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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Oct 19, 2022 23:37:43 GMT 1
I did the right thing. She murdered that boy and I helped to keep House Starling from making another powerful enemy today.
Despite his constant mental refrain about how he did the right thing, Daeron wasn't quite convinced especially as the scaffold's construction continued.
He kept telling himself that keeping Ser Roland out of this mess would smooth over any ill-will that had arisen between Lord Walgrave and the Companions, either because Ser Roland had an ugly past with the man or because him and Ser Addam had refused to massacre Dornish merchants in the ill-made Vulture Hunt. He usually followed it up with some justification about how there was no doubt that Lady Wenda had, without a doubt, killed that boy and that this was just justice in action.
However, the whole time there was a gnawing guilt that he refused to acknowledge, that his own desire for reward from Lord Oakheart was what really determined his actions and now as Lady Wenda was being marched up to her death he had to wonder if his deeds led to this? Could he have changed the outcome? Probably not, Lord Walgrave possesses more power and wealth than most of the other attendees combined and he would have found a way to end Lady Wenda's life one way or another, but his own methods would certainly have inflicted more collateral damage. So if her outcome was sealed, then what was the harm in profiting from it? He really did think that she would be given an opportunity to join the Silent Sisters, much as Lady Meadows had..
As he watched the condemned march across the platform he pushed down all of those thoughts and emotions deep inside himself. There would be a tourney or a battle sometime where they would all come out, expressed in a wild swing of a sword or in reckless lancework and he would feel better after that. Until then he would have to content himself with whatever gold or honors that Lord Walgrave was almost guaranteed to give him for his role in this whole mess, because Ser Normyn wouldn't have misled him on the matter. Right?
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Post by Laena Pyre on Oct 20, 2022 1:59:59 GMT 1
Laena stood fairly far back, dressed conservatively, and in a way that concealed her hair, without making it look like she was deliberately concealing her hair. If her scheme went wrong, the last thing she wanted was for Lady Wenda to be able to point to her and hurl public accusations. Feast - Blend Into Crowd: 5d6k3+4 18Having previously made clear to Ysilla that all they had the right to do was offer Lady Wenda the choice, and that if she chose not to take it (or, more likely, lacked the courage, though she didn't say that), they should respect that choice, as others not respecting her choice was what led to this whole situation in the first place, Laena was hopeful that she had protected herself well enough, and discouraged Ysilla from doing anything which could land her in more trouble than she could get out of. And, ultimately, she was pretty pleased with how she'd set the scheme up. The pieces were in place, it was simply down to if they could fulfill the roles assigned them. And if they failed, the failure was theirs, not hers. Shame she didn't stand to get more out of it, given the effort she'd put in, but maybe she'd be able to afterwards, if it went well. The main objective - stopping Ysilla from doing something everyone would regret - was hopefully accomplished, since even she would hopefully have sense enough not to storm the execution scaffold single-handed. Though one fewer living witness to Lady Helicent Cockshaw's murder wouldn't be an entirely bad thing...
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Oct 20, 2022 6:20:27 GMT 1
Act 8: The condemned.The Household Guard stand like statutes with two yards between each man, spears and shields in hand to mark where the crowds are not permitted to go past, above them on the scaffold stands Lord Addison, his head tilted downwards as in prayer, next to him, his squire holds a heavy two-handed sword. His brothers are also there. The Footly's quietly file out of the castle to stand to the side of the scaffold, close, but not prominent. The septon leads the somber procession, often the condemned will have to walk through the masses to suffer their insults and curious glances, sometimes stones and rotten fruit, but whether by design or happenstance, today, this is not so. Lady Wenda, clad in a simple white gown, her hair meticulously and elaborately braided seems to be held on her own feet by pride alone as she is shaking in fear, two silent sisters follow, ready to give support if needed. Slowly they ascend and come to a halt before the block. Here, the condemned might say a few words, perhaps a night of contemplation might bring the clarity of mind for a confession? A chance, perhaps, to show that a noble may face death with dignity by encouraging others to serve the seven faithfully. A final jape, such as the Lord Strong asking that the clubfoot for which he had been cruelly named be finally removed, is not unheard of either. Balon was many things, thick-headed being one of them, but even he learned from prior mistakes. So when Lady Wenda was led out he kept his mouth shut and his expression neutral. Sure he'd been the most vocal in her condemnation but now wasn't the time to gloat or worse, jeer. He stood further back than most, not because he was shying away from his work but because he was watching the crowd. Balon wanted to see their reactions. Sadness? Indifference? Justice served? The truth of the matter was no one really knew what happened between Wenda and Arys but the Seven did and they had deemed her guilty by trial of combat. He closed his eyes for a moment, reliving the thrashing Robyn had suffered at the hands of Normyn in that duel. Soon, little Robyn... soon.With his arms crossed over his chest and Legacy on his hip, Balon's thoughts repeated over and over in his mind as he scanned the crowd. Was she really that bad because of her Rhoynish blood? It wasn't her fault. It wasn't a choice. She was a product of her parent's union. It was natural. Should she die because of her nature? Yes, yes she should.
