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Post by Father on Mar 23, 2023 0:30:04 GMT 1
"I trust my brother to honor a surrender once offered, he did so once before, did he not? But as you say, ser, it remains a duel of life and death up until such a point, the favorable outcome may not be possible, all I seek is to improve it's odds" Eustace remains calm. "But even knowing these risks, am I not right to assume that you would be among the first to step forward when Lord Bracken makes the call for a champion if this conversation never happened?"
"Besides, it would hardly be tactful to show up later to demand the gold owed for ransom from the possessions about to be distributed for the orphans of Kingsbridge or whatever good purpose the wealth of fallen companions with no family goes towards."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Mar 25, 2023 17:05:48 GMT 1
"Oh, my brother will only disapprove of my reminder that he should show magnanimity if his opponent yields." Eustace says dryly. "For him, as with most men, superficial wounds to pride become immaterial when a blade is pressed against it" Laena attempts to infer if that means he intends for Rhys to kill Daeron so he doesn't need to repay the man, but fails. His first sentence implies 'yes', his second 'no'. No doubt talking with a forked tongue how very Dornish of him, so that someone listening for a particular outcome hears what they want to hear and disregards the rest. In some ways a smart response, given how her goals are hopefully unknown to him, but in others, a bit disrespectful if he thought such a petty trick could fool her. But again, she reminds herself, he doesn't really know me. And I *want* to be underestimated by those who do not know me, so I can take advantage.Laena gives a casual shrug. "Well, so long as your brother already well understands that Ser Daeron has a rather larger and more .. tempestuous family than poor Ser Ondrew, and that it is to no-one's benefit to attempt to smother a fire with - ah" she briefly pulls a face "with wildfire, if you will pardon the unintentional pun, then everything is fine. Should such an explosion go off, and fingers start pointing, I do not want to be standing around in public still holding the match." Not a threat, no, not from her. She's just a woman, after all. She's simply concerned about herself - typical female self-centeredness. No, the danger is from others - unknown others, of unknown numbers. And nothing is more frightening than the unknown. Best to not risk it. Best to keep his brother on a leash.
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Post by Father on Mar 27, 2023 13:22:42 GMT 1
"For my brother, it will be a matter of life and death, so it will be dangerous to stand against him of course" Eustace betrays little emotion. "But House Daverhyl can ill afford more enemies so against one such as Ser Daeron or Redtusk, I shall instruct my brother to be honorable if a yield is offered. There are a few I could think of who might be worth the trouble of being seen as merciless brutes in order to get rid of the threat they could pose if mercy is granted."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Mar 27, 2023 16:18:14 GMT 1
Laena nods, glad to get a firm statement, before mentally cursing herself, realising too late she should have faked at least mild shock at the talk of cold-bloodedly murdering a surrendered man. Realising no good would come from bringing attention to the fact, she forges on. "So, you acknowledge Ser Daeron's life will be at risk, with all the complications mentioned for anyone involved should he fall. Additionally, your brother has made a truly impressive list of enemies - Houses Blackwood and Bracken both, who may be distant from our lands, but their reach is long. But their wrath is likely naught compared to that of House Oldflowers, who make up in relative power compared to the former with proximity. Should - by some chance -" a quick mocking smile "Ser Daeron lose, the stink of failure would stick all involved in the eyes of those three at least, and likely also in the eyes of any who believe justice still holds sway in these trying times. And that is the *best* outcome.
"Maybe I am misjudging the man, but Ser Daeron has never struck me as a man adept in falsehood, nor is he a man without significant martial talent. I may be a woman, but I still understand that in the chaos of battle, unexpected results can happen. Should The Warrior decide that this duel, of all duels, is one He will intervene in and your brother begins losing, I am skeptical of Ser Daeron's ability to conceal all bar the most subtle of odds-adjustment from the large number of eyes watching the duel. And should that happen, the reckoning against all involved will be orders of magnitude worse.
"And that is just for the 'now'. Ser Daeron is one of The Companions - an organisation bursting with good, honourable men, led by a good, honourable lord. All of whom Ser Daeron has strong bonds with. It is all too possible in my eyes that this matter would wear on his conscience, and one night, deep in his cups, long after your brother's safety is assured, he confesses to his brother knights, seeking absolution. At which point, we might as well send signed confessions to every house in the realm. And I can ill-afford such enemies.
"All of which I say to make clear that while what you ask of me is achievable, it carries with it a definite price, and great risk, even for those not facing your brother on the field of battle. And, while I am probably not the *only* one, I cannot imagine there is a long list of those present who would be both potentially willing and able to do what you ask of me."
Having done her best to talk up her price, she awaits his rebuttal before they finally see if he's willing to offer a price worth the risks involved.
