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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Mar 30, 2022 18:41:42 GMT 1
Daeron nods his head in acknowledgement, "Naturally you'd want confirmation, the Blackwoods earned a reputation for being devious long before Bloodraven was sired. Send someone as a backdoor mediator on the matter, someone you can trust but who also can get the truth out of the Blackwoods. I hear that Lord Harlton has yet to take sides and is a trustworthy individual, if he is here he could be a good option. Otherwise House Tully might be a good mediator on this matter if they can be convinced that the Blackwoods and Brackens working together on this is the first step to peace in the Riverlands. House Blackwood would also be less likely to renege on their word if it meant deliberately angering their liege lord. That said, this young Lord Blackwood seems to be the earnest sort, at least when acting on his own."
"Yes, prosecuting Ser Simon for his crimes against your family will likely anger the Tarlys, but if the roles were reversed and Ser Otho had raped Lord Tarly's twin daughters do you have any doubt that he would hesitate to punish your son? What makes House Tarly so much greater than House Bracken that they shouldn't equally fear your wrath? Besides, forcing the Blackwoods to publicly defend a blackguard such as Ser Simon during a very well-attended peace negotiation is a winning strategy.
Do you think they'd like to stand up in front of the Riverlands and declare that they tacitly approve of his unprovoked assault on noblewomen? Your nieces would become a rallying cry to unite the Riverlands against the Blackwoods for their attempt to normalize such violence against highborn women. Personally I don't think that Bloodraven would take that risk–he's too cold and calculating for that. He'd probably cut loose Ser Simon and let him deal with the consequences rather than drag what's left of the Blackwood reputation through the mud."
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Post by Father on Apr 4, 2022 14:14:34 GMT 1
The reply to Daeron, is the dreaded "I shall take it under advisement, ser"
Which most likely means Lord Bracken will not lift a finger to pursue the matter, which would require, Daeron, Robyn and whoever else they recruit to either obtain the Blackwood guarantees that Lord Bracken asks for or otherwise force his hand.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 7, 2022 2:38:38 GMT 1
He attempted to keep a straight face at Lord Bracken's calm rejection of his proposal, but the clenched fist at his side betrayed his true feelings. "I appreciate you taking the time to receive me my lord. Should I find more concrete guarantees from the Blackwoods I will bring them to you immediately."His meeting with Lord Bracken was a surprising failure. Perhaps he had grown too cautious in his older age? Daeron would need to find someone who had a bit more fire in their belly, someone who was known for being a vindictive bastard who would want retribution from someone who had wronged his family and their name–Bittersteel. However, Ser Aegor could be unpredictable and had surprised Daeron before, he would need to find a way to hold the Blackwoods to their word. Ser Robyn had been successful with that once before, perhaps he would be lucky again. Reuniting with the Redwolf he explained that Lord Bracken wanted better assurances from the Blackwoods that they would hold true to their word. "Find a way to hold the Blackwoods to their word in a way that will make Lord Bracken believe them. I think getting the Tullys involved might be prudent, that way neither side can break their oaths to prosecute Ser Simon without risking angering their liege lord. In the middle of these peace proceedings neither of them would be so foolish as the political weight of an angry House Tully is enough to sway those assembled at Harrenhaal.
I have another thread to follow in the meantime, one that will be best served by my presence, alone."
Although Bittersteel wasn't the head of House Bracken he was enormously influential in its politics and might be the key to forcing Lord Jon's hand into prosecuting Ser Simon, especially if Ser Robyn failed at securing Blackwood assurances. Justice-Audience w/ Bittersteel: 6d6k4+8 22
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Post by Father on Apr 13, 2022 15:12:38 GMT 1
Bittersteel did not acquire his moniker on account of his cheery disposition, Daeron finds him with his sights set on the next battle, discussing the depravities of Bloodraven with some other Riverknights, the "pale sorcerer" vile tricks of trying to make Bracken Forces assault pious knights come to defend the holy places from the ravages of war should not be idly forgotten just because Ser Parmen wisely saw through the ruse. He does not immediately seem to take proper note of Daeron.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 13, 2022 18:19:15 GMT 1
Daeron was a far cry from what could be considered a master manipulator, but he had enough low cunning–a "gift" from his late father if one could call it that–to know that forming an argument based off of pre-existing prejudices and opinions was a path to success and he knew a few things about Bittersteel. He hated Bloodraven, he hated weakness, and that his hatred was the most powerful force in the Riverlands. If he could yoke that hatred to his current goal, then Ser Simon's balls wouldn't stand a chance.
Joining his half brother and the assembled knights, he waits for a pause in their discussion before interjecting.
