|
Post by Father on Mar 31, 2020 18:48:51 GMT 1
Tanda snaps back that now that the talk is of Balon sacrificing his status of favorite cousin, it is not an option?
Like, if the pig has such a well developed instinct for self-preservation as they suggest, how could he ever be moved into acting against Amerei in a way that would come back to haunt him?
One way or the other, Tanda will marry a lord or his heir to forge an alliance for her father. The Iron Islands or the frigid north seems remote possibilities, yet more palatable than Eldon.
|
|
|
Post by Balon Blackbriar on Mar 31, 2020 20:13:54 GMT 1
"What?" Balon was surprised at Tanda's assumption. "My lady it has nothing to do with my status as *favorite cousin* and everything to do with the fact it won't work." Balon tried and failed to think of a good metaphor, "You're asking me to destroy the village in order to save it." He didn't want to continue bringing up Amerei but found it necessary. "If you believe Lady Amerei is part of this current scheme against you what do you think she'll do with the rumor that you're barren? You'd be lucky end up with some sot akin to Ser Eoric Applehouse. " Balon paused, searching for a way to phrase his thoughts.
"Lord Eldon is cunning but he has slipped up before. Look at Highgarden. His lust got the better of him and the resulting riots almost claimed him. While I regret it now, we Blackbriars played a major role in his survival. We showed we were willing to risk our lives to save him. Why not use that? If I were able to attain a position within Highgarden I can feed him false information about Lady Amerei. You could pour honey into his ear convincing him of an intrigue against him led by her." Balon laid out the the framework for a plan. Balon, being loyal to family over the Tyrells would feed false information to Eldon and Tanda about forces gathering against Longtable. At the center of this scheme would be Lady Amerei. With enough prodding he'd plot his revenge. "We expose him and Lord Leo takes care of the problem for us."
"You have the chance to shape life in the Reach for decades as the leader of Longtable once he's gone. First as regent, then as the trusted advisor to your child. It only requires you to get in the mud and get dirty for a year. Then, marry for love. Or marry some fearsome warrior that knows his place. Marry one of Blackfyre's sons. He has plenty of them."
"Or don't. Refuse to marry Lord Eldon. Maybe we win the rebellion, maybe we don't as a result of your refusal. Maybe you become a hostage that's sold off as a reward to a loyalist. You can be his songbird that he releases from a cage to bear his children and look pretty. Forever known as a traitor's daughter."
Balon's tone was softer. He wasn't trying to chastise her but make her understand. "I'm trying to make the best of a bad situation for you. I admit the short term looks grave. But the long term benefits you." He left out the immense benefit to himself, Lord Gormon, and the rebels.
Things Balon is offering: Turn Lord Leo to Fire to increase chances of Eldon getting his comeuppance. Assist in a plot framing Amerei as the mastermind in a scheme against Eldon. Embarrass Amerei (bastard in the belly? Fire points to cause a scandal? Something along those lines.) Try to discover who is behind the Hastwyck plot.
|
|
|
Post by Father on Apr 1, 2020 16:37:04 GMT 1
Balon gaining a position within Highgarden? Balon could probably get one at Longtable. But Highgarden? No, Tanda doubts that part. Lord Tyrell only wants gallant knights. Delia just give her brother a look as if saying "told you so". If Balon could put a bastard in Amerei's belly, he can put a knife in it, too. Or maybe Tanda should have one of those, that way Eldon won't have her and go for Joanna instead. Nothing short of having Amerei so savagely scandalized that holy vows or suicide becomes her only remaining recourse would make the suffering she would have to endure to be bearable. And only if the marriage can be cut short along with Eldon's neck.