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Post by Father on Mar 28, 2023 22:48:25 GMT 1
For picking champion:
Stepping forward: Audience TN 12 Simple Intrigue (Convince) TN 15 -If having fought for Blackwoods: -1D, if having fought for Brackens: +1D -If having pushed for punishing Rhys (Bracken side only): +2 -If having previously been bested by Rhys in major melee or other combat situation: -1D -If having previously bested Rhys in major melee or other combat situation: +1D -For each Fighting rank below 5: -2D -Success on both tests: Enter consideration for being the Bracken champion vs Rhys. -Critical failure likely results in some form of embarrassment. -Highest DoS on convince test will be selected, in case of a tie, Lord Bracken will pick the candidate perceived to be the best combatant, with DoS on audience test a possibly secondary tie-breaker. -Being named champion: +1 Glory, an additional +4 Glory if winning.
Promoting a candidate: -As standard rumor (TN 9), with options such as trying to hide your involvement and adding status ranks to the result for getting your name across. -Grants +1 per DoS to the tests made by supported candidate (non-stacking, only best bonus counts). -Self-promotion needs to be done with succesful disguise to have any effect.
Consideration for qualities: Blood of Andals, lucky, pious etc: This is treated as happening on the same day as the trial by combat itself (but not the same as the rest of the event). Nemesis (Otho Bracken or Walgrave Oakheart): You can offer your blade, but someone will be very adamant that one such as you cannot be trusted. Prejudiced: May possibly compel offering to stand against Rhys if he is on the trigger list. Proud: Generally will seek to compel not supporting another candidate (not applicable if you yourself never would consider to stand in the first place). Vaingloriuos: Generally seeks to compel offering to stand as champion. Vindictive: Generally seeks to compel offering to stand as champion against Rhys if he is on the trigger list.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Mar 29, 2023 3:41:43 GMT 1
"I trust my brother to honor a surrender once offered, he did so once before, did he not? But as you say, ser, it remains a duel of life and death up until such a point, the favorable outcome may not be possible, all I seek is to improve it's odds" Eustace remains calm. "But even knowing these risks, am I not right to assume that you would be among the first to step forward when Lord Bracken makes the call for a champion if this conversation never happened?""Besides, it would hardly be tactful to show up later to demand the gold owed for ransom from the possessions about to be distributed for the orphans of Kingsbridge or whatever good purpose the wealth of fallen companions with no family goes towards." His eyebrow remains cocked. The Vulture had certainly piqued his interest and he seemed the sort who would happily murder Ser Simon if it meant that his brutish brother survived. He'd rather see at least one of them brought to justice, besides the Roughneck would be an easier loose end to tie up at a later time. However, if he was being lined up to be abused in public he wouldn't do it for free. Dragons were known for their appetites and Daeron was no exception. "Your brother has quite a vicious swing. Why should I challenge him with no expectations of victory, especially when I can expect multiple broken bones at best?"
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Post by Davos Dayne on Mar 29, 2023 5:52:22 GMT 1
Davos, still bitter about Simon Tarly, consumes probably a little too much wine and makes his opinions known. Rapists deserved to be punished. Gelding was really too good for them. Mikel? eh, he didn't destroy anything that couldn't be rebuilt. You can't rebuild a maiden's innocence. That's a real crime. Davos will offer to stand against Rhys.
