|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Feb 5, 2022 4:00:01 GMT 1
I personally enjoyed the herring served at Driftmark.
"I can live with Lord Peake's disapproval much more readily than with Lord Merryweather's wrath. One means that I'll have a hard time marrying his niece, the other means that I'll have a hard time living to my next nameday."
He closes his eyes and taps his fingers in an obvious imitation of his half-sister's quirk.
"Lord Piggy has no friends, anywhere. Sure, he's got those that take his money and those who fear his wrath, but no friends. Enemies though.. he's got enemies aplenty.
Ser Daemon has stood against his blackguards time and time again, once in your defense at Summerhall even. He also has many friends who are willing to undercut the power and authority of House Merryweather on behalf of their friends, but they must know that House Starling can be friends of theirs. The vast majority of his friends and allies are good, honorable men such as Ser Aubrey Amrose or Redtusk, men that share the same values as your father. If we can show them that House Starling are their friends, they might be able to pull some strings at Highgarden and see him stripped of some of his privileges and power. Without his power or wealth his purchased friends will not stand behind him."
|
|
|
Post by Father on Feb 5, 2022 14:30:06 GMT 1
"His niece? The one like to plead until her knees bleed not to make her with child?" Lysette seems more concerned with Daeron's happiness or ability to let compassion go before expectations than anything else.
"The vast majority of his allies are men like Peake, Bittersteel and Oakheart, power hungry and using him and his appeal with these good and honorable men as tools to get whatever they want, although Lord Florent seems to be of a different sort of motivation, and I am lead to believe, not truly interested in seeing a small council lead by Bittersteel and Gormon re-enact the policies of Aegon The Unworthy."
"Redwyne, Ambrose...these are just followers, not leaders."
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Feb 5, 2022 17:49:25 GMT 1
He gives an exasperated sigh.
"We've had this argument before cousin and we can have it again once we've settled the Merryweather issue, but my point still stands. If Ser Daemon and his allies can view House Starling as sympathetic to their cause then we might be able to call on their political clout to help us undermine House Merryweather's power; however, to do this we will need to present ourselves in a more unified fashion, at least until the deed is done. Can we count on you to help us keep a united front?"
Basically he's proposing that Lysette help, or at least not stand in the way of, House Starling getting enough Fire points to lean that way so they can unlock some of the benefits of using House Fire/Blood points.
|
|
|
Post by Father on Feb 12, 2022 18:27:54 GMT 1
"Such things comes with expectations" Lysette sighs. "But one should hardly be surprised if father gets furious about his scheming daughter making suggestions that Kingsbridge might revolt against the crown in return for others to take questionable actions against Longtable, hmm?"
"But you both will have to understand that if I were to walk that path with you, it will be no more likely to end where you have hopes to lead Kingsbridge towards when the lords and knights of the realm takes stances for or against the revolt, and the disappointment from those who granted us such boons sharing this hope will come at heavy cost, and we will all have to pay it."
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Feb 13, 2022 2:54:54 GMT 1
"I have no doubt that there will be a cost to pay when all is said and done, but all transactions have a cost. As I said before, Lord Peake's disappointment is far less dangerous to us than Lord Merryweather's wrath. We can live with one, but the other will destroy us. We've gotten lucky and held off the blackguards, but all it takes is one slip up on our part and our house could be exterminated.
I for one am willing to deal with the consequences later on if it means that Lord Piggy is dead."
|
|
|
Post by Father on Feb 13, 2022 21:40:34 GMT 1
"We would need to craft the appearance that there are those at Kingsbridge having father's ear are like to be swayed by Ser Daemon's supporters putting their foot where their mouth is and take a stand against sin and depravity which King Aegon nurtured and encouraged and King Daeron seems ineffectual at reigning in" Lysette muses. "And present an image suggesting that House Starling may be suitably on the verge to be won for their cause"
"And when it turns out it was all a ruse to deal a blow to our enemy, and we might suspect that our true friends would hardly think ill of us for staging such a deception, even if it meant all their efforts to win our support for the black dragon were all for nothing"
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Feb 16, 2022 3:31:03 GMT 1
"I don't think it would be a difficult to craft that appearance. Many Companions are already known to be sympathetic to Ser Daemon, especially since he's stood in solidarity with House Starling at Highgarden and Summerhall and valiantly fought against Merryweather blackguards at Whitewalls. Lord Willem is also on good terms and of like mind with many of Ser Daemon's staunchest supporters like Redtusk and Ser Aubrey.
