4+5 25 3*13=39, Destrier takes 5 injuries, now at 1/15, impaled. Holding onto his lance: 7d6k5 23Initiative, Rennifer/Daemon: 6d6k4-2 15 4d6-3 13R1: Yank lance free: 7d6k5 23 Dead Horse. Rennifer moves away. Jump Clear: 7d6k5 25Fatigue for lesser action: Draw Blackfyre. Sets for charge. R2: Rennifer the Blackguard does 2x aim. Blacfyre sets for charge. R3: Rennifer charges: 10d6k4+5 20 2*15-10=20 Damage, Daemon takes 4 injuries Set for Charge (fatigue vs injuries): 8d6k6-1 19 1x10, only 2 from piercing. Horrible rollings by both. R4: Rennifer the Blackguard moves away, does 1x aim. Blacfyre sets for charge. R5: Rennifer charges (Blackfyre goes Reckless): 10d6k4+5 23 4*15-10=50 Damage, Blackfyre takes wound. Set for Charge (Reckless, fatigue vs injuries): 9d6k6-2 23 2*13-11=15, Rennifer takes two injuries. R6: Holding onto his lance: 7d6k5 19Yank lance free: 7d6k5 22 Blackfyre takes wound. Rennifer moves away. Blackfyre yields. Notes: As mounted vs foot grants +1 Reach, I've treated it as resolving the lance charge first, and then the set for charge kicks in. I debated having armor on Daemon's horse, but that wouldn't have changed anything (would have died instantly due to lower CD)
|
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 14, 2019 21:40:31 GMT 1
His jaw literally fell open with the outcome. Blackfyre defeated? Only through such treachery could a common blackguard defeat Ser Daemon. For a moment he thought he could contain himself for he knew the fury that would come out of his mouth would land him in trouble.
For a moment.
However, when he saw the shit-eating grin creeping across Lord Eldon's face he lost himself, his voice cutting through the din.
"What true king could call this mockery of the law justice? A lady is accosted by a blackguard in front of hundreds of witnesses and you declare him innocent? If you permit this verdict to stand you dishonor our customs and delegitimize trials by combat. He deserves to be attainted for his treachery, not acquitted!"
He should not have said those things, but if the king was so spineless that he couldn't bring justice to such a villain, then what consequences would he suffer?
Would an incite roll be appropriate here?
|
|
|
|
Post by Father on Apr 14, 2019 21:46:05 GMT 1
Feel free to roll away.
|
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 14, 2019 21:53:56 GMT 1
|
|
|
|
Post by Laena Pyre on Apr 15, 2019 0:01:42 GMT 1
Laena dispassionately observes one knight beating another. Sound and fury, signifying nothing. The letter of the law obeyed, but its spirit viciously buggered. She was idly wondering how soon was too soon to leave without giving insult when Ser Daeron's words cut through the din. A flash of inspiration struck her, temporarily cutting through the numb cocoon around her. She had but an instant to decide whether to vocalise the thought to take advantage of the momentary relative lull Ser Daeron's words created. Fuck it, why not?She gasps loudly, pressing her fingers across her mouth in shock. "You call on the King to *end* the right of trial by combat?!" Her expression and voice display nothing but shock at the idea, clearly vocalised without even consciously intending to.
Edit: Deceptive Convince that Ser Daeron (and likely others) is/are attacking the legitimacy of Trial by Combat (without supporting or opposing the idea). In the Sight of Gods - Persuasion (Act) - TN9: 6d6k4+2 19 3 DoS |
|
|
|
Post by Trystane Sand on Apr 15, 2019 3:35:47 GMT 1
The trial had seemed like a sure thing.
He should have lost that hand and been done with it, Trystane had thought when the furore broke out over Ser Rennifer groping Lady Lysette.
Perhaps the King is making some kind of example and I just don't understand it yet, he had thought when the King did not bring down his justice immediately.
But now, there was no avoiding the extreme miscarriage of justice before his eyes.
Is this what peace costs?
