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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jan 15, 2022 15:03:26 GMT 1
With a cry of "Hammerhal!" Roland plunged in to the battle. Untangling what had been learned in the sorrowful scene at Harren's Oak would have to wait.
[OOC: Bloodraven scene - delighted (?) to do a scene there or just have it as reported speech, whatever works best.
I'll work through the gauntlet to at least try out the mechanics and so Roland can say he fought in the great stalemate!]
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Post by Father on Jan 18, 2022 15:02:58 GMT 1
It takes some time for order in the camp restored, the injured must be tended to, ransoms negotiated, and enough able men set to the grim task of recovering fallen nobles to be given to the silent sisters for proper rites, others to dig a pit to bury the common men, packed like small river fish at a market stall. All the while looters prowl the battlefield for valuables to pry off the corpses.
It is past dark when a Blackwood squire comes to inform Roland that "m'lord desires your presence, ser" But it is not to the Pavilion of Lord Rodrik that he is shown to, but rather one with a dark shield with a white dragon with three heads placed outside. In the dim light from the lamps, the red pair of eyes of the pale skinned Great Bastard is perhaps even more disturbing to look upon than as is common. Ser Brynden is obviously not one to bother wasting time. "Master Hugh told me of last eve's adventure ser, I have a wonder as to what makes a man seek out such obvious danger?"
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jan 18, 2022 17:51:32 GMT 1
"Ser Brynden."
Roland bowed. Despite ostensibly being on the same side, he surprisingly found himself drawing confidence from his abilities with a sword. Idiot, it is not that kind of battlefield. Maybe it was simply the Westerosi prejudice against those marked as Bloodraven was? Perhaps even nerves?
Hugh knew much and more. Roland racked his battle-addled brain for as many specifics as he could, not commenting on Bloodraven's informant.
"A knight's vows and a woman in danger. I remember the words I swore when my namesake knighted me."
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Post by Father on Jan 19, 2022 22:06:07 GMT 1
"Sometimes it is interesting to observe just how different a man grown can be compared to the knight he squired for, ser" Whether Bloodraven actually knows that Lord Walgrave mostly emphasized acting with propriety which did include honoring one's word, not drinking more than one could handle and so on, while viewing romantic notions of errantry as foolishness or simply makes an educated guess is impossible to tell.
"Your squire seems to believe that it was my half-brother's doing, Ser Aegor's hand has committed far worse atrocities than the rape and murder of an innocent in order to have this war, but I have not known him to do such a thing without a more compelling reason than to attempt to lure a prominent knight to his death just because he would otherwise fight under the banner of his hated foe. It would stand to reason that this is the work of an enemy with a more personal interest in your death, ser."
"I cannot rule out Lady Maegelle's hand in this, your death would ensure your nephew's hold on his seat, but a little bird sang to me about an attempt on Ser Daeron's life, and there is only one man I would suspect of ordering such a deed, and I have never known him to show moderation."
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jan 20, 2022 13:24:48 GMT 1
"Let us see which part of my example Hugh chooses to follow. Lord Oakheart was an exemplar when it came to the discipline elements of knighthood. But we swear to the Mother and the Maid too, not just the Smith, Father and Warrior. And he was no knight to the Dornish, much as they were no knights to us, bar the men of Starfall."
An edge creeps in to Rolands voice.
"I can understand Lord Oakheart's conduct as a man and general, but I will not condone it. Indeed, a knight should condemn it."
"Why would Hugh bring such tales to you, and for how long? I shall have this from my squire, but your word will tell me what he leaves out."
Assuming this albino speaks true...
"Lord Merryweather's hand here? Ill coin to pay me back in for saving his life. Iller still in that some poor woman paid the price, but such was ever his way."
Roland though back to various woman who had died over the last two years across a range of plots and schemes. Septa Tyane, starting it all. Ashara Starkwood taken far too young. Now this peasant girl - did he even have a name?
"His rescue was a fine deed of arms, but it is a test from the Seven that such a feat should also be my blackest deed. And we traded poorly then. I have not forged a yellow gold chain at the Citadel, but I can still tell you with certainty that one Ser Donnel or one Lord Karl is worth more than a Lord Merryweather. Seven knows trading both for him was no gain. But we were all knights. We had sworn an oath."
"Have we proof beyond drawing signs from one event and then another? I am no maester, drawing conclusions from three signs in the sky to tell me a fourth things that is evident already. It is well known that Lord Merryweather bears a grudge against me."
