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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jan 11, 2019 21:02:55 GMT 1
"Unless you devote yourself to maintain peace rather than starting a war, such a marriage would only weaken us by preventing Laena from forging a real alliance. You are wrong that I do not care about others opinions. One's reputation is a shield against attack, as much as a coterie of well-trained knights. that is why my father will not break my betrothal - he has worked hard to repair the damage done to our reputation by his father, and breaking the betrothal would go against that - even if no one directly involved wants it anymore." "I promised Laena peace between our houses if we were wed and I will honor that. As to Laena, there is one thing we agree on and that's her worth as a woman. Unfortunately the rest of the Reach seems to not share our views. They see a lady from a remote house, already widowed with two children, and fast approaching an age that makes her... undesirable." Balon scratched his head in thought, "What nickname has she gained here at Highgarden? The Black Widow? How well will that help House Starkwood forge an *real* alliance.""I'm not saying I'm some knight in shining armor coming to rescue her. She needs no such thing. But ask yourself, do you want to see Laena betrothed in a similar fashion to you?" Balon tried to pluck any emotional string that might be under that thick skin. "Betrothed to someone she dislikes instead of being afforded the rare opportunity to wed out of love?" Balon wasn't dumb enough to think Laena was in love with him but there were some strong indicators she desired him. "Think of me what you will but have you asked Laena what she thinks of me? You might be surprised.""Your House is divided, and thus weak, inviting attack. Peace with Blackbriar only secures House Starkwood so long as House Blackbriar can remain steadfast. So long as you and your mother undermine your uncle, I will oppose this marriage." "A great many houses are divided, my lady, and not just in the Reach. If you want House Blackbriar unified it starts with you supporting this wedding." How much do I let her know... "If you want my influence at Gyldenhaal gone, don't oppose this marriage. I'll leave."
She sighs. "...You have forged a reputation for yourself of being a braggard, a brute, and a blackguard. A marriage to one of that reputation does not bolster House Starkwood's reputation, it weakens it. If you want to be worth of Laena, you need to learn to act more like Ser Daemon and Redtusk than Otho and Bittersteel. Even if you dislike our King and anything Dornish, so long as you do your duty to Lord Jon and King Daeron, and do what is beneficial to others more than what is personally profitable... then I would support this marriage. No matter how nauseating the very idea is to me." [OOC: Trying to bring the conversation around to a relatively neutral position - something that we might not agree on, necessarily, but that we might not particularly care to argue about, either.] "I saved Ser Aladore because it was the right thing to do. I saved Lady Lyanna because it was the right thing to do. I stepped in between you and that fuck over there," he nodded to the knight that'd threatened to pull Ashara away from Lyanna, "because it was the right thing to do. Stop acting like all I think about is myself." He was a braggart, that was undeniable, but he did the 'right' thing more often than not. He just let everybody know about it.
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Jan 12, 2019 14:20:30 GMT 1
"You clearly - and unsurprisingly - don't understand my point."
She sighs.
"I give up. I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt in honor of your father, and to try to see what Laena sees in you, but... I give up. I think I'd have a better chance at becoming a dragonrider than getting anything through your thick skull."
She turns her attention back to the nearly drowned lady.
[OOC /scene?]
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jan 14, 2019 21:46:22 GMT 1
He opens his mouth to respond but stops. I don't want you to see what Laena sees in me. That part of me is for her only. He turned his attention back to Lady Lyanna.
Sorry for the late response. Just glad the Immovable Object and the Unstoppable Force accomplished so much. :) /scene
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Post by Father on Jan 16, 2019 21:53:29 GMT 1
Ser Gerold Florent is the type of knight that the Starkwood guards are well accustomed to, someone ten years younger might have raised a stink about having to wait for them to be announced and allowed to come, the time to raise a stink is if the Starkwoods wanted to keep them away from Lady Lyanna, maybe after prettyboy had been given half a chance at diplomacy first.
I'll mostly have Gerold loiter around in the background unless a stink needs to be raised.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jan 16, 2019 22:14:13 GMT 1
greatbastards.boards.net/post/15947/threadAshara and Balon are waiting for Lyanna to talk about what happened. Did she fall? Was she pushed? Does she know anything? I know Malyk was going to merge into this thread too and since he has more familiarity with Lyanna if he takes the lead Balon won't object.
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Jan 17, 2019 0:12:59 GMT 1
Malyk entered with Ser Gerold. He had borrowed a shirt, and probably ran his fingers through his hair to combat the worst of his dishevelment. Still, the lithe young man was a bit worse for wear and his concern for the young Lady was obvious.
"My Lady Lyanna. I am very glad to still see you with us." He smiled disarmingly. "I believed you safe with Ser Janos, so you gave me quite the shock when I saw you fall from the bridge and later found it to be you. Can you tell us what happened? You may speak freely. Ser Balon retrieved you from the river and Lady Ashara revived you. Ser Gerold represents Lord Florent, and as a part of House Levalle I am your servant. We all have your best interests at heart and will do what we can to help you."
It was obvious his words were absolutely genuine and his motives pure.
I will know the truth of this, and if there is foul play, someone will pay dearly for harming this young women, almost a child.
While he was loyal to House Levalle, that loyalty did not extend to second sons throwing young women off bridges, if Ser Imry was involved.
Not sure if Lord Florent is there or not.
4D Persuasion 2B Convince +3 Friendly Nice roll. Malyk's Influence for Convince is 5/DoS
Balon and Ashara are welcome to assist if they wish.
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Jan 17, 2019 14:54:50 GMT 1
Ashara sits on a stool next to Lyanna's bed protectively, and holds the other woman's hand. She had not left Lyanna's side for more than the minute or so it had taken to gather dry clothes for her, and did not intend to leaver her alone now. She does not know these men, and thus does not fully trust them. That being said, the truth must come out - and she would do everything she could to make sure that Lyanna suffered no repercussions for saying it.
