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Post by Father on Aug 31, 2021 15:12:43 GMT 1
"Depends on who the squealing dog is, and who is his master" Bloodraven says coldly. "Lord Gormon can escape a great deal, a man with little power or admiration could quickly find any support gone, as men such as the Redwyne's are disgusted by these acts"
"Lord Walgrave will most likely avoid any scrutiny for what happened in the Red Mountains, but if the hand behind the Blackbar murders is a lord like there are dozen of others in The Reach, those who could save him from living out his days walking the wall are not like to bother so doing"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 1, 2021 15:53:06 GMT 1
Laena decides it's time to stop dancing around the subject. "And what if the master were Lord Gareth Middlebury, and the squealing dog Ser Marq Warren? Would they fight to save him, claiming the dog acted alone, or would they leave him to his fate?"
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Post by Father on Sept 5, 2021 15:18:06 GMT 1
"They would most likely be abandoned and left to rot." Bloodraven remarks coldly. "If people can be convinced he ordered the Blackbar assault, even his fellow traitors would see him as a liability for their cause and pretend that he never was an ally of theirs, let alone a friend"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 6, 2021 16:01:47 GMT 1
"And would such a target - and stopping their depredations against loyal houses - be a worthwhile investment of your people's time, in your view?"
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Post by Father on Sept 9, 2021 14:58:36 GMT 1
"If Lord Starkwood so desires, I would say it is certainly reasonable considering his recent assistance to the crown"
Pretty much cash in a Starkwood Bloodraven favor to have the needed men to set an ambush (or trade a major favor instead).
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Post by Laena Pyre on Sept 11, 2021 15:43:32 GMT 1
"Well, I cannot speak *for* Lord Starkwood, but I can certainly speak *to* him, and send you a message as to what he says. I suspect he will be more than happy to see an end to a threat to his family." She tilts her head slightly, and gives an enigmatic smile. "But to be clear: should Lord Starkwood decide against asking for your help - I have no idea why he would, but the actions of genuinely honourable people like him often confuse me - you would genuinely have no issue with having the means to prevent the continued extermination of loyal houses, and not doing so? Letting the balance of power tick ever in the rebels' favour?" Her voice isn't accusatory, rather she sounds curious about how a man like him uses power.
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Post by Father on Sept 23, 2021 13:02:42 GMT 1
"It is always a question of requiring attention, to cast my eyes upon the road to Bandallon means that I may not be able to watch Castamere"
"And I do not believe myself indispensable in catching your villain, I am lead to understand that the disappearance of far more protected knights and ladies than Ser Marq Warren has been arranged in the past"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Oct 3, 2021 16:36:46 GMT 1
"Many things are possible with the application of enough resources." She agrees. "But the acts I can accomplish with my modest stipend are sadly rather anemic. If you were so inclined as to provide me with the resources required to have a team of talented individuals at my command, I would certainly be less dependent on your attention." From her tone, she's clearly not expecting her brother to get up and throw a massive bag of gold at her feet, though she would not decline it. "Without that, well," a small smile "while in general, such a plan does not require *you*, it does require finding *a* man of means with a common interest and the correct mindset. And that is never a long list."
"And anyway, Ser Marq is replaceable. To end the threat requires ending the lord. And without catching him in the act, Ser Marq could simply deny everything in a court of law and we would be unable to prove otherwise."
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Post by Father on Oct 21, 2021 13:00:16 GMT 1
"If it is important enough for House Starkwood, I can surely ask a few friends to watch over a knight too young to have learned that marrying for love is the one privilege that the smallfolk have all to themselves."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Oct 23, 2021 16:16:01 GMT 1
A small smile, and an inclination of her head. "I will let you know. Thank you." A clear momentary hesitation before she continues. "Forgive me if this is too personal, but is that what you see in your future, too? All this fighting with your half-brother for the heart of the woman you desire, and in the end, all of you who live will be forced to wed elsewhere? In your case, likely to a lady who'd be utterly terrified of you, due to this.." she waves her hands vaguely towards him "mystique you have carefully developed for yourself." A small smile. "Or, despite all your outward cynicism, are you still hopeful that our father's blood may help you escape those shakles and give you the best of both worlds?"
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Post by Father on Oct 24, 2021 20:17:45 GMT 1
"What shall I call it? Lady Shiera toys with us both and others besides, it amuses her to watch us vie for her attentions, and yet I dance to her whims all the same." Bloodraven sighs, infatuated and yet conscious about the fact. "I am fairly sure that Bitterspeel is just a snack tangled in her web, but which else of us she might fancy as a mate or just dinner, who knows? Maybe both?"
"It would seem that I am not particularly attractive as a groom in any case, few lords wants red-eyed and paleskinned grandchildren, and had you not heard? I am a sorcerer besides!"
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Post by Laena Pyre on Oct 24, 2021 22:08:16 GMT 1
Laena gives an amused smile. "Ah, yes. All know how you can change your face, put on the likeness of a dog, or even turn into a mist." She chuckles lightly as she continues with a more dramatic tone. "Packs of gaunt gray wolves hunt down your foes, and carrion crows spy for you and whisper secrets in your ear.
"Of course, the truly funny part is that I suspect most would more likely believe any of that than believe that behind that red gaze of yours lies a rather dry and witty sense of humour." She raises an eyebrow, as if daring him to refute her allegation.
Laena sniffs. "Not that that excuses the lords. People fear what they do not understand, and you have made yourself a great mystery. There are precisely two possibilities: either you have a power few have or can defend against, or you are talented enough to make it seem like you do. Either should have lords racing each other to throw their comeliest daughters at you in hopes of securing that power for themselves." She makes a disparaging sound. "Cowards."
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Post by Father on Oct 31, 2021 18:34:41 GMT 1
"Our father liked to claim that in the eyes of a Dragon, everyone else are like sheep, meek and fearful, existing only to be ravished upon."
"I think he knew very well that such thinking might have undone the entire dynasty, and simply did not care."
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Post by Laena Pyre on Nov 1, 2021 17:09:41 GMT 1
Laena raises a wry eyebrow with a slight smirk. "Should I consider myself chastened? Why, then, do you say the lords have no interest? "They may find your looks disturbing, but they'd marry a daughter off even to a man like Lord Eldon for power, if they could but get the daughter to agree. And personally, now I've spoken with you some, and gotten used to it, I'd describe your looks less as 'unsettling', and more as 'exotically handsome'." She smirks slightly as she momentarily gathers her courage to tease him slightly. "If perhaps in need of a decent meal or ten." Couldn't let a pure compliment stand - it could go straight to his head. "You certainly have power - men whisper your name while nervously glancing around, even in the Reach. Try and claim lords do not seek all the power they can get, and I will outright laugh.
"So, do you honestly believe that the reason for your lack of marital options lies with *you*? I stand by my claim that it isn't. You can imply an insult that I'm thinking like our father in saying that all you like, I think you're just starting to believe your own legend a little too much."
"You are just a man." While she tries to hide it, when she finishes speaking, she's a little nervous. Okay, maybe a bit more. While she doubts he'd hurt her directly, she is - albeit politely - arguing with him. Something he probably doesn't experience that much, especially from people not his superiors. Gwenys likely too polite, Mya likely too frivolous. Just The Game to keep him company. No wonder he saw himself as so unique and special.
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Post by Father on Nov 3, 2021 20:22:15 GMT 1
"Sometimes it helps having huge tracts of land"
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