The Court of Public Opinion Opinion of leniency for Mikel quite justifiably ignored. For Rhys: Option 1: Soft influence, simply indicating your opinion does not raise any eyebrows or call any particular attention upon yourself. -Increase/reduce TN by half a point equal to your Status+Reputation-4. Status 4, Reputation 1b; so after the subtraction that would be 1. I guess that raises the TNs by 1/2? Kind of moot really, knowing that it will be headed to a trial by combat. I'm fairly sure that Oakheart's interference means Davos will not be selected, but here are the rolls just in case: PiOT Stepping forward Audience DC 12: 5d6k4 18Success (2 DoS) PiOT Stepping Forward Convince DC 15, -1D(blackwood) +2 (spoke out), +2: 4d6k3+2 13 misread the +2, so only 11Simple Fail
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Mar 29, 2023 6:51:02 GMT 1
For picking champion: Stepping forward: Audience TN 12 Simple Intrigue (Convince) TN 15 -If having fought for Brackens: +1D-Success on both tests: Enter consideration for being the Bracken champion vs Rhys. -Critical failure likely results in some form of embarrassment. -Highest DoS on convince test will be selected, in case of a tie, Lord Bracken will pick the candidate perceived to be the best combatant, with DoS on audience test a possibly secondary tie-breaker. -Being named champion: +1 Glory, an additional +4 Glory if winning. Promoting a candidate: -Self-promotion needs to be done with successful disguise to have any effect. - WHAT!? No shameless self promotion? lol
Consideration for qualities: Prejudiced: Dornish Vaingloriuos [Phase 4] PIOT, Champion vs. Rhys, Audience Test TN12: 5d6k3+6 18, 2 DoS[Phase 4] PIOT, Champion vs. Rhys, Persuasion (Convince) TN15: 4d6+2 14, Simple FailWho better to kill a Dornishman than Balon? It seemed so obvious to him. He'd been murderously efficient with Desmond Bridges and Dagos Manwoody (not that anyone knew about it). He'd killed Ser Vorian Dayne in the Red Mountains (not that anyone knew about it... probably). Next up were the Dornish Daverhyls who had killed his aunt, uncle, and if left unchecked Kyle and Lynesse. Balon stopped and thought for a moment. Were there more Dornish I've killed? While promoting himself among the Brackens he carried himself well enough but the messaging was off. Perhaps Lord Bracken viewed him more as a leader than a fighter. After all, who had captured Pennytree? Who had escaped the trap of Ironhand? Maybe Bittersteel didn't want to see a battlefield commander in the rebellion-to-come killed over someone as trivial as the Roughneck. Those were possibilities but the reality was Balon simply wasn't convincing enough. He let his blind rage of Dornishman muddle his message. Rage and barbarism had it's uses, like the Wildfyre maneuver, but Balon's hatred hadn't served him in this instance.
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Post by Father on Mar 29, 2023 17:06:18 GMT 1
Eustace seems to have thought it through. "If the choice is between Redtusk, Ser Aubrey or Ser Daeron all fighting as we have learned to expect from each, I would favor my brother against Ser Daeron, but not the other two, though victory is never certain. If Ser Daeron were to restrain himself, my brother's chances would improve of course. Is there a risk of foul play being suspected in such a case? Yes, but even if it is obvious to ridicule, the law is what it is, it would seem that The Father made his laws suitable to protect the powerful."
"Is it ideal? No. But I would imagine that my lady would settle for the best she could do to help her brother Aerion out of a similar predicament and let any consequences be the concern of tomorrow, yes?"
"Imagine for a second that I had remained in The Reach and my brother was on his own, have I misjudged you, ser? In thinking that you would surely step forward when Lord Bracken asks for a champion? You do have quite a bit of a reputation." Eustace looks at Daeron quizzingly. "Although you would fight for glory and justice I imagine, but you cannot be sure to win, I believe most would think him the favorite, and while this is not so against Redtusk or Ser Aubrey, my brother can still win, and he has nothing to lose."
He pauses, as if thinking his next steps. "Heroes in stories somehow always does the righteous thing. How many great kings were so inflexible? None. The kings that accomplished more than a lot of deaths for nothing were the ones who compromised to get things done. You could leave it to another to fight against my brother to get your justice, you might take your chances with your own blade and see who the warrior favors, you may get your justice, but you may very well get nothing. Or you may turn chance into certainty, trade a risky prospect of justice for my brother to get a far more certain justice for Ser Simon. I think we both know that in order to defeat my brother, even Redtusk and Ser Aubrey will quite likely have to take blows that could kill them outright, most men valuing their lives and limbs over glory and justice will sensibly yield even though they might be favored to win should they press on. By stepping away, you may even risk to see your cause lose one such as Redtusk or Ser Aubrey."
"The fact that you remain seated, ser, suggests that you are indeed willing to negotiate such a trade, no?"
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Mar 29, 2023 21:27:40 GMT 1
Daeron would definitely have among the first to volunteer his blade to put down the Roughneck once and for all, but he also was seated across from someone who could easily erase a substantial debt as well so seeming too eager wasn't in his best interest.
"You are correct Ser that I'm considering a trade, but in addition to justice for Ser Simon there's one other thing that you have that I would greatly desire. Something that would make it very easy to convince an audience that I'm giving my best effort to defeat Ser Rhys and something that your brother certainly would have no use of if he were to be executed."
Hello Avaricious
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Post by Laena Pyre on Mar 30, 2023 1:46:37 GMT 1
Eustace seems to have thought it through. "If the choice is between Redtusk, Ser Aubrey or Ser Daeron all fighting as we have learned to expect from each, I would favor my brother against Ser Daeron, but not the other two, though victory is never certain. If Ser Daeron were to restrain himself, my brother's chances would improve of course. Is there a risk of foul play being suspected in such a case? Yes, but even if it is obvious to ridicule, the law is what it is, it would seem that The Father made his laws suitable to protect the powerful.""Is it ideal? No. But I would imagine that my lady would settle for the best she could do to help her brother Aerion out of a similar predicament and let any consequences be the concern of tomorrow, yes?"Laena easily nods at that last point. Not only is it true, it serves her purpose. "I would indeed make a deal with the Queen of the Others herself if it would save my brother." A cold smile. "Despite all the risks I mentioned, I am willing to put my full public weight behind Ser Daeron ... if you are willing to meet my price.
