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Post by Addam Velaryon on May 16, 2021 22:01:31 GMT 1
(Location ambiguous for now. Ideally this conversation would happen as the first available opportunity for all Starlings to be together.)
Sometime had past since Addam had learned the fate of Mya Hastwyck from the Hooded Man. The knowledge had grown in festered in his mind to the point it had become in obsession. Here was a chance, the first real chance, to finally bring down the Hog of Longtable. A chance for Addam to final prove that he no was no mere man, but a legend. An extraordinary individual who name would live on in story and song for generations to come. Yet, he was no closer to achieving this than we was when he had first investigated the burnt down inn. Many a night he would lay awake, ready to simply just ride out to Longtable. He could easily scale the walls, dispatch any anyone dumb enough the get in his way, and find the girl, but what then? Unless he wanted to be branded an brigand and a murderer, he would need her alive, or her corpse at the very least. Both of which would be an equal burden. A burden that very well could mean his death. As much as it pained him to admit, he needed help. But who? Most of his friends were off in the Riverlands, and those that had remained could hardly be counted upon. Lord Florent was as indecisive as them come. Gormy would be up for the task, it would even relieve him from his marriage pack between Tanda and Eldon, but Addam couldn't help but think that the man would sooner sell him out to Lord Piggy if it meant Longtable support in the war to come. No, the only people he could trust were the Companions, his brothers by oath, but the best of them were in the Riverlands, and short of riding the opposing camps himself, they would remain there for the time being. So Addam waited, and planned.
There was no time for pleasant words or tales of battles fought and won when the companions were finally made whole. "Ride with me," He said to Roland and Daeron. More of a command than a suggestion. He looked a shell of his usually vibrant self, and signs of fatigue grew under his eyes. Preparation had taken precedence over sleep. Once they were well away from any prying ears, Addam spun his horse round to face his friends. "Mya Hastwyck is still alive," he exclaimed with certainty. Maybe in error, but never in doubt as they would say. "Her body was missing from the ruins of the inn, and I've learned that Lord Eldon wanted her to suffer a fate worse than death. He has her, a trophy to his belief that he is untouchable."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on May 20, 2021 3:48:17 GMT 1
When did my little cousin get so imperious? I'm gone for a few months and he thinks he a lord?
Regardless of his idle thoughts, Daeron joined Ser Addam as they rode away from any prying eyes or listening ears. He wasn't sure what his cousin had to share, but it was sure to be important if he was taking them this far away from everyone else. He didn't; however, expect the absolute bombshell of a revelation that Lady Mya was alive. If they could rescue her there was no way that Lord Piggy could survive that, especially if she could be made to testify against Lord Leo. There was but one question:
"How did you come by this information and do you have any way of confirming it? Lord Piggy might be vile, but he's more than clever enough to lay a trap for us."
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on May 22, 2021 13:36:53 GMT 1
Roland shook his head and touched his Seven pointed star necklace in prayer.
"By the Seven that are one, this is a dark tale. What can we do?"
He nodded attentively at Daeron's words, taking in the craftier knights wise words. Nothing was beneath Lord Merryweather in depravity or wicked cunning. The beast was a survivor.
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Post by Addam Velaryon on Jun 3, 2021 18:47:42 GMT 1
Addam let out a nervous sigh. “ With the help of Septon Roswyn, I managed to track down the Hooded Man at Oldtown. When I finically confronted him in the room he had rented, I had to choose between bring this villain to justice, or saving the life of an innocent. While none of the information he gave was damning, it did confirm information I had already gathered. When I went to the sight of the Hastwych massacre, there was a body missing. Unfortunately I am not a Maester who can confirm that none of the bones are a women’s, Lord Piggy has been know to keep and rape small folk who look similar to the Ladies that slight him. What if, this time, instead of finding a look a like, he decided to have the real thing? “I know this isn’t much to go on, and assumptions are being made, but when have I been wrong? If he only wanted to rape her, why not kill her afterwards and leave the body with the rest? He has plans for her. What they are exactly I do not know, but right now she is a trophy to his sense of invincibility.” Turning his attention to Roland. “We do the only thing we can do. We wait for the Fat Bastard to leave Longtable, then we go in and get her out.” While not technically lying about what happened with the hooded man, he not telling the whole truth about what actually happened. Nothing but the truth: 4d6k3+1 18 Ahh just a good honest knight trying to protect the innocent. |
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jun 10, 2021 16:17:13 GMT 1
Addam you damned fool. That scoundrel has managed to make us all appear a fool, you too now it appears.
Daeron gazes darkly at his cousin.
"The Hooded Man is not to be trusted and he will say anything to save his own skin. How do we know that he's not working for Lord Piggy and trying to lure us into a trap? Do we have any means of confirming this information?
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Post by Addam Velaryon on Jun 23, 2021 18:30:22 GMT 1
Addam shot a glance at Roland before turning his attention back to Daeron, daggers glaring in his eyes. How much easier this conversation would be to say the Hooded man was Gorman’s creature, but both of there self righteous natures would their attention away from the real threat to Kingsbridge.
“Because Cousin, Lord Eldon doesn’t need to lure us into a trap. His belief in his own invincible has already lead to attacks on us already. More likely that the daggers in the back and poisons at dinner will continue instead of some trap we could fight our way out of. Besides, if he wanted to lead us into a trap, he did a piss poor job of it. As I said. all I was able to gather on the matter was vague information that only confirmed what I had already gathered. Information I hadn’t shared with anyone before meeting the Hooded Man so there was no way of him knowing what I already knew on the matter.”
