[Phase 2.5] Honesty is the Best Policy [Balon & Laena]

Leaving her chaperone at a discreet distance, Laena approaches, wearing a serious face. Under other circumstances, she likely would tease him that she was the one supposed to be showing signs of madness. But whatever it was that was concerning him, it was clearly something he considered serious.

Deciding to forego formality, rather than curtsey when she reaches him, she reaches forward and places a hand on his shoulder, rubbing it reassuringly. "Morning. What's wrong?" Her voice soft and soothing, trying to bleed off the rage inside him before he exploded.

Honesty - Initiative: 7d6k5+1 20 Pretty sure that's higher than you can hit, so I go first.
Objective: It was just light reflecting off a weather balloon into some swamp gas. Their uncontrolled bigotry was to blame. You still have time to avoid their fate.
ID: 13
Composure: 11/11
DR: 2
Honesty - SoI - Language (Breeding) vs Will (Ded): 7d6k4+1 18 I believe that to be exactly 2 DoS! Converting to +1 to all Persuasion tests (Which, combined with Charismatic, cancels out my disposition penalties).

Honesty - R1 - Influence: 6d6k4 18 2 DoS. 8 Influence.

Sitting beside him, she gently says. "There is no-one within House Starkwood who could accomplish what you're describing, even if they wanted to." True enough, since she no longer considered herself part of the house.

"I understand why you would think what you do. But consider *how* all the events happened. Firstly, Ser Nestor Flowers was killed by Ser Symon. Simple enough, and this one clearly *can* be laid at a Starkwood's door, but the idea that Ser Symon has anywhere near the skill required to accomplish the other acts is utterly ridiculous.

"Secondly, Ser Roland Cordwayner killed Ser Dickon Tarly. Like him or not, Ser Roland is a man with a firm moral core. That he would deliberately assassinate a man is ridiculous. That he would do so in public to a man who had done him no personal wrong for a house which can do nothing for him is far beyond the realm of credulity.

"Thirdly, Ser Jonothor's assassination. It is worth pointing out that House Bridges has been rather .. turbulent in recent times. Very bloody. So, this is hardly unusual for the house's recent history. It's also worth pointing out that there was a recent exodus of disaffected knights from the house. Ser Jonothor was obviously a prime suspect in the betrayal of his former lord. I would be more surprised if at least one of the departed knights *didn't* at least hint at the betrayal than if they did. And then, what happened makes complete sense.

"Finally, Ser Eoric. First the ruffians to soften him up before the melee, then the Daverhyls to finish him off. There are two possibilities here: either a Dornish Lord took great offence at the words and actions of a notoriously ill-mannered anti-Dornish brute, or someone within House Starkwood - and not Lord Ulbert, he's much too honourable, so it couldn't be anything with the actual house's weight, tiny as it is, behind it - convinced a lord they have no ties or history with to literally risk his life and that of his brothers to take down a politically insignificant knight. For what? There is no-one within House Starkwood, aside from *maybe* Lord Ulbert himself, who could throw enough weight around to offer something that might attract a lord's attention. And as I said, I would literally bet my left arm that Lord Ulbert would never do anything so dishonourable. The house is just *too* insignificant to have that kind of power. And I highly doubt the Daverhyls would do anything out of the kindness of their heart.

"So, while, as I said, I can understand why you would suspect House Starkwood, when you consider the context of the events, it is clear you are confusing cause and effect. The *cause* is that your 'friends' were terrible people. The *effect* is both that they thought insulting a murdered young woman at her funeral is acceptable behaviour, *and* that they did other acts which provoked other people. And the Seven in Ser Dickon's case. And it finally caught up with them, now that the knives are coming out.

"So, are you at risk? Yes, probably. That's a key part of why I'm pushing so hard for you to moderate your public behaviour. You are making more enemies than you are likely aware of. And it only takes one angry, cunning, ruthless and lucky enough person to add you to the list of pre-war fatalities." She squeezes his hand carefully. "And I don't want that."

Not quite. *Your* disposition affects *your* DR and *your* bonuses. So, I have -2 to my Deception (cancelled out by bonuses), and you have +3 to your Persuasion.

I know where you're coming from - it feels like you should be more trusting/accepting of people you are close to, but no. Your disposition only affects your DR and your rolls, doesn't affect their rolls at all.

It's actually 16, as noted above, but everything else is correct.

ID: 13
Composure: 10/11
DR: 2
Honesty - R2 - Influence - TN11: 6d6k4 19 2 DoS. 2 * 4 - 1 = 7 Composure damage again. I think you have to take 2 Frustration to stay in the game, which will lower your ID to 7 next round.