"The Hightower regency." She holds up her hand, forestalling an immediate response. "You no doubt already have a preferred candidate. I do not seek to change that. But if I publicly support Ser Daeron, and if he becomes champion, and if he loses, then if your preferred candidate for the regency ... no longer has a viable path to victory, and there is not a clear winner, I want you to change your support to Lord Lothor Mullendore, as a compromise candidate none of the main candidates truly desire, but all can live with.
"If all of those conditions are not fulfilled..." a casual smile that doesn't reach her eyes and a shrug "Congratulations on gaining my services for free.
"A petty price for a brother's life, wouldn't you agree?"
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Post by Father on Apr 8, 2023 17:27:16 GMT 1
"So, your demands are that letter of credit to be burned alongside a scheme with a good chance of seeing Ser Simon face trial by combat charged with rape, provided that you are chosen to stand as the Bracken champion and hesitate for just long enough to find yourself in a position where there is no real choice but to yield?" Considering what is at stake, Ser Eustace is as calm as if he was negotiating wool prices.
"Provided that Lord Mullendore would have a chance to win, my lady, if the race is between two others, I am not inclined to throw away my voice in favor of a horse too far behind to catch up" Eustace does seem agreeable. "I wonder though, how small a thing is it really to help Lord Durwell ascend from making his friend into Lord Meadows at the expense of a mere child on the edge of The Reach to making his friend preside over the second largest richest of The Seven Kingdoms? In Dorne, we would then expect him to marry Lord Mullendore's daughter and then see the first child of that union be promised to young Lord Puppet. We would also silently think he had old Lord Jon murdered to make it all happen."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Apr 8, 2023 18:55:07 GMT 1
"Provided that Lord Mullendore would have a chance to win, my lady, if the race is between two others, I am not inclined to throw away my voice in favor of a horse too far behind to catch up" Eustace does seem agreeable. Laena nods agreement, his condition reasonable enough. "I wonder though, how small a thing is it really to help Lord Durwell ascend from making his friend into Lord Meadows at the expense of a mere child on the edge of The Reach to making his friend preside over the second largest richest of The Seven Kingdoms? In Dorne, we would then expect him to marry Lord Mullendore's daughter and then see the first child of that union be promised to young Lord Puppet. We would also silently think he had old Lord Jon murdered to make it all happen." Laena smirks slightly. "Come, Ser, you are being harsh. Yes, Lord Mullendore is Lord Durwell's friend, but to imply he has no opinions of his own seems unfounded. T'was not Lord Durwell's words which earned his reputation for wit and cunning, nor the general respect his name carries.Her smile falls like snow, and coldness rises in her voice. "And, it is not *Lord Durwell* asking this of you, and I'd thank you for not assuming that if a woman speaks a coherent sentence, it must be because a man whispered it in her ear. Make no mistake, if my plan is needed and works, and a bloody stalemate is averted, it should be *my* name on people's lips, not his." She stabs a finger downward for emphasis. "One lady, with no house backing her, who averted disaster. My plan. My deals. My! Name!" Her voice is quiet and cold, but emphatic. After a moment, she leans back, calm and collected again. "Apologies, I got a bit emotional for a moment, there."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 10, 2023 3:40:41 GMT 1
"So, your demands are that letter of credit to be burned alongside a scheme with a good chance of seeing Ser Simon face trial by combat charged with rape, provided that you are chosen to stand as the Bracken champion and hesitate for just long enough to find yourself in a position where there is no real choice but to yield?" Considering what is at stake, Ser Eustace is as calm as if he was negotiating wool prices. "Ser Rhys' life in exchange for Ser Simon's, yes. The letter of credit is my fee for getting my skull cracked and pissing blood for a week."Wildfyre was equally calm, now that he understood exactly what was being offered and what the price was. On one hand he hated dirty deals like this, but on the other hand he was getting a large debt erased and was getting at least one of the names scratched off his list.
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Post by Father on Apr 11, 2023 16:12:48 GMT 1
"I find that is far more frequently a woman whispering in the ear of the man the other way around" Eustace comments, apparently unflapped by Laena's outburst. "But everyone in Oldtown with eyes and ears open knows of the bond formed between those two when they squired together, Lord Marq will receive much credit whatever the case might be. Nor do I think he would let slip the opportunity to contribute to such a cause."
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