[Day 4]A Question of Honour [Laena & Roland]

Laena leads a powerful stride to the location she picked. She was tempted to slow down, to keep him to her pace as another power-game, but slow equalled weak, and she refused to show weakness. Still, when she arrived, she stopped and turned abruptly back to the knight, aiming to subtly make him slightly off-balance, while she looked firmly up at his face.

"I want you to explain some things to me, Ser. For it is beyond my female understanding. To start with, those who claim to support my brother are constantly yelling 'Chivalry! Chivalry!' and 'Knights! Knights!', along with a few other things that aren't relevant yet. And then, here we are, in the first day of the joust, two knights, deep in the cause, one, Ser Otho, publicly attempts, and fortunately fails, to *murder* a man who I personally know to be a good, honest knight, with all the virtues one would want from one in that position. The other, Ser Balon, fought an inferior opponent he forced into the position with blatant slander, before riding in such a way as to kill the man. Accidents may happen in tourneys, but the thing about accidents is that they are random. When a supposed 'accident' occurs to a man forced into that particular situation, with a man who has made no secret of the hatred he feels, it is obvious to all but the most indoctrinated that it is no such thing.

"So, my first question is this: why would those so deeply involved in a cause which champions chivalry and the importance of knights publicly act in such a way? After all, if this is the quality of the chivalry and knights they wish to represent, what exactly is their cause defending?"

As Ser Roland gives his answer, Laena gives him her full attention, but only nods when he mentions Ser Roland Redwyne's chivalry. "I have heard nothing but good things about Ser Roland Redwyne. Though that their cause contains both the likes of him and Ser Otho adds weight to the idea that chivalry is not the uniting factor.

"My next question, then. I appreciate this one will be rather more difficult. You have a connection to two houses, Cordwayner and Starling. What I would like you to do first is close your eyes, and think: if all the current tensions fade away without igniting into anything, and King Daeron remains king; where do you see your two houses being in ... say, five years? Don't tell me. Just think on it. How has their situation changed from today?  I appreciate unexpected events happen, so it is just a guess, but just make your best guess." She gives him a few moments. "Okay? Now, secondly, I want you to imagine King Daeron shows up here unannounced later today. He makes a proclamation that he has decided to abdicate, naming Ser Daemon as his heir, who is crowned first thing tomorrow, with no further bloodshed occurring. Now, close your eyes again, and think: under these changed circumstances, where do you see your two houses being in five years? Again, don't tell me. What I want to know is: what is the *difference* in your houses' situations between these two scenarios?  At least, your best guess."

Laena gives a small nod at his question, again clearly paying close attention to his answer. "So, lest I misrepresent what you say, 'war' is the prime differentiator between these futures? So, and I by no means put this forward as a likely scenario, but were King Daeron to use the opportunity of an integrated rather than opposed Dorne to declare war on the Steptones, with an eye towards using the trade tariffs that could be generated to help fund further developments of the realm, you would consider that to reduce the differential between the two possible futures?"

Despite him exposing how her idea could not be implemented now, Laena seems rather pleased by his answer.

"My next question, then - and I thank you for you indulgence, and promise I am leading up to something: there is open and near-open talk of overthrowing - and hence, I feel it is worth emphasising, *murdering* - King Daeron. To the best of my knowledge, my father suffered no rebellions, and only a single assassination attempt, though there may have been others not entered into the history books.

"What has King Daeron done deserving of censure that my father did not do nine hundred times worse?" Unlike before, her tone is implying she has an answer already in her mind, though without the impishness that might imply a trick question.

She gives a small smile at that. "I saw two possible answers. It's interesting that's the one you chose. So, let us deconstruct it a bit. King Daeron I managed to conquer Dorne in .. 158. But he could never control it. Lord Lyonel Tyrell, at least remembered as a competent man, tried his best, and failed. Dorne was in full revolt by 160, and independent again by the following year, at a total cost of tens of thousands of lives. It is worth remembering that this modest achievement was still more than Aegon the Conqueror managed, even with his dragons.

"So, I'd like to know: what's different? Daeron I was a brilliant commander, by all accounts. Let us assume Ser Daemon is equivalent - I'm not sure if he is, command is rather different from fighting directly, but let's assume he is, he's brilliant at everything else martial. So, let us assume he becomes king and declares war on Dorne. We can assume a roughly similar result - Dorne conquered within a year. Then what? What did they do so wrong back then that you are confident could be done right this time? What did a genius commander miss?

"Because if you can't answer that, then those who seek to repeat it are just seeking to replicate the deaths of tens of thousands of good men for *nothing*. As someone who's already been widowed once, I can tell you it is .. not an experience I would wish on many. Though it is at least one that can eventually be recovered from, mostly at least, which is more than the husband can say.

"Fire and Blood *failed*, Ser Roland. Twice. At horrific cost. And nothing of import has changed since the last attempt. It would be madness or folly worthy of my father to try a third time." She pauses. "Oh, wait. He *did*. And didn't even manage to do the conquering part right." She shakes her head disgustedly. "Quill and Ink was tried once, and succeeded. Though at a cost, I admit. So, let's discuss those costs: tax inspection exemptions? As far as I can see, that only negatively affects the Crown. Retention of the title of 'Prince'? Very nice for him, but he has no more power than any other Lord Paramount, whatever word we use.  If he needs his own special word to make him feel good about giving up his independence without a fight, let him have it. Which leaves us with titles and honours given to foes ... which is certainly galling, I admit. But then, we are talking about knights literally seeking to murder the King for this.

"So, is that, to you, justifiable in some way? A reasonable response?"

---

I feel like this is the turning point where I start actually making my point, so here's my roll to guide the RP, as we agreed:
Question of Honour - Persuade (Convince) +1D from GB - TN10?: 6d6k5 21 3 DoS, I believe?

Laena smiles. "I am glad you used the term 'false friends' there. For there is a distinction to be made there. But to elaborate on it, I need to expand on the other answer I expected to my last question, the one you didn't say.

"King Daeron's true 'crime' - if it could be called such - was to reduce the power of powerful men. Men who bribed themselves into favour with my father, and lost it on his death, since King Daeron is not a man to be influenced by how many maidenheads are thrown his direction. They, not Ser Daemon, are the true heart of the rebellion. They are the ones who stand to gain the most - other than Ser Daemon, and even then it's arguable - should it succeed. A return to the halls of power. *That* is the true purpose behind this rebellious talk. These men understand how to move men to their cause - encourage them to hate Dorne, encourage them to love Ser Daemon. By using Hate and Love, they move those with little to gain to blindly support their return to power." Her eyes blaze with fury. "They seek to use my brother as a *figurehead* to facilitate their own return to power. Have him risk his neck for their cause.

"My brother may have dismissed the notion of heading a rebellion every time it's come up, but powerful men *will* find a way to drag him into their web, sooner or later. These are the falsest of friends. And should they succeed, his true friends will follow him, for what else could they do? And the pawns, blinded by Love and Hate, will follow, too. And the realm will bleed for their ambition."

She sighs, looking dispirited. "And I have absolutely no idea what can be done to stop it. These men at the heart are far too powerful for the likes of us to do anything about. They will use my brother up - should they succeed, they will gorge themselves at the trough of power; should they fail, they will claim they were blinded by his charisma, they're really very sorry, could they please have their smack on the wrist now? Since their houses are too powerful for any serious punishment to be likely, since the King would have to work with who replaces the punished.  Meanwhile, my brother, and quite likely his immediate family as well, will die, through means official or unofficial."