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Post by Davos Dayne on Aug 25, 2021 23:05:20 GMT 1
DavosAt Greenholt, a wedding that ordinarily would pass far down the list of notable events this season turns into possibly something else entirely with the surprise appearance of Ser Norren Wythers, ostensibly come to deliver a morning gift for the groom, while the brooch is exquisite, Ser Norren is met with scorn and consternation and it takes not long before the fears about the true purpose of the visit are realized. ... A look around the room suggests to Davos that none in it can persuade Lord Willem to let another stand in his place, and none could possibly hope to defeat a man like Ser Norren. None, except perhaps himself. Davos finds a moment that evening after the companions had given up - or at least mostly gone silent - on the topic of naming them as his champion. "Lord Starling. I had been hoping to talk to you about another matter, but present matters demand attention first."
I presume this is going to require an intrigue. It's been a long time so I have to review the mechanics, but wanted to at least get the thread started. Will update or reply with the mechanics hopefully soon. |
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Post by Davos Dayne on Aug 27, 2021 22:55:59 GMT 1
Ok, I think I've got it. Greenholt Audience Status(Rep)+Chiv: 5d6k4+4 23Objective: Lord Starling will name Davos as his champion against Ser Norren Disposition: Amiable (3/+1) Starting Action: Greenholt Starting Action Awareness(Empathy)+WD1 vs passive Deception(act): 4d6k3+5 15If I get 2+ DoS will trade as many as I can for +1 to all tests. I am unsure if Charm or Bargain would be a more appropriate technique. Davos wants to improve his relationship with Lord Starling (and that is fruitless if he dies), so charm seems appropriate, but from another perspective he is offering his services in return for improved disposition, so bargain also seems appropriate. Composure: 9/9 Frustration: 0 DR 3 |
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Post by Father on Aug 30, 2021 21:20:51 GMT 1
"Indeed, ser?" Lord Starling seems a little weary, as if suspecting Davos would join the long list of concerned parties. His reaction to Davos' approach tells the Dornishman everything he needs to know, trying to convince the old man would never work, proud as a lion, stubborn as a mule.
So Audience test is for being allowed to intrigue him, which is a pass. First things first, proud TN 12: 4d6k3 10So intriguing him to let someone else stand is out of the question, so Davos would have to find other routes if he wishes to intervene (drug him, break his arm, stand ready to prevent a killing blow...hunt down and kill Norren). If Proud had not failed, then there would be status reputation for initiative (no chivalry), 15 is 2 DoS vs Willem, so +1 to all tests (not iniative). For objective, charm would just make him like Davos more, not help change his mind any, for bargain Davos would have to offer something Willem would want enough in return to let Davos do it, hard to think of anything on the fly. Intimidate could pull it off, technically, but may be a little iffy unless Davos would threaten to do something Willem doesn't want. So it comes down to Convince most likely. There would be +2 Intrigue defense, composure and influence tests due to chivalry (+3 for Willem though).
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Post by Davos Dayne on Aug 31, 2021 15:32:02 GMT 1
The look in Lord Willem's eyes, the tone of his voice; there was no talking him out of this.
That one-eyed bastard is going to kill him and he knows it - but his pride is more valuable than his life. I'm amazed he's lived this long and that House Starling isn't a smoking ruin.
"Indeed. I will not insult you and your companions by asking you to let me stand in your place after denying them the same, but I would at least like to travel with you as an observer - there have been a number of ambushes and the like and I do not trust that Ser Norren intends an honorable duel. His actions earlier were not those of an honorable man, and I am doubtful that he will have suddenly developed a sense of honor by the morrow. The man clearly intends to kill you."
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Post by Father on Sept 5, 2021 21:35:01 GMT 1
It would be an honor to be accompanied by the brother to The Sword of The Morning, ser.
In that, Lord Willem was quick to agree, though he seems unconcerned with any threat.
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Post by Davos Dayne on Sept 8, 2021 18:02:47 GMT 1
"I shall see you in the morning, then. Have a good evening, Lord Willem."
I'm good for a fast-forward to arriving at the duel site or intervening important occurrence.
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Post by Father on Sept 22, 2021 14:18:30 GMT 1
Davos is not the only one to have observed what the likely outcome of that duel comes, a pair of hedge knights, one Ser Marc and the other Ser Andros finally works up the courage to approach him.
-"We were thinking, ser, that perhaps The Dornish have the right of it sometimes."
-"Yes, like in them tales of The Conquest, ambush and trickery"
-"What say you ser? We can track down their camp, gather up a few friends and set upon them during the hour of the wolf."
-"But need a few good men with better armor and training, ser, our friends of the road might cut and run if they find the enemy tougher than they bargained for without firmer hearts to stiffen their resolve.".
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Post by Davos Dayne on Sept 23, 2021 3:48:21 GMT 1
Davos shakes his head.
"A surprise attack againt foreign invaders in defense of your homeland is one thing, but an attack against those only suspected of malfeasance is another matter altogether. I will be alert for an ambush, and that shall suffice."
And even if I were going to do something like that I wouldn't tell a pair of men I had only just met.