"Just as the light of the sun scatters the spiders and worms, the light of truth will scatter the power of deceitful sorcerers and the more truth we cast upon Bloodraven the weaker he gets. We have an opportunity here at Harrenaal to expose his falsehoods and deceptions to a large audience and I think we need to go after every lie and trick that he's attempted to pass off in this war. His attempts at the Septry of the Shattered Rock, Ser Simon's "trial" at Raventree Hall, the depredations of the Roughneck and Ironhand, the attempt on my life, he's likely behind all of them and we should press him on every point that we can prove."
Although Daeron had serious doubts that Bloodraven was actually behind the assassination attempt on him, he knew that Bittersteel thought Bloodraven responsible and that was good enough to get him fired up.
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Post by Father on Apr 17, 2022 19:50:16 GMT 1
Bittersteel would not let an opportunity to speak ill of his half-brother pass by, but to compare his stubborness with a mule would appear to be a grave insult. To the mule. The bait of Ser Simon he does not take, instead doubling down on the tactics of The Shattered Rock and Blackbuckle, and should Daeron force the issue to the front of the conversation, he hardens and dismisses the matter as one that has been settled already, by the laws of gods and men, Ser Simon has been found innocent, but it is just like Bloodraven to sow discord in Lord Bracken's camp and push for expending energy and influence on a matter most futile while he may focus his efforts on manipulating the fool Butterwell into granting victory to the Blackwoods by Daeron the Falseborn's decree, victory in a war Bloodraven himself started. Bittersteel Zealot goes brrrrrr: 6d6k4 14Failed Zealot (Blackfyre Cause) test means no luck at all for Daeron.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 18, 2022 3:07:56 GMT 1
"Will you really allow one of our half-brother's agents to shamelessly harm your family and then walk away free for it? Permitting one transgression only invites another and taking his balls sends a message to those who would think to cross House Bracken.
Regardless of that, the evidence against Ser Simon's rape is strong and likely to receive lots of attention from Lord Butterwell–the man has daughters as well–and if the daughters of Lord Bracken can be raped without consequence, who is to say that Lord Butterwell's can't be? The Lord Hand is not so clever a man that he will understand the intricacies of a plot in which Bloodraven fooled our scouts and nearly tricked us into attacking a sept. That's a confusing narrative and difficult to prove, unlike a drunkard raping his captives who are still being held captive.
If you want sympathy from Lord Butterwell then go for the narrative that he's capable of following and empathizing with. Better yet, force the Blackwoods into a position in which they must publicly defend that lout's actions and watch the Falseborn's support dry up among the whole of the Riverlands."
Can Daeron attempt an Incite roll to activate Bittersteel's Vindictive quality (I assume that he's got Vindictive at least) since it's not diametrically opposed to his Zealot quality?
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Post by Father on Apr 20, 2022 21:51:09 GMT 1
Ser Aegor holds Butterwell in very low regards, good thing the Falseborn has that weakling as hand, the fool is so adverse to step on anyone's toes that he annoys everyone. Besides, Bloodraven have almost certainly a contingency in place to block any acquiescence to have a retrial for Ser Simon, he was already found innocent once. The realm will not be bothered with Lord Blackwood dismissing it as a test of a young lord's authority and that he succesfully passes it. Whatever blow suffered from the sensibilities of the knights of summer will be like a woman's feeble slap compared to the clenched fist provoked by letting the man go in the first place. Truthfully, the only thing Lord Blackwood stands to lose is the respect for his authority by those who sees the rape of some Bracken girls as just another incident among thousands in the bloody history between Black and Bracken.
And the Blackwoods knows it, fools sometimes steer their houses on paths away from those who serves their interest, Lord Blackwood may be a fool, placing himself in the thick of the fighting was the act of a silly boy, but his advisers are formidable, Ironhand, Bloodraven, Ser Morgarth. The first two rotten to the core for a certainty, but underestimate them and find your doom.
Perhaps this assessment might seem harsh to a Reachman, but The Red Fork might as well be named for the blood shed between Bracken and Blackwood as the color given by mud and silt, there have been times where a captured Bracken girl might serve as entertainment for any man at Raventree wanting release until she died from the abuse or granted mercy. In some eras, the Blackwoods were all like The Ironhand and The Brackens all like Ser Otho, a man might wonder how both houses have survived one another for so long.
Simon hasn't really slighted Bittersteel personally, so not so, no.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Apr 24, 2022 17:24:38 GMT 1
Mind racing to at least harvest something from his efforts, Daeron pivots.
"If Ser Simon cannot get judgement from a trial, then we should at least try him in the streets. Have every singer and gossip between Dorne and The Wall blacken the reputation of Ser Simon and his Blackwood patrons as brutes who rape noblewomen, ravage smallfolk, and wantonly burn mills. Let the Brackens and their allies be the heroes who take towns without retribution and send reinforcements to shore up the defenses of beleaguered septs.
