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Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Jun 6, 2019 12:51:47 GMT 1
Friendship is a boon, and I can imagine fewer friends more eminent that those you name. If you worked to support King Daeron and waylay his father's depredations upon the land then you may rest easy. The Unworthy is dead and buried, and his son rules in his place. Perhaps time itself proved your greatest ally in the matter," she remarked lightly.
It was a strange thing to hear Daeron spoken of this way, as a shield or ballast supporting and protecting the realm against his father, and suffering slander in return. Was this how the matter was spoken of in King's Landing? She had associated his policies so long with the Dornish influence at court, and in turn, the influence of her uncles in her own life, that it was strange to hear matters articulated so differently.
Alas, I do not think time is my ally. My parent's killers are neither old nor tottering into their graves with infirmity or loose living. Each day puts my brother nearer to his majority; and the knives of those who would not see him reach it. It seems any route I might take could lead to greater risk for him, through some unknown wrinkle of strategy I had not considered.
She paused, uncertain, yet determined.
I refuse to lose him too, my Lord. While I have breath in my body I will avert it, waylay it, forestall it, until such time as he can stand for himself and set right the wrongs that stain my family's name.
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Post by Father on Jun 6, 2019 17:04:38 GMT 1
"My lady should take care not to sacrifice her happiness" Marq notes. "If happiness disappears, it leaves a hole that nothing can fill, no nice young ones to help keep warmth at night, no amount of power will ever be enough to satisfy a craving that ever grows. It will consume everything one holds dear, it makes younger siblings sick with jealousy of their firstborn brother's birthright, lesser lords desire the power of a great lord, a great lord wants to become the lord paragon or hand of the king, lack of happiness feeds into a gaping maw, ever ravenous for wickedness"
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Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Jun 15, 2019 2:37:31 GMT 1
"A point well made Lord Marq. I have much to be thankful for, including my present freedom, the warm hospitality of the Blackbriars, and the good health of myself and my brother. Whitewalls and the Reach have both proven beautiful, and I have greatly enjoyed the tournaments I have attended. I look forward to the festivities to come. And yet we do not say to the watchman "Do not sacrifice your happiness, make merry while the sun shines, or to the sworn shield, "forget your duties for a moment, and smell the roses before winter comes." Duty is fit for every season, and every hour.
She mulls this conundrum over for a long moment, giving away that she was troubled by her own answer. "How do you find such balance Lord Marq? You have shared the motivations that drove you as a young man, motivations that could very well consume a man, or set his soul affire with dedication, even obsession. And yet I have seen you at your rest, or at feasts, enjoying yourself as though not one of these concerns even stirs briefly in your memory. How does one focus on the simple joys of life, when there are such grave wrongs in need of righting?"
Her charming facade had slipped a little, as Lord Marq's easy banter had driven Lynesse toward more genuine introspection than she had intended. Such navel-gazing might be considered inappropriate in an acquintance, let alone a young woman, but for a moment, Lynesse had forgotten herself.
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Post by Father on Jun 16, 2019 17:29:31 GMT 1
"I had a mentor and a friend who thought me not to worry about that which I cannot control. I cannot control the length of winter, but I can control how long I am provisioned for. I could not kill the king, but I could work with those who sought to temper his abuses, or the way I put it, make it so that he would rape less maidens." Marq seems to approve of the question. "The watchman does not have a choice, he must take his turn at the gate because everyone has a duty, and he cannot live with the consequences of shirking it. Sometimes, the prevention of misery is required for happiness. Another one of Lord Bryce's teachings, before doing anything of consequence, I ask myself what is the worst that could happen if I proceed, and more importantly, can I live with those consequences. Everyone wonders when I am to marry, even more so with whom. Maybe I like keeping everyone guessing too much to live without the mystery, maybe I have a deeper motive. But perhaps it is as easy that I do not want to live with a lady wife whose company I will not enjoy as my hair turns gray one after another and yet cannot shirk my duty to my house of marrying well?" That subject, he obviously enjoys contemplating on.
"Lord Bryce also thought me that there is always another option, if my lady does not find the course put in front of her, she would do well to remember that those born to be addressed by title as well as name, lord, ser, lady, your grace, are born into a feast of seven-hundred and seventy-seven courses, though one can never truly know if there is going to be better or worse offerings as the servants mill about providing platters, once my lady have sampled enough, fifty perhaps, or a hundred, she will have something to compare with, if something is as delicious as anything that has come before, she should only pass it over in the hope of something better if my lady would risk starvation in search of perfection. If the dish seems no more appetizing than those coming before, it should be safe to pass it over. But if she is presented with something fouler than she has ever before has tasted, that would be best left for the pigs."
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Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Jun 26, 2019 12:05:49 GMT 1
There was much and more to reach into Lord Marq's words. Were the courses prospective husbands, or merely prospective options and plans that might attain her goals.
