|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jun 18, 2023 21:08:20 GMT 1
"Weak excuse or not, it doesn't matter if she's outright refusing to go along with it. I might have some charms, but I'm not so silver-tongued that I can convince a stubborn brat like Tanda to change her mind."
At the mention of him having the "pleasure" of Tanda his face wrinkled up into a sour expression.
"There was certainly a time at which I would have battered down the gates of Starpike itself for that opportunity, but the better I've gotten to know her the less I'd like to.. well.. 'know her'. Anyway, if we also have the goal of not having the Pig trying to murder us at every turn then we shouldn't give him even reason to do so."
He closed his eyes and tapped his chin in a blatant emulation of his half-sister as he looked inward for ideas.
"I recall hearing rumors after the Black Tourney that Lady Tanda and Ser Lyonel Baratheon had been seen together at the Golden Rose on the night of Lord Karl's remembrance. Perhaps we can set them up for a second tryst, or at least create the illusion of such? That creates the grounds on for which their betrothal can be broken and it would force Longtable to cast its gaze east for once rather than on us. The Baratheons are also mighty lords who can defend themselves against House Merryweather so it isn't like we're casting helpless innocents onto a pyre either, the Stormbreaker has my gold against Rennifer any day and Ser Lyonel is no feeble heir himself.
If we can convince them to be willing participants, then we can set a plan in motion tonight at the victor's feast. That will be a public setting where any scandal such as that is impossible to hide. I just need some help moving some of the pieces on the board." He motioned at his broken leg. There was no chance that he would be able to attend the festivities in the first place or that he would be able to set up a tryst between their two pawns without a team of men dragging him around Nightsong all day.
|
|
|
Post by Father on Jun 21, 2023 16:01:47 GMT 1
"A slippery slimy snake such as Ser Farman might be required to lose Lady Tanda's tail of septa's and guards" Lysette muses. "And that would be if she cooperates, either that or her pious minders are in on the plan, but testing their loyalty might scupper the plan in it's entirety and make Starpike wise to it's existence"
"And a rumor will dissolve like fog in the sun if Ser Lyonel denies it. It would be a different matter entirely if he were to act as if such whispers are true"
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jun 26, 2023 0:05:07 GMT 1
"That's exactly what I'm thinking though. Lady Tanda and Ser Lyonel are both young, attractive, and have already enjoyed each other's company in the past. All we need is for them to be convinced to have a second go at things.
If we can get that in motion then all we would need is to maneuver a third piece into position who we can count on to spread gossip like.. well.. wildfire. Lady Jeyne Cuy or Lady Denise Cordwayner might both be reliable agents in that.
Should Ser Lyonel be to honorable, or wise, to refuse such a tryst then Ser Farman or even Lord Yronwood might be options for us to turn to.
Either way, it must be something more substantive than simply a rumor."
|
|
|
Post by Father on Jun 30, 2023 19:02:12 GMT 1
Lysette blinks. "Do you even know these people?"
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jul 6, 2023 21:56:37 GMT 1
"I've met with both of them in the past, and while Lady Tanda is incorrigible and a bit of an idiot, I think she can be convinced to lay down with Ser Lyonel if it means getting out from underneath the Pig.
Do you think you can persuade her to participate in gaining her freedom?
Otherwise what's our next course of action? Convince Lord Peake to fake his daughter's death?"
Even though his last idea was only meant to be tongue-in-cheek, his face was developing a disturbing amount of seriousness about the potential for that plot as well.
"I mean, faking her death and then hiding her away in a safe place, like Stone Hedge or Tyrosh until Lord Piggy can be disposed of might work too...
No, let's focus on one idea at a time."
There was a decent chance that the copious amount of Milk of the Poppy might be clouding his normal train of thought.
|
|
|
Post by Father on Jul 8, 2023 12:51:05 GMT 1
"It would not be prudent for me to approach her, it is you who offered her a way out, if she is unwilling to elope in order to soil her reputation, well, a pity that Septon Abelar appears to have disappeared, tossed in an unmarked grave by the pig's goons I would imagine. That one would help her take vows and damn the consequences."
Lysette keeps thinking. "The problem with approaching others is that any one of them may find that betraying the plan to Lord Gormon is easier and more profitable than the alternative, which may point towards that best option if she will not lay with a man and be discovered, is to make the realm believe she did it anyways, and unless she were to join in on the lie without her father managing to lock her up to prevent such a thing, there will be a challenge, not many men have the skill to win to give the lie wings."
"Which probably means that it has to be you."
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jul 21, 2023 4:29:31 GMT 1
Her response elicited an unhappy look from Daeron.
"I don't know if that's wise. Me publicly having an affair with Lady Tanda will only intensify our conflict with Longtable and might even take away some of the public goodwill that we have garnered in our feud. Moreover, I don't know if we should seek to make enemies with House Peake as well. What we gain in scuttling their union we certainly will lose in making a powerful, new enemy.