Like many in Westeros Roland placed more faith in testimony and evidence than deduction.
Finally, Roland caught up with something Bloodraven had already mentioned.
"Ser Aegor has done worse even if my squire's Blackwood blow shows in casting blame incorrectly here? That must be a dark deed indeed. Ser Daven Bracken's death then, and he is a kin-slayer, accursed before the Seven. Or worse deeds still."
Roland had heard much at Highgarden, even if his initial investigations had only scratched the surface.
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Post by Father on Jan 20, 2022 23:11:26 GMT 1
"Did you expect that when a man accused of murder is brought before Lord Blackwood's men, testimony is not asked for?" Bloodraven seems a little puzzled. "In truth, I had most of the tale from the villain himself, a man is quite pliable when told that Lord Blackwood may not have more time for a man of the commons than simply saying yes to the suggestion of seeing to him being hanged rather than given the chance of taking the black."
"Of Ser Daven I can only guess, I know that no Blackwood had any part in his death, but at Highgarden, a certain bird found it amusing to spread the rumor that it was Bittersteel who had committed the deed to frame us, I had imagined that tale to be the work of Lord Levalle or his ilk, a fiction created to slander my half-brother, however, why react with knives meant for Lady Alicent's throat to silence such tales if there were no truth in them?"
"There is, however, the sack of Riverthorn, and I do not believe that Ser Balon woke up one day and decided to put a village to the torch, he was asked to do so, and I have reason to believe that Lord Bracken did not approve of any of it, not the unleashing of Ser Otho at Highgarden, nor of Ser Balon on Riverthorn, when the death of his father failed to suffice to provoke Lord Rodrik to march on Battle Valley, a blade through the womb of his lover, and his child growing inside of it did the job. I should dare call that deed darker than those at Harren's Oak"
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jan 22, 2022 11:56:57 GMT 1
"What do we have from the knave's mouth by way of testimony then? Such word had not reached me yet. You have me at a disadvantage on this matter."
A thousand matters and one, doubtless.
Regarding Bittersteel Roland sucked air through his teeth and shook his head, in sorrow rather than disagreement.
"Before Highgarden I would not have believed it, but before Highgarden I was a fool."
"Balon is a sorrow to me. I loved and esteemed his father, but his son belongs on a headman's block if the tales of Riverthorn are true. I would argue for the Wall only due to the love I bore for his father. Is there proof, testimony? Surely among such a host one cannot compel silence for months? Men will speak in the name of absolution before the Seven, under threat or to seek an advantage. I have been at war - soldiers talk."
Again the conversation came back to the noble Ser Donnel. The great knight cast a long shadow.
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Post by Father on Jan 22, 2022 16:25:35 GMT 1
"Only that someone seeming like nobility to him had hired them, short black hair graying at the temples, a little plump, clean shaven but for a small beard on his chin, to hide the signs of gluttony I should think. The instructions were very specific on how to lure you into the trap, ser. Unlikely to be a man we can find, and even if he can be made to sing, his testimony will be worthless for bringing his master to justice, but it could perhaps confirm our suspicions."
Bloodraven seems disturbingly dispassionate when discussing Balon. "We have testimony of what transpired at Riverthorn, but the king is loath to appear to show too much bias to one side and his hand is a fool entertaining the vain notion that Ser Daemon may be reconciled with his half-brother and that there will be no rebellion. And this allows Lord Peake to hold a protective hand over his cousin with a well-coordinated campaign to have the attack of Riverthorn framed as something I orchestrated to start this war with an episode that would make people sympathetic to Raventree's cause, quite impressive how this story was told all over The Reach before news of the attack itself arrived. Or at least, so it would be if it were true."
"But tell a convincing enough lie, or perhaps only repeat it enough times, and enough men will wonder if it is true. You are familiar with the tale of Ser Morgil's Hastwyck's allegations of Queen Naerys being an adulteress and traitor?"
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jan 23, 2022 13:08:53 GMT 1
"Then King Daeron can try a knight of equivalent rank on the other side concurrently. The Seven know we're not lacking for candidates after the atrocities done under the Blackwood and these are not great lords and their heirs that would shake the kingdom were they to face justice. The very order of the kingdom crumbles when blackguards can commit atrocities freely. Lord do not know if they can rely on their lord, knights fear the absence of their lord's protection. We may a hundred more Highgarden riots if the peasants feel their lords fail in their duties, and we would merit it. And we do not have a hundred Ser Donnels to sacrifice in dousing these fires."