---

"She may well *want* to. But she's at Starkwood right now. There's no way she could arrange all the events here from such a distance. And it's not like she could hire proxies - there has to be a world for there to be an underworld, and Starkwood has *nothing*. She may have the intent - *may* - but she definitely lacks the *capability*."

"I mean precisely that. The man has the subtlety of a mammoth. There aren't that many people of a Rhyonish hue this far north, so he'd already attract attention. Were he to attempt to sneak around to accomplish nefarious goals, he'd be exposed long before the plan could go into effect. The *only* tool he has is precisely what he used - hitting them very hard in broad daylight, using the letter of the rules to violate its spirit."

"So, let me get this right. You are suggesting that at Summerhall, *after* one of the guests had been brutally murdered by assassins, Ser Roland left his sword unattended long enough for someone to poison it? And he - a very diligent and talented knight - didn't carefully check and clean his weapon before the fight?" Her tone makes clear how plausible she thinks that idea. "Alternatively, someone - who would have to have poison already in-hand, since I doubt they could acquire any at Summerhall - managed to climb all the way up to the maester's room - probably only a single staircase, though I admit I could be wrong there - without being noticed, enter a room full of people minding the patients without arousing suspicion, poison the man without anyone noticing in a way that would escape the suspicions of a maester, and then leave again still without being spotted." She shakes her head incredulously. "You're not after an assassin, you are describing the Stranger reborn."

Laena gives him a flat look, clearly unamused. "Lord Desmond, *and* Lord Bryce. Remember? The man who appointed a half-Dornishman his heir, who was poisoned using wine that someone from his household would know he favoured and would likely have easy access to? Now, I don't think Ser Jonothor *did* that task, but when it was done, I consider it very likely he decided to 'correct his Lord's mistake' since then he had to *serve* a half-Dornish Lord. Now, Lord Desmond didn't have any friends I'm aware of - I doubt he even understood the concept - but Ser Dagos at least had family who likely wouldn't let his death rest unanswered."

"And how much influence did Ser Eoric have on Lady Erena's positions?" She asks rhetorically, while making a note of the relationships of House Daverhyl. "So, you're suggesting that Ser Symon - doing one of the few things which could actually *wreck* the current peace between the houses - was eloquent enough to persuade the Daverhyls to all risk their lives in exchange for ... what, exactly? You've just admitted straight-up that the Daverhyls had a strong motive all of their own to take out Ser Eoric. What does Ser Symon's inclusion add? He wasn't with them, he didn't help them in any way. You're suggesting he got something for nothing. Isn't it far more likely that the simplest explanation is the truth? Exactly as you said, the Daverhyls wish to remove an obstacle to their ambitions, so they did so. No Starkwood involvement necessary."

She nods. "I'm not asking you to demonstrate any flexibility in where you stand politically - as you say, that is firmly established. But the Redwyne's loyalty to Ser Daemon is also unquestioned, yet they are able to do so while maintaining a reputation of being paragons of chivalry." She holds up her free hand. "I'm not expecting that much of you, just pointing out that it is not an exclusive situation. For all their skill, and all their houses' power I do not rate Ser Otho and Ser Ulbert's chances of surviving the upcoming war as being particularly high. Your friends need to succeed every time; your enemies only need to succeed once."

ID: 13
Composure: 9/11
DR: 2
Honesty - R3 - Influence - TN7: 6d6k4 19 3 DoS = 12-1 = 11 Composure damage, and victory.
Objective: Their uncontrolled bigotry was to blame. You still have time to avoid their fate.

---

She gently places a finger on his lips. "You are hearing, but you are not listening. To either of us. Why would a knight seek service at Starkwood? Of all places in the realm, why *there*? It's not rich, prestigious, or with a grand martial tradition." She gives him a moment to think before answering for him. "Honour. *That* is what draws knights. Those who seek honourable service - above wealth, above glory - can find it there. They are not the kind of people you draw into murderous conspiracies.

"Think, Ser Balon. Why did you name those men, and not, say, Ser Mikel, or Maester Ronnel? You are again being *blinded* by your hatred of all things Dornish. That is what lies at the root of your antipathy and suspicion towards House Starkwood. You start with your conclusion, and work backwards from there to justify it.

"Many a brave and skilled man on the battlefield has fallen foul of political games. To survive that battlefield requires you to see what *truly is*, not what you merely *wish to be*."

Her hand moves and she lightly strokes his cheek. "If you cannot overcome this. If you cannot learn to put aside your wilful blindness, and embrace the pain of seeing the *truth*, I fear you will be used up and discarded by those you shouldn't trust, simply because they have the right skin colour and feed your hate." Her eyes glisten with unshed tears. "You said .. you promised that .. with different circumstances, with us closer, you could put your hate aside. What that a .. was that not true?"

