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Post by Father on May 29, 2019 19:32:06 GMT 1
"Sister Laena!" By reputation and afar, Mya appears not so different as Ysilla, like an older and considerably more mature sister, while certainly playful, she seems to treat others more like potential playthings rather than potential playmates. "May I steal your company for a while? I just had to endure a long lecture by my full-brother about what I am not supposed to do at this tourney, and then endure my full-sister being her usual self, meaning exactly like all these other plumed birds in want of a cage, I should like the pleasure of the company of a dragon that knows that cages are bad for our kind."
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Post by Laena Pyre on May 29, 2019 21:51:42 GMT 1
"Sister." Laena greets her back with a warm smile, concealing her wariness. "By all means, steal company like you steal hearts.
"It must be frustrating having a brother who seemingly knows everything." She commiserates. "But surely he can hardly complain if you don't get caught, even if he knows it's you? 'Being caught', after all, is the only punishable crime."
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Post by Father on May 30, 2019 12:31:12 GMT 1
"It's not like I was a paragon of discretion at Highgarden, he doesn't bother me with the fun I do in secret except sometimes tell me that I'm messing around with things he has other plans for or ask me if I'm doing something for a reason, other than my own amusement that is." She doesn't give the impression of doing anything that doesn't amuse her. "It's the parts I do openly and happens to offend the sensibilities of the little sheep that irks him so"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 2, 2019 18:18:48 GMT 1
Laena inclines her head in acknowledgement. "True. Why were you so overt? Do you not find joy in leaving the sheep bleating in confusion as they stumble about blindly?" Her tone curious, rather than condemning.
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Post by Father on Jun 4, 2019 12:26:17 GMT 1
"You mean, besides that I like the attention?" Mya makes a thoughtful grimace. "Brother Brynden, Lord Marq, Lord Reynald, Lord Gormon they all scheme in the shadows, try to hide where they move all their little pieces, I jump on the table to make them bounce all over the place, I am getting rather good at landing on the spots where the pale one won't get too angry about the pieces I send flying"
"It also annoys sister prim and proper to no end, besides, if someone did something veiled in the shadows, nobody would ever expect me to have been them"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 4, 2019 20:11:14 GMT 1
"The Falcon managed to make the entirety of Highgarden bounce all over the place, or so it seemed to me, and her identity is still very much a secret." She frowns. "Unless she was Lady Helicent Cockshaw or Lady Tanselle Hutcheson." She amends.
"Additionally, whatever you do, you're highly unlikely to ever be lacking attention.
"Still, I doubt you sought me out to stroke your ego. I can pick up a hint - emphasising our shared nature, and mentioning that you're better at avoiding your brother's wrath - something I, too, wish to avoid - so I have to ask: do you have a particular idea in mind? Perhaps one that needs a subtler touch than you can accomplish alone?"
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Post by Father on Jun 5, 2019 15:43:45 GMT 1
"Brynden knows who, I can always tell, but he won't speak of it, which means I shouldn't go asking about, but he didn't tell me not to repeat her words either though, and he knew that I otherwise would, so at least I can have fun with it." Mya doesn't seem to mind, probably because she cares about politics without wanting to admit it. "Wasn't Tanselle though, everyone would remember the falcon's grand teats if that was it, and Helicent spreading the idea that Bittersteel became a kinslayer just to get a pretext for murdering Blackwoods? That's something I could have made up for fun and games, and I'm envious at whoever came up with that idea, but her? No. No, she wanted to get back at The Queen for some seating arrangement or who knows what, she would not be slandering Bittersteel, no"
As for Laena's question, she gives a wry smile as if she hadn't actually thought of anything and instead throws out a remark and ideate on the fly. "Well, this tourney has so far been the usual suspects, Longtable and Kingsbridge, one or two grudge matches, someone fresh victim needs be found, I'd bring Ysilla, but she'll just spoil the fun once she realizes that we're out to hurt people beyond simple embarrassment of those so deserving."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 5, 2019 20:23:22 GMT 1
Laena imperceptibly breathes a little easier when she reveals her brother is still keeping the Falcon's identity secret, even from her. "Well, I wasn't seriously suggesting she actually was either of them, but those are the only two mysterious presumed-deaths I've heard of recently, so if she wasn't them - and I agree that neither makes sense - then it looks like she got away with it."
