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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jan 29, 2022 8:13:45 GMT 1
At Whitegrove Lord Gormon had come to believe the time for drastic action was at hand. What was the point of fighting with honor if you lost? After all it was the victors who wrote the history books and Balon wanted to be remembered more as the Hero of the Rosewood than the Ravager of Riverthorn even if the latter was more true than the former.
Balon sat in thought as he waited for Lord Gormon. Much had happened since they last had time to talk. The war. Laena telling him about the rumor Gormon spread to quash the "vicious rumor" of his involvement at Riverthron. The official betrothal of his sister and Preston Oakheart. His knee bounced due to nerves, wondering what Gormon would think of his actions. Fireball had certainly disapproved, his displeasure shown at the Stone Hedge camps and the melee at Appleton.
Balon thought back to Whitegrove. Marriages proposed, alliances and friendships made. What could they do to strengthen their cause. The Tarlys came to mind. Lord Alekyne would certainly want his son protected even if he was a drunk and an embarrassment. The Hightower regency was almost at hand. Doing anything and everything to ensure it went their way was paramount. Lastly, there were the blackmailers. Balon would have to mention that to Gormon. Laena had found nothing and he wanted to be extra sure there wasn't someone lying out there in the weeds, waiting to pounce at a moment's weakness.
Balon was finally shown to Gormon, "My lord, it's good to see you. We missed your leadership in the Riverlands."
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Post by Father on Jan 30, 2022 0:27:31 GMT 1
"There were already too many thinking of themselves leaders at The Trident, when instead they should have followed. And no lack of matters to attend to on The Mander, most wars are won before they even start, not in the field, but that makes for poor songs." Gormon replies in the tell-tale tone of disapproval quite characteristic of him when any of his family or charges makes a foolish suggestion.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Jan 30, 2022 8:34:18 GMT 1
"There were already too many thinking of themselves leaders at The Trident, when instead they should have followed. And no lack of matters to attend to on The Mander, most wars are won before they even start, not in the field, but that makes for poor songs." Gormon replies in the tell-tale tone of disapproval quite characteristic of him when any of his family or charges makes a foolish suggestion. Balon let out an exasperated sigh, "I was being polite not sincere. The art of etiquette isn't completely lost on me." Balon was annoyed by the tone of his cousin. Of course he knew Gormon wasn't needed in Battle Valley. "There's a reason I asked Fireball and not you to come." Gormon was one of the better knights in the Reach but battle strategy was not his forte. I don't know how much influence Balon had in Fireball going to the Riverlands but he did pick him in the River Runs Red Event as the NPC to join so I'm going off of that. "But you're a man with limited time and unlimited problems in need of solutions so if you'd like me to dispense with the pleasantries and get straight to it so be it." Balon idolized his cousin, that much was obvious but he'd come back from the Riverlands a little more raw and on edge. "How do you plan to turn the events of Battle Valley to our advantage?" There was one person Balon had in mind. "Simon Tarly may be a drunk that's incapable of controlling his urges but his idiocy has created an opportunity for us to exploit. If we're lucky the loyalists will geld him and we'll accept House Tarly to our cause with open arms. If not Lord Alekyne will want his son protected. You once offered your daughter to Ser Simon. Why not Lady Joanna now that Tanda is betrothed to another. Perhaps an offer to take Ser Simon into your house or some other goodwill gesture." Balon thought back to Whitegrove. "Ser Daemon went to great lengths to bury the feud between Ser Simon and the Redwynes. I'm sure you've thought of a way to use that to our advantage. The Tarlys may be devoid of mirth but they make up for it tenfold with their prowess on the battlefield.""There is also the fact the Blackwoods and their allies were much more brutal in their prosecution of the war. The Ironhand, Ser Mikel, and of course Bloodraven's attack on Riverthorn." Balon gave Gormon a look that said I know what you did but don't confirm it. "Do you think there's a way to use that with some of the more chivalrous knights and lords still on the fence. Lord Owen for example."