She whispers to the other woman - not so quietly that perceptive others could not overhear, but enough to make it clear that her words are intended for Lady Lyanna and no one else. "You are safe here, and if you do not wish to speak with these men I will send them away. However, at some point you must tell what happened - to me, to them, or to someone else you trust. Tell me what you want - what you need - and I will do my best to make sure it happens."
Ashara couldn't fully articulate why this woman's well-being had become so personally important to her, but it had.
[OOC: TO be clear, Ashara is explicitly neither assisting nor hindering Malyk's convince. She is simply reinforcing to Lyanna that Lyanna gets to call the shots right now.]
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Post by Father on Jan 19, 2019 17:23:29 GMT 1
"Thank you" She utters to her saviors, she seems mostly alright, if confused and somewhat tired. "I must have stumbled and fell off the bridge" She hesitates, holding something back, as if ashamed of the truth.
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Jan 20, 2019 0:07:49 GMT 1
"I understand." Malyk smiled. "This has been a very trying week for you. I am just happy that you are safe."
If a convince roll of 24 doesn't give more than that, I'm not sure what will.
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Post by Father on Jan 20, 2019 15:26:16 GMT 1
"I don't want to go back" she whispers so that Ser Gerold can't hear. "Not to him" she seems frightened at the prospect, to Malyk it seems obvious that it's Imry she's talking about.
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Malyk
House Levalle
Posts: 648
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Post by Malyk on Jan 20, 2019 16:47:16 GMT 1
Imry was an ass, and often a drunk, but for him to instigate such fear in the woman was novel even for him. Up till now he had considered the man negligent of his wife at worst. Obviously his actions the other night had crossed a substantial line. He still wasn't convinced this was just an accident, but the question was: What to do at the moment?
"My Lady, you have had a terrible fright. I'm sure you should rest here and recover your strength." He turned to Ser Gerold. "Perhaps you should inform Lord Florent that Lady Lyanna is awake and resting under the care of House Starkwood." It was clear the young Lady did not wish to speak more openly in front of him. Perhaps she thought Lord Florent would force her back to Imry. Perhaps he might. The man was shrewd and politically savvy; Lyanna was in his care, but not his blood. Predicting his actions was difficult.
"For the moment, I think we should all leave so Lady Ashara can find you more suitable... and dryer clothing. After you have rested, we can talk again." He smiled at Lady Ashara, but his eyes indicated they might wish to have a private conversation, and relatively soon.
Rising he left the tent, in part to spur on the other men to follow suit.
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Jan 20, 2019 19:01:00 GMT 1
If Lyanna wanted away from her husband it would be the easiest thing in the world to say that Imry had pushed her off - especially if it were true. That left only one option, and Ashara had no doubt what would happen - sooner or later - if Lyanna were forced back to him.
"I think it's safe to say that for the time being Lady Lyanna is in no condition to go anywhere. Clearly she needs her rest. We can discuss what future would be best for her later."
She squeezes Lyanna's hand gently. She was on the woman's side in this.
Fuck Florent and fuck Levalle if they think they can force her back to her husband. Hell, fuck my father if he agrees with them. I will not let her suffer like that, nor be forced to choose between hell and death.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jan 20, 2019 22:37:52 GMT 1
So she did try to kill herself... Balon concluded. He'd heard the rumors (just like everyone else) about Lyanna and Imry but he didn't think it'd ever come to this. Was Imry so desperate to earn his own rewards that he'd attempted to drive her to suicide? It was possible. It'd give him the out he was looking for without technically dirtying his own hands. Damn, that's cold blooded, even for me. Speculation aside, there were more immediate concerns to consider. She'd have to go back at some point. She can only use the excuse of "needing rest" for so long. At some point Lord Florent would most likely demand she return.
Balon agreed with Ashara and Malyk, "She needs some rest. Lets give her some time to herself." Balon turned to leave with Malyk but stopped, "Unless she'd like to speak with Lady Ashara in private. I find that sometimes ladies feel more at ease with another woman."
Balon didn't particularly like the idea of leaving Lyanna alone with a shrew like Ashara but if there was anyone that could coax the truth from her he believed it to be Ashara.
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Post by Father on Jan 21, 2019 16:08:03 GMT 1
"Someone should stay with her at all times Ser Gerold grunts, if she had tried to take her life once, she might do it again. He orders his squire, his son it looks like to run back to tell Lord Reynald what they learned. It would be unlikely that Lady Lyanna would be offered any respite, a wife cannot simply run away.
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Jan 22, 2019 18:29:11 GMT 1
Ashara nods to Ser Gerold and Malyk.
"Do not worry, I will make sure she is well cared for - and I will try to talk with her, if she is feeling strong enough."
She turns to Balon.
"Thank you for your assistance. I still don't like you, but you are a better man than I had given you credit for."
She waits for the three of them to depart, and when she is alone with Lyanna she returns to the unfortunate woman and once again sits by her side.
"I know you don't want to go back to him - I don't blame you. I am betrothed to a man I loathe, but your situation is even worse."
She puts her hand on Lyanna's shoulder, consolingly.
"I will do everything in my power to keep you safe, and ensure that he can never hurt you again. I just need to know two thins. First, if you had the power to choose, what would you do now? Second, I need to know what happened - everything after you left. I'll need to know who can be an ally and who will be an enemy."
She sighs.
"I will be honest, this tourney has been hell and I have more than once thought about throwing myself off that bridge. If that is what happened I will not judge you for it, though I hope we can ensure you will never again feel like death is your only option."
She frowns.
"If someone pushed you, though... well, then they need to pay for their deed."
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