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Post by Robyn Redwolf on Nov 10, 2022 4:26:44 GMT 1
A stifled cough huffed past his nostrils, the steely bitter and now all too familiar taste of blood accompanying the breath as droplets spackled the back of his teeth. A weary and swollen tongue scraped along his inner gums before he gulped, the blood that briefly made an appearance in his mouth leaking back down his dry throat from where it came. Pain was on the horizon, as Robyn felt the poppy slowly wearing off and draining out of his system. The daze it provided, too, subtly disappearing with every blink of his eyes.
But no amount of medicine could relieve him of the weight of his failure.
Staring out of the window, he was thankful for his Uncle and the support he provided. It was welcome, especially at a time like this. He was not going to be stuck in bed, and as his eyes looked out at the scene they began to water, filling with tears before spilling out onto his cheeks.
Robyn prayed, silently, for a miracle. It did not help him in the duel, but Gods be good they would save Wenda from a fate she did not deserve.
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Post by Father on Nov 10, 2022 23:12:56 GMT 1
Lady Wenda pauses, as if about to speak, but no word escapes her lips, instead the septon says a few solemn words, urging those assembled to pray for Lady Wenda's soul and for the good people present to look into themselves and make amends in their lives as needed. When the nod to step forward comes, she balks. quivering in terror. "I don't want to die!" She says with tears in her words, not particularly loud, not to anyone in particular. "I don't want to die, please!" She repeats as Ser Lewyn must take her by the wrists to make her kneel and have her chin come to rest against the block, she sobs uncontrollably, apparently resigned to the inevitable. Lord Appleton mutters to himself that he now understands why The Tyrells keep a headsman and the Starks sends most prisoners to the wall as he is handed his sword, hesitating a little. The Stranger take Lord Walgrave and his nephew and drag them both to the deepest hole in hell, would that he could grant her more mercy than that of a quick and clean death, but this much he will do. With ponderous movements, he steadies himself and takes aim before swinging his sword with all his strength. As Wenda's sobs are cut short, they are replaced by a wail from Lady Rohanne filled with agony and rage. Lord Appleton looks down with grief upon the head in the basket before waving forth the pair of silent sisters to quickly covers the remains of Lady Wenda with black cloth, having no stomach for the head to be held up for all to see as would have been the custom with a common criminal, or a traitor, considered distasteful by some perhaps. He who had dreamed of hosting a tourney with spectacular feats of prowess that the singers would spread word of from The Arbor to The Eyrie had never once in his worst nightmares imagined that his tourney would have been remembered for murder at the feast. Wenda bravery: 3d6 8 Pity.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Nov 11, 2022 2:47:28 GMT 1
Laena wrinkles her nose in distaste. What a pity. All that effort, for naught. And with her dies my last hope of impressing Lord Appleton. Still, I've probably profited the most from last night overall, so I can't be too upset, and I can't really claim to be surprised. Those ladies are raised from birth to be meek, cowardly things - to eat shit, and smile and claim it's delicious. That she would die as she lived was entirely predictable. Disappointing, but predictable.
Never send a sheep to do a dragon's job.
With the matter closed, and standing near the back of the crowd, Laena is among the first to leave.
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Post by Robyn Redwolf on Nov 11, 2022 5:29:32 GMT 1
Again, his prayers went unanswered. The plea for help was too much for the boy as a bubbling sob blurted out, the wellspring of tears that once trickled now flowed freely. How cruel it was that those should be her last words. How unjust it was that her mother and father had to sit by while their daughter was stricken from the world. How harrowing the wail from Lady Rohanne was and how horrific the sound echoed the wail his mother made upon his sister's burial.
Robyn did not look away until Wenda's body was covered, and by then a blubbering of thought poured out of him as he cried into Davos' chest, "Its not fair- it's not fair what gods would allow this-? Why? Why? I failed- i-,"
Tears and snot soaked his uncle's tunic as tight fingers snared the fabric into a desperate grasp.
