[Phase 2.5] Blessed are the Peacemakers [Daeron & Lynesse]

Lynesse remembered well  Lord Marq's warning to her. Even if Lady Melara's course of action was doomed to failure, she might be inclined to cleave to it over good advice, and spurn the messenger for the message they brought

Still, Daeron seemed to have a knack for seizing the moment that Lynesse lacked, and so she would support him here to smooth over previous misunderstandings and hopefully advance a shared cause.
She had already shared her condolences with Lady Melara at the salon for the death of Lord Jon, so she simply curtsied deeply to her. She and Melara were no strangers, after two eyars serving as a handmaiden in Oldtown.

"My Lady," she greeted her simply, allowing Daeron to take the lead.

Thankfully, the Salon held not nearly as much excitement as the hunt, Melara swats away the usual courtesies with dry humor.

Too bold by half, Lynesse thought ruefully. Lady Melara was no shrinking violet to be directed in matters of Oldtown politics as if she were some unlettered kitchen scullion or bashful handmaid. Would she bend simply to an assertion that she lacked support, simply from one poor showing at Whitegrove?



Still, Daeron had a direct manner of speaking that defied subterfuge, and was likely to convince Melara that many deep in the Fire camp thought as he did. She would need to represent something else. A moderating force perhaps? More sympathetic to Melara's position, and informed of the nuances within Oldtown?, and less of a Blackfyre partisan. SHe presumed that was largely why Daeron had asked for her support.


Standing slightly beside and behind Ser Daeron, Lynesse's slight wince at his words was likely imperceptible to him, though not to Melara "Perhaps greater in influence my Lady, for your son would need to rely on your knowledge of, and sway over, House Hightower's bannermen, and heed your counsel over how best to bind them closer to Oldtown."

---

PATP - Assist rolls rounds 1-4: 4#6d6k4+1 19 16 16 19 Which will be a +2 to influence checks. Assist probably doesn't apply to initiative, since Lynesse can't act [or take a free action] during the initiative phase.

Lady Melara thanks the two for their attention, but no, she will not rescind her claim to regency. None other can be relied upon to properly safeguard her husband's legacy, sadly, this includes her eldest son.

---

Quits intrigue.

There are no ironclad laws for regency as there is for successions, and even those are sometimes set aside if the powers that be so deems best. Precedence grants the liege lord the final say in the matter, sometimes his final word is the first one uttered, but precedence also suggests that a wise liege lord will consult with the family of his underage bannerman, the infighting has made Lord Leo act as he always does in the face of discomfort, he elects to ignore the issue in the hope that it resolves itself before he no longer may ignore it. And truthfully, Lord Jon delegated enough of his day to day affairs that those given such duties can carry them out to insure that Oldtown and it's domains have it's caretakers, the militia is drilled, the fields are being plowed, the watch patrols the streets. It is House Hightower who suffers for the lack of direction. To get a resolution, the family must either be united, Lord Tyrell become convinced that the situation is unbearable or enough of Oldtown's bannermen rally behind a proposed solution. The Voice of the faith might well matter, and the citadel is not without influence, but Melara doubt the maesters will care enough to use it, most of them preferring neutrality and devotion to their studies, caring naught for what happens outside their compound.

Ser Abelar is too young and inexperienced, too impressionable and so readily admiring the likes of Lord Durwell for his charm and prowess at the list, Lord Mullendore for his wit, Septon Roswyn for his apparent deep connection to The Seven, Ser Raymun for his steady hand at organization. All men with their own agenda's, Ser Raymun now openly suggesting for House Hightower to turn it's back on everything Lord Jon worked for. What those others might want she knows not, but like as not their interests does not align with those of her grandson. Lady Rhonda merely desires to keep her son from being fought over by the pack of circling vultures each wanting a piece, but under her guidance, House Hightower will sit idly by for a decade, allowing others to determine how this pivotal time will shape the kingdoms. There is only Melara who can be trusted to guide her house down the right path.

Marriages are not so easily agreed to without a regency in place, none in House Hightower objected to Lady Alerie's betrothal, though if it wasn't for Lord Mullendore acting the intermediary to make the Tyrells very interested, which probably means Lord Durwell had a hand in it also, it is not likely to have happened at all. It is difficult to imagine any further betrothals without a regent to place a seal on them. A remarriage for one of Melara's age is such a blatant grab for power that it is more likely to work against her than in her favor.

Primarily, she holds the advantage of being backed by those who were friends of her husband.