He rubbed his jaw with a conflicted look at the King. Then he glanced at Ser Rennifer, and saw the nasty, twisted grin. Trystane had not met many truly terrible men, but he immediately recognised one. He had seen the shape of it the previous night, in the wake of Lady Lysette's distress, but here it was in sharp relief. And it made him feel so sick with anger that he fought to stop himself standing up and challenging the leather-faced smirking shit himself.
Don't. It will only make it worse. If you're going to try and do something about this, be smarter. Get the fucker when there aren't hundreds of eyes on him.
Then Daeron's voice rings out, loud and clear and saying what Trystane wished he wasn't also thinking about the King's behaviour. He moves to stand and join Ser Daeron in calling for a mistrial -
Then Laena's voice comes.
Well, shit.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Apr 15, 2019 3:55:28 GMT 1
To allow the trial by combat at all had stretched the law as far as it might be stretched on Merryweather's behalf, in Lynesse's understanding of such things. No man could doubt the manhandling of Lady Starling, and only a legalistic maester might argue that such a thing was provoked by mere words. It was a thin fig leaf to hide monstrous ignobility, but one which King Daeron seemed willing to award Lord Eldon nevertheless.
Such deference spoke highly of Merryweather's influence, unless the King was playing a game beyond Lynesse's knowing, a theory that seemed to carry more weight when Ser Daemon was named champion.
Rennifer is known as one of the most vicious killers in all the seven kingdoms. Is all this theater a ruse to have a royal pretender killed? What else could be reasoned, on the bare facts?
And then the tilt, and the farce that followed it, with King Daeron offering naught but hollow words, blind to the outrage of the crowd, against him in some quarters, as much as the blackguard Ser Rennifer.
Ser Daeron, Wildfyre spoke against the king urging for a mistrial and attainting of Ser Rennifer; a reasonable submission made in terms most unreasonable to a royal personage.
A lady unknown to Lynesse, but bearing valyrian features that marked her a possible Great Bastard misreported Ser Daeron's words as a child might. With dragons roaring and her own unwanted suitor's guilt in the mix, Lynesse new better than to draw attention to herself by addressing the central concern. Still, to Lady Erena and those seated nearby the Blackbriar contingent , she remarked, "A mistrial is not a legal reform, as yon lady suggests. I fear she has quite lost her head over the matter. Is she a friend of Lord Eldon or Ser Rennifer?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Alliser on Apr 15, 2019 5:38:32 GMT 1
Ser Rennifer survived, along with the Knight who would be king. A travesty for sure. But then Ser Daeron spoke up, followed by Lady Laena, then some andalish female speaking of the right to the trial by combat.
"Ser Daemon was defeated in combat. The gods could have not had a more skilled deliverer if Justice. Yet he was defeated by Ser Rennifer. What does my Lady suggest the King should do? Do the supporters of Ser Daemon have so little faith in the institutions of the Gods that they will do away with the trial by combat my Lady?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Apr 15, 2019 7:47:21 GMT 1
“I would not presume to advise the king, nor presume to speak for Ser Daemon’s many admirers,” Lyness responded, seeking to disarm the word supporter without applying the category to herself. She blushed a little, “In truth I did not seek to make general commentary on such a serious affair, merely observe that Ser Daeron’s words seem to have been mistaken. One who questions a legal judgement does not question the law itself. It seemed unfortunate that on such an important matter there would be misunderstanding, as it implies offence, dishonour, treason, and, perhaps, heresy.”
“I presume you did not intend to make the same implication about myself?” She smiled at the dark haired lord, leaving the question hanging for a half moment before relieving it.
“Forgive me my lord but I fear I have not had the pleasure of your introduction, I am Lynesse Daverhyl,” she curtsied politely, having a bare inkling of the man’s identity.
