Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Aug 25, 2018 8:04:43 GMT 1
"Well, if it is part of the Merryweather succession you want, I see only three currently viable options. There are more, but I rule them out as being complicated and messy. Of the three, I am assuming by your previous comments your are leaning towards the most palatable; that being a marriage between Ellyn and Ser Owen's son... his name escapes me at the moment." He pondered over his tea. "The marriage would not be overly difficult, I think. I doubt there is a large line at the Merryweather door for pages with little standing. That would change dramatically if Lord Eldon was removed from the equation. If you go that route, you are gambling that his Lordship will be unable to further his line one way or another." Malyk shrugged. "Any challenge will likely end in the death of whichever Knight champions him. Assuming he loses. Too many variables to predict on that score but I doubt Lord Eldon will see any justice in the the matter unless it is handled quietly and privately. Is Lord Eldon in the joust? An accidental lance to the groin area might settle the matter neatly enough. Not particularly honorable but it has a certain poetic air... or heirless about it."
"I can go with you if you wish." He smiled at Parmen. "I doubt you are as inexperienced in politics as your think. There is really only one simple rule: find out what people want and give it to them. Nearly all of society boils down to satisfying peoples wants. When you were a squire, did you not not polish your Knight's armor, clean his boots and a thousand other things on the expectation that he would some day Knight you? Both of you wanted something. He wanted his boots cleaned and you wanted to learn how to swing a sword and gain station in life. Nearly all of human interaction is based on the fulfillment of mutual desires. Politics is simply a more formal and dressed up version of that concept.
Why do be even have Lords? It's because some men want power and some men want protection. The Lord builds a Keep to show his power and protect his people, the people farm the land and pay homage to the Lord so he will protect them from outside threats. Basically people only have five desires: Sustenance, Security, Love, Status and Accomplishment. Everything people want falls into one of those buckets. Offer someone what they truly want and they will give you nearly anything they can in return. The only difficulty is finding out what someone truly wants. Sometimes they lie. Sometimes they don't even know."
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Aug 26, 2018 5:20:31 GMT 1
Parmen listened with rapt attention to Malyk's talk.
"If I understand you correctly then the true test coming up will be gaining an understanding of what Lord Yronwood and, also Ser Owen, truly want? How would you propose that we can gain these insights? We have already guessed what Ser Owen wants for himself and his children: not to be painted with the same brush as his brother. That makes good sense, at least at first look. For Lord Yronwood I have less of a starting point."
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Aug 26, 2018 10:15:08 GMT 1
"Determining what people want is the tricky part. As I said, sometimes they don't know, sometimes they are embarrassed or fear they will be judged, sometimes they fear rejection, or worse, difficult consequences for their desires. Sometimes they simply believe that you can't give them what they want."
He sipped his tea for a moment, thoughtfully. "I have found it generally comes down to trust. For the most part I keep the stableboy's secrets as well as I keep Lord Levalle's. Everyone in the household staff knows they may come to me and I will try to help them as best I can. They know I will not judge them and they know I will not reveal their desires... and I have heard some fairly corrupt desires. No-one is completely honest with anyone unless they are sure their secrets will not be betrayed. Of course in the most extreme cases I must help them make restitution or face the consequences of actions they have taken, but I like to think I have never betrayed a confidence.
So your starting point is to earn Lord Yronwood's trust. To what degree and if you are worthy of it is up to you. He knows that your highest duty is to House Levalle. However helping him need not conflict with that duty, and it may be that his desires and ours are aligned, or at least compatible. You won't know until you talk to him. Our House has a certain reputation to overcome. A reputation we are perhaps worthy of. Trust does not come easily, especially for us. Still it is not impossible. As Regyn can attest, many of the thieves of the Tear are extremely trusting of each other. Often they have to be just to survive, and there is usually nothing stronger than the bonds of trust that are earned between the most openly dishonest.
On the other hand, if you don't mind my saying, Knights are some of the most mistrusted men in Westeros. Their authority is vast and often misused. They are ascribed honor too readily and are often unworthy of it. They drink with their fellow Knights at one moment and try to kill each other the next. They often pray to the Seven for appearances alone, and they readily band together to protect each other and their power." He shrugged. "There are many truly chivalrous Knights, of course, and I take each man as I meet him be he Knight or thief, but I can tell you I have met far more honorable thieves in my life than honorable hedge Knights.
If you want to earn Lord Yronwood... or Ser Owen's trust, they must believe that you not only can help them, and you will help them, but that you will not betray them. If our goal is that Ellyn marry this boy, Ser Owen must not only believe House Merryweather will gain as much or more as we do, but that it is true. Marriages are just another way of building trust, and that trust is not just for today or tomorrow, but for a lifetime. The merchant that cheats his customers may become vastly wealthy, provided he is clever and moves around, but eventually he will ether lose his wealth from no-one dealing with him, or from the exorbitant coin he must spend on guards to protect himself."
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Aug 31, 2018 3:27:48 GMT 1
"Trust is earned, but it can also be borrowed. So it seems the first thing to do would be to gain an introduction to the Yronwoods or Ser Owen so that they will not automatically turn me away. After that the responsibility is on myself to prove myself worthy of that trust."
"Who do we know that would willing provide an introduction that would be well received?"
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Aug 31, 2018 10:02:59 GMT 1
"I'm afraid I don't know either man or anyone they may trust. Perhaps you do, my Lord." He sipped his tea. "You must be careful whose reputation you borrow, for borrowing another man's reputation means you are painted with the bad as well as the good. Also, whatever is borrowed must someday be paid back, one way or another."
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Post by Alliser on Aug 31, 2018 23:55:15 GMT 1
"I believe Aladale has made some introductions with Ser Merryweather. However I don't believe Lord Yornwood's at the event, his daughter is here under the protection of the Hightowers. But perhaps you could make an introduction to these Lady yourself?"
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Sept 1, 2018 3:13:36 GMT 1
"That would be a pleasant. Malyk would you be available to join me at some point? Perhaps after the jousting?"
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Sept 1, 2018 16:54:47 GMT 1
"Lady Yronwood intrigues me." The young Senechal seems to drift out for a long moment, then snaps back to the conversation as if the pause never happened. "The Dornish seem to have a very healthy attitude toward sex which I find very refreshing. Many men fantasize about nights of passion with the extremely beautiful Lady Allicent, and I hear she flirts with men just enough to keep such fantasies alive. I wonder what motivation lies beneath her flirtations. I wonder what her thoughts are on her betrothal. We assume she finds Lord Merryweather repugnant, but is that assumption correct? Why have both waited so long? Does she even want out of this betrothal? As we have discussed, marrying into House Merryweather is desirable in many ways... so desirable, in fact, that we seek to do the same. I think we should proceed very carefully with the Lady. I sense much going on under the surface of this situation we do not know."
He finished his tea, and continued more lightly. "I would be happy to accompany you, if you wish. I think meeting Lady Allicent would be interesting. I think you might also benefit from a chaperone." Whether that was for her or for Parmen was not clear.
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Sept 1, 2018 18:35:07 GMT 1
"You are likely correct..on all counts."
Turning to Lord Alliser and the rest of the group. "If we are decided on a course of action for the moment then I will take my leave. I need to find Edwin and prepare for my upcoming tilt with Lord Vardis. We will see if I can win back Ser Thaddeus' ransom."
[/scene] ... unless you want to explore something further
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Post by Alliser on Sept 3, 2018 2:22:04 GMT 1
"I think that is everything for today, and I dare say this sounds keep us busy enough"
(/Scene)
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