As they talked Balon brought up another topic, "On the subject of matters within the Reach I was told Bandallon now has a regent that is loyal to King Daeron. That'll make our task at Oldtown more difficult. How can I help ensure the bannermen support the right candidate. Have you settled on someone to support? Lady Melara seems to share her late husband's politics but lacks your skill in intrigue. Ser Abelar might be a better candidate but is young and unproven . My cousin Lady Lysette is doing her best win a betrothal to him but I don't know if her honeyed words are enough to sway him to our cause." |
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Post by Father on Jan 30, 2022 14:33:38 GMT 1
"For once, it would be good if you stopped giving me grief, how much butchery do you think you can do before I am unable to protect you? Were you not my kin, I would have stood by and let them have your head." Gormon appears none too pleased. "And if the Blackwoods caves in to the demands of the young knights of summer to turn Ser Simon over to the crown for a review of his crimes, it will be because House Bracken first demanded that that they do so, Lord Alekyne is far from enough of a fool to not learn of it, and it is just like Bloodraven to make us believe that Lord Blackwood, a foolish boy of six and ten with his head full of noble illusions will allow it only to see us all turned to mummers as he turns out to be like most lords, proud and prickly, unwilling to admit that his first ruling of Ser Simon being guilty of no such rape was wrong"
"And no, Ser Simon, like you, are now hated in The Reach, it is bad enough to feed a daughter to the pigs and be revealed as lacking the courage to face Lord Eldon's wrath, I need not compound it by bonding with another rapist"
"I might consider supporting Lady Rhonda, The Redwynes look after one of their own, and will split the allied vote if we aim for another, all the while Lord Rowan and his friends will be united behind Ser Raymun who would be a far worse alternative than Hightower passively waiting for the Longthorn to call the banners."
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Feb 3, 2022 7:53:59 GMT 1
"For once, it would be good if you stopped giving me grief, how much butchery do you think you can do before I am unable to protect you? Were you not my kin, I would have stood by and let them have your head." Gormon appears none too pleased. Balon was resigned in his response, "It's ok, you don't have to lie to me Lord Gormon. You protect me because you want to use me in the war to come. I'm one of the better swordsmen in the Reach, I'm an excellent field commander, and I'm willing to do the ugly work that needs to be done." There was a bit of melancholy in his voice, "I'm a weapon you and Fireball have forged and I accept that." The moment of self-pity passed and Balon straightened his posture, his face neutral. "I'm sorry for my actions. My desire to win overrides my common sense. I will do better." Balon was sincere though he doubted Gormon cared. "And if the Blackwoods caves in to the demands of the young knights of summer to turn Ser Simon over to the crown for a review of his crimes, it will be because House Bracken first demanded that that they do so, Lord Alekyne is far from enough of a fool to not learn of it, and it is just like Bloodraven to make us believe that Lord Blackwood, a foolish boy of six and ten with his head full of noble illusions will allow it only to see us all turned to mummers as he turns out to be like most lords, proud and prickly, unwilling to admit that his first ruling of Ser Simon being guilty of no such rape was wrong" "I might consider supporting Lady Rhonda, The Redwynes look after one of their own, and will split the allied vote if we aim for another, all the while Lord Rowan and his friends will be united behind Ser Raymun who would be a far worse alternative than Hightower passively waiting for the Longthorn to call the banners." Balon paused, "Unless there's something you're not telling me."
Balon stroked his goatee, "I know of some of the positions the Hightower bannermen have taken. Is there something we can do to ensure they all rally behind Lady Melara?" |
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Post by Father on Feb 3, 2022 16:06:53 GMT 1
"I don't lie to you, boy!" Gormon turns angry at that accusation. "You are just the one man, and you are no dragonrider, or a lord that might call up hundreds of levies and dozens of knights"
"Attempting to have the Blackwoods pursue Simon's gelding while The Brackens holds back? No, this will surely not happen. If The Brackens do nothing, Lord Blackwood's judgement will stand, and the only Tarly stupid enough to be unhappy about it is Simon himself,"
"Lady Rhonda as a regent is likely not going to actively take part in the war to come."
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Feb 6, 2022 8:30:50 GMT 1
"I don't lie to you, boy!" Gormon turns angry at that accusation. "You are just the one man, and you are no dragonrider, or a lord that might call up hundreds of levies and dozens of knights"
Gormon's anger surprised him and in a way made him feel better about himself. Balon had always assumed that while family, he was just another pawn to be used by his cousin. I've misjudged him. "I've offended you my lord and I apologize. It's good to hear that you don't lie to me." Despite his apology being sincere Balon's vanity couldn't let go of the 'just one man' comment. "It's true that I'm just one man who is neither a dragonrider nor a lord with levies and knights to call upon. But I did recruit more Reachmen for Battle Valley than any other supporter of the true king. I won the Tactician's tournament at Whitewalls and excluding Fireball am the equal to any battle commander. I proved that by taking Pennytree and turning Ironhand's ambush at Blackbuckle into a slaughter of his own soldiers."
