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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 8, 2018 17:17:58 GMT 1
Laena sat in a corner of the library, her back to the wall, idly reading a randomly-chosen history about a Northern house around the time of the Dance of Dragons which had a succession crisis due to no clear succession, and both candidates supporting the other. She was hoping at some point the book would explain the madness which would provoke such a bizarre situation. Something in the water, maybe? There was mention of a curse, maybe it was that? Or maybe it was down to Northerners being just as alien and bizarre in their own way as the Dornish.
While reading, she kept subtly flicking her eyes up to make sure she didn't miss the arrival of the man she was here to see. She'd arrived earlier than they had arranged, so that she may learn when Ser Desmond Bridges chooses to arrive, and judge him accordingly. Plus, she had to admit, if only to herself, Sylvina and Landar were especially rowdy this morning, feeling neglected due to all her politicking, so an escape to the library was appreciated, though she knew she'd have to allocate more time to them soon.
Still, for now, she had peace, quiet, and the madness of Northerners. And soon, hopefully, the man at the heart of House Bridges.
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Post by Father on Sept 9, 2018 11:26:16 GMT 1
Ser Desmond arrives precisely on the appointed time, first impression is that this is a man as boring as Laena could possibly imagine, punctual, unsmiling, courteous and not to be governed by anything as fleeting as emotion. "My Lady Laena." |
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 9, 2018 14:26:46 GMT 1
[Leana's disposition towards Ser Desmond drops 2 steps.]
Laena hides her displeasure. Given what she knew of the man, it's hardly a surprise. She stands and curtseys "Ser Desmond. Thank you for meeting with me." She'd previously considered giving the respect due a lord, but a man so dull would likely not appreciate the flattery, so she simply gives the honour due a regent, precisely as such a boring man would expect.
She gestures towards a seat opposite her. "Please, sit. Relax. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to be a half-Dornish regent in the Reach with tensions being as they are." Her voice oozes sympathy. "I trust you know enough of my family to know that you need not fear such from me." She doesn't even mention his family troubles, since she wants his response focused on the Dornish angle for now.
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Post by Father on Sept 9, 2018 19:40:30 GMT 1
"Only as far as dealing with other houses goes, my lady" He replies, and not relaxing much, his posture is straight but not tense. "And only a few lords takes issue with my heritage when it comes to get what they want, but as my lady might have noticed, few lords of the Reach want Rhoynish blood in their grandchildren"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 9, 2018 20:46:24 GMT 1
"Oh, I understand. The situations between our houses are really quite similar: Half-Dornish heir, lacking in alliances to help should current tensions erupt into outright conflict, and the former really cripples attempts to cure the latter." She frowns momentarily. "Well, I think technically our heirs are only about a quarter Rhoynish because of House Dayne being more Andal than Rhoynish, but still, it's plenty difficult enough."
She considers pushing the Dornish angle, but decides to pivot before he starts thinking she's hinting at something she's not. "Though in your case, you have a charming and charismatic Lord who could probably help 'sell' you to other houses. While I imagine you haven't talked much since he left on his .. travels, have you taken the opportunity to catch up with him the last few days?"
