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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 3, 2021 22:46:19 GMT 1
[Chronologically, this happens as soon as possible after my meeting with Davos at the Appleton Tournament, and before 4 weddings and a funeral.] Laena didn't like this. What she had to do could go wrong in so many ways. While she believed her brother liked her, she didn't believe for one moment that that would stop him from hurting her, or even killing her, if he deemed it 'efficient' or 'effective'. He was certainly not beyond blackmail, which was a rather more likely outcome under the circumstances. But not only were the Gardener Killers targetting women and children (thus making it easier for others to follow suit, before the war has even properly started), but they're also targetting houses with Dornish blood. And what if they target the Starkwoods while they're on the way to nearby tourney, with Aerion bringing her kids with him to meet her? They would not be spared. No. Lord Middlebury had to be stopped. Terminated. With extreme prejudice. And to do that, she had to beg a meeting with likely one of the busiest men in the Kingdom, even if that meant she had to travel a long way. And somehow convince him to help. Father, guide my tongue today.Escalation - Audience (Bloodraven): 7d6k5+7 27 Seven Bless Status 5 & high Virtue, that's all I'll say.
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Post by Father on Aug 10, 2021 13:00:03 GMT 1
King's Landing would be a long way to go for an audience only to find that Bloodraven did not have time to attend to Laena's concerns, but such fears would have been overblown, of course, Laena's half-brother does make her wait a day longer than usually necessary, or even customary, he could actually be *that* busy, most lords and royal officers are not, but Bloodraven likely worked harder and longer than most of his peers.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 10, 2021 18:25:54 GMT 1
While it's possible it was solely due to how busy he was, Laena couldn't help but suspect that the extra wait was due to her connection to Balon, and his actions against Bloodraven's lord. Still, he did agree to meet with her, which she took as a good sign.
Finally entering his chamber, she gives a fairly casual curtsey of respect. "Thank you for agreeing to meet with me, brother. I know you must be very busy."
Once greeting were exchanged, and she was sat down, she decided to not waste any time. "To get this matter out of the way quickly before we discuss the main subject: back at Goldengrove, you asked me if Ser Balon were just a plaything to be discarded if his actions became a liability. I said he was. I just wish to quickly confirm that, yes, his actions in the Riverlands decidedly met that criteria, and I have now discarded him. Hopefully in a way that does not cause harm to House Starkwood. But," she briefly dusts her hands off before making a dismissive gesture "it is done. Any retaliation done by you and yours against him is of no concern to me.
"Now, onto the main subject I wished to talk with you about: the group I have named the 'Gardener Killers'. The group of murderers who have definitely killed the Blackbars, and probably the Bridges and Ser Jasper Flowers as well. And are likely to continue to target those of Rhoynish blood - mostly crown loyalists, for fairly obvious reasons - if they are not stopped. So I know where I need to start, have you identified them yet?" That he would, given time, was simply a given to her.
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Post by Father on Aug 11, 2021 22:55:28 GMT 1
"Ser Balon should count himself fortunate that The Brute of Bracken murdered the old Lord Blackwood" Bloodraven comments cynically. "His son still believes that The Father will see to it that justice will be served at the next opportunity. Lord Quentyn would have arranged for Ser Balon to be weighted on The Scales of Justice long before that."
"As for the murderers of Lord Blackbar, I do not as of yet have enough to act upon" A statement that tells Laena nothing about how much he actually does know.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 12, 2021 11:39:32 GMT 1
"Ser Balon should count himself fortunate that The Brute of Bracken murdered the old Lord Blackwood" Bloodraven comments cynically. "His son still believes that The Father will see to it that justice will be served at the next opportunity. Lord Quentyn would have arranged for Ser Balon to be weighted on The Scales of Justice long before that." Laena's jaw drops slightly. "A good man." She breathes, stunned, as if her brother had just revealed Lord Blackwood was a snark wearing a human skin. Before she realises what she's just said, and covers her mouth. "No insult intended." Before trying to swiftly move on. "As for the murderers of Lord Blackbar, I do not as of yet have enough to act upon" A statement that tells Laena nothing about how much he actually does know. Laena nods. "I have compared investigations with someone else who was doing their own independent investigation into the matter. Both our investigations ended up pointing at the same man, by independent routes. Good enough to convince me as to our accuracy. Unfortunately, neither of us could dig up any proof that would hold up in a court of law. But this rot needs to be excised from the realm, utterly, root and branch. Meaning not just the hand wielding the sword, but the mind that directs it as well. Before they can strike again. And maybe wipe out another house of crown loyalists.