As you said, such stories might turn fewer heads in the Riverlands where such lurid violence is commonplace, but Southron chivalry will certainly be affronted by the numerous war crimes committed by monsters in Blackwood service–the Ironhand, Roughneck, and Ser Simon–and if the Falseborn and his Hand act as expected and grant them a more favorable settlement then we can tell tales of the Iron Throne implicitly endorsing such atrocities. If you can control the narrative of this pocket war and beat Bloodraven at his own game then we shall see scores of knight flock to our cause hoping to vindicate wrongs and stand beside defenders of septs."
Irritated that his expectations for justice had diminished to Bittersteel spreading mean rumors about Ser Simon, Daeron had no other leads to pursue and could only hope that Ser Robyn had managed to gain stronger assurances from the Blackwoods that they could give to Lord Bracken, otherwise it looked like this window of opportunity was set to close.
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Post by Father on May 1, 2022 22:52:13 GMT 1
Singers are moved by gold, Bittersteel seems not to like them much, but recognizes their worth all the same.
Though he doubts any song can help their cause, the shock value of whatever Ser Simon did or did not do pales in comparison to Blackwood lies sung about Riverthorn, but coin in the right ministrels's hand might indeed turn The Reacher Knights of Summer against the man himself. Though what will that accomplish? Long lines of challengers at the lists? Bittersteel scoffs at the notion, besides, Ser Simon is formidable enough with the lance as to lay claim that The Warrior hardly favors his accusers. Apparently, jousting prowess makes a Reacher Knight an authority on matters one should think those who train their mind rather than their horsemanship would be better suited to handle.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on May 1, 2022 23:27:29 GMT 1
"If I wanted to see Ser Simon knocked from a saddle at every Southron tourney, I would simply remind Redtusk that he exists.
The whole purpose of my plan is to tie Ser Simon's action to the Blackwoods as a whole and make his outrages part of a greater narrative that includes the rape of Blackbuckle and other Blackwood crimes. Exposing and amplifying the atrocities committed by the Blackwoods is our best chance to recruit knights and lords to the Blackfyre cause by showing that the Blackwoods and the Iron Throne are giving tacit approval to carry them out–this is of course in contrast to our civilized capture of Mudgrave and Pennytree. Moreover, many of the crimes that the Blackwoods committed stir anger rather than fear since they were razing defenseless towns and raping defenseless girls so spreading the news of their war crimes won't cow men into submission, but incite them to take up arms against the patrons of those blackguards.
A few bags of gold to singers and bards to turn the opinion of entire Reach against the Blackwoods will be the best money that House Bracken has ever spent, far cheaper than hiring sellswords or building fortifications. Hell, even if it just turns the opinion of Lord Tyrell, who has a daughter the same age as Lady Sarra and Lady Jeyne by the way, that could change the outcome of the entire war to come.
If Lord Tarly is incensed at his son's portrayal as a blackguard then it will be at those in the Reach spreading the word of his dishonorable actions, he won't be able to point a finger back at you."
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Post by Father on May 7, 2022 23:28:00 GMT 1
Bittersteel shakes his head dismissively, the first lie wins, and if Daeron had not hired singers before riding into Battle Valley to be a gloryhound and needlessly give The Hightowers cause to dislike him and all he stands for, his efforts will be too late to matter.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on May 11, 2022 19:00:19 GMT 1
He simply shrugs and tries to not allow Bittersteel's deflections get to him.
"If our foresight was as keen as our hindsight I imagine that many things here in the Riverlands would have gone differently.
Nevertheless brother I wish you all the fortune in crafting your arguments to present to the Lord Hand. As I said, I think sticking any crimes to our pale half-sibling concerning Shattered Rock will be a near impossibility, but valorizing our own efforts to 'reinforce' the sept would be a powerful contrast to the depredations of the Ironhand and Roughneck. A simple narrative for a simple man."
Leaving Bittersteel's "war room" he ran his tongue around the inside of his mouth, as if he was trying to get rid of a sour taste still left in his mouth. While political machinations could be exciting, the inability to execute a simple matter of justice against an obvious criminal was beyond frustrating. At the peace conference he would voice his opinions for sure, but without the backing of any significant members of the Bracken camp he doubted that his voice or votes would carry the weight needed to see any justice done. If Ser Simon was to suffer for his crimes Daeron needed to find another way to make him pay.
Is the mechanic for spreading a rumor in the off-season the same as spreading one in Chronicle One?
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Post by Father on May 13, 2022 23:01:49 GMT 1
Should be, may have updated those rules a little, also working on some cloak and dagger stuff in preparation for Oldtown where rumors and singers is part of the menu.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on May 17, 2022 1:51:10 GMT 1
Seeing that he won't get anywhere with this lot, Daeron looks to the future to find a way to punish Ser Simon and his wicked patrons.
/scene for Daeron
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