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Post by Father on May 26, 2019 17:28:18 GMT 1
Roland hardly knows Ser Preston, what memories he has are mostly of a boy, eager and quick to learn, but still a boy. That he squired at the Arbor does suggest he might have turned out more likable than his father. Regardless, when the heir to Old Oak wants a word, few knights let him wait.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on May 26, 2019 18:14:54 GMT 1
Roland was sharp on the heels of his squire, Hugh. The lad had been sent ahead to announce his arrival. Over half a decade at Oakheart had given him some impression of Preston and the boy was oft father to the man. He had faced the man at Ashford, an epic match that near enough went the full nine passes. Ser Preston was a talent, true, but if he desired tutoring in jousting he could command greater teachers than Roland. He had been knighted by Breakspear himself after all. Roland had watched it at the Black Tourney. The man who conferred his knighthood and what little Roland remembered from Old Oak augured well - there was bad blood between the Cordwayner knight and Preston's father. An old dispute over the treatment of Dornish prisoners.
He bowed, recognising his summoner's greater rank.
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Post by Father on May 28, 2019 16:53:41 GMT 1
Tutoring at the list was not what Ser Preston had in mind, no. It was in fact something his younger brother said which prompted action, Gwayne is now a squire to Lord Quentin, he used to be Lord Ilyn's squire. Two things are to be noted, the first that only Ser Normyn and Lady Maegelle were present for Lord Ilyn's last supper and they had been summoned by him. The last words Lord Ilyn had said to his squire Gwayne was that he intended to end the mummer's farce. Gwayne may be a bit too young to truly understand what he meant by that, but old enough to know not to mention those words or ask any questions before being in the company of family alone. Clever enough not to tell Lord Walgrave who surely would have told him to forget all about it, too. Preston appears somewhat proud of his brother for that last part.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on May 28, 2019 17:03:35 GMT 1
Roland swallowed. It seemed nigh certain the worst was true. His brother alone and doubtless slain by Maegelle and Normyn for bravely announcing he planned to put an end to their lies. The infamy!
At least he died doing what was right, a true Cordwayner in death.
The thought brought less comfort than Roland would once have felt. Strange. The lump in his throat seemed to grow larger.
"Your brother did well. We do not know one another, but my thanks to you and him for bringing me this sorrowful news. I bear neither of you any ill will - better that the truth stands out in the light of the Seven. Lord Oakheart is no friend to me and places politics before honour, informing him would only have served wicked purposes." The Dornish wars had driven Roland from Walgrave's service after a bitter dispute over the treatment of Dornish prisoners.
"My sister by marriage and her husband have given me much cause to doubt them, dismissing good men and then sending no word of my brother's suspiciously swift passing."
"I am nigh certain that this was murder, to cover up my natural brother cuckolding my true born brother."
He shook his head, a failed attempt to dispel the horrible truth.
Stalling for time, he remembered his courtesies and the rank of the man he spoke with.
"I am in your debt, and your brother's. If either of you ever had need of such service as I can provide you need but ask."
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Post by Father on May 29, 2019 16:35:48 GMT 1
Preston can probably ignore that debt until such a time Roland becomes a lord, if he becomes a lord, that is. Until then, he should do himself a favor and not rush headlong into a frontal assault, physical or otherwise, the high road may have a pretty view, but it's a long way down if pushed off the narrow path.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on May 30, 2019 12:04:42 GMT 1
"I have thanked you for the kindness in telling me of this Ser and I am in your debt. But it seems a cruel kindness indeed to inform a man of such an outrage and then counsel him to inaction."
"What manner of knight, what manner of man could I call myself if I hear such ill news and then wait for an opening? Beyond the demands of duty and honour delays seems poor tactics too - my sister by marriage solidifies her false hold on Hammerhall with each passing day."
"My brother is dead. Now you bring me word that cements my belief that he was murdered and the spawn of deceit sits in his place and I am to bide my time?"
"At best I can offer to play a maester's part and pick away at specifics. If a 'frontal assault' is to be advised against then if I shall take the castle by challenge or via a postern gate."
Roland became more animated as he spoke, his sense of duty and pride wounded and demanding he do something. Anything.
Easy for him to urge caution - his family was not murdered and displaced by those not of their blood.
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Post by Father on May 30, 2019 19:06:40 GMT 1
Waiting is also an action, Preston notes, perhaps the hardest a man can take. But how is justice served by picking an ill-advised strategy?
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on May 31, 2019 11:13:34 GMT 1
Roland exhaled. A man might wait in a duel or battle for the right moment to strike, that much was true.
"And what would I be waiting for? Each day I let pass is another day for a set of lies to grow stronger, for Maegelle to strengthen her grip and stamp out evidence. Later, men will damn or doubt me for standing by if they knew I had reason to doubt events at Hammerhall."
"I have sometimes waited for a foe to strike before sealing matters with a riposte, but it seems to me my enemy has already struck here and waiting only hands them further advantages while failing to strengthen justice's hand."