"While your lord would not approve, and our king would likely hold the same opinion, I believe that you are the kind of man who understands the necessity of cutting rotting flesh out of the body of the realm before the rot can spread." She licks her lips nervously. "And has a discreet force capable of such an act."
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Post by Father on Aug 13, 2021 17:41:02 GMT 1
"I am not sure what that would accomplish, I hear that there remain strong forces in The Reach that would like to march on House Manwoody for their supposed vengeance killings, if someone rather more important were to find his demise at the hands of unknown assailants, what happens then?"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 14, 2021 14:03:34 GMT 1
It takes a moment for Laena to be suspicious as to why Bloodraven chose that particular example, and a moment more for her to dismiss it. What he knew or suspected didn't impact this talk today. Hopefully. "So what if it wasn't 'unknown'? What if survivors - any women and children, say - say they saw a green hand on the attackers' shields, and maybe one or two of them hear words to the effect of 'should have paid us what you owe' when they kill the lord? Create a plausible narrative, and people will believe it. Enough people, anyway."
"As for what it would accomplish, besides keeping a number of crown-loyalist Reach houses still alive, it would also help with another issue. A number of Dornish houses are not happy with Prince Maron 'buying' his bride with their independence and tax money. Reach houses with Dornish blood did not get that way through some quirk of genealogy. They married - often prominent - Dornish houses. Lord Oakheart suffered no consequence for his Vulture Hunt - and we are hardly the only people to know what happened there. What impact do you think seeing their cousins exterminated while the crown does nothing on top of that will have on their loyalty? While I doubt they'd find much common ground with the revolutionaries, they may be all too happy to sit on their hands when called to arms, and let the 'grand experiment' of Dornish integration fall apart. Stop the killing, and you stop the question as to why the crown can't - or won't - protect loyal houses."
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Post by Father on Aug 14, 2021 20:44:37 GMT 1
"I should hope that I have spent enough time at Raventree to have some authority about responding to violence with more of it" Bloodraven says coldly. "The Crown can protect by sending knights in the royal service to protect those of Rhoynar blood with their sword and with the warning of the charge of treason for attacking the royal banner, but there are many to protect, or The Crown can deliver justice in full view of the realm upon those who commit murder."
"If indeed, a lord is behind these murders, pray that he is stupid enough to have a knight lead them, capture this knight in the act and offer him to name the one who bid him do it in exchange for the mercy of the wall. A lord ending his life by the headsman's axe will be a far more effective statement than his death in ambush"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 15, 2021 22:45:18 GMT 1
Laena intuits he won't budge on that, so she instantly decides to switch back to her original plan - and simply hope Lords Oakheart and Peake aren't willing to stick their necks out for them. "As it happens, the other investigator's findings indicate exactly that - it is that lord's champion leading the killers. So, if that's the way you want to do it, I'm more than happy to oblige, though we will still need at least some of your people, and likely for a bit longer. I have a plan to determine the next target, but I cannot determine exactly when the strike will be." Hopefully, by 'compromising', and framing the idea as 'his plan', he'll be more amenable to going along with it.
