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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Sept 24, 2019 12:51:05 GMT 1
It was a wild plan and Lord Marq’s pessimism only served to throw cold water over it, but unlike many of his foolish ideas this one was unlikely to end with him on the wrong end of a lance. Would Bittersteel honestly abandon Lady Maegelle and Ser Normyn for Ser Roland? Would Ser Roland be willing to pay Bittersteel’s price? Daeron had no idea, but here was his moment to find out. Acting as an intermediary he finds time at Whitegrove to bring together both parties so that they can make it work. ”Ser Aegor, brother, Ser Roland here has a proposition here concerning the future of his house and wants you to hear him out.”Bittersteel wouldn’t be won over by smooth words, so Daeron went with a direct approach and hoped that Ser Roland would do the same.
Kiss the Ring-Audience w/ Bittersteel: 6d6k4+8 29 Assuming that’s a pass |
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Post by Father on Sept 25, 2019 8:47:08 GMT 1
"Indeed?" Ser Aegor appears mostly skeptical, although that is probably mostly just him being his usual self.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Sept 28, 2019 14:51:42 GMT 1
He grimaces, Bittersteel’s disposition was stern and unforgiving on a good day, hopefully Roland was ready to face him. Daeron keeps his mouth shut though, this was Ser Roland’s errand, not his.
Daeron will provide assists to Roland (and maybe Bittersteel, can he do both?) if it comes to intrigue.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Sept 29, 2019 13:20:18 GMT 1
Roland bowed, acknowledging Ser Aegor's status and rank. He didn't like what he had heard of the man's alleged hand in Ser Daveth Bracken's death, or the supposed requirement that his betrothed was silent for her knowledge of this matter.
"Ser Aegor, I am Ser Roland Cordwayner, rightful true born lord of Hammerhal and thank my friend Ser Daeron for arranging this audience with you."
He waited briefly for any signal or word before speaking further. While Roland did not share the man's politics, Aegor was almost a peer of Blackfyre's as a warrior. A powerful man, particularly allied to his tactical genius and fervour.
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Post by Father on Sept 30, 2019 11:31:57 GMT 1
Ser Aegor is none too pleased with Roland's choice of words, characteristically, he skips the hollow pleasantries and sourly takes note that Roland makes serious accusations against leal vassals of Highgarden with his choice of words.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Sept 30, 2019 17:22:16 GMT 1
Seeing the looming disaster Daeron rushes in to smooth things out before this endeavor fails.
"I believe that Ser Roland is merely referencing the multiple defeats that House Cordwayner has suffered in duels to establish the legitimacy of Lord Quentyn and Lady Denyse and the problems that even Ser Normyn and Lady Maegelle have had in finding suitable matches for them. If a shield is too battered to be of any use, then perhaps it is time to find a new one especially if it can be repainted?"
He gives a moment for his words to calm the waters before stirring them up in a completely different way.
"I'm sure that Ser Roland would be willing to reconsider his public support for the king once he learns of the Iron Throne's plot to kill off Lord Willem as part of a scheme to keep House Starling in the fold."
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Post by Father on Sept 30, 2019 18:29:15 GMT 1
Bittersteel's eyes goes wide with surprise, he is clearly taken completely unawares by the claim of such a plot and the implied expectation that he would know more. "What plot, ser?"
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Sept 30, 2019 19:00:17 GMT 1
Daeron is likewise somewhat surprised that Lynesse hadn't yet informed Bittersteel for he expected to only surprise one of the men, but there was no time like the present as he carefully recounted her discovery of the plot to keep both Houses Starling and Merryweather in the king's faction although he was clearly less concerned about the possibility of House Merryweather declaring for his namesake. It was clear that he expected Roland to side with Blackfyre out of an animus for such underhanded tactics and that he expected Lady Alicent to similarly join them given her own family's leanings.
