|
Post by Davos Dayne on Jan 2, 2020 20:16:12 GMT 1
Davos again takes in Ser Mikel's words, swirling them in his mind to get their full measure the same way that he might swirl a fine wine in his glass to get it's full bouquet.
"So..." he trails off.
Both men are sworn to Peake, so it is unlikely that they separated. Assaulting a band of warriors - ostensibly enemies - without provocation is a far cry from pillaging a village, though. I'd not likely do it myself, but I might not stop my superior officer from leading such an assault, either. No, that line of thinking is insufficient. It's far from damning, but Balon is still my best lead. Perhaps I should speak with Lord Gorman again. That man was smart enough, if I can convince him that it is worth his while... Balon is his kin, but I doubt Lord Gormon is as loyal to family as much as Ser Titus purportedly is.
"So for the sake of the Blackwood smallfolk, we'd best hope that either both or neither support the Brackens."
|
|
|
Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jan 2, 2020 22:54:29 GMT 1
"As to that I remember that Balon was teamed with Otho Bracken at the Black Tourney during the melee. We spoke about it in our conversation, he said that Otho was kin to Bittersteele and was assigned to his squad. That is all I can recall about that bit of the conversation though, so I will allow you to draw your own conclusions from it." Mikel passed a look that suggested he had drawn his. "I have heard men say that this is the first battle in the war that is coming. Bracken and Blackwood each taking on significance outside their feud." He said to reinforce the point that he hadn't made out loud. "This is going to shape what happens next. And everybody who wants a hand in that, for whatever reason, will be free to have it."
|
|
|
Post by Davos Dayne on Jan 3, 2020 4:55:37 GMT 1
Davos shakes his head.
Proxy wars never mean as much as people think. They're just bigger and bloodier than they need to be.
"Well, I wouldn't mind having a conversation with one or both of them. In a Blackwood cell, preferably."
|
|
|
Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jan 4, 2020 6:53:10 GMT 1
"That would be ideal." Mikel remembered promising Ser Donnel he would look after his son, Balon, in the melee at the Black Tourney during their first meet. It seemed strange to remember something so innocent now, when so much had changed. But perhaps that why he did, after all it could now be seen as one of the final requests of a dead man. Didn't that make it more sacred? "Given the nature of this conversation I would like to take a moment to remind us of what I know we each know - we might be welcomed with open arms but that does not mean we are safe. In fact I would say that there are multiple reasons, general and specific ones, that we can each think of off the top of our heads. I think it would be smart to decide now to not go anywhere alone." Not go anywhere alone in a small war sounded sensible, but it quickly became clear that Mikel meant anywhere alone, even when they weren't fighting.
|
|
|
Post by Davos Dayne on Jan 4, 2020 16:09:50 GMT 1
"You do not trust the Blackwoods?"
|
|
|
Post by Mikel of Harroway on Jan 30, 2020 8:32:47 GMT 1
"Habitually I reserve my trust until I know it is warranted. I believe that the Blackwood's would not do us harm or wish us ill, because we are coming to their aid and because of my own personal history with them. Yet it will not just be us and the Blackwood's. It will be many others going there for their own reasons. my greatest concern would be for the anti-Dornish sentiment we've seen in the Reach being at the Riverlands too, even if only carried there by Reachmen. As far as I am concerned it will only be us that I am sure, though perhaps I shall see a man or two there who has already earned my trust."
|
|
|
Post by Davos Dayne on Jan 30, 2020 17:06:25 GMT 1
Davos smiles.
"My good-father would approve. The most dangerous assassins are the ones you would least expect. All men - and women - can have their will bent to a task they would normally find abhorrent. How far would we go to protect those we love?"
He shakes his head.
"I am relieved that it is a general concern and not a specific threat that you speak of."
|
|
|
Post by Mikel of Harroway on Feb 12, 2020 8:05:03 GMT 1
"Two families who have a blood feud which has endured for centuries and we now go to partake in it. I imagine the Second Sons saw some contracts along these lines; is it unreasonable to assume this can only end with the annihilation of one family or the other?" Mikels question had come after a lengthy silence and while it seemed to come from nowhere this was a thought that he had kept in the back of his head since he heard that the Brackens and Blackwoods were gathering swords around.
|
|
|
Post by Davos Dayne on Feb 12, 2020 18:29:25 GMT 1
"Some would say that a feud can only end with annihilation. I think that in time they can fade, if neither side decide to re-ignite it. There have been many wars between Braavos and Pentos, but also long periods of peace between - and even trade and prosperous relationships. The same can be said for Dorne and the Seven Kingdoms - even before the unification our two countries spent far more time at peace with each other than at war."
He sighs.
"The feud will end once no one sees any value in pursuing it. Unfortunately some see hatred alone as cause for violence, or use 'righteous indignation over past slights' as an excuse to seek gains through war."
He snorts derisively.
"If I had to wager, I'd say this current flare up of the feud has little to do with either house. With Great Bastards in both houses and each aligned with a different dragon... it's the perfect place to wage a proxy war, or worse, start a larger conflict."
|
|
|
Post by Mikel of Harroway on Feb 21, 2020 7:43:57 GMT 1
"How would one go about averting something lime that happening - this becoming something larger? Say, if the King knew the time for hope and royal proclimations was over. How might he successfully stop this by the point it has reached now?"
|
|
|
Post by Davos Dayne on Feb 21, 2020 17:07:09 GMT 1
Davos considers how to answer, but the longer he considers, the darker his expression becomes.
"At this point, it is probably too late. An action too extreme - say, threatening those who would start a war with an attainder, he would merely make more enemies - and probably more chaos as the more devious use false flag operations to try to use the King as a weapon against their foes. On the other hand, not doing enough makes him look weak and incompetent, weakening his support and bolstering those that would replace him."
He sighs.
"There may be a middle ground between those two perils - but finding it would take someone with far more political acumen and familiarity with the Riverlands and the realm as a whole than I could ever pretend to have."
|
|
|
Post by Mikel of Harroway on Feb 29, 2020 8:55:25 GMT 1
"What about assassinating the men who are the driving force behind the rebellion? They are known for their military minds and battlefield experience, so even if the assassination did not stop the rebellion wouldn't it lead to a more manageable one?" He knew the politics of it might push hard against the King if that was the route he took but it was a question related to the topic at hand and he enjoyed hearing Davos's opinions and picking his brain.
|
|
|
Post by Davos Dayne on Mar 1, 2020 17:53:08 GMT 1
"If all the assassinations went off perfectly... well, even without evidence the King is the greatest beneficiary and thus would look the guiltiest. Who would ever trust or respect the King again? Who could argue that he was a virtuous man?"
He shakes his head.
"I'm no master schemer, to be sure, but from what I have seen in Essos, liberal use of assassination seems to make one more enemies than friends... and unless you commit to killing entire houses, you are just breeding a new generation of enmity, possibly creating the very kind of blood feud one might be trying to end."
|
|
|
Post by Mikel of Harroway on Mar 6, 2020 19:39:16 GMT 1
Mikel considered what Davos said but did not seem to have much to say after that. He rode quietly, watching the countryside and considering some things in the privacy of his own mind.
[OOC: Any interest in moving the scene ahead or creating a seperate thread to Blackwood lands after their first missions since each of us have already completed and RPing from there?]
|
|
|
Post by Davos Dayne on Mar 6, 2020 23:43:09 GMT 1
[/scene]
|
|