"Ser Morgil's base words and the Dragonknight proving them a falsehood are well known to me."
After all, such events were recent and the kind of thing that had enchanted Roland as a squire. Truth be told, such tales were still dear to his heart now.
"So, Lord Merryweather wants me dead, despite having saved his life, and I must still restore the true Cordwayner line to Hammerhal. A poor hand, but mine to play and triumphs are more glorious when they begin in adversity."
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Post by Father on Jan 23, 2022 19:06:44 GMT 1
"An interesting idea, but not feasible I fear, honorable men dies while the wicked may carry on for as long as they have powerful enablers."
"If only Ser Morgil's accusations had been ended with his life, ser, the realms may not " Bloodraven answers dryly. "The way my mother tells the story, and she would know, it was King Aegon himself who first spoke of such suspicions as the Prince of Dragonstone continued to vex him by being the sole voice of opposition on his counsel, and the only he could not simply dismiss from it in favor of men such as Peake or Levalle who would eagerly serve in return for boons. Hoping to give seed to such whispers that he might threaten to have him declared illegitimate to cow him into submission, Ser Morgil thought he had the blessing of the king over his words, but The Dragonknight saw fit to challenge the accusation and rightfully slay him, thus putting an end to the slander while he remained alive, that Blackfyre was bestowed to Ser Daemon rekindled this fiction, and there are many who now speak of our King as "The Falseborn" because of it."
"Lord Eldon has a strong dislike for all Starlings and those who serve them, and surely Lady Alicent as well, I have no news from The Reach, but given that both you and Ser Daeron were made targets here, I would brace myself for ill tidings to be heard at Harrenhaal. It is of course possible that Lady Maegelle seeks to end your life as well. But I would think Lord Eldon to be the more immediate worry."
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jan 24, 2022 20:52:50 GMT 1
"The King could stop such deeds at the cost of imprisoning men of ambition but low character who are allies of convenience rather than truly loyal. In doing so, he bolsters his loyal friends and gives pause to honourable men such as Ser Aubrey Ambrose and Redtusk. To let such killers suffer no consequences only emboldens them."
Roland sucked air through his teeth, anxious at the thought of hard coming to his betrothed. Worse still when they were separated by leagues and he could not protect her. She had staved off Lord Piggy for years, but the beast only needed one mistake...
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Post by Father on Jan 25, 2022 1:46:55 GMT 1
"King Viserys stopped such talk by decreeing that the tongues who spoke of his grandsons as Strongs would be removed, but though he had intended to be succeeded by his daughter and that she in turn would be succeeded by her eldest son, it were Queen Alicent and her allies who were ready to seize power on behalf of her own son and struck before her husband's body grew cold."
"King Daeron inherited a realm where his father's enablers had grown accustomed to doing as they pleased, Peake, Merryweather, Hightower, Oakheart, Bracken, Blackwood, Lothston, Frey, Lords Tully and Tyrell cannot reign in their bannermen, King Aegon schemed to make it so, for only by keeping The Lords Paramount weak and troubled by vassals doing as they pleased was he able to keep them from preventing him from doing as he liked, and when his own son and heir threatened to be someone they might rally behind to see him end as Aegon the elder or Maegor The Cruel, he acted as if he believed Ser Morgil's accusations, but only used the threat of plunging the realms into civil war by disowning him while bestowing Blackfyre upon Ser Daemon to make the threat seem real enough."
"The King's Justice is nothing more than a piece of paper with his seal on it, a lord can ignore it, rip it to pieces and toss it on the fire as with any piece of paper, one should think that all lords would be bound by oaths of fealty to enforce it, but when enough ignores such duties, there is no repercussions for ignoring it. The King's Justice can only exists when the King holds the power to make all men obey it, and for sixty years, this has been based solely on how dutiful the Lords of The Seven Kingdoms are, and as you undoubtedly have seen, ser. Once enough lords have grown accustomed to misbehaving without repercussions, there is only one way to restore order to the realms so that justice again may flourish."
"The disloyal must first rebel so that they may properly be brought to heel, ser. Until there is another Maegor, Viserys or Aegon to plunge the realms into chaos by cruelty, neglect or gluttony."
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