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Post by Father on Aug 18, 2021 21:48:59 GMT 1
"What exactly, did my lady have in mind?"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 21, 2021 0:53:24 GMT 1
"Basically, I meet with the lord in question and drop hints - nothing incriminating for either of us of course - that my interests would be served would misfortune fall upon a particular Dornish family - I had my eye on the Woodrights, or maybe the Norridges. Open to suggestion on that front. And that I would remember those who helped me when my plan came to fruition. My lack of public affiliation and the well-known fickle nature of dragons should help me be convincing. Then, your forces and a couple of well-motivated knights I know are on protection detail. It's probably easiest if I go to the target family, tell them I've heard of the threat, and encourage them to send out a 'bait' convoy, once enough time has passed. To the lord's eyes, I'm preparing to strike in the wake of tragedy. The killers attack the bait, our forces attack and capture the killers. Trial, testify, wall, done.
"Won't be that simple, of course. But it should be workable." Unlike with Davos, where she'd finessed a few details to avoid potentially running up against his conscience, she tells her brother the full truth. He'd no doubt find out sooner or later anyway.
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Post by Father on Aug 24, 2021 18:13:36 GMT 1
Bloodraven listens intently, his pale complexion and red gaze perfectly suited to being unnerving. He takes a long thoughtful pause, perhaps slightly longer to keep up his reputation as cold and calculating.
"I think I would be a little more subtle, simply slip by information about this or that lord whom he might be inclined to target opting for a particular route to a tourney, one with a nice ambush spot, any indication that you are aware of his activities is likely to arouse suspicion, of course, such information must be true. Perhaps something like young Robyn taking every opportunity to attend tourneys near the Honeywine, worrying his mother for taking the journey alone, but the stubborn young hot-head thinks himself invincible and will not be stopped while House Starkwood cannot spare a protective entourage?"
Bloodraven adds dryly. "I should imagine the young lordling will require very little convincing to make such a tale perfectly true"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 24, 2021 23:34:03 GMT 1
Laena purses her lips, and takes her time considering matters before responding. "I could do that. There's an upcoming event where I could have a bit too much to drink and have a bit of a rant about what a damn fool he's being. But if it were just one man, do you think the champion will come himself, or just send a few men to shoot him with bows? Annoying that Lord Oakheart prevented others from investigating Ser Japer's murder, that would give us some idea." She raises a slight eyebrow to see if her brother will interject. She taps her fingers. "Maybe ... I believe I might be able convince Ser Davos Dayne to join him. Maybe with that, it would both sweeten the bait, and raise the stakes enough to ensure the champion turns up, but not so much that their force is large enough to fight their way out. And the two of them travelling together sounds plausible." I am, however, concerned about what Robyn's mother will do to me when she hears of this. "Will there be a healer among your forces deployed to this task? It's one thing were a few guardsmen to be shot down by arrows - quite another if Ser Robyn falls to them. I need House Starkwood - especially Lady Starkwood - to not be blaming me for the death of a child, when my own are staying there, with not exactly many alternatives."
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Post by Father on Aug 26, 2021 19:12:02 GMT 1
"If not for the connection between the murders of Ser Jasper and others, my suspicions would point in the direction of Lord Walgrave making himself a kinslayer, however much he would deny that Ser Jasper is any kin of his" Bloodraven remarks. "It would seem likely that he approved of the attack and would not wish for others to learn the identity of the assailants"
"These men undoubtedly have some form of leadership, and arrows may prove insufficient, particularly if Ser Robyn is wise enough to join others for companionship on the road, to ensure that he actually dies, an mounted warrior, armed and armored is likely needed, I would send more than one just to be sure."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 26, 2021 22:18:18 GMT 1
Laena nods at his comment regarding Lord Walgrave and adds her own (well, Davos's) information. "I was informed that the 'official' location of the Gardener killers during the massacre of the Blackbars was taking part in Lord Oakheart's Vulture Hunt. It would make sense if Ser Jasper's murder were 'payment for services rendered' in providing them cover. However, that means that Lord Oakheart has a vested interest in any case falling apart. Are you confident that, even if we manage to capture the knight alive and convince him to testify to save his own life, that it won't fall on ears deafened by political expediency?" She could do with something to reassure Ser Davos that he wouldn't be risking their lives for nothing, as he didn't have any real faith in her plan before.
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