That he wished her to avoid a match with Lord Eldon was crystal clear, but his motivation seemed murkier. Perhaps he was simply inclined to see her marry a man of less abominable character. Perhaps he deemed the match poorly suited to his own political agenda, which he surely possessed. Perhaps he hoped to direct Lynesse into a match more suitable for those goals - he had indicated that Redtusk and Abelar Hightower might make more suitable matches, and it was true, by most reckonings, but of uncertain benefit to Lord Marq.
"Once again I am humbled by your advice Lord Marq, and once again saddened to learn more of Lord Bryce's wisdom, only to grieve more deeply for his recent passing. You speak of moderation, and patience, and these are surely great virtues that in my intemperate youth I have valued too cheaply."
She pauses a moment, in thought.
"My Lord, I was not present at the Tourney in Highgarden, and have heard rumours embroidered in the retelling. Lord Bryce and Lord Jon Hightower were both men of great stature in the Reach, and both have perished in circumstances of treachery and dishonour. Is there any hope that some veil be lifted and such grave losses for the realm given some accounting?"
[Sorry for the tardy response. If possible Lynesse is trying to gauge Marq's disposition toward these deaths, although I presume Marq won't simply give details away, might some manner of empathy check be permissible?]
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Post by Father on Jun 26, 2019 16:17:56 GMT 1
"I think no further investigations will be met with success on either account, save for a conspirator to suddenly feel a pang of guilt rip through his soul or slip up in his facade" He notes on those matters. "The Tyrells made a thorough investigation in both cases, that of Lord Jon in particular, although the opportunism of certain parties attempting to blame Ser Dagos did muddle the waters much further with Lord Bryce, but there are far too many suspects in both cases."
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Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Jul 9, 2019 13:39:57 GMT 1
“It is a great shame that such crimes go without chastisement or punishment, while men keenly throw themselves into the lists or on the field of honour for imagined slights.” Lynesse’s voice is tinged toward raw and honest anger at this point. “It strikes me that we Andals have far exceeded with our ability to do violence our ability to see justice done in its turn. Praise be that the gods will see it done in theirs, should we falter.”
(Apologies for the lat post, should be back to regular posting)
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Post by Father on Jul 9, 2019 16:26:35 GMT 1
"If there were no witnesses to the deed, how can justice ever be administered for it?" Marq shakes his head, poison is an insidious weapon, little wonder why the Dornish have such a preference for it. "All we are left with is the question of who might have benefited, Lord Jon had made enemies beyond count, though I find it difficult to imagine that Lord Bryce had any who desired vengeance upon him, some, however, might find his early demise fortunate, but who?"
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Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Jul 14, 2019 15:53:26 GMT 1
“A dark line of thinking my lord. His heir was Lord Desmond, no? So Lord Desmond certainly benefited until he too was slain. The question the becomes was Lord Desmond killed as part of the same plot, or out of a sense of retribution for Lord Bryce, deserving or not? Certainly Desmond’s death was a far different sort than Lord Bryce’s, which implies a different hand.”
Lynesse considers her own bias, “But I am a child of familial infighting, and so I presume that to be the case elsewhere. As a man of wisdom and insight, perhaps Bryce was feared for what he knew, or what he might say. He was an ear and a voice Highgarden, where ears might hear or voice some detail, and out of fear of that detail, his life might bejeopardised. The question of who benefits is only useful if the benefit is public, whereas those who connive to murder are likely to obscure their motive as best they can. Perhaps the line of inquiry would be to inquire among those who knew him best, who kept his closest confidence and who might know of that secret benefit his murderer might pursue?”
“Or else the answer is likely the obvious one. The man who buried Desmond like a nuisance to his own ambition. The man who strove to marry female heiresses because he desires above all things to a lordship.”
Lynesse did not suppose to answer such questions with certainty, merely to lament her ignorance of the truth, which frustrated any attempt at a just outcome.
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Post by Father on Jul 14, 2019 19:49:38 GMT 1
Lord Marq nods at the reasoning. "It sounds like my lady have identified the obvious suspect if the murders of the two Lord Bridges are connected, I find it highly difficult to believe that Lord Desmond had any part in the murder of Lord Bryce, and so would everyone at The Laughing Stream, I think."
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Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Jul 18, 2019 4:48:32 GMT 1
"I must admit I did not make the acquaintance of Lord Desmond, as he was not prone to visiting Oldtown or Mustard Hall. I have only briefly made the acquaintance of Ser Farman, and while he has a reputation for ambition, I would not expect such wholesale slaughter from him as was shown in the deaths of Lord Desmond and Ser Dagos. You would know more of him than I. Do you think him responsible, or do you suspect a more complex plot?"
She was sure he must have an opinion, after proving himself so astute, and so indebted to Lord Bryce, it was too far fetched for her to believe he had not invested a great deal of time- and resources- to the endeavor.
