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Post by Father on Jul 22, 2018 15:05:35 GMT 1
Several ladies had come from the castle to greet the arriving knights and lords, however successful they might be, Roland might have imagined that Lady Janna would be waiting for him, but she did not. Instead, his squire Hugh Blackwood, cousin of the main line, alerts him to another. "Isn't that the Lady Alicent?" He kept mum on the most recent talk, knowing that Roland had no taste for that sort. Indeed, Lady Alicent with septa Tyane as chaperone seems to get his attention.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 22, 2018 16:53:21 GMT 1
"Well spotted lad, and well remembered." Roland smiled at his squire in approval, then departed with a nod to approach Lady Alicent and her guardian.
Roland bowed, managing to remember his courtesies despite his long vigil and the hunt.
"Lady Alicent, Septa Tyana. A solemn day indeed to combine with a hunt, and I hope the heat was not too stifling while you awaited the menfolk's return."
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Post by Father on Jul 22, 2018 18:08:26 GMT 1
"Hardly, ser, Highgarden has plenty of shade if one knows where to look." She hesitates for a brief moment. "I wondered if I might have a walk, there is a matter of great importance that I dare not speak of that others might overhear." She gestures towards a trail leading along the Mander, the septa has clearly been asked to accompany so as to be able to vouch for their conduct.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 22, 2018 18:20:56 GMT 1
"Of course, I am at my lady's service. Hugh, please take Verity to the stables and ensure he's watered. If you can find an apple for him there's a an extra tilt at the quintain tomorrow for you, he's earned it in the heat."
Roland fell in to step with Lady Alicent, still hot from a tiring day but attempting to bear the heat and fatigue stoically. He made a rumpled, perspiring figure in contrast to the elegant and composed Lady Alicent. Dornish blood might be treacherous, but it brings beauty in women and a degree of protection from the sun.
[OOC: going along voluntarily, so no need to roll for Romantic yet, but might trigger later if pushed in to something risky]
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Post by Father on Jul 22, 2018 18:48:34 GMT 1
At first, she discusses small matters, and vents a bit of frustration not knowing who spread those vicious rumors about her, all trails end at the costume party. Someone there put it out into circulation. She would just have to weather it, she knows better than to see men without witnesses about anyhow. At a guess it is Lord Eldon or his sister Kyra, she hesitates to call her a lady, though she is so by birth, just as Lord Eldon once received his spurs by the king, yes, that king. All of it mostly to pass the time until out of hearing from anyone else."I wanted to ask for advice, ser. I understand that you have a history with House Blackwood? I could not help but investigate these rumors about Bittersteel and Ser Daven, and my findings suggests that Lady Gwenys Rivers retold them, which is odd, from her sister I could expect just about anything, but Lady Gwenys seems to me to be the sort of woman that would not discuss such thing outside the close confines of family, true or not." Roland doesn't know Gwenys by much more than reputation, but nothing in that reputation suggests Alicent's intuition to be off it's mark.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 22, 2018 19:07:35 GMT 1
Roland listens in polite, sincere sympathy and volunteers what little aid he can in putting a stop to idle gossip. At the talk of Lord Merryweather, Roland notes you can tell a lot about a man worth by the man who knights him, and the same for the man doing the knighting.
"I served briefly with House Blackwood following the peace, although naught that could be called a true battle. Skirmishing and border patrol chiefly. My squire, Hugh, is an offshoot of the main tree and has proven himself an able lad."
"I am afraid I have heard the same talk my lady. Indeed it was the talk of House Starling's guardsmen, and I attempted to follow the trail at various inns and taverns this morning. I am afraid my forthright inquiries made the trail go cold, unpicking such matters oft requires men of greater subtlety. Or women, as appears to be case here. It is to your credit to risk yourself on matters threatening the realm."
Not just beautiful, Dornish women appear to have their men's skill for intrigue. A dangerous combination.