-Hastwyck's would still be alive at this point, or at least no news of their misfortune having arrived. -Being able to use what Balon already plans on doing as a bargaining chip requires intrigue. -Scandalizing Amerei in a way that would be risky (that option is no longer available with fire points) would satisfy her enough not to make a scene to ruin the marriage plans. No guarantee she won't get cold feet later on.
|
|
|
Post by Balon Blackbriar on Apr 2, 2020 22:50:07 GMT 1
Balon was a gallant knight when it suited him. Of course it rarely suited him which was why he didn't object to Tanda's insult. "Some may view our Lord Paramount as nothing more than a glory hound but he does have a willingness to surround himself with good counsel. And while I may not be as chivalrous as Redtusk or Ser Aubrey Ambrose I am a good commander with an acute tactical mind. *That* is the kind of counsel he will need in the war to come, my lady." Balon was no Fireball but he had one of the better military minds within the Reach and he hoped to use that skill and the good word of several lords to secure a position at Highgarden.
As Tanda talked of bastards Balon thought of his own skill in the art of seduction. Could I do that? Successfully seduce Amerei and put a child in her? If only there was no difference between stabbing and thrusting. "My lady while some lords may be turned off by you having a bastard I think it'd only encourage Lord Eldon. Let us not forget he already has one by Lady Meredyth Crane." Balon wondered if Tanda would be desperate enough to ask him to put his seed in her. It was a tempting thought. His heart belonged to Laena but "other" parts of him were excited by the prospect. "If anything it'd be better to have a maester put you on bed rest during the entirety of your pregnancy. Whatever excuse is needed to limit your interaction with him."
What would cause Amerei to commit suicide or join the holy order? Balon didn't know but he'd have to figure something out. "Having a bastard wouldn't be enough for her to join the faith and certainly not enough to kill herself. What we'd need is an embarrassment in front of someone important to her." He rubbed his goatee in thought. "Does she still have an unhealthy obsession with Lord Marq?" Balon knew Amerei and Tanda fought for his affection but after his suggestion of a Tanda/Eldon union Balon hoped Lady Tanda's perception of him had been shattered. "Uh, maybe slip something in her drink at a ball that makes her shit herself while dancing with Lord Marq. That'd be pretty awful." He found himself chuckling at the grotesque imagery.
-I imagine Balon will be able to readdress some things after Riverlands & word of Hastwycks demise becomes public. -I might do intrigue. More of an OOC way to show her I'm pushin all my chips into converting Leo. -Need to see what qualifies at a successful scandal.
|
|
|
Post by Father on Apr 4, 2020 12:54:28 GMT 1
Tanda rolls her eyes, Balon could be the equal of Fireball and Lord Leo wouldn't want the blackguard who baited and slew Walton Wyl, the first of many incidents marring his tourney. Delia just shrugs and mouths "told you so", Balon's reputation and above all, foul deeds, had closed that door. And Eldon's bastard by Meredith Crane, firstly it's his bastard, not someone else's. Would Balon be pleased if his wife to be turned out to be pregnant with someone else's child? There is no man more prickly and vindictive than the pig, how do you think he would react?
And if something can be slipped into her drink, it should be tears of lys. Delia speculates that if it's a bastard in her belly they want, Ser Farman Flowers could perhaps be the man for it, whichever belly is to be seeded, unlike Balon he's quite charming, and seems to let his urges for dipping his sword in a woman's sheath get the better of him as often as Balon's urges to carve out a new sheath into every dornishman he sees. Surely, he might even be inclined to seed the both of them, Amerei shamed, Tanda free. The first tryst leaked to all the realms, the second just to Eldon.