"When the rebellion comes I will do everything in my power to help Ser Daemon win but in the meantime, as you know, a shadow war is being fought. I want to help. You know my skillset, give me something I can do to advance our cause." He expected an answer of 'stop making trouble' but hoped there'd be an assignment as well. "Attempting to have the Blackwoods pursue Simon's gelding while The Brackens hold back? No, this will surely not happen. If The Brackens do nothing, Lord Blackwood's judgement will stand, and the only Tarly stupid enough to be unhappy about it is Simon himself,"
Balon wanted to continue to make the case for using Simon's actions as a catalyst to bring the Tarlys into the Blackfyre camp but knew he'd find no way to convince Gormon to help and dropped the subject. I'll have to find a different way. Instead he switched to a different monster. "I heard what happened to the Hastwycks." Balon had talked to Lady Tanda about her upcoming nuptials but that'd been before the deaths of Lord Kevan and his retinue. "I have a question but I 'm not asking the father of Lady Tanda, I'm asking Lord Gormon. If you had any ability to dethrone Lord Eldon would you do it before the wedding or after Lady Tanda was pregnant with the heir to Longtable?""Lady Rhonda as a regent is likely not going to actively take part in the war to come." |
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Post by Father on Feb 10, 2022 12:23:52 GMT 1
"And what skills other than breaking things do you actually have? A sheathed weapon is as effective a tool in times of transient peace as one drawn. The man who has drawn his is more predictable and will seem weak if he uses it not. Just as a hostage is better when the threat is implied, if you put a knife to the throat, you risk having to make the kill for nothing, and then you have no hostage, or you show yourself without the stomach to make the kill, and all your demands will fall on deaf ears."
"The question is would I do so at all, a vengeful Lady Kyra could be just as bad as her brother, only more predictable, but if this could be avoided, better before as she would be useless to us as a wet nurse, and unhappy until his demise."
"Everyone will have their own opinions and ambitions, only the young think in terms of us against them, most people, even I, only think in terms of what they can gain, and all the rest is pretending that our cause is just. There are a minority of vocal fanatics, but they are all fools, sometimes useful, sometimes not, often dangerous to both sides."
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Feb 24, 2022 8:51:20 GMT 1
"And what skills other than breaking things do you actually have? A sheathed weapon is as effective a tool in times of transient peace as one drawn. The man who has drawn his is more predictable and will seem weak if he uses it not. Just as a hostage is better when the threat is implied, if you put a knife to the throat, you risk having to make the kill for nothing, and then you have no hostage, or you show yourself without the stomach to make the kill, and all your demands will fall on deaf ears." Gormon wasn't wrong. Besides warfare and fighting Balon's skillset was limited and he doubted bedding a Great Bastard would be considered a useable skill. "I have the stomach to do the ugly work that requires doing. More importantly I keep my mouth shut." Balon held up a hand before Gormon could interject, "But I take your point. I just assumed with you fomenting rebellion there was something I could help with. Track down someone. Deliver a message." The way Balon said message was less literal and more figurative. "A covert offer to someone considering a change in allegiance." He sighed. He wanted to help but wasn't sure what he could for his cousin that would be a benefit. "But if you deem it best for me to do nothing then I'll wait until called upon.""The question is would I do so at all, a vengeful Lady Kyra could be just as bad as her brother, only more predictable, but if this could be avoided, better before as she would be useless to us as a wet nurse, and unhappy until his demise." In Balon's fantasy Longtable (sans Lord Eldon) fought for Blackfyre but so many things would have to go right for that to happen made it a near impossibility. "Everyone will have their own opinions and ambitions, only the young think in terms of us against them, most people, even I, only think in terms of what they can gain, and all the rest is pretending that our cause is just. There are a minority of vocal fanatics, but they are all fools, sometimes useful, sometimes not, often dangerous to both sides." Balon knew the Daverhyls would be an issue, most likely the Blackbars too. But those houses could be divided. Guyard's quest for power and his cousin's desire to seek justice for the murder of their parents. Relating this to Vintage Year Event. Would nominating Gormon allow him to gain secrets to do what Balon suggested? i.e. dig up dirt on the Hightower bannermen and leverage that to support? |
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Post by Father on Feb 24, 2022 23:55:02 GMT 1
"The Hightowers are near as powerful as The Tyrells, and their banners are equally so, they just cannot truly compete with Highgarden for the number of them" Gormon ponders. "The Costaynes marry Butterwells, and Cuy, Daverhyl, Blackbar and Mullendore are not far behind in prestige. They have their wants and needs as everyone else, and joining our cause is a very big ask, more will be required than dangling revelations of bastards. Lands must usually be offered, someone else's land, a neighbor siding with the falseborn."
"Fomenting a rebellion will be expensive, win or lose"
As for Lord Eldon, his response is rather predictable. "I prefer having to pretend not to know than to be surprised by something I do not like or could have used to my advantage if made aware of it."
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