She gives a small smile at the idea posited. "A new grudge, you say? Interesting..." She considers a few moments. "You know, our brother Farman has had quite the string of good fortune recently. Two men between him and the lordship; one is poisoned, the other assassinated as part of a massacre in broad daylight. Now, I'm not saying he had a direct hand in either, but it certainly seems to me like he's overdue some misfortune." In truth, Lord Farman was not her true target, but if she could sway things to include the death of Ser Jonothor Wellbeck, that would be another name off her list. "As a bonus, any even vaguely true knight has left the Bridges' service just recently.
"As for who they should feud with ... I'm not sure. Given how Lady Helicent vanished at his party, and there's historically been some bad blood between the Bridges and the Cockshaws, I wonder if Ser Uthor Cockshaw could be persuaded that Lord Farman's responsible for the death of his cousin, and re-open some old wounds?" She shrugs. "I don't really know the man. Do you have any better ideas?"
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Post by Father on Jun 6, 2019 15:11:01 GMT 1
"Well, I did think he needed a punch in the face at Highgarden" Mya grins in a way that appears to take credit for Daeron doing the honors. "I don't know Ser Uthor, probably boring as all men of such a dominating wife tends to be, but why would Farman have her disappear at *his* party? Great party I heard, a pity that our brother threatened to tie me up if I tried to go."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 8, 2019 21:34:34 GMT 1
She raises an eyebrow and gives a small half-smile at the implicit claim, but doesn't press for details.
She wrinkles her nose at the description. "A boring man, then. Not ideal. Really, we want someone aligned with the revolutionaries, so that it doesn't become a proxy for the wider conflict; a pious man would be best; and if Ser Farman has defiled the lord's daughter, that would be perfect."
She spends a few moments sorting through her memories, trying to find someone who meets at least two of the three requirements, before looking up brightly and snapping her fingers. "The Mandrakes! They're perfect! It's a sister, rather than a daughter, that Lord Farman's defiled, but that works just as well." She grins widely, as ideas start forming in her mind. "A rumour here, that Lord Farman has been saying some unkind things about Lady Jeyne; a rumour there a short time after that Lord Farman attended his masquerade party dressed as a half-naked High Septon, for additional sacrilege? - What's he going to do? Say what he *actually* dressed as? And hopefully that might create enough sparks, ready for you to toss on wildfire for best effect." She strokes her chin. "What do you think?"
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Post by Father on Jun 9, 2019 18:05:49 GMT 1
"Sounds like fun" Mya grins mischievously.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 9, 2019 23:43:29 GMT 1
Laena smiles back, before the smile slowly fades. "Alright, I don't know the gossip circles around here as well as I do Highgarden, but I'll do what I can. Hopefully won't take much for mud to stick to Lord Farman." She gives a parting nod. "To a less boring future."
If there's more you want her to say, I can re-add this later, but that seems like a good place to leave it, and just move straight on with the first rumour-planting.