|
|
|
Post by Balon Blackbriar on Apr 10, 2020 8:11:52 GMT 1
Tanda rolls her eyes, Balon could be the equal of Fireball and Lord Leo wouldn't want the blackguard who baited and slew Walton Wyl, the first of many incidents marring his tourney. Delia just shrugs and mouths "told you so", Balon's reputation and above all, foul deeds, had closed that door. And Eldon's bastard by Meredith Crane, firstly it's his bastard, not someone else's. Would Balon be pleased if his wife to be turned out to be pregnant with someone else's child? There is no man more prickly and vindictive than the pig, how do you think he would react? "My lady, might I remind you Ser Walton's death was an accident. A jouster of Lord Leo's skill would know that." It was true Balon had baited Walton but it was the Dornishman's poor horsemanship that killed him, not Balon. Of course Balon was trying to kill him but why bring up that small detail? "And while a good act doesn't cancel out a bad nor a bad a good, I did save the heir to Brightwater Keep and stopped a riot at the Black Tourney." Balon left out the obvious; his public rebuke by Blackfyre, his incessant treasonous talk, his part in helping Ser Otho kill Lord Blackwood in the melee. He tried to shift the topic away from his character and back to the plan. "If you don't think I'd be able to secure a position at Highgarden then you need to find someone who could. I don't know how we could influence Lady Amerei or sow dissent between Tyrell and Merryweather without someone there." "As to Lord Eldon and bastardy, if you had a bastard I imagine he'd see it as you having a strong desire for carnality. As to the bastard itself, I wager it'd have a very short lifespan. He is prickly after all." Balon knew men and he knew if there was a rumor or proof of a woman's promiscuity their imaginations would run wild with what the lady might be willing to do. "I ask of Addam Flowers because I need to know what Lord Eldon wants. Does he want recompense for Whitegrove? An alliance with a powerful lord? Or a legitimate heir?" Balon sat quiet for a moment and answered his own question. It's the first two. And why would his sister-in-law, a Tyrell, allow her son to be pushed down the ladder of inheritance. Balon waived a dismissive hand, "Apologies my lady, I was caught in a moment of wishful thinking. Let us put the matter to rest."
And if something can be slipped into her drink, it should be tears of lys. Delia speculates that if it's a bastard in her belly they want, Ser Farman Flowers could perhaps be the man for it, whichever belly is to be seeded, unlike Balon he's quite charming, and seems to let his urges for dipping his sword in a woman's sheath get the better of him as often as Balon's urges to carve out a new sheath into every dornishman he sees. Surely, he might even be inclined to seed the both of them, Amerei shamed, Tanda free. The first tryst leaked to all the realms, the second just to Eldon. "We can't kill her. It'll draw too much suspicion. If she were to die it'd have to be by her own hand." Balon mulled over the idea of Lord Farman putting a bastard in Amerei. "A bastard with a married Lord? That would cause quiet the scandal. He doesn't have the best reputation either." As to putting a bastard in Tanda, Balon liked the idea less. "It might free Lady Tanda, it might not. Refocusing Lord Eldon's rage at Laughing Stream for sullying his Valyrian prize could work..." If anything it'd be better for Lord Farman to sully Tanda first, making Amerei's part in the plan unnecessary. However Balon had put considerable work into making Farman the lord of Laughing Stream and didn't want to see it flushed down the privy in a complicated scheme. Reducing this plan to a simpler form: Farman impregnates Tanda, Joanna takes her place with Eldon. Eldon and Gormon's rage shifts to Farman. Amerei side quest not needed.
|
|
|
Post by Father on Apr 12, 2020 16:32:22 GMT 1
A coincidence? Maybe, but Balon accompanied Lord Walgrave in the Red Mountains, no? Lord Leo is quite incensed over that adventure, and these rumors coming out of the Riverlands and other things besides, his many insults delivered, chastised by Ser Daemon himself? And then Ser Aubrey Ambrose, how long before Balon has been defeated by every one of Lord Leo's idols over his insults? A knight's deeds can bring honor or dishonor to the lord he serves, most times he does neither, Gormon likes to say, but with his tongues, he can only do the latter. Balon knows those words well. Besides, what good can Balon do there? The only one believing his lies is himself, no, Tanda concludes. The manipulation would have to be done by someone else, like a certain lady in waiting at Highgarden, apparently just as savage in her insults when she wants, that must be a thing in that side of the family, but unlike her brother, cousin Delia could negotiate her way through Highgarden's briar maze without slashing down the hedges. Delia feigns ignorance and pretends to have no idea as to what Tanda is talking about. There are a great many reasons Balon would doubt that Delia would lift a finger to aid any such scheme, she'd probably agree readily enough to help, only to do nothing and let Balon take the blame for the results of doing nothing.