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Post by Davos Dayne on Nov 11, 2022 17:56:14 GMT 1
Davos embraces Robyn, his hand supporting the back of the young man's head. It's a bit awkward, but it is his best attempt at providing comfort and reassurance.
"It's not fair. Not one bit."
Tears of his own stream down Davos's cheeks.
Is this what it's like to be a father? The gods - if they exist at all - robbed me of my wife and child. It's not fair. Nothing's fair.
"You did not fail. You did what you could, what was right, beyond all reason and expectation. This is not your fault."
No, this is Oakheart's fault, and his nephew's, and the gods', and this whole damn world's.
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Post by Robyn Redwolf on Nov 12, 2022 17:15:59 GMT 1
He wasnt able to formulate sentences. Despite the comfort that Davos provided, there was nothing that could soothe Robyn in this moment. The guilt and shame he felt, the rage and fury, the sorrow and disbelief: all were tearing his brain and thoughts apart, and his heart was at the center of it all.
Robyn had known tragedy. Robyn had felt the powerlessness of inaction, of inability to intervene.
This hurt more than inaction. His uncle was right: he did all he could, and still Lady Wenda died for her own self-preservation. Robyn was the one who found her, spoke in defense for her, took up arms in front of gods and men and yet he still wasnt enough. It was his fault. Utterly and entirely.
That fact made him grit his teeth and weep harder.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Nov 13, 2022 8:58:54 GMT 1
When the nod to step forward comes, she balks. quivering in terror. "I don't want to die!" She says with tears in her words, not particularly loud, not to anyone in particular. "I don't want to die, please!" She repeats as Ser Lewyn must take her by the wrists to make her kneel and have her chin come to rest against the block, she sobs uncontrollably, apparently resigned to the inevitable. As Wenda's sobs are cut short, they are replaced by a wail from Lady Rohanne filled with agony and rage. Lord Appleton looks down with grief upon the head in the basket before waving forth the pair of silent sisters to quickly covers the remains of Lady Wenda with black cloth, having no stomach for the head to be held up for all to see as would have been the custom with a common criminal, or a traitor, considered distasteful by some perhaps. Balon's expression remained neutral as Wenda sobbed. Pathetic. Had Arys wept when Wenda killed him? Did he beg for his life before she ended it with the smith's hammer? Did he cry out WAIT! Or had he been caught completely unaware. When I die I hope it's with a little bit more dignity than this display. Balon preferred to die of old age in his sleep but acknowledged it'd most likely be in battle. When the sword came down and ended Wenda's life a small cruel smile crept up on his face as her mother wailed in despair. It was music to his ears. Any lingering guilt about his testimony vanished as another stain on the Reach was removed. He brought his hand up to his face and stroked his goatee as he set his face back to neutral. He stayed, ensuring some incensed Footly didn't try to do something foolish like charge the Oakhearts. Deep down he hoped for it. As long as they drew their blades first. He looked at the Appletons and wondered why he ever thought Lord Addison would be a good match for his sister. He isn't worthy of her.
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Post by Father on Nov 23, 2022 11:59:26 GMT 1
As dawn breaks, whatever good mood the beheading brought to Lord Walgrave is gone with the discovery that the bones of young Arys has been stolen from the silent sisters with no clue as to who might be responsible.
The Old Oak is quick to demand of Lord Appleton that The Footly's and other "deplorables" ought to be seized and their camps searched, or so the words of gossips goes, what seems clear enough is that whatever Lord Appleton is doing about the issue, Lord Walgrave thinks it is nowhere near enough.
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Post by Father on Oct 13, 2023 21:07:38 GMT 1
Davos, Laena, Roland, Aubrey, Marq, Owen -Argue for keeping an open mind: +3 Disposition with House Appleton, +1 with Owen Roxton, Aubrey Ambrose, Willem Starling, Redtusk, Preston Oakheart. Robyn, Mikel, Lysette -Innocence +5 Disposition with the Footly's, -2 with Walgrave Normyn, Daeron, Balon -Argue for condemn: -4 Disposition with the Footly's, +1 with Walgrave. Ysilla -Incite for Innocence, +5 disposition with Footlys, -5 with Walgrave and -2 with House Appleton, -1 with Redtusk, House Starling, Aubrey Ambrose
Seems like Balon and Normyn dispositions already was recorded.
Should be everything updated now.
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