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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Aug 23, 2018 17:09:35 GMT 1
After breakfast, Titus had (to the best of his abilities, he had inherited his father’s lack of disgretion) slipped out of the Blackbriar camp and made way to The Starkwood pavilions.
Blackbriar and Starkwood relations had always been strained at best and after yesterday’s interaction between the Lady Ashara and Balon, Titus was an unwelcome sight. Upon acquiring the whereabouts of Lady Ashara he was met with suspicions bordering on contempt until he was finally directed towards The Garden of Statues by a servant. Titus was certain that he would have been less successful had more Starkwood knights been present.
The Garden of Statues was a sight unto itself; polished marble and stone against the vibrant greenery that framed the pathways and idols. Busts of loyal servants and larger than life statues of Lords and Kings of the past. It was amongst these he found the young Starkwood girl that his brother had mistreated.
Looking more like an errant knight of the hedge than the scion of a nobel house; he preferred undyied wool and linens. Apart from the Golden Knight of the Blackbriar badge above his heart he wore little finery, a simple Seven Sided Star made out of wood hung across his neck, a gift from the Septon Abelar.
Titus approaches cautiously and adresses Lady Ashara’s chaperone; “Titus Blackbriar seeks a brief word with the Lady, if she’s would allow it” and steps back, awaiting the her response.
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Aug 23, 2018 17:53:25 GMT 1
Ashara had come to the garden of statues because from what she had heard, few did. That made it an ideal place for enough solitude to calmly reflect upon the the events of the past few days - a shocking amount considering that the tourney was not yet quite half over. Or at least, it would have been had not some oaf told one of the last people at this tourney that she would wish to speak to that she was here.
Alas, the calm quiet of the garden had been shattered, and with the anger over the prior day's interaction with this man's brother welling up again, she knew that calm reflection was no longer possible this morning.
"Ser Titus." In contrast to the appropriate courtesy and curtsy displayed, the tone of her words was cold enough to make the Wall seem balmy in comparison.
She was dressed in her usual manner, a tasteful dress, tight enough to conform to her body but loose enough not to constrain her movement, made of a fabric perhaps slightly heavier than most Reach ladies would favor, perhaps an indication of being acclimatized to even hotter weather than this fine day. Uncharacteristically, she is wearing fine gloves.
"Have you come to insult my honor and my family as your murderer brother has done? Or perhaps you come to offer a meaningless apology which would never come from the offending mouth itself? Or perchance your 'chivalrous' brother has filled your head with tales of Dornish promiscuity and you have come to avail yourself of my supposed 'offerings'?"
She scoffs.
"I considered declining your request, but as your presence had already ruined a delightful morning I saw little harm in allowing it."
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Aug 23, 2018 21:55:36 GMT 1
For a moment, Titus just stood there, silent and dumbstruck.
Then the moment passed and he still stood there, mouth hanging slightly agape and eyes wide, blinking now and then.
After several such moments, the mouth started moving, trying (and failing) to form a response.
“I...” was all the mouth managed to come up with. Thinking it was sufficient it did it two more times for good measure.
They eyes kept blinking.
Seven Hells... was for a while all the mind could contribute with. This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. it finally managed to add.
“I beg your pardon, my lady. I don’t... none of those are my intentions...” She actually had, more or less, covered his intentions fully when pointing out the pointlessness of him apologising on Balon’s behalf, but it being said out loud Titus felt quite stupid for thinking it would be that simple. The girl was hurt. And angry. Very angry.
Then mind and mouth agrees. When faced with a dragon and without a sword, there is no dishounor in retreat.
“I am sorry, my lady. I thought I... I’ve upset you.” He bows and goes to leave.
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Aug 23, 2018 23:00:41 GMT 1
Ashara took a deep breath. Letting out her frustration had felt good, but accomplished little else.
Laena has been working so hard to make peace between our houses, and there's no reason to think this man is as bad as his brother. Peace between our houses would be good, especially with what may be coming.
"Wait, ser. It is not you that have upset me, and that you react to my invective with courtesy shows you to be a far better man than your beast of a brother. I fear I am the one who must apologize, I have been unkind to paint you with the same brush."
He's probably also an ass, but I can at least be civil.
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Aug 24, 2018 1:04:03 GMT 1
"My lady." he started, a slight bow in gratitude. The Starkwoods drew their lineage from Brandon the Builder and the wolfsblood still seemed to flow in their veins. And despite her dornish appearence, Lady Ashara seemed very much the wolf at this moment, less so than a snake. "I am afraid that you quite clearly saw through my intention. And your right. An apology from me would be toothless... but I pray not meaningless."