More likely, Tanda would be unappealing with a bastard in the belly, Delia muses, that man is well known, and now that Lady Marianne has taken residence at Highgarden, inquisitive souls have learned a great deal of him from one having lived for years at Longtable. That man delights in his trophies and acquisitions. The daughter of the Lord of Starpike, a Valyrian beauty, that is a prize he would take great pride in having. But if she were to show him infidelity by laying with another man once talks of marriage has been initiated? He would be insulted, he values obedience and loyalty above all. Those pet blackguards of his gives him immense pleasure, the implicit threat of threatening any lord and knight with a grave insult which honor demands to be met by the sword, but Summerhall should aptly demonstrate what risks honorable knights takes when answering, no? It is why he humored the idea of marrying Delia, imagining to add Balon to his menagerie of bogeymen and Titus as another trophy to "honor" him. If mother wasn't such a bitter hag, she'd already know how that story would end. Does Balon really think Titus would find it in him to serve at Longtable? Loyally? For how long? And when he left, Eldon would get mad at all Blackbriars. More so than Delia's words made him. This may or may not be true, and Delia may or may not believe in it, Balon has no way of telling which is which.
Might be Amerei would jump from a tower? Or into the Mander from the bridge? Tanda muses.
While Farman might be inclined to lay with Tanda, Balon knows enough about such things that while one act of indecency may lead to a bastard, more that one is likely required. Tanda would need someone at Starpike to do the deed over and over for a good chance of getting a bastard in the belly, Farman might be a useful patsy for taking the fall, though, should Balon have to do the rest.
|
|
|
Post by Balon Blackbriar on Apr 20, 2020 7:57:19 GMT 1
A coincidence? Maybe, but Balon accompanied Lord Walgrave in the Red Mountains, no? Lord Leo is quite incensed over that adventure, and these rumors coming out of the Riverlands and other things besides, his many insults delivered, chastised by Ser Daemon himself? And then Ser Aubrey Ambrose, how long before Balon has been defeated by every one of Lord Leo's idols over his insults? A knight's deeds can bring honor or dishonor to the lord he serves, most times he does neither, Gormon likes to say, but with his tongues, he can only do the latter. Balon knows those words well. Besides, what good can Balon do there? The only one believing his lies is himself, no, Tanda concludes. The manipulation would have to be done by someone else, like a certain lady in waiting at Highgarden, apparently just as savage in her insults when she wants, that must be a thing in that side of the family, but unlike her brother, cousin Delia could negotiate her way through Highgarden's briar maze without slashing down the hedges. Delia feigns ignorance and pretends to have no idea as to what Tanda is talking about. There are a great many reasons Balon would doubt that Delia would lift a finger to aid any such scheme, she'd probably agree readily enough to help, only to do nothing and let Balon take the blame for the results of doing nothing. Balon's list of black deeds was indeed growing and it made him ill-suited for Highgarden even if he wouldn't admit it. He was the antithesis of what Lord Leo idolized and wait a minute, "What about Titus?" Balon wasn't sure where he was going with his idea but Titus was the type of knight Lord Leo respected. "Would he not be better suited for Highgarden?" Balon looked to Delia, "A sibling, a sister perhaps, could softly speak the *right* words in his ear for him to repeat. He could be the mouthpiece to sow discontent between Tyrell and Merryweather." More puppet than mouthpiece if Delia had her way. Titus' devotion to family was strong, stronger than Balon's even. The chance of violence between Longtable and Starpike might convince him to help. "Lady Delia and Ser Titus could manipulate the courts of Highgarden against Lord Eldon. That's not a long bridge to cross."Balon sucked on a tooth as he considered bringing another family member into the fold, "I mean he nearly died saving Lord Eldon at the riots. That kind of selfless sacrifice would give his word credence would it not?