|
|
|
|
Post by Father on Apr 15, 2019 11:38:52 GMT 1
With all the angry voices of the crowd each attempting to outdo each other in volume, it is unlikely that the king can make out any individual words as he takes his leave, kingsguard in tow. Ser Daemon refuses a gurney, but upon Redtusk's insistence, he does allow his friend to help prop him up. Ser Rennifer simply rides away, quickly followed by Lord Eldon and his retinue of scum, such knights as had any honor left that they cared to salvage have long since left his service. At the very least, the more sharp-eyed notes, Ser Daemon had made the Blackguard bleed. Lysette was about to tell Daeron a thing or two about how the laws really worked, but why bother? Her father fumes in silent rage, he had been the quick enough to call out Ser Rennifer as the Blackguard he is that those who knew his voice, and they were not few, actually had recognized it before it was joined by so many as to drown each other out. Lord Willem now stood stonefaced, a proper knight does not shout profanities, a proper knight need not repeat what has been established a hundred times over, he need only show his disapproval. One day, he vows, he will test his own blade against the scum of Merryweather, and he will be prepared for whatever vile tricks they can offer. The King had no choice, Erena observes quietly, perhaps he had not anticipated how far Lord Eldon and his knights are willing to lower themselves. She does not say it, but the place Ser Eustace seems intent on sending her is a place where there is no honor to be found.
Generally only will be using NPC's for short expositions, leaving it up to the PC's to play off one another. Optionally, PC's can do simple intrigue* TN 9, (Daeron would then get 3 DoS I think), there won't be any direct outcome, but I mean to have this event mentioned in a "what is happening around the Reach"-thread, and there's a good chance that I can use such rolls and the accompanying IC to shape the portrayal of the general sentiment. *Probably Convince or Incite. |
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 15, 2019 14:52:14 GMT 1
There was no more to be said, and with the cacophony that had overtaken the hall it wouldn't matter. He had gotten his words in. If the kingdom needed evidence that the spurless king didn't understand knights, then here it was. He contented himself with storming out with the rest of the glowering Starling contingent.
+1 Disposition to Lord Willem and Lady Lysette because trying times brings people together
-4 Disposition to King Daeron.
-6 Disposition to Rennifer and Eldon
|
|
|
|
Post by Trystane Sand on Apr 15, 2019 16:56:52 GMT 1
Trystane rushes over to Ser Daeron as he leaves, lightly but firmly gripping his forearm and leaning in with a look of urgency.
"Brother, I share your outrage. If you intend to move against that cheating shit, I want to help," he hisses into Daeron's ear at a volume he hopes is low enough to escape the casual listener, but clear enough to be heard by the intended recipient.
|
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 15, 2019 17:07:32 GMT 1
He keeps his face neutral, no need to reveal anything to whomever is watching.
"I appreciate the offer. His time will come, and I look forward to having a dragon at my side for it."
|
|
|
|
Post by Trystane Sand on Apr 15, 2019 17:14:26 GMT 1
Trystane releases his brother's arm and gives him a little nod, his own expression calming, though still concerned.
"Good man. See you later."
Trystane heads back to where he'd been seated, hoping he can still find Laena.
If anyone has an idea of how to navigate this hurricane of piss, it'll be her.
|
|
|
|
Post by Titus Blackbriar on Apr 18, 2019 18:10:28 GMT 1
Blackfyre looked every part the divine avenger that surely would bring Justice to Lord Eldon the Rapist and an end to Ser Rennifer Waters, The Butcher of Longtable. If honour and justice where yet things that mattered in the Seven Kingdoms. King Daeron had already proven himself craven and weak whilst Blackfyre stood brave and strong. That Lady Lynnesse Starling, the Darling of Kingsbridge had to turn to Ser Deamon for justice when the king failed, what more was there to say on the matter? But the Gods are fickle indeed, and perhaps The Butcher's soul is now so black, so stained by his crimes that not even the Stranger would wish to greet him in the end? It is not for men to question the ways of the Gods but the ways of men and justice? The Butcher fought cowardly, The Butcher fought dishonourably and The Butcher lived. But that he, before the eyes of the realm and the so called Good King none the less, could escape true justice after such a display? A tragedy. A tragedy and cold blooded murder of all that The Seven Kingsdoms stood for. Or should stand for. Titus' words echo that of Wildfyre. If this is what King Daeron calls justice, if this is what he is willing to sacrifice for peace, the realm is lost. That Lady Laena, The Black Widow opposes Ser Daeron, like a spoiled brat seeking attention, only proves further the righteousness of his words. Titus leaves the site along with his friend.
In the Sight of Gods and Men - Incite against King Daeron v TN9: 4d6+2 19 - 3 DoS |
|