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jul 24, 2021 20:41:49 GMT 1
"Very well then." He grumbled. They of course would need to find a way to confirm that she was alive beyond the word of a known liar and murderer, but he could do that later without raising Ser Addam's rankles.
"What is our plan of action then? Obviously we can't just lay siege to the walls of Longtable and whisk her away to Highgarden, but we also cannot allow her to rot away in a cell for the rest of her life either."
He rubs his left shoulder, feeling the puckered scar left from Rennifer's lance at a tourney that felt like a lifetime ago now.
"The way I see it we have two options. The first is to sneak into Longtable's inner chambers or dungeons and sneak Lady Mya out. Bringing her to Lord Leo, alive and able to testify would be the easiest and most direct way to see Lord Piggy's power broken and perhaps see him on an executioner's block or at least north of the Wall for the rest of his days. However, the risks involved include certain death and retribution against Kingsbridge in the event that us three heavily armored knights fail to sneak in.
The other option is a more subtle and roundabout one in which we find a way to tell Lord Leo that Lady Mya is alive and to present enough proof to him that he will believe it and take action. We could spread anonymous rumors across the Reach, but if they become too widespread Lord Piggy will dispose of Lady Mya and destroy any evidence that he captured her."
He ponders for another moment as his face took on a darker mein.
"If we could capture a blackguard of his inner circle, perhaps that could also be the evidence that Lord Leo needs? Taking Longtable would be a monumental achievement, but finding a way to kidnap a single knight, drunk and enjoying a night out at a brothel would be well within our means.."
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Post by Addam Velaryon on Jan 24, 2022 2:50:42 GMT 1
"That is exactly what I had in mind. We wait until the Beast is away and then we strike." it was clear Addam hadn't spent time working on other alternatives. The best and only option for him was one that could come with a good story. " We slip in under the cover of night when most of the garrison is a sleep, grab the girl, and then leave before they have time to muster a response."
Addam could only shake his head at the thought of any other options. "We could certainly find evidence to bring to Leo Tyrell, but what then? Unless we have hard proof that he is waging open war against other houses and can be branded an enemy of the realm, he will merely have Rennifer fight for his innocence. Sure, Roland, you have bested him in combat before when it came to honor, but in the matter of life or death, not even Blackfrye could best."
That only left one other option. "I suppose we could capture one of his blackguard. Could possibly even convince him to attack us. Frame it as an ambush and attack by Merryweather forces. The problem is, how to we separate one or two of them from the pack. Eldon keeps a short leash on all of his men. I just do see it being possible unless you know someone who can trick one of them to come out on his own."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jan 25, 2022 5:12:31 GMT 1
He mulls over Addam's plans.
"I think we're onto something here. A living witness that can testify, perhaps under intensive questioning, that Lord Eldon broke the king's peace by ordering the attack on the Hastwyks and kidnapped Lady Mya from the wreckage. As much as I'd love to make a daring rescue and deliver Lady Mya to Highgarden, we can't risk our only evidence being eliminated and her bones buried beneath the moat around Longtable, certainly her fate should Lord Piggy catch a whiff of our plans.
If I had my pick of the lot, I'd say that we should collect his newest lieutenant, Ser Robert Black. If what I've heard is true, he used to be a mercenary captain of sorts in the Disputed Lands, the ideal man to call upon to hire a smattering of mercenaries here in Westeros and someone who has at least enough brains to be part of an inner circle. Rennifer might be a beast of a warrior, but I don't imagine that plotting is a significant part of his responsibilities at Longtable."
Daeron rubs his chin and sucks his teeth.
"But as you said cousin, getting our hands on him in the first place will be tricky. A major tourney, like the ones at Highgarden or Whitewalls, where Lord Piggy is likely to bring his retinue beyond Rennifer and Norren could be our best chance. Plucking a drunk man out of a dark alley must certainly be easier than storming a castle. Right?"
He then turn to Ser Roland.
"We might also need to rope in some trusted allies. Who might we be able to rely on to not only help us take down one of the most dangerous and powerful lords in the realm, but also be trusted to not be bought by his gold in the meantime?"
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Jan 25, 2022 16:05:29 GMT 1
"You are right Ser Addam. I fought for Alicent that day, and it was a matter of honour that Lord Piggy had little care to risk his champion on. I am not so fool as to think I could best Blackfyre. Mayhap I could slay Rennifer, but I would need to be at my best and he at his worst.
Roland nodded at Addam's words, regarding Rennifer's victory over Blackfyre as a fluke and a cheap trick. Still, Roland had his pride and the cream of the Reach had seen him give a good account of himself against Rennifer.
"My betrothed bears Lord Piggy no love, and is at risk while he schemes and plots. She had the wit to avoid a marriage to that beast for many years. She can be relied upon for help and trusted not to be bought."
Normally respectful of titles and knighthood, Roland was only too happy to abandon them for those that failed in their duties, such as Eldon and Rennifer.
"His Septon is of ill-repute and has been in his service longer. A soft Septon may be inclined to reassignment or a post at the wall rather than facing the Faith's wrath, or the likes of Septon Abelar."
"A septon is also easier to summon from home than a mercenary or knight, if we had friends and influence at Oldtown. Alas, I count more friends among the Hightowers than the Seven's most holy."
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