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Post by Father on Jun 1, 2019 14:54:07 GMT 1
And how would Roland take the castle by a challenge or postern gate? There really is only one option, the way Preston sees it, and that path goes through Lord Tyrell, and without definitive proof, that path will not lead anywhere. No matter how heartfelt Roland's convictions might be, they cannot be considered evidence. It might be possible that Lord Quentin might be convinced to hold a trial, possible, but unlikely.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 22, 2019 10:51:25 GMT 1
"I shall remember such counsel, but do not think I shall be idle in this cause. Men will think ill of me, and justly, if I leave this matter to rest and allow my sister by marriage to hide whatever dark deeds she has committed. Might I speak with this squire by your leave? I would wish to learn all he heard and to reassure him that any testimony he offers now or in the future shall have my shield behind it. He is clearly both clever and bold to both stay his tongue initially but to come to you. An honourable knight in the making. He may have over-heard a struggle or viewed comings and goings as my sister and her cronies covered up their machinations. A full telling of a boy's sight may provide further avenues to investigate when set alongside a man's grim insight, won by years of experience."
Roland hoped his personal prowess and reputation would embolden the lad, who may be justifiably frightened and potentially more forthcoming knowing he had support.
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Post by Father on Jul 22, 2019 19:51:18 GMT 1
One thing is to serve justice, Preston observes, acting based on what others thinks is quite another. It is probably not his own words on account of his youth, those of Lord Redwyne maybe, it does not seems to fit Lord Walgrave. Although it does not sound like Redtusk at all, so who knows? The Redwyne maester perhaps? Roland would be hard pressed to believe Redtusk had much interests in books and words of wisdom, his namesake was more the sort to act without deliberation. Gwayne would be back to his duties as a squire, so Roland cannot find him here even if he wanted. Preston would prefer if his brother is not pressed on the matter, if Roland were the sort of knight trained in the subtle arts in the vein of Lord Florent, say, then trying to find answers in what he have to say could hold merit. But that requires a skill in asking the right questions and asking them in the right way. The straight and narrow path works fine on an open field of pasture, not so in the labyrinthine wynds of Oldtown which is more like the terrain in front of Roland. In such a place, one must either break things or find a way around them that does not lead to dead ends.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jul 30, 2019 21:59:05 GMT 1
"is there a man of kind soul but such subtle arts that could speak to the lad in my place then? You are correct that a man must know his limitations."
A hard-bitten mercenary Roland had liked in Dorne said that. It had stuck with him.
"You counseled me not to break things, or at least not yet, but we know that I cannot let this matter lie. Are there routes around obstacles that occur to you? I have busied myself gathering testimony and evidence of lineages but I will not neglect routes to justice that escape my imagination."
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Post by Father on Jul 31, 2019 12:04:38 GMT 1
Most such men have a price for their efforts, Preston notes, surely Roland must know of some? One would not only need evidence, but also political allies to rival those who would find the efforts to oppose Roland's cause worth it to preserve Lord Quentyn's seat. They need only mention what part of Westeros Lady Alicent was born in to gain the support of Lord Walgrave to be sure, and Ser Normyn is a Great Bastard, perhaps only half a royal, but half the influence of a prince is matched by only the mightiest of lords. To fell this tree, it will take many more swings than those who brought Lady Joanna into the folds of The Faith, not to mention a mightier axe.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Aug 1, 2019 13:10:30 GMT 1
He briefly considered the silver tongued Ser Thaddeus Levalle.
"Lord Levalle's son, Ser Thaddeus could charm the cows away from House Butterwell, but his father's history means many will not trust him, despite the father's attempts to rectify his image by word and deed."
"Instead I can think of no better man than my namesake, Ser Roland Redwyne. What squire could hope but be impressed by Redtusk himself? Many compelling speakers turn those talents to intrigue, but he is a man of honour and my friend. If informed of the seriousness of the matter he can be trusted and his involvement underlines that this is a matter of justice rather than politics."
"I shall implore him to aid in this after the speeches."
There was a rift in the kingdom, but Roland had nurtured friendship across these lines and could all on persuasive men of character. In convincing his fellow man, as in so many matter other matters, Redtusk was all that his namesake aspired to be.
"My thanks for both bringing this matter to my attention and for your counsel Ser Preston. Your words are wise, even if a brother's heart cries out for justice and action. You have made me see that by winning friends and conducting research I prepare the field for others seeing that this is justice, not just action in service to ambition."
[OOC: Roland asks Redtusk to do this after toasting him at the Champion's Feast, asking him to keep the matter to himself for Gwayne's safety and thanking his friend for his aid. Happy for this to be handled off-screen.
/scene unless Ser Preston has anything to add? Roland recruiting Redtusk to help as he's significantly more persuasive, honest and on the opposite political side.]
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Post by Father on Aug 1, 2019 14:48:24 GMT 1
Impressed perhaps, Ser Preston notes, but men like Ser Thaddeus are likely better able to aid Ser Roland in this matter than his namesake. Redtusk would simply add more of the same strengths without helping with the weaknesses.
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