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Post by Father on Sept 30, 2019 19:04:26 GMT 1
I will be needing a bit more than an IC reference to something "Lynesse discovered" to be able to make Bittersteel respond to that.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Sept 30, 2019 19:41:23 GMT 1
Daeron recounts what was relayed to him:
"Lady Lynesse has discovered a scheme undertaken by an unknown agent to take advantage the rivalry between Houses Starling and Merryweather to keep them both in the king's camp. She believes that this agent seeks the death of Lord Willem, by Merryweather hands if possible, to replace him with Lady Lysette who is far more loyal to the Iron Throne. However, there should be little doubt that if Eldon is unable to remove our lord through underhanded, such as sabotaging his spear during a boar hunt, that there will be other attempts against Lord Willem now that he has outlived his usefulness to the king."
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Post by Father on Oct 1, 2019 22:30:00 GMT 1
"And there is proof of this?" Bittersteel while understanding the gravity of the accusation is not easily carried away with what it might portend.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Oct 2, 2019 14:28:35 GMT 1
“Beyond Lynesse’s investigations and conclusions? No. Had we the bloody dagger I wouldn’t be here speaking with you, but instead hoisting those responsible up a tree.
What this knowledge is good for is to stay vigilant against the threats against Lord Willem’s life and to be aware that the Crown isn’t the friend to Kingsbridge that some there think it is.
Ser Aegor, I hope you keep this information discrete for now. It appears that there is a wolf within our gates and if they discover that their plan has been found out before House Starling is fully appraised of the situation the consequences for us may be dire.
Anyway, perhaps we can discuss this later, but for now I think we should permit Ser Roland to finish.”
He turns to his fellow Companion who had mostly been ignored during his own proposal.
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Post by Father on Oct 3, 2019 10:46:26 GMT 1
Bittersteel, ever the one to cut straight to the core of any issue, notes that while Bloodraven is not above assassination, the sorcerer is not enough of a fool to take such a risk when there is a good chance that Lord Willem puts his word before reason and fails to see that he, like half the realm, has been deceived to swear his fealty to a false king. Longtable should be the first place to look for your assassin, but Lady Lynesse might have her own reasons to point in another direction.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Oct 7, 2019 2:34:53 GMT 1
Lynesse might have some ulterior motives, but there was already a feud between Kingsbridge and Longtable and if anything it seemed like she wanted to decrease its intensity, but it does make sense to use Lord Piggy as an unknowing catspaw should Lord Willem declare for Blackfyre..
Daeron silently mulls over Bittersteel's words as he gives Roland an opportunity to enter the conversation. He hoped that his fellow Companion would be wise enough to point out that the current leadership of the house was buoyed only by support of their fellow partisans, but also that they were becoming an increasingly heavy load to bear. Even Daeron had not found it proper to defend Lord Quentyn's legitimacy when given a public forum and none could deny his devotion to the Blackfyre cause.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Dec 24, 2019 13:05:32 GMT 1
"Wise words Ser Aegor."
"Indeed, if the King's allies have done dark deeds I suspect these are done ably in the shadows while those dear to your cause act more openly and are condemned for it. As you say, Brynden Rivers is no fool."
When conversation returned to the matter of Hammerhal and the Cordwayner succession Roland's stance was plain. His sister by marriage and bastard brother had been routed in all three battlefields: in legal discussions regarding succession at Highgarden, they had lost popular support among courts across the realm and suffered multiple defeats in duels of honour. They shamed they cause they were part of, rather than elevating it and brought little strength.
Driven to the King's camp by the public outrages he referred to rather than partisan feeling, he proved more focused on his own family's long term fortune's and honour. There was an arrangement to be struck here if Daeron and Bittersteel could find a route that satisfied the prickly young knight's honour.
This was a knight who would happily take one of Bittersteel's men in to his own camp to act as an observer for honour's sake, or swear generous terms on the return of prisoners. Mayhap he could even be convinced to certain terms on his participation in scope or time. Or even to limit House Cordwayner's participation in any forthcoming civil war. Daeron had agreed to help Roland restore House Cordwayner, and he was determined that this matter would not be dragged in to the realm's coming conflict.
[OOC: Aplogies to Daeron and the narrator for leaving this so long. New baby and job! Going with reported speech here and Roland's general stance to hopefully speed things along. Given how various other official events have gone Roland feels he is well placed on the topic given the damage done to Normyn and Maegelle but is willing to compromise.]
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