He takes a step forward, still weary so as to not impose or insult her. "My brother..." he searches for the words "...is his own man. And whilst I can not take back nor undo what was said and done between the two of you, I would like to offer my hand in setting it right between our Houses. I'd hope an apology, although from the wrong person, but an apology in its sincerity, is a start"
Perhaps he was naive in the ways of women and politics but the young knight spoke out of sincerity.
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Aug 24, 2018 20:09:44 GMT 1
"My hand is spoken for ser, though I am flattered by the offer."
She smiles, clearly recognizing that Ser Titus had not meant to imply a marriage offer with his phrasing, and making a jest of it - perhaps an attempt to lighten the mood, though perhaps a gentle mocking. It is hard to tell which it is - and perhaps it is both.
"I believe that you are sincere, however you are incorrect."
Her tone remains much softer and warmer than it had been initially, even though she is contradicting him.
"Your brother is not just his own man. He bears your family name, and his actions stain that name as well as his own. Even Ser Daemon Waters has taken action to distance himself from your brother, though he might be the one that profits the most from the death of Ser Walton. Not only has he spoken out, he intends to challenge your brother in the joust."
She taps the silver wolf-head necklace she often wears.
"Our Words are Steel," she says, quoting the House Starkwood motto. "but that does not mean everyone's are. Your apology, no matter how sincere, are just words and words are wind. A summer breeze may be pleasant, but ultimately has little meaning. It is the actions that accompany those words that truly matter."
She sighs. "Your apology may be sincere, but it is insufficient. Actions are needed."
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Aug 26, 2018 21:51:03 GMT 1
Titus stumbles and is about to object when Ashara points out his verbal faux-pas, he had indeed not intended to offer his hand in marriage to the Starkwood girl and could all but sigh and offer a slight bow when she made light of it. He really didn't have a confident way with women. Deeds, not Words. She had taken the motto of his own House and thrown them back at him. She wasn't wrong, what he had came for offered little consolation to her or her house. "What would you have me do, my lady? Challenge my brother and strike him down for the "good" of both our houses?" the question was asked plainly but it was clear that he thought it ridiculous. Although all thoughts are born somewhere.
Intrigue Objective: Charm (Increase Ashara's disposition to him and his house and find a non-violent solution to her conflict with Balon) Base ID: 11 (Base 9+2 Knightly Chivalry and -3 when Romantic) Composure: 11/11 Starting Disposition: Indifferent Your Pardon - Intrigue Initiative (Status, Breeding) v Lady Ashara: 4d6k3 11[First time Intrigue so please bare with me and let me know if I mess something up]
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Aug 27, 2018 2:53:30 GMT 1
"'Strike him down'? If you mean how your brother struck down Ser Walton Wyl, no. I would not ask you to dishonor yourself so." She observes him carefully, attempting to discern his purpose.
I completely forgot those were the Blackbriar words... Intrigue: You asked for it... Lucky for you Ashara is quite genuine in her desire to turn you against your brother, so Romantic/Naive will probably not bite you quite as hard as it did Ser Roland. I'll try to clearly mark the rolls it does apply to. Some of her statements/rolls may be lies/Deception, but she will at least be starting with the truth... which is going to make her disposition frustrating to me as well, but I've committed to RPing her as prejudiced against men, so I'm sticking with it. The positives of our chat to this point balances out the negative that you (unjustly) had from being Balon's brother. Also, this is using one of my worst techniques. All in all, your odds are probably better than they might seem. Don't forget that you get one of the three free actions at the start of the intrigue, click here for details, it's the first part of the Actions section. Also, chivalry adds to composure as well as ID, so assuming Will 3 and no other modifiers you would have 11 composure. Intrigue Objective: Publicly take a stand against Balon - specific action up to Titus, but it should be sufficient to end up in the rumor mill. Technique: Incite Base ID: 11 Composure: 12/12 Starting Disposition: Unfriendly (DR 6, Deception +2 Persuasion -4). YPML Intrigue Intiative: 4d6 16YPML Free Action Deception(act) w Courteous: 6d6k4+2 18 vs Passive Awareness(empathy) (Romantic/Naive applies) YPML R1 Read Target: 6d6k4+3 21 vs passive Deception(act)
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Aug 27, 2018 18:53:31 GMT 1
"I ask you again. What then, my lady?"