"With Brackens and Blackwoods one can never be certain if there is truth behind a tale or if they merely seek to continue their undying feud. That said, Lady Gwenys has a fine reputation, so she may well be speaking the truth, Seven forbid. I confess I did not get to know her personally at Raventree Hall due to my duties. Mayhap we could follow the trail from her to the guilty soul among Ser Aegor's sworn swords, where she herself is likely to be rebuffed by the Brackens? I doubt either of us are well known to the Brackens."
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Post by Father on Jul 22, 2018 19:41:07 GMT 1
"I suspect they know my name better than my face, ser." She offers. "Perhaps we could..." "WATCH OUT!"The cry comes from behind them, several men have gained on them silently, one holding the septa by the throat, obviously having told her to keep her mouth shut, Alicent's scream accompanies the sight of Tyane's neck being slashed. "Give up ser knight, whoever you are, save yourself, run away. There's one of you, and four of us." They are wielding what Lord Walgrave contemptuously called the weapon of Dornish whores, Redtusk had reminded him that they would pierce deeper than his dirk, they only have simple clothing, and would be no threat to Roland if he only had his armor on, which he does not. It is their number that is cause for worry, he can tell by the way that they move that if they were gallant enough to line up one by one, they would not stand a chance, but Lord Walgrave had discussed how peasant levies dealt with knights. Pull them off the horse, pile all over and stab and clobber until he stops twitching. It is clear that Alicent will have no chance of outrunning them in her gown. "And we won't have the time to rape the lady before you return with your friends to find us."
Since I assume that Roland isn't going to walk away: Initiative: 3d6 8 They're presently 8 yards away from you. You'd have longsword and dagger on you, and it's reasonable that you can draw them before initiative is tested.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 22, 2018 20:05:34 GMT 1
Pausing to negotiate with murderers never even occurred to Roland. "Move to safety milady, they may try to pass me." Such might be a kindness if it stopped them mobbing Roland or if she could distract his foes, but risked injury or worse to his unexpected ward. Taking up his dagger and longsword, Roland charged the closest assassin. Act decisively against lesser men when outnumbered, it thins their numbers and stops when overwhelming you. A decisive strike may even give them pause."Kingsbridge!" went up the cry, favouring his adopted House over his blood relatives. Perhaps later there would be time for prisoners, time for thought, should his sword cut a way to safety. Now was not that time. Roland swung for the neck of the closest man in reach, praying to the Warrior for a killing blow. He'd never moved so fast, and seldom swung so well, the tang of adrenaline in his mouth as he risked combat outside the safety of his plate and mail. D3 - Foul Play Initiative: 4d6k3 18Health: 12/12 CD: 11 (including dagger) +2 LBF I = 13 I/W/F: 0/0/0 (Assuming, as Fatigue from Remembrance lasts during the hunt but not afterwards, mercifully... Or happy to add these back if they still apply!) Greater action: D3 - Foul Play Charge (-2B LBF I) inc Talented reroll: 7d6k4+1 23 - 7 Damage per DoS,
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Post by Father on Jul 22, 2018 20:27:50 GMT 1
The thugs had not anticipated such a response, they had not fought a knight before either by the looks of it, any half-decent milita would have closed ranks and let him face a wall, instead they stand separated and the first man seems to have no idea what to do, instinctively raising up his arms to defend his throat and head, no sparring partner had ever been so defenseless. Roland wards off the strikes of the other men with his swordplay, not allowing them to close in enough to threaten to stab more than thin air, one loses his nerve and bolts, likely the smartest thing he ever did today.