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Post by Father on Sept 10, 2018 18:51:40 GMT 1
"We had a long talk indeed, though him and Lady Ysilla each spoke ten times as many words as the rest of us combined." He seems to at least find some humor in remembering the scene, little wonder given how Ysilla would likely not even allow anyone else the time to speak up, maybe if Bryce asked her politely. "No talk about marriage, Lord Bryce appears to have decided to pursue his own happiness and leave his domains to us."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 10, 2018 23:40:17 GMT 1
"The curse of competence." Laena observes. "When I spoke with Lord Bryce, he expressed complete faith in you. It probably wouldn't occur to him that you might need help, unless you were to say it directly. That is, if you feel you *do* need help." she swiftly adds. His words concern her somewhat, could there be a rift growing between Bryce and Desmond due to the former's absence? Bridges' Keystone - Read Target for resentment: 5d6k4 21"You say 'us', but isn't it really 'you' in the singular?" Her tone is questioning, rather than accusative. "Don't misunderstand, the more I hear about Ysilla, the more I like her as a person, but I don't really see her being a big help with your regent duties. And, well, from what I know of Ser Farman's behaviour during this tourney, I rather doubt he helps you much, either, albeit in his case more by choice than nature. You do give the impression of being rather ... isolated, both within and without." |
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Post by Father on Sept 11, 2018 18:06:24 GMT 1
"I would not say that I need help, but neither would I stake the claim that I can do everything." Above all, Desmond appears very grounded, doing the best with what he have and care little for that which he cannot have. "The smallfolk will not starve when winter comes, our walls are well enough maintained so as to withstand most assaults and our stocks are sufficient to last a siege. Nor would feasting of the frequency that Lord Bryce so preferred ruin our coffers. All this I can do, my lady. He pauses, as if finding the thought of him socializing at a party humorous. "Drinking so heavily with lords and knights that all either of us remembers afterwards that we enjoyed the night agrees much less with me than ledgers." If that was his idea of how politics worked, well..more than one lord did no more than drinking with other lords and offered the hands of their daughters to the sons of whoever they liked best. "Ser Farman cares for nothing beyond sating his lust for women and luxuries, Lady Ysilla simply pursues whatever fancy that occupies her attention in the moment." He seems to not harbor any resentments, but something is off even so, that he has no such feeling because he does not have much in the way of feelings in the first place. The perfect steward, but ledgers can take a house only so far.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 12, 2018 18:45:34 GMT 1
"Good administration is very useful for a house, I certainly agree. Your hard work will no doubt pay dividends in keeping your lands stable. But all of those benefits can be reaped by a lord or regent wise enough to be willing to listen to good advice. Let me abstract this a bit, so you may not mistake my words for an insult to you, for I assure you I have nothing but respect for the hard work you selflessly invest into your house. "A ruler of land, be they lord or regent, is more than the ultimate decision-maker, they are the face of the house. Their representative. Others' opinions of the house as a whole are ultimately derived from their opinions of the ruler. Turning a happy liege lord, and friends of wealth and influence, into improved trade and more lenient taxation, for example. To potentially neglect these personal connections can do far more damage to the overall prosperity of the house than capable administration alone can compensate for, as the financial improvements are swallowed up and then some by increased taxation and good trade deals going to other houses, for example. Many such deals are made at such parties as you clearly dislike."
Initiating Intrigue Objective: Convince Ser Desmond as to the advantages to a house of having a charismatic regent/lord Keystone - Initiative: 6d6k5 20ID: 13 Base Composure: 12/12 Keystone - Start of Intrigue - Deception (Act): 6d6k4+2 22 +1 ID / DoS vs Awarenss (Empathy) [To reduce your workload, once we've stated 'opening positions', I'm happy to move to 'mechanics only' posts, switching back to RP once we know the result.] |
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Post by Father on Sept 13, 2018 15:55:55 GMT 1
"That would be nice of course my lady, but it is not a task I am well suited for"
Initiative: 6d6k4+3 17ID: 12 DR: 4 Composure: 12 Free Breeding: 6d6k4 20 2 DoS for +1b to be used somewhere. Objective...uh, let's be unimaginative and do the charm routine. 22 is 3 DoS.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 13, 2018 16:05:03 GMT 1
[Not sure if you want to go mechanics-only or not, but can keep the IC short, as a compromise.] Laena cedes the initiative momentarily, considering how best to convince him without making her true objective too blatantly obvious.
Keystone - R1 - Read Target: 5d6k4 16ID: 16 Composure: 12/12 |
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Post by Father on Sept 13, 2018 16:39:39 GMT 1
Eh, well, looking at the odds. Just do a simple intrigue.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 13, 2018 17:34:02 GMT 1
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Post by Father on Sept 14, 2018 14:39:55 GMT 1
As much as he does agree in principle, the issue remains that aside from the return of Lord Bryce, there really isn't anyone who could do this. And given the state of affairs, lordship would pass on to Desmond eventually.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 14, 2018 18:59:32 GMT 1
Laena happily acknowledges the difficulties Ser Desmond brings up. "...but, of course, that's just today. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?" She smiles brightly at him. "Just don't give up hope that things may improve. Just like the man fearing injuries will be the one to fall in a duel, so will a heart without hope be the first one to give in.
"Speaking of Lord Bryce, since you knew him before, and have spoken with him recently, do you think his return at all likely?"
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