More likely, Tanda would be unappealing with a bastard in the belly, Delia muses, that man is well known, and now that Lady Marianne has taken residence at Highgarden, inquisitive souls have learned a great deal of him from one having lived for years at Longtable. That man delights in his trophies and acquisitions. The daughter of the Lord of Starpike, a Valyrian beauty, that is a prize he would take great pride in having. But if she were to show him infidelity by laying with another man once talks of marriage has been initiated? He would be insulted, he values obedience and loyalty above all. Those pet blackguards of his gives him immense pleasure, the implicit threat of threatening any lord and knight with a grave insult which honor demands to be met by the sword, but Summerhall should aptly demonstrate what risks honorable knights takes when answering, no? It is why he humored the idea of marrying Delia, imagining to add Balon to his menagerie of bogeymen and Titus as another trophy to "honor" him. If mother wasn't such a bitter hag, she'd already know how that story would end. Does Balon really think Titus would find it in him to serve at Longtable? Loyally? For how long? And when he left, Eldon would get mad at all Blackbriars. More so than Delia's words made him. This may or may not be true, and Delia may or may not believe in it, Balon has no way of telling which is which. While Farman might be inclined to lay with Tanda, Balon knows enough about such things that while one act of indecency may lead to a bastard, more than one is likely required. Tanda would need someone at Starpike to do the deed over and over for a good chance of getting a bastard in the belly, Farman might be a useful patsy for taking the fall, though, should Balon have to do the rest. "So you're saying Lord Eldon doesn't like his trophies tarnished? Hmmm." Poor Farman, Balon thought. I went to great lengths to see him become lord of Laughing Stream and now we're treating him as a disposable pawn. He sounded out the plan, "Lady Tanda, ready to be wed to Lord Eldon, is taken advantage of and seduced by Lord Farman. A knight known for his lasciviousness and predations on young ladies. A knight *so* enslaved by his desires that he betrays the Lord that held a party in his honor not too long ago." Balon did his best to avoid eye contact. Even for him it was awkward to talk about fucking his cousin in front of his sister, "Then as chance would have it the moon tea would fail and Lady Tanda would become pregnant." Was it cheating if it was business and not pleasure? "Lord Eldon becomes enraged and takes his anger out on Lord Farman. Lord Gormon offers Lady Joanna as an alternative but," Balon held up a finger, "that wedding never takes place as the rumors planted by Delia and possibly Titus of Lord Eldon's actions forces Lord Leo to forcefully remove him. Lord Gormon pressures Longtable to honor the marriage compact and Lady Tanda marries young Godric. Is that about right?"
|
|
|
Post by Father on Apr 21, 2020 2:24:29 GMT 1
Titus? He is hardly a better schemer than Balon, just nice and honorable, mostly. Delia just shrugs at the notion, anyway, she thinks, Tanda will have to accept this marriage, she dislike her father for selling her to *him*, but it's a daughters lot in life to be sold, and rarely does she have a choice in the matter. Rarely was the right word, considering what Delia had been up to. They can try to make her sacrifice more comfortable, maybe even scheme their way into turning the tables to salvage something more agreeable, they could try, it's not as if her prospects could possibly be worse, maybe Lord Blackmont, if tales were true, not as repulsive a sight, but to have your firstborn child ripped from your breast and thrown to the vultures if it is not a boy, maybe there are worse. Children one can love, no matter the father, or so Delia has been told. Of course, Tanda could abscond to marry in secret, Gormon might perhaps have the marriage annulled, though if say, someone like Wildfyre were to do it, nuncle Gormy might be able to direct all the pig's hatred towards Ser Daeron, just a thought. The marriage would probably have to be annulled to appease Eldon enough to be satisfied with cousin Joanna, and Gormy would be none too pleased. But presumably, despite all tricks and schemes they might come up with, Tanda must prepare herself for life as Lady Merryweather and perform the duties in the marriage bed to Lord Eldon for some time. Maybe a long time.