First bandit takes 24 damage....4 times as much as needed to defeat him. (They got CD 8, Health 6), second bandit critfails his courage and takes the run like hell action. courage: 3#2d6 11 3 7Aim+Attack: 2#4d6k3 10 10
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 22, 2018 21:34:52 GMT 1
It was over almost before it had begun. In a miracle of swordsmanship, Roland emerged unscathed despite the weight of numbers. Seeing one man flee, he pressed home the advantage, stepping in close to one man, fixing him in place with his dagger and cleaving his collarbone with an overhead strike. Pulling free from that assailant, Roland parries his second foe's blade with his dagger and knocks the man unconscious with the pommel of his longsword. While Roland's prowess in that moment are something from the tales sprung to life, the blow itself is not the gentle tap of the stories. Instead it is a sickening crunch to the head as the young knight puts his feel weight in the blow. OOC: D3 - Foul Play Combined attack (5D+3B => 4D each): 2#4d6+1 16 13Foul play R2 rerolls: 2#1d6 4 6- I think I've understood how the house rules on Divided attack work, apologies if I've flubbed this. Even keeping just 3D and 2D is enough for at least 1 DoS 6 Damage in both cases. 6 Damage per DoS due to offhand bonus One attack final result = 18 (2 replaced by 4) = 3 DoS = 18 Damage Second attack final result = 18 (1 replaced by 6) = 3 DoS = 18 Damage [OOC: Consequences of defeat - two dead, one unconscious. Could try the "Chase" rules on the runner, without getting too far from Lady Alicent?]
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Post by Father on Jul 22, 2018 21:53:47 GMT 1
Alicent had not even noticed what happened, Roland had stormed at them, sword in hand, and now he was standing there, with blood spatter on his chest, three men lying at his feet, the fourth she didn't even notice where he might have gone. She huddles as if freezing, confused and frightened by the scene before her.
You don't get the +1 off-hand from dagger, that's combined attack, divided attack is otherwise done correctly. But they are both defeated resoundingly. The runner is 30 yards away, you could try chasing him down, but you'd definitely lose sight of Alicent trying that.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 22, 2018 22:18:44 GMT 1
Roland swiftly cleaned his weapons, frustrated at one of his assailants having made it away, but determined not to abandon his charge. His first move is to Septa Tayne rather than Lady Alicent however, hoping against hope for a pulse, or at least to ease her passing. After all, it was her desperate warning that had saved the walking couple from being caught unawares. It was the least he could do to be present with her as she passed, if the Seven had given her a few final moments. Would such be mercy or an unkindness, a few extra second of precious life but in mortal agony? He attempted to speak calmly as he checked on the Septa. "My lady, fear not, the danger has passed and that man shall not return. Does your training in needle-craft extend to wounds?" Roland's own efforts to staunch the bleeding were quite inadequate. He was a man better trained in causing harm rather than healing it. [OOC: Foul Play: Honour Bound Will: 3d6 14 - Roland is able to remain in control of his senses, although I suspect Honour bound would have kept him beside Alicent anyway. Foul Play: Healing: 2d6 5isn't it: - Divided attack: split attack dice - Two-weapon attack: greater action for off-hand bonus - Combined attack: use both of the above, even though they're greater action? I'll confess I'd never checked for a "combined attack" before. p163, GoT edition of rules]
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Post by Father on Jul 22, 2018 22:36:53 GMT 1
"I have no needle." is her meek reply. The septa is far beyond saving, the grass where she lays is reddened with her blood and her eyes are lifeless, there is no sign of heartbeat or breath.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 22, 2018 22:47:04 GMT 1
Roland touches his seven pointed star necklace in reverence, then rips an at his tunic to create an unorthodox cloth.
"Fear not, the good Septa has passed to the Stranger's care. My lady Alicent, do you think you can walk? I would have us away from this place before that blackguard raises the courage to return with friends."
He did his best to keep his voice even, despite the thrill of battle running through his veins.
Roland moved to attempt to bind the unconscious assassin with whatever came to hand, then attempted to determine if he had the strength to haul the prisoner back to Highgarden.
Beside them the vast Mander river trundled along, its slow but powerful waters affording themselves no regard for mortal squabbles.
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Post by Father on Jul 22, 2018 23:07:47 GMT 1
"Away would be nice." She agrees, shaken but able to move under her own power. Roland can probably carry the man over his shoulder if he wants to.
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