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Post by Laena Pyre on May 24, 2019 22:49:39 GMT 1
[Chronologically, this occurs just after the investigation into Ashara's murder has completed its initial phase. This is a follow-up investigation, still part of the same event.]
Laena had a bad feeling.
She wasn't sure why. Maybe it was just part of the feelings of loss she felt. But there was an oppressive weight over her. She turned to her brother Aerion. "No risks, understood?" She rubs her forearms. "We've lost enough."
She stands on tip-toes and turns around. Yes, as I thought. Good line of sight to *there*, good escape routes to *there* and *there*. Looking forward again, she takes another look at the campsite they're at the edge of. Empty, despite the time of day. Seemingly empty, at least. "I think this one's it. This is where they camped."
She places a hand on her brother's back. "You lead. It may seem empty, but don't let your guard down. You're to be a husband soon."
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Post by Father on May 27, 2019 16:39:04 GMT 1
Laena wasn't first to arrive, another brother of hers is already there, studying a piece of paper. Bloodraven notes her arrival but otherwise diverts his attention to the neatly arranged stacks of belongings, none of it seems all that interesting. |
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Post by Laena Pyre on May 28, 2019 11:59:41 GMT 1
Laena sighs in relief. "I had a feeling of ominous danger. I hadn't realised it was you, brother." Knowing - or at least suspecting - that he enjoyed setting those around him on edge, she made sure to keep her tone and body relaxed as she approached, though she was not getting too close without giving him an opportunity to stop her.
"So, do you mind us looking around as well? And are we comparing notes as to what we found when we're done here, or are you under orders to only report your findings to the King?" Plenty of other reasons why he may not wish to share his findings with her, of course, but that one is both plausible and inoffensive. Still, from his awareness of her prior antics as the Falcon, and House Starkwood's assistance in military matters, there was at least a reasonable chance he'd be willing to cooperate.
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Post by Father on May 28, 2019 18:18:14 GMT 1
"There is little to be found, our sister did not leave anyone alive to question, if only the common folk were lettered we might have something useful, but no, just a map that is of no use unless we can find someone that recognizes whatever it shows"
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Post by Laena Pyre on May 29, 2019 15:37:45 GMT 1
For a moment, on instinct, Laena suspects her sister, before her mind catches up and rejects the idea. Instead, she moves a bit closer to examine the map, in such a way that Aerion can see it, too. She doesn't expect anything useful from him, but she doesn't want him to feel excluded.
"Presuming that you wish to keep hold of it, could you have a copy made for me, please? Then perhaps you could ask Ser Roger Dayne, who seems very adept with the wilderness, if he can find if the location is around here somewhere, and I can take my copy and speak with Ser Roland Cordwayner to see if he recognises it, given who the obvious main suspect is?" She takes pains to make sure her tone is one of gentle suggestion only. "Since it presumably must relate to either the start or the end, between us, we should have the options covered as best as we are able." She wouldn't ordinarily name names in a situation like this, but Ser Roland is an obvious avenue of investigation, which Bloodraven would be well aware of.
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Post by Father on May 30, 2019 19:47:39 GMT 1
A job for Summerhall's castellan, someone must know the lands, though to Bloodraven's eye, it looks like a map to somewhere in a wood, and he have not seen any here. He sees no harm in copies being made, he had a mind to ask these men of the hedges, odds are that every settlement in reasonable distance are represented, and the map does have landmarks, none of the Great Bastards present recognize any of them, it's not in the Starkwood, Rosewood or any other forest Bloodraven is familiar with.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 2, 2019 18:29:10 GMT 1
Laena casts a casual look over the rest of the tent. Her brother may have faults, but 'stupidity' was not one of them. If he said there was nothing else, then there was nothing else, and looking for more would only be an insult to his capabilities.
"Thank you, brother. As soon as you get me a copy, I'll begin my own inquiries." Which included at least one more name than she'd revealed, if Ser Roland knew nothing. "Are you willing to share any discoveries you make? With reciprocation, naturally."