Okay, so short-circuit Delia vs Tanda intrigue. Delia: Objective: Get Tanda to "see reason". Technique: Convince ID: 11 (13) DR: 4 (5) Composure: 12 Special: Stubborn. Tanda: Objective: Get help in a genuine attempt to escape become Eldon's "trophy". Technique: Convince ID: 10 DR: 4 Composure: 12 Delia does deception: 6d6k4 18 +1 to passive results. Tanda does breeding: 6d6k4 22 2 DoS, Delia has -1 DR. Iniative, Delia, Tanda: 5d6k3 15 4d6 10Delia Convince: 5#6d6k4 18 17 16 16 22Tanda composure: 8-4-4(1)-4(2)-4(4)-0, Balon assists irrelevant. Tanda convince: 5#7d6k5 19 21 24 20 22Delia composure: 9-6-2(1)-3(2). Delia wins, with 2 frustration. Meaning that Tanda should be owed 2 lesser favors in return for doing her "family duty" (which Balon would have to offer or suffer the consequences, because Delia is a slippery bitch), those favors would have to be spent making genuine attempts at making Amerei suffer equally and/or somehow prevent or shorten Tanda's marriage to Eldon. Things like turning Leo fire-leaning (or plans relying on that) doesn't count. A major favor would also clear the debt. Delia might help out with required scheming to effectuate favors (or find middle-men which may or may not require payment), but she'll make Balon bear the risks.
|
|
|
Post by Balon Blackbriar on Apr 29, 2020 8:10:33 GMT 1
-Balon owes 2 lesser or 1 major favor to Tanda.
-Question: Does this mean Eldon now owes Balon a minor favor? (as this was the original deal with Lynesse)
Despite their sometimes tumultuous relationship Balon was impressed by his sister. They way she manipulated and coaxed Tanda into agreeing to marry Lord Eldon was nothing short of amazing. He didn't add anything to the conversation as there was nothing he could say that Delia hadn't already eloquently stated. Ser Preston has no idea how lucky he is.
When it was all said and done Balon knew he had a debt to repay, "Lady Tanda I'll do everything in my power to see your marriage is one of the briefest in Reach history." He looked forward to ridding the Reach of Eldon as much as he looked forward to installing Tanda as the regent of Longtable. That would be his focus and if the Seven were willing the revenge fantasy against Amerei would take a back seat to Eldon's demise.
|
|
|
Post by Father on Apr 30, 2020 22:19:06 GMT 1
Tanda once heard of a marriage that ended before it ever was consummated. Better yet to make it not happen, she thinks.
-Should report in favor thread. -If Balon intends to keep his promise of preventing and/or prematurely ending the marriage, trying to get Eldon's favor would require deceiving him into believing you're not playing him for a fool. If Balon were to betray Tanda and inform Eldon of "her" plans, then that might be possible, but if he intended to do that now, he'll have to fool Tanda.
|
|
|
Post by Balon Blackbriar on May 4, 2020 4:19:39 GMT 1
-Reported in Favor Thread. -Balon will look to prevent/prematurely end the marriage. However if down the road Eldon made Balon and offer he couldn't refuse... well, that's a different story.
Balon looked to his sister before turning back to Tanda. In a solemn voice he vowed to her, "We will see you out of this dark time my lady." Be it a short marriage to Eldon or a betrothal to the newly-installed Lord Godric, Tanda would be the lady of Longtable. Despite his outward appearance of confidence Balon's guts were twisted in knots. These webs of deceit and lies are better suited for others. I prefer to take my foe on face-to-face with weapons in hand. He had a lot to think about. Tanda and Eldon, Tanda and Godric, Preston and Delia, Highgarden vs. Longtable, Fire and Blood. It was enough to crush the will of weaker men.
Balon bowed to his cousin, "If there's nothing else my lady, by your leave."
I don't think it's necessary for Balon to hash things out with Delia right now. i.e. Her helps, owing her favors, etc.
|
|
|
Post by Father on May 4, 2020 15:05:01 GMT 1
Tanda still would much prefer to just say no, but that would just add to her misery. Gormy might be a caring father, but Lord Gormon Peake would sell her to the foulest man since the unworthy king without hesitation, a dubious promise of a fool believing that his ability in battle somehow made all his flaws irrelevant was but a small comfort. Hopefully he would succeed, but she should not hope for too much.
|
|
|
Post by Balon Blackbriar on May 5, 2020 18:10:23 GMT 1
As there is a difference between Gormy and Lord Gormon, there is a difference between Balon and Balon the Blackguard. The goal was getting Blackfyre on the throne then picking up the pieces of all the shattered lives afterwards. However in the case of Tanda, Balon would employ the help of those who excelled in the art of intrigue to hopefully shorten the time frame.
[/scene]
|
|