Thanks, previous post updated to include Knightly Chivalry properly and fixed my ID Passive Awareness: 9 (base 12-3 Romantic) - 2 DoS on your Free Action Passive Deception: 8 - 3 DoS on your Read Target Base ID: 11 Composure: 11/11 Your Pardon - Free Action Status (Breeding) v Ashara ID 11: 4d6k3 15 - 1 DoS (+1B to Persuasion one-off) Action Round 1: Consider (+2B on next exchange)
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Aug 27, 2018 19:38:34 GMT 1
"You know your brother better than I, so you would know better than I what might motivate him to change his ways. Publicly renounce his actions to his face, or challenge him in the joust, the specifics are not important - what is important is that it be clear to him and to all the Reach that his actions are not condoned by your house. The things he said about my lady mother and I... they are unforgivable." She smiles. "If you want to make a strong impression upon my family, challenging him to a duel to defend my honor would certainly earn you respect. I am afraid my brother might do so and there be another fatal 'accident'." YPML R2 Persuasion(incite) w/RT & disposition penalty: 5d6-4 14 vs ID 11, 1 DoS, 3 - 4 DR = 0 influence. Well that isn't going to work... ID: 13 (11+2 from free action) Composure: 12/12 Disposition: Unfriendly (DR 6, Deception +2 Persuasion -4).
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Aug 27, 2018 21:55:20 GMT 1
"Another fatal accident is the last thing any of us would want. No need to threaten me, Lady Ashara. My fear for my brother's well being is part of why I am speaking to you. And I am sure, you of yours, which is why you are speaking to me and not having your own brother issue a challenge. Forgive me if I am wrong, but I do not think that additional bloodshed is what you wish? Your Pardon - R2 Read Target v Lady Ashara (+2B Consider): 5d6k3 14 - I think thats a fail? ID: 11 Composure: 11/11 Disposition: Indifferent (DR 4 +/- 0 on Per/Dec).
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Aug 27, 2018 23:10:52 GMT 1
"You mistake me ser. I meant that your brother might take the opportunity to murder mine."
She does not answer his question about bloodshed, considering whether or not Balon should bleed for what he did to her.
By virtue of the Courteous benefit, Ashara's passive Deception(act) is 17, so yes, a fail.
R3 action: consider (+2b next round)
ID: 13 (11+2 from free action) Composure: 12/12 Disposition: Unfriendly (DR 6, Deception +2 Persuasion -4)
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Aug 28, 2018 13:55:34 GMT 1
“Well put...” He scoffs and frowns with a forlorn look about him.
For a moment there is silence between the two.
ID: 11 Composure: 11/11 Disposition: Indifferent (DR 4 +/- 0 on Per/Dec).
R3 Action: Consider (+2B next exchange)
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Aug 28, 2018 16:15:56 GMT 1
"Bloodshed beyond an honorable duel would be excessive. However, for the sake of peace - as well as your family's honor - such acts must be condemned in some way. It must be clear that House Blackbriar does not condone your brother's behavior. Otherwise he may well become the basis by which your family is judged. You are clearly not cut of the same cloth, and from what I have heard neither is your father. However, your brother is by far the loudest, and the absence of contradiction may well be seen as silent applause." YPML R4 - persuade incite w/RT,Consider, & disp penalty: 7d6k5-4 17 vs ID 11, 2 DoS for 6-4DR = 2 influence. ID: 13 (11+2 from free action) Composure: 12/12 Disposition: Unfriendly (DR 6, Deception +2 Persuasion -4) This may take a while.... if you want we could start rolling multiple rounds at once - especially if we are going to be doing so many Consider or other supportive actions it might make sense to group R5 and R6 together, then R7 & R8, etc. Thoughts?
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Post by Titus Blackbriar on Aug 28, 2018 22:34:22 GMT 1
"I do not... we do not condone such behaviour from any of our sworn swords, regardless of name or kinship." He seemed insulted at the insinuation. "You have my word as a knight that I will labour towards this being set right. But now... this tournament...There is much at stake and I, forgive me for speaking plainly, but I fear for my brother's life. He is not a bad person, Lady Ashara. Not yet. But he's managed to place himself in the middle of it all. His digressions will be dealt with and your honour will be restored. But you to must see what is happening within the realm my lady, any spark can set it all aflame."
ID: 11 Composure: 9/11 Disposition: Indifferent (DR 4 +/- 0 on Per/Dec). R4 Action: Your Pardon - R4 Persuade (Charm)+Consider v Ashara: 8d6k4 21 - 2 DoS, 6-6=0 Influence dealt. Edit: Forgot to add +2 Chivalry, making it 23 and 3 DoS so a total of 9-6=3 Influence dealt Double rolling is fine with me. Gon' be here for a while.
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