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Post by Father on Jun 4, 2019 17:11:41 GMT 1
That does sound like mutually beneficial, on a hunch, he intends to ask the lords between here Highgarden, and their masters of hunt, it stands to reason that the Cordwayners, if indeed their hand is in this, are not so foolish as to leave behind a trail to their own lands, far more likely that it's somewhere on the return trail. Not where they were hired at, surely, for then they wouldn't be needing it. Unless that map is to be used for some other task.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 4, 2019 20:25:34 GMT 1
Laena imperceptibly hestitates before responding. A small piece of information now could prove her worth and good intent, ensuring her brother won't delay in providing her his discoveries. And it probably won't make a difference to what he'll find out, merely perhaps speed the result up.
"From my investigation, the men came from closer than Highgarden, and not closer than Ashford, if that helps you focus your efforts. No guarantee that whatever the map points to is there, of course, but the obvious assumption would be where they'd go to to get paid - or silenced - on a successful mission, and hopefully that won't be *too* far from the paymaster's land, so they may handle the matter without attracting too much attention."
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Post by Father on Jun 5, 2019 15:19:23 GMT 1
Bloodraven remarks that Longtable would be the perfect place, casting all sorts of suspicions and throwing everyone off the trail.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 5, 2019 20:30:02 GMT 1
Laena wrinkles her nose in disgust at the idea. "Could be. Ser Zachery Redwyne may be worth conferring with to see if he recognises the map, then. I don't see a motive for it to *actually* be Lord Merryweather, but it would hardly be the first time someone found him a convenient scapegoat."
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Post by Father on Jun 6, 2019 14:12:26 GMT 1
They wouldn't discover much by speculating where it might though, best get to it.
Another Streetwise for finding someone that recognizes the place.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 6, 2019 19:10:00 GMT 1
In-Tents Investigation - Knowledge (Streetwise): 6d6k4 5... ... Okay, some stats here: There is a 0.015% chance of rolling that bad or worse. I think that's a 1 in 6,666.6' chance, if I did the maths right. And I thought my result of '7' on 5d6k4 at Lady Rhonda's art appreciation evening was unlikely (0.72% chance). I think it's fair to say that IC my grief/anger is to blame, but wow. Time to sacrifice a white goat to Orokos again.
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Post by Father on Jun 8, 2019 16:34:55 GMT 1
Laena finds a hedge knight that seems very trustworthy that can pinpoint the location just half a day's ride east of Cider Hall.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 8, 2019 20:22:24 GMT 1
Laena silently curses when she gets the information. At first glance, it made no sense. As Bloodraven had said, there was a good chance it wasn't the true paymasters, but there must be *some* connection. Cider hall meant the Fossoways, an old, wealthy, and powerful house. Why would they be involved?
Her mind first went to recent events - the betrothal between Lady Jeyne Fossoway and Ser Aladore Florent. But the only connection to Ashara she could make from that was that Ashara had saved Lady Lyanna Levalle (née Florent)'s life, which didn't really make sense.
So, what else did she know about the Fossoways? Her mind catches a thought. The Fossoways, along with the Caswells, were her prime suspects for the murder of Lord Jon Hightower. The revolutionaries were undoubtedly arguing that it happened on orders of the King. Might Ashara be investigating the murder, with an eye to denying them a political talking point? And maybe she'd gotten close enough to the truth that Lord Jaime Fossoway, or whomever in the house was behind it, decided this was the safest path? Hmmm. Possible, but definitely a reach, without more supporting it.
Lacking any real idea of what else to think of, she indulges in some revenge fantasies. She can hardly hope to bring down the whole house, but maybe one strike could count. If he'd murdered her sister, did he have a sister she could kill in revenge? She racked her brains, until the piece that made it all fit together fell right into her lap. "Shitfucker!" she exclaims, before covering her mouth, and looking around to confirm that no-one heard her. Lord Jaime *had* a considerably younger sister.
Lady Maegelle Cordwayner.
Suddenly, the Cider Hall connection made a lot more sense, and was a lot more plausible.
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