Also, I will certainly face a challenge from House Merryweather, and I'm not confident that I can defeat Rennifer. Ser Roland was quite lucky to not only walk away with his life, but to also win. I don't know if the Seven favor me enough to achieve victory.
If this is the plot we choose to go through with, I'd rather not see House Starling be the target of the backlash."
He gingerly rubs his leg as he thinks through his options before deciding to go with one of Lysette's previous ideas and frame it as his own.
"Ser Farman Flowers has a reputation for sneaking past minders and taking with him girls' innocence, but he's not a fragile flower in the event of a challenge either. It shouldn't take much to convince him to soil yet another 'maiden' and should he wind up maimed or 'mysteriously' poisoned, then it is House Bridges' loss and not House Starling's."
|
|
|
Post by Father on Jul 25, 2023 13:57:24 GMT 1
"It is easier to make enough people believe that Lady Tanda threw herself at a man than to make her do so." Lysette shrugs. "Easier still if the silly girl could simply find the courage to scuttle the arrangement just like Lady Alicent did, perhaps she can be fooled into hoping that the fat man might be killed and that Lord Gormon might allow her to stay a novice for a time and emerge to be married off to another"
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Aug 4, 2023 0:27:18 GMT 1
He cocked an eyebrow, Lysette had some viable ideas there that might do enough to sever that relation or at least delay those nuptials.
"Lady Tanda having a salacious affair with Ser Farman might be a good enough reason for her to be 'locked away' as a novice until we can find a more permanent solution to our Eldon problem. It also takes some of his attention away from House Starling for a while so that we can continue to work on a permanent solution to our pig problem.
Speaking of which, have you come up with something on that front? Is there anything that I can do to help? I have some tourney winnings that I can donate towards 'problem solving'."
|
|
|
Post by Father on Aug 7, 2023 23:21:09 GMT 1
"If good assassins for hire were readily available, we would all be dead by now" Lysette replies dryly, apparently out of other ideas.
"The problem with that plan is that Ser Farman is highly likely to publicly deny such rumors, making them harder to stick. Making allegations regarding Tanda and a stableboy may prove more fruitful, I am sure lady Amerei would latch upon any such rumor with gleeful abandon, but it must be seeded properly, allies among the ladies of Highgarden may be required"
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Aug 24, 2023 2:10:20 GMT 1
"He would be a fool to not deny them, but given his reputation I don't think anybody would seriously believe him. However, I have no real reason to see harm befall my half-brother either. If there is a stableboy who can be blamed, I'm fine with that too.
As for the allies at court, that is one where I fall short. Lady Alicent would be more than willing to aid us, but I don't see Ser Roland being too excited about bringing this plot to her. My half-sister, Lady Laena, might help us but I don't believe that she spends much time at Highgarden anymore, nor do I know if she has any sway over the women there. Do you or Ser Aemon have any friends that you could call upon to plant such a rumor?"
|
|
|
Post by Father on Aug 30, 2023 23:25:48 GMT 1
"Ser Roland is like to sooner involve father in our plots than Lady Alicent, and while I can get his grudging forgiveness should he learn of what we have been up to after we have done so, he would most assuredly not permit it if he learns of it early." Lysette shrugs. "Lady Alicent should prove capable and likely willing to involve herself in this matter, but there may be a price to be paid, never expect anyone good at something to offer their aid for free"
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Sept 28, 2023 17:21:52 GMT 1
"Sadly I believe you're correct about that last point, let us hope that Lady Alicent is willing to offer a discount with the understanding that Longtable is still a threat to her and her betrothed as much as it is to the rest of House Starling. Perhaps we can pay a visit to Highgarden in the near future to secure the support of Lady Alicent. Once I am well enough to travel again that is." He motioned to his leg, giving silent assurance that it would be some time before that was an option.
|
|
|
Post by Father on Sept 29, 2023 16:21:07 GMT 1
"Perhaps, or you can go alone, there is always some other tourney to make you pass by Highgarden, and father attends far too many of those to have noticed that Marlon's drinking requires that someone double-checks his books." She makes a grimace. "And even if he did notice, he would be like to pretend that it was not so, and rely on such issues to fix themselves, at least he wins enough at the list to never burden the house with all his travelling to tourneys in other ways than neglecting to pay attention to our stocks of grain"
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Sept 30, 2023 2:11:07 GMT 1
He matched her grimace. He had heard of their maester's foibles, but not in such blunt terms. Just one more challenge that their house faced, but one that he probably wouldn't have to play any role in fixing.
"Very well my lady. I hear that there's to be a tourney in Oldtown soon, Highgarden would be an obvious place to stop on the journey there and perhaps I can secure more friends for House Starling's continuing struggle.
Is there any other way in which I can serve House Starling in the meantime?"
|
|