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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Apr 17, 2019 11:53:23 GMT 1
Hugh Blackwood was sent to fetch Roland's companions in arms while the young knight weighed their options.
"Rennifer Waters is here."
He had eluded them at recent tourneys and melees, which was perhaps a blessing. Ser Rennifer was a mighty foe - few could prevail against Ser Daemon Waters himself even when employing dishonourable tactics. Roland had been spared such in their duel and his foe had less at stake and even then he only just prevailed.
"We can deliver justice for Lady Lysette. For Megelle. For Westeros."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 17, 2019 13:20:13 GMT 1
Otho Bracken is here as well, but perhaps the Blackwoods will bring him to heel. They will fight their own war as they always have and we will fight ours.
Daeron's face was already turning a marvelous shade of red at the mention of that blackguard.
"I noticed. A shame that the Butterwells ever saw fit to add his name to the lists in the first place. The melee will be our best opportunity to take him out, unless one of us happens to face the Horsebane in the joust. If we are to succeed though we will need allies in the melee, the Gods know that they will be forming their own. I saw the Daverhyls and Levalles lurking around and I assume that they will join the Merryweathers' alliance, but we are not without friends ourselves, friends who would like to see them suffer a bit. I propose that we shore up our strength by seeking out Redtusk, Blackfyre, and even the Starkwoods. They all know what a danger Rennifer is and would like to see him taken down a few pegs."
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Apr 17, 2019 14:27:41 GMT 1
"I am glad that we are of one mind on Lord Butterwell's lack of discernment, in that at least it provides us an avenue for justice."
"I have some familiarity with Lord Levalle, mayhap I can impress upon him the wisdom of avoiding association with this dog. I believe the Spongeholder wishes to scrub his own reputation clean."
Alliser had won some wary confidence from Roland thus far, the trusting young knight underestimating the intricacies of the lord's plans.
"You can indeed can on many friends of both prowess and character."
"I will not strike to kill a man in a melee, particularly if he cries "Hold". But nor shall I pull a single blow against that vermin."
Truth be told, a man could not risk fighting at below his best or putting anything less than his full weight in to strikes if he hoped to slow Rennifer, even in a melee or duel to first blood. For all his faults, the best and Roland were near equally matched in their previous duel.
"At the very least a public thrashing, and if the Seven will it a lasting reminder of the error of his way."
Or an end to them.
"Sorrow to the maid in question if Lord Merryweather or Rennifer sinks to their normal depths, but it will give us an opening. Drink is often taken at tournaments. Men and their lords do foolish things, wicked things."
Roland's left hand gripped his sword's pommel and did not release. The naive knight errant that entered the lists at Highgarden would not have even begun to plan such a course of action, reacting instead to each fresh horror.
"They have wronged many, and at the next provocation we should demand a trial of Seven. With a viper's cunning tricks Rennifer can overcome even the finest knight in the Realm, but he lacks six friends of even half his fortitude that would risk there lives on his behalf. On the other hand, we should not lack for skilled knights that are keen to put an end to this disgrace to chivalry."
"At such a juncture he either finds himself friendless and forfeits the inevitable trial by combat, or our alliance of champions sweeps whatever dregs his ill gotten gold can hire from the field."
"He just needs to give us one fucking opening."
The profanity seemed worth the subsequent penance.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 18, 2019 3:32:19 GMT 1
Daeron noticeably gives no similar vows. He could easily swear that he would not strike a man who had yielded, but in all honesty he would probably serve the justice that the king failed to deliver. If he had the chance to strike down any of those blackguards, he would take it.
"If either of them have any wits about them, they will keep a lower profile here. I don't think they will give many openings for a trial, not after Abelar's Riot at least.
Still though, go to the Levalles. I think you are wrong to trust them, but Lord Alliser follows self-interest. If it is impressed on him that an alliance between his men and the Merryweathers is not a move that benefits his house, he might look elsewhere.
I will go to the Starkwoods. Although I'm not their closest ally, I do have a solid rapport with Ser Trystane and I doubt that they like the Merryweathers any more than we do."
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Apr 18, 2019 11:57:31 GMT 1
Roland seemingly lacked the intellect to pick up on the nuance of Daeron not following his promise to restrain himself. Would this shortcoming fill the knight with regret later? Worse still, was this willful deafness from a man whose romantic notions had been washed away by the blood spilled at the Black Tourney?
"You are right to be cautious with Lord Levalle, I shall take the path you suggest when reasoning with him."
"This will be a dangerous endeavour, this will be a true test of the friendship we have built outside Kingsbridge."
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Post by Addam Velaryon on Apr 19, 2019 18:23:53 GMT 1
"There a few matches better for Spongeholder. If he truly wanted to change his reputation he wouldn't of offer his daughter to Lord Eldon." Shaking his head, "Nah, telling the Levalles only gives them the opportunity to go running to Merryweather, which they will."
"The Starkwoods have that hedge knight, Ser Pikel or whatever his name is? The one one that fought the Merryweather. I'm sure he would want a rematch. Ser Aerion is an old friend as well, I can get him to rally the rest of House Starkwood if Ser Trystane and Dikel cannot."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 22, 2019 17:53:32 GMT 1
He ponders over his Companions' words as they debate the best course of action.
"I suspect that the Merryweathers know we're coming. Rennifer and Eldon might be upjumped thugs, but they do know how grudges work. However, if the Spongeholder decides to support them, then he will find himself shorter a few usable knights after this tourney. Regardless, his most capable knight will probably fight again with Redtusk, and I have a hard time seeing any Redwyne standing with the Horsebane after the debacle at Summerhall.
Now we just need a course of action with the Daverhyls. It seems to me that there might be some dissent in their camp. Ser Addam or myself should meet with Lady Lynesse and see what we can learn about the inner workings of that house. With some luck we might be able to keep them away from the Merryweathers, otherwise Ser Roland it looks like you will have a rematch. Just don't die this time."
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Apr 24, 2019 10:57:32 GMT 1
Roland listend to Addam and Daeron in turn, nodding along at their words.
"What say you Addam? Does Daeron have the right of it that, we risk little by letting Lord Levalle know where lines are being drawn? I trust your judgement on this matter over my own."
He tried a smile at the reference to his duel with Sandor, but it was weak and did not reach his eyes after his harrowing exerpience.
"I commend whichever of you seeks out Lady Lynesse to that endeavour, for a second such bout may be the death of me unless our duel took more from him than it did from me."
A body that had emerged near scar free from the Dornish wars now bore marks, but from the blades of fellow Reachmen. A curious world that the Seven have sent to test us.
"He fought more fiercely than Ser Rennifer did in our duel at Highgarden, and I mean that as praise. Merryweather's dog is as fierce a fighter as he is poor a knight."
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Post by Addam Velaryon on Apr 25, 2019 7:15:46 GMT 1
"The less people who know the better, but if my cousin wants to inform the Levalles, then so be it. It not as if they could muster much of a challenge even if they did turn on us."
"I fought for the Daverhyls girl's honor back at Summerhall. I'm more the sure she would be willing to repay the favor."
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Apr 30, 2019 12:17:41 GMT 1
"Then we are agreed, and let us hope Ser Addam's past service helps dissuade House Daverhyl from lying down with dogs."
"Virtue and victory to both of you. Our cause is just."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on May 2, 2019 2:12:42 GMT 1
Daeron nods in acknowledgement. He would see that Lord Piggy would be brought to heel and his blackguards too.
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