All we would have to do is emphasize these sympathies and make public show of House Starling being united behind these sympathies, at least until Lord Eldon is cold and dead. As you said, our true friends will forgive our facade and with the realm being as divided as it is I do not think that we will face much retribution, lest Lord Peake and his fellows push us into their enemy's camp.
|
|
|
Post by Addam Velaryon on Feb 16, 2022 4:16:25 GMT 1
"Of course, Kingsbridge would only face consequences should the revolutionaries win, and even then, they might be more favorable then whatever Lord Eldon has in mind. Perhaps they can even been convince to stay their hand should some other benefit be gain from the fall of House Merryweather."
Piggy backing of of Daeron's suggestion. "The upcoming tourneys might just present us such an opportunity. People will take note of who goes where. It will be a chance for the prominent members of the house to show some sympathy for the Black Dragon's cause without making any bold proclamations or overt actions. I could even convince Gormy to have Lord Eldon attend the other tourney, which would work to our benefit. There will be no chance that we will have an ill fated encounter with one of his blackguards, and if he makes a mess of things there, we might even find ourselves some allies in the plans to come."
|
|
|
Post by Father on Feb 16, 2022 15:37:10 GMT 1
"Where father goes, Ser Norren is like to follow and if Lord Gormon could, I am sure he would have tempted the pig with a trail of morsels to the west already." Lysette ponders. "Better perhaps to have father make no appearance at all, I would be expected to attend at Crakehall, if father can be convinced to remain at home, a difficult task for sure, but maybe the rumor that he will be so is sufficient, that might send them the wrong way, or they decide that the two of you are more tempting targets than Aemon and Roland." She grimaces, going to any tourney could lead to trouble, especially Willem going to a tourney, and controlling where those blackguards go seems an unwelcome task.
"Redtusk and Ser Aubrey are merely trophies, we still require lords to censure him, and likely sever his the leash around Peake's neck"
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Feb 19, 2022 20:06:35 GMT 1
He cocks an eyebrow in doubt.
“I love your father, but he’s almost as stubborn as you. I don’t see him passing up the chance to attend such a major tourney willingly, and the chance to face Ser Norren in a duel is likely to entice him even more.
I think an early and public announcement of his intent to attend the tourney at Crakehall, without his knowledge perhaps, and then bringing him along to Nightsong is our best course of action. That gives us more time to muster our allies and to strike at Lord Piggy. The biggest problem I can foresee is if Lord Merryweather sends blackguards to both tourneys to settle his many scores.”
|
|
|
Post by Father on Feb 21, 2022 13:42:17 GMT 1
"Or we could see about having the maester give him something that will make him sufficiently ill that he cannot attend, and then we all go where we planned to go alongside him" Lysette thinks loudly, with a vicious flash of inspiration. "That will surely make Norren attend the same place as we do."
"But this we can only do once, but should give us the opportunity to have someone younger and stronger take father's place in answering the insult Norren directed towards him, though I fear that would only buy some more time."
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Feb 23, 2022 3:51:57 GMT 1
He grimaced at her idea to poison his uncle.
"I don't like the idea of poisoning my liege lord, even if it means saving his life. If this is part of your plan my lady then I will play no part."
|
|
|
Post by Father on Feb 23, 2022 16:48:17 GMT 1
"Then we may be better served to ensure that father will answer the insult at the lists where he holds the advantage" Lysette sighs. "For that insult will be answered at the next such opportunity, unless we kill Norren first."
|
|
|
Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Feb 23, 2022 23:53:36 GMT 1
He nods in approval, "Agreed. While there's still a risk, Lord Willem can still handle himself in a saddle better than most of the Reach. Even if he loses it's unlikely that it will be in a fatal manner and if he wins it will be a public display of our house's strength and chivalry over House Merryweather's blackguards.
With your permission my lady, I would like to ride to Starpike immediately to begin negotiations with Lady Tanda, and perhaps Lord Peake. If we are to have a plan to unravel his power and kill him, we must seize the initiative and begin to enact our plans before Lord Piggy has another opportunity to attack us."
|
|
|
Post by Father on Feb 24, 2022 15:00:52 GMT 1
"I think not, it will not do to come to Starpike like a beggar in the night." Lysette shakes her head. "Also, if he wants out of the arrangement, Lord Peake will already be making schemes to that end. Broach the subject at a tourney or some other function, if he could use our aid he will signal as much."
|
|