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Post by Father on Sept 24, 2021 16:45:37 GMT 1
The two hedge knights apologizes for having misjudged Ser Davos, but they appear to be undaunted in their approach, next approaching Ser Preston of the Companions, only to be met with red faced outrage at how such low creatures as themselves dare to even believe that a knight may be so dishonorable, they slink away from the feast, having no pride to defend in a duel to begin with. Better not be remembered at all. Lord Willem at least has the good sense to eat lightly, take only water and retire early to his tent, the men of kingsbridge follows his example. The next morning, Lord Starling equips himself for the duel before riding towards the appointed place.
Companions as noble as Willem thinks they are? TN 9 for fun.: 2d6 4Uh-Oh...critical failure. Other sort of fun. |
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Post by Davos Dayne on Sept 25, 2021 0:34:18 GMT 1
It would be a lie to say that Davos was not tempted to continue enjoying the bounty of the wedding feast, but he also was not so foolhardy to risk being hung over when knowingly walking into a situation in which a misstep could be fatal. With few words beyond bare trivial pleasantries, he joins Lord Willem. Like the older man, he is armed and armored. The odds that this day ended without him shedding blood - or his blood being shed - were slim.
I can't wait to find out what that crit fail means...  |
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Post by Father on Sept 25, 2021 15:47:27 GMT 1
Critfail basically means that the companion(s) reacted very negatively to the suggestion of ambushing the blackguard's camp instead of ignoring the suggestion (or thinking it a good idea to protect their lord behind his back).
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Oct 3, 2021 23:06:32 GMT 1
What a right mess this is. Lord Willem won't let anybody stand in his place, as usual, but that one-eyed bastard is here to do more than embarrass my lord. If they duel, he will kill him.
I need to find a way to prevent them from crossing blades in the first place.
Daeron had no question that in most cases his lord could handle the majority of blackguards, but Ser Norren was a tough bastard, one who stood toe-to-toe with Daeron at Whitewalls and certainly held the upper hand during their fight. If not for the Companions' superior numbers that day the odds of them walking away would have been slim and Lord Willem was past his prime now. Twenty years ago, Daeron would have few concerns for his lord, but now...
So he weighed his options.
Convincing Lord Starling to back down from a duel he'd offered in the first place? He might as well convince King Daeron to hand his crown over to Ser Daemon while he was at it for the odds were the same.
Persuading his lord to let him fight in his stead? Slightly more likely, but once his lord set his course, it was hard to turn him from it.
Midnight raid on the Merryweather camp? He personally had few qualms against it, especially after Lord Piggy tried to have him immolated in his own tent, but sneaking around wasn't exactly his strong suit and if he was caught he'd be hanging by his neck by dawn. Even if he wasn't caught, Lord Willem was keen enough to know that he was responsible and would cast him out of his service.
That left what? Negotiating with Ser Norren? He doubted that the man would be interested in a bribe, but he seemed to be a violent and vindictive bastard by nature. Perhaps he could be goaded into a fight with Daeron before he had a chance to kill Lord Willem, or cowed into retreating to Longtable altogether. Slim odds of course, but a mile more likely than his other options and one of them even had the possibility that violence could be avoided altogether.
All he needed were a few good men to join him in his parley with Ser Norren. If he went alone, he'd probably be some mutilated corpse at the bottom of the Mander by dawn, so he dutifully began to scour the wedding for any guests who might be sober enough to back him up in case the blackguards decided to act without honor, starting with his brothers in the Companions of course. Beyond that, maybe Ser Thoren Oldflowers, Ser Janos Redding, and that Dayne that he heard was here. Slim picking but it would have to do in a pinch.
I assume Audience and Simple Persuasion (Convince) tests would be needed to recruit some men to back him up in a parley? To his fellow Companions (and Lord Willem if it comes up) he'd make it very clear that he's not proposing some sort of sneak attack on the camp.
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Post by Father on Oct 7, 2021 15:08:50 GMT 1
The knights of The Reach, though having no love for Norren, would disapprove of such a blatantly transparent attempt to goad or intimidate Norren into a fight or flight to prevent the duel, and odds were that the man would not shy away from holding his ground, Ser Norren had not come alone, though no knight, false or not, had been seen in his company, enough Longtable men fit for one paranoid about ambush accompanied him, though not likely to ward off a determined assault as suggested by the hedge knights, at least if Ser Norren could be caught without his armor on.
Honor and pride, it seems, could be wielded as a weapon only by those having none of it.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Oct 10, 2021 23:09:01 GMT 1
Cowards, fucking cowards all of them. Those poisonous followers of the False King would prefer that a good man die rather possibly declare for Blackfyre or they're too afraid to stand up against Lord Piggy. Even worse, my fellow Companions are willing to naively let their lord be murdered by a blackguard nor would they stand by him in his attempt to disarm the situation.
Fuck it. I'll fix this by myself.
He sealed the envelope containing a letter giving a description of where he was going and that if he disappeared mysteriously that he was certainly taken captive or murdered. He also left a second letter containing his final wishes and final goodbyes. He was hoping that he was being overly dramatic, but one could never tell with Merryweather men.
He gave his armor's straps a final tug before hopping up on his similarly armored destrier. Should there be violence he would be as ready as he could be, but he still hoped for a bloodless resolution. Looking back at Greenholt, he rode out openly towards the Merryweather camp.
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Post by Father on Oct 21, 2021 13:03:22 GMT 1
Daeron's squire has protests of his own...does he want to die in a ditch for nothing? Why would Ser Norren with all his men be scared of a single knight? What could Daeron possibly accomplish?
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