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Post by Father on Jul 30, 2019 15:17:19 GMT 1
Lynesse has won a friend, but one without any real plans for how to take over the reigns after his father, or what to do with such power as he never thought would be his. Lord Jon had in his grief for his eldest son, whom he had groomed, grown ever more insular, taking no counsel from his own household, but frequently writing to Lord Peake and others, and meeting with these peers of his, sharing no word from this meetings with family. As if he cared not what happened to Oldtown after he died. Predictably, it all becomes chaos. Ser Raymun continues the duties he held under Lord Jon, keeping the city itself in good order, but the politics...always the disagreement, except with the marriage to Highgarden, but who in their right mind would pass up the opportunity to have your daughter marry the heir to the rose? Abelar mentions familiar names to Lynesse as men he thinks his supporters, who give him wise counsel, but the list, Lord Mullendore, Lord Durwell, Septon Roswyn and Ser Eustace Daverhyl, my lady's uncle, no? That is a list of names of men who might just as well extend friendship to everyone just to ensure that they have it with whoever ends up on top, but this thought have scarce occurred to Ser Abelar. And all men, Lynesse have no doubt, has the skills and experience to manipulate him to serve their ends as much as guiding him to serve his house. Ser Raymun he dismisses with the words of his Lord Father who claimed that man was best left to follow orders than to give them, and Abelar very much appear to dismiss the notion of his mother or good-sister as regent, women can't rule, that only leads to misery, of this he is quite convinced.
He just takes defeat.
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Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Aug 4, 2019 12:59:04 GMT 1
Lynesse knew she could not gainsay all such support without seeming petty or untrustworthy. There would be time for that later in all but one case.
“Ser Eustace is my Uncle, Abelar, But I would not trust his word in any matter of importance.” She could not leave such words unsaid, lest Eustace capitalise on an assumption of trust.”
“Many will think as you do, that a House as ancient and noble as Hightower will be helmed by a chivalrous knight. If Ser Raymun could be convinced to throw his support behind you, you would become the de facto choice. Others who kept your grandfathers counsel, like Lord Gormon, could help strengthen your claim as well.”
“Ser, I would support your candidacy, as I feel it is the right choice for House Hightower, and the best chance of keeping House Hightower strong and not pulled to pieces by the politics of the realm.”
(I may have messed up here strategically, and should have tried to gather the information by way of Conversation and a more concrete goal through intrigue.)
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Post by Father on Aug 5, 2019 9:03:58 GMT 1
There is only one way to earn the backing of Starpike, Ser Abelar notes, assuming Lynesse needs no explanation as to the cause he would then have to take. Is that why Ser Eustace should not be trusted, he wonders, he tries to put the question subtly without quite succeeding, it is well known that he and his brothers have taken strong stances of loyalty to King Daeron.
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Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Aug 6, 2019 14:20:19 GMT 1
“Not at all, for there are many noble souls on each side of that great schism in the realm, and I would count no man a villain for how they saw the matter. Honour runs deeper in a man’s soul. I merely mention Lord Gormon because you brought his name up as a peer of Lord Jon who kept his counsel.”
“The Redwynes have long been friends of house Hightower. Perhaps support from them would not demand such steep concessions, though perhaps some agreement with Lady Rhonda.” She offers the example as a way of stepping away from Lord Gormon. She did not with to brand herself a partisan.
“No, Ser, I warn you of my Uncle due to persistent rumours that he had a hand in my father’s death, rumours that I have been unable to disprove, though I dearly wish my house to be untarnished by a reputation for fratricide. Should such a rumour be true, it would mark Ser Eustace as a man unworthy of trust, and dangerous.” She spoke of rumours ahead of her own suspicions in the hope of seeming less flagrant and aggressive in her accusation. With luck, there would be a time and a place.
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Post by Father on Aug 7, 2019 12:18:36 GMT 1
Abelar has heard no such rumors, but he promises to look into it upon his return to Oldtown.
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Post by Lynesse Daverhyl on Aug 14, 2019 7:59:22 GMT 1
"You are kind to offer, Abelar, for I know you have much and more to contend with in this time of chaos and division. Please, if there is aught I can do to bring unity and strength to House Hightower, please do not hesitate to send word, for I would not see it laid low by the machinations of those who might seek to supplant its place of high honour and dignity in the reach," she offers, speaking broadly, and honestly.
To cement the words she takes his hand in hers, gripping it firmly, in a silent gesture of solidarity, and shared loss. Both had suffered from treachery. Both were adrift in a land of snarling wolves and a time of blood and butchery.
He had spoken the name of many schemers who sought to sink their hooks into the Hightowers, and one gave her greater pause than most. Septon Roswyn was influential in the faith, who were rumoured to support Abelar. This was the only sign of genuine support for his cause she had heard for Abelar that was corroborated elsewhere. Roswyn was also kin to her, though such kinship was often obscured by a Septon's vows. Would Roswyn care for Eustace's treachery, and could those embers be fanned into something greater?
There was much yet to do.
[/Scene for me, with Lynesse likely to follow up as soon as practicable with Septon Roswyn]
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Post by Father on Aug 14, 2019 13:14:19 GMT 1
/scene, Roswyn is at Oldtown though.
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