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Post by Father on Jul 19, 2019 0:26:12 GMT 1
"The only thing which all Great Bastards share, my lady, is that none should ever be underestimated, whether as heroes or villains or something inbetween, their deeds will dominate the pages when the reign of King Daeron is chronicled by the maesters of the Citadel." Lord Marq seems to habitually take a circuitous route in his reasonings. "I do not believe Ser Farman have the resources available to him to commit such actions on his own, or at least he did not before rising to his present station, but he knows others with the wealth and connections to easily make the necessary arrangement's, I am told that murder is considerably easier to commit if you bid another hold the knife, even more so if you are not even in the room." He pauses slightly, as if to gauge her reactions, or maybe study the front of her gown out of the corner of his eye. "If I were Ser Farman, and desired the lordship over Laughing Stream so strongly that I was perfectly willing to walk across corpses if those would pave a shortcut, arranging for outside killers through different sets of allies with strong incentives to see a change in leadership of my house would be how I would approach the matter, I think. Different methods for each murder as well. The circumstances of both deaths does suggests a certain familiarity with the inner workings of House Bridges, that Ser Dagos had brought that particular bottle, that Lord Bryce was like to have the first cup all to himself, that Lord Desmond would inspect that mill in person on that day."The way he describes it, it is almost as if there is more than enough evidence in support of the theory to warrant a trial for murder. But his evasion of the question of what he himself believes might make one wonder, is there a reason in Lord Marq's mind to doubt that Farman is responsible, or does he simply guard his tongue from revealing such thoughts he may have on the matter by masking them with talk of which story best connects the facts? Keeping a straight face?: 8d6k5 21 Should suffice. What does he suspect, logic, streetwise: 2#6d6k4 21 17
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Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Jul 20, 2019 8:05:43 GMT 1
“I would think that there are those in the Reach who would have assisted in the installation of Lord Desmond simply because of his ancestry, and those who might have removed him for the same reason. And yet, any party to do so with the patronage of Ser Farman must know or suspect his involvement in the other death, making it a thoroughly mercenary transaction.” Lynesse winced at the thought of such ruthless calculation.
“If the ally is opportunistic, rather than acting on Lord Desmond’s heritage, they would have been induced by the prospect of Ser Farman’s favour or patronage. We could therefore exclude the many knights who left the Laughing Stream for patronage elsewhere.” She considered weaselling around the next logical conclusion, but decided it would make Marq think less of her if she did. “It would also force you to consider the possibility of Lord Eldons involvement, given his reputation, and the rumours that he hosted some manner of party alongside Ser Farman earlier in the year.”
She fidgeted idly with her seven pointed star as she wove together such loose strands of reasoning as she had.
“But this is all conjecture, based on a series of probabilities that could each be false. I mislike assassination, Lord Marq, and not simply because of what is has cost me. I would help you piece together this mystery for the sake of Lord Bryce’s memory, for he seemed a good man. But I think perhaps you already have more than I can offer in terms of conjecture, and your house a wealth of arms and riches to which I can hardly contribute,” she tilted her head, half apologetically, half self deprecatingly.
- Can I contest the deception roll?
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Post by Father on Jul 21, 2019 8:30:19 GMT 1
"There are far more who assisted him for his political leanings, and far more who resisted him because of them. Ser Farman's cloak is the color of the other dragon" Marq points out the the more likely motive. "And that is not a rumor, I was at that party so I should know, but it is good to hear that my lady imply that she was not, Lord Eldon being who he is, it turned out to be the sort of gathering no proper lady should ever want to be suspected of partaking in." He does not say that she shouldn't have gone, that sort of party would surely allow those so skilled to gain political advantage somehow, but any lady known to be going would immediately be condemned as a wanton strumpet by her enemies. At her lament at having little to offer, a thought seems to occur to him. "I believe that my lady is quite capable, and yet, being a young woman has it's advantages, others will be prone to underestimate her. And a young woman of my lady's beauty will have a second weapon against young men, their attention is so easily diverted from her face, and it is the face that can betray what someone truly wants. Always the face. I might think of a way or two in which my lady might unravel the mystery, though most young ladies lacks the inclination to walk this path."
"Myself? I don't think I am ever truly underestimated anymore, rather the opposite, I have been told that some believe that almost all the exciting mysteries of the Black Tourney all lead back to my hand, a flattering tale that I would quite enjoy to have lived, to have such power with but a whisper, but those who lose themselves in dreams and fantasies will never make progress in their realization"
Afraid not, these things are usually against passive results.
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Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Jul 24, 2019 14:25:28 GMT 1
“I would not be who denies themselves reality for the sake of fancy,” Lynesse replied solemnly. “I would gladly take up Lord Bryce’s cause and make use of what simple talents I have, and would gladly accept guidance from one more experienced in such things as yourself.”
She pauses, still a little perturbed by her last encounter with Farman. “I am not sure approaching Ser Farman himself would be a wise first move, as it might risk the whole endeavour to too bold. Is there anothe direction of inquiry to consider?”
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