"Yes, it is." She says softly, but firmly. "And the fact that someone as anti-Dornish as you isn't absolutely certain of it proves that. If you have doubt, then any impartial man would laugh the entire idea off as ridiculous."

"Never make the mistake of conflating 'naive' and 'stupid'." She warns. "It could be the last mistake you make. Ser Roland may be the former, but he is not the latter."

"So you are saying that you now believe the Starkwoods have access to assassins of the level to take on the *Hightowers*?! The Starkwoods?! Again, Ser: you have started with your conclusion and are making up whatever rationale is required to get there, irrespective of how plausible it is!"

She squeezes his hand. "I know you hate the Dornish. I *know*! But Lady Allyria didn't violate guest right, and Ser Davos didn't break the truce of a peace banner. So long as you are focusing your attention on the wrong people for things they didn't do, you are blinding yourself to true threats from people who *will*."

She gives him a flat look for a few moments, before holding up a finger before him. "Answer me one question. Think about it first. Then answer me, honestly. Truly honestly.

"Would you be accusing Ser Symon if his mother were from the Reach?"

She smiles and squeezes his hand back. "It does. But you need to remember that to gain support, more will be promised than can be delivered, in the expectation that not all will live to collect.

"The leaders, those you are so keen to support, have a great interest in their cause succeeding, but not only do they *not* have an interest in you surviving, their interests are actually served should you die, having served your purpose. Less hands outstretched, expecting rewards at the end is good for them. Perversely, the more you are owed, the more convenient it is for them should you die before you can collect. They value victory far above your life."

She holds up a hand. "I'm not saying that you should be disloyal or anything, but you need to *understand*, to truly *see* that the only people who will fight for *you*, who will truly be on *your* side, and not *your faction's* side, those for whom there *is* no victory without you alive, is you ... and now me. Remember that. It may well save your life."

Laena shakes her head with a slightly amused, slightly exasperated smile. "It wasn't either of them. Ser Mikel, as you say, isn't the type, and Ronnel is too closed-off and distant to care enough. The *point* of what I was saying was simply to force you to acknowledge the *root* of your suspicions, which was nothing to do with how *likely* the scenario was."

A small smile and nod of acknowledgement. "Good. But you also said something along the lines of not being obsessed over the Dornish once you had me" It turned briefly into a smirk "to obsess over in their place, presumably. To avoid a house in the melee is something largely in control of your conscious mind, so it's not something I particularly doubted. It's your ability to bury your deep-rooted hatreds I always feared you would have more difficulty over, and you are not giving me a lot of confidence, there."

She raises an eyebrow archly. "I'm not sure. What was it for you?" From her tone, she's not seriously expecting a response, merely making a point.

She sighs. "Men have needs, and he is betrothed, not married. I can only imagine that his options to have his needs met were to seduce some serving girl, dishonour his betrothed by claiming her early, or pay a harlot to have the matter settled professionally." Her mind again goes back to her meeting with Malyk at the Tear, and learning of his time spent infiltrating a brothel. "It was probably the best way. He's a knight, not a saint."

Laena lowers her chin to stare up at Balon, passing silent judgement on his words for a good few moments before she finally responds. "I'm not even going to justify that with a response. In the future, whenever you're going to respond to something without thinking about it first, think back to what you just said, how stupid it sounded. Then use that as motivation to remember to think first, *then* speak. Words spoken in haste are words spoken from the heart. Honest words. Dangerous words. Guard your heart carefully, for it is *mine*, and I do not enjoy having my possessions thrown about carelessly in public."

"Leaders understand there is a difference between want and need. And are willing to sacrifice wants to accomplish a need. I fully believe both Lord Gorman and Fireball *want* you to survive. But they *need* their revolution to succeed." She leaves the thought there for him to finish. "One day, I intend for you, too, to instinctively think that way." She smiles. "As a leader."

Laena smiles and holds up a finger. "But in those cases, if they weren't Dornish, you could still point at evidence supporting your case. *That* is the difference. Just because the Dornish reputation isn't always true, doesn't mean it's always false. As it happens, my suspicions fall along similar lines. I will not condemn you for accusing Dornish of wrongdoing. Only for doing so where the *only* evidence you can cite is that they are Dornish."

Laena smiles, and pats his chest. "Of course. Rest assured, I am fully familiar that there is a firm line between idle fantasy and action, and there is little to no connection between the two."

Laena rolls her eyes slightly. "In as as much as a childed widow has any honour, yes. But honour, like many things, only matters inasmuch as is publicly known. I am trusting you to keep biting your tongue when needed, until such things can be done honourably."

Laena considers this a few moments with a smile. "There's no substitute for experience. War can make men, or break men, depending on their mettle. I look forward to seeing what kind of man walks out of it."

[-I think we've covered everything we need to? Happy to call /scene if there's nothing else you wish to raise.]