Squire Harrod, clearly rather drunk, was touring the bars. When he found a likely crowd, he was all too happy to spread the latest gossip. Apparently, he was part of a group partying with Lord Farman earlier, and the new lord was talking about his conquest of Lady Jeyne Mandrake (amongst others). Much hilarity is had repeating the quip that she could stand amongst the great beauties of the land, so long as she didn't take the bag over her head off. Still, Lord Farman had ultimately described her as 'a disappointment', since no matter how hard he tried, he could not find an act she needed any talking into, nor one she showed any inexperience in, for all that she did an excellent job pretending otherwise. With a few more ribald jokes, Squire Harrod moves on to the next bar. M&BF - Deception (Disguise): 6d6k4 23 Well, succeed or fail, I can be pretty sure I won't get *caught*. If I'd known I'd roll that well, I'd have impersonated Farman himself! M&BF - Persuasion (Incite) -1D: 6d6k3 16 And hopefully that's a success, too! Forecast is 'chaotic, with a strong chance of both ruined and ended lives'.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 12, 2019 16:33:16 GMT 1
M&BF - Hiring Thugs - Deception (Disguise): 6d6k4 19M&BF - Hiring Thugs - Knowledge (Streetwise) -1D: 6d6k3 12Disguised as a young androgynous servant, without any identifying marks, 'The Servant' tries to enact the next part of their plan. Finding a group of killers. Hard to start a blood feud without any blood, after all. The issue is trust. With this much money on the line, there's a risk they'll kill and rob her. Or run off without doing the task. To their side, there's risk she'll run off without paying. For that reason, she's not after killers directly. She's going after a fixer. Someone trusted, who can keep both sides honest. Of course, she'd much prefer *to* run off with the second half of the payment, but sometimes sacrifices had to be made. She just preferred it when others were doing the sacrificing.
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Post by Father on Jun 13, 2019 14:35:47 GMT 1
The servant finds someone who might provide such services, suggesting that such men could be hired for 10 Moons apiece, half now, half when the deed is done. How many are needed? Depends on how good the knight is, how easy it is to sneak into his pavilion when he is asleep. But if a slit throat or numerous stab-wounds and possibly quite a bit of noise is not to taste, there is another option, one more adept at moving about the shadows, though his price is a Dragon upfront and two more upon success. His mushrooms makes for a long and painful way to die, although with a good enough maester, some are known to survive such an ordeal. But it would keep him bedridden for many days.
Can do simple intrigue (Bargain) TN 9 to shave 10% off the pricetag per DoS.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jun 13, 2019 22:10:20 GMT 1
Laena was immediately drawn to the poison, for the added suffering. But Laena wasn't here, The Servant was. And poison was a woman's weapon. Laena wanted the man to die in agony, as punishment for his trespasses. The Servant wanted an obstacle removed for his master. Plus, if he used poison, she couldn't implement her backup plan. She spent a few moments attempting to figure out a way to conceal the murder as an accident, before dismissing the idea - Laena simply wished the man dead, and for his death to serve as an instigating incident to conceal her motivations. 'Subtlety', for all that it was her usual method, had no place here. "I wish for him to have his throat slit in his sleep, the night afore the melee. Sneak in, do the deed, sneak out. With one addition: once he's awake and dying, with his throat slit, and your men are holding him down to stop him moving or yelling, one of your men should whisper in his ear 'You should not have served such a promiscuous Lord'." With that order, even if they're caught, their testimony will point where she wants. The problem with failure-proof plans is that when failure-proof plans inevitably failed, the plotters were caught completely off-guard. Far better to plan things out so that your interests were advanced, regardless of success or failure. She names her target and the house, making clear that he is a very talented knight, and a fair fight should absolutely be avoided. "Now, how many men sound best to you? Four? One to hold down each limb as he dies, with one of them covering his mouth as well?" Once numbers were decided, she moved on. "Now, let's talk price..." M&BF - Negotiating price - Persuasion (Bargain) - TN9: 5d6k4 9 Whew! Just. 10% off. I have 'Adept Negotiator', if that +1 Influence gives a bonus here. "...However, if your people can get in and out without killing anyone else, I will add that back on, as a bonus for good work well done." The Servant's masters were not monsters, after all. Well, probably not. For a moment, Laena was concerned that her brother Malyk had corrupted her during her visit to the Tear, infecting her with dangerous levels of mercy, which was to say 'any'. But after a moment, she dismissed the thought as ridiculous. This was a mercy for a reason. Completely different.
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