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Post by Father on Jan 2, 2023 19:27:34 GMT 1
Nightsong performance about love between Daemon and Daenarys.
Anonymized, it's a Prince and a Princess deeply in love, but denied it because the king feared the prince.
House Caron has always been a proud patron of singers, and never a feast without a memorable performance. To regale the esteemed guests of the tourney, Lord Pearse treats them to a duet, a young man and woman, in appearance both are a feast for the eyes and perhaps a source of envy depending on one's dispositions, but it is their voices that binds the hall as if under a spell.
Through the song, a story is weaved, a legend from ancient Dorne before the coming of the Rhoynar, a tale of love between a princess and a young knight of a pure royal lineage, fostered by the king, and treated by him as the son he would chose if he could. The king is happy to see the blossoming romance, so that he can make his ward properly into his own son, granting him lands and titles befitting of the hand of a princess, and makes promises that they shall be wed.
But this is not to be, as the king's ship is lost at sea, and his successor, a conniving craven, soft of belly and without the strength of arms to properly wield a sword rejects the promises made by his father, and instead brokers a union with a northern king, following the old heathen gods and their sinful customs.
On the wedding tourney, the knight challenges and humiliates the foreign king and all his false knights, but to no avail, tears are seen on the bride's face as she is dragged naked to be raped and then brought far away. Meanwhile, darkness descends upon the realm as the king enforces harsh taxation to supply an army of foreign barbarians, moving from lord to lord in endless progress to make them destitute and weak, one by one they fail to pay their taxes and are removed to be replaced by one of the king's thugs.
In the end, the knight finally is convinced to take up arms against the one with whom he was raised together with as a brother and with great remorse he leads the charge into the royal bodyguard, giving his own life to rid the realm of Tyranny.
Optional Knowledge (Special) TN 12
-Pick the corresponding specialty rank as appropriate (training penalty may be prudent in some cases) depending on your exposure and interest when it comes to songs and tales, particularly such that might be sung by the Stony Dornish and in the Marches.
-Gain +1 to cunning test per DoS to recognize certain "embellishments"
Optional Cunning (Logic) TN 12
-Critical Failure: You fail to see the underlying agenda and might thus be affirmed in any belief you may harbor about the need to overthrow King Daeron.
-Simple Failure: A fine performance, but it is obviously chosen to fit the crowd.
-Success: I smell a Peake?
It may be possible to use rumors and social manipulation to serve the ends of the patron of the arts that is at work here. Or perhaps, foil them.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jan 31, 2023 4:19:36 GMT 1
Daeron was thoroughly entertained by the performance in the hall, the singers, the costumes, the music–but most of all he loved the story. Not only did it affirm his previously held biases, but it also was inspiring enough that he almost wanted to grab his horse and ride to King's Landing that moment to overthrow his namesake. Almost. Though it was a magnificent performance, even he could see that it was little more than some fable made up for purposes of propaganda, not that he disagreed with that. Perhaps he could use some of his tourney winnings to sponsor a small tour of the singers throughout the Stormlands and the Reach, there certainly were plenty of his fellow Companions who would find it to be a moving story.
The Nightsong-Cunning (Logic) TN 12: 4d6k3 13 (1 DOS) He's interested in his options to serve the arts, and maybe its patron(s). |
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Post by Father on Feb 12, 2023 13:39:36 GMT 1
If Daeron wanted to have these singers pass through inns and taverns, coin would indeed help greatly, but the audience would be men who would be pressed into their lord's levies and mostly would prefer not to go at all, and whose chief concern would be getting back unharmed and hopefully find farm and family unscathed.
To influence the knights and lords, these singers would need invitations into their halls, and most lords would likely suspect what sort of performance they would put on if Daeron was doing the promoting. It does seem likely to Daeron that Starpike already have thought about it, he did sponsor a play at Highgarden with similar motivations, most likely another form of show at another place for the sake of variety. But assumptions are wrong more often than one would think.
The effective avenue would be to talk up the performance to one's peers here and now, although most of the hall might as well wear black coats already.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Mar 1, 2023 23:15:01 GMT 1
The men of the Reach, he assumed, already were sympathetic to Ser Daemon and apt to join his cause. The Stormlands in his eyes, however, lacked the restlessness and resentment against the Crown. The Baratheons seemed to be solid loyalists, but like with House Reyne in the Westerlands powerful rivals might be willing to buck their lord paramount to join a righteous cause.
Bit by bit he worked his way through the crowd, avoiding any knights wearing a stag, and attempted to amplify the real message of the performance to anybody who would listen in the hopes that he could sway the undecided and bolster the resolve of his allies.
Would there be any test to sway the minds of those present?
Also, would there be any hedge knights or freeriders present in taverns or inns? Peasants aren't likely to join the cause, but hedge knights might, especially if they think they could get a reward at the end of it. Perhaps a few modifications to the song might make such promises of reward more apparent to the casual listener.
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Post by Father on Mar 4, 2023 20:10:39 GMT 1
Hmmm, the hearts and minds of hedge knights are likely not important in the great scheme of things.
Those present, the complicating factor is not "wasting time" with people already committed but likely without knowing so because Stormlanders. And since Daeron knows it's all bullshit, Deception says hi, so can try:
Chance TN 9
Awareness (Empathy) TN 9
Deception (Act) TN 9
Cunning (logic) TN 9
Status (Reptuation) TN 9
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Mar 5, 2023 18:20:22 GMT 1
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Post by Father on Mar 7, 2023 16:14:55 GMT 1
Daeron meets some who are quite enthralled by his words, one green knightly whelp declaring that he will gather six others to ride to king's landing to challenge King Daeron to a trial of seven like against Maegor The Cruel, hopefully he is sobered enough in the morning to abandon the scheme, or failing to find six other such fools.
Unfortunately, all of these were already committed to the cause, making Daeron's efforts rather fruitless. Other than his attempt at persuading Ser Byron Buckler, though hardly the fruits he set out to harvest. Already halfway into his cups, Ser Byron starts laughing uncontrollably at him, admonishing the "Green Reacher Boy" for falling for that little charade as if it was the Seastar herself flashing a suggestive smile at the guy behind him before turning to leave.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Mar 7, 2023 17:27:20 GMT 1
Perhaps Daeron has spent too much time in the Reach where such an insult demanded satisfaction. Perhaps he was just an ass with a predilection for violence. Either way it seemed like this green knight was trying to pick a fight and wound or no Daeron wasn’t one to shy away from conflict.
“A cutting jape, did you come up with that yourself or did you discover it at the bottom of your cup?”
“Either way I say we settle this like men in the Round of 8, I’m sure the tourney master will have no qualms with us being matched against one another.”
His face split into an absolute shit-eating grin as he taunted Ser Byron knowing fully that the cocky Stormlander hadn’t come anywhere near qualifying.
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Post by Father on Mar 7, 2023 23:32:55 GMT 1
"I am not sure if I heard that right, ser!" Redtusk shouts from the other end of the table, indoor voice not exactly a thing that man was associated with. A wide grin forming on his face as he waits for those around to settle down with anticipation, no stranger to stirring up drama, but all in good sport of course. "Did you just offer him to challenge you for your place in the round of 8?"Judging from people's faces, it would appear that Redtusk had him trapped. Few knights would dare, but here was one who made no such calculations, he did what was right when he needed to, and the rest of the time he acted on impulse driven by whatever triggered his fancy. At least he does not stand around to gloat, his attentions already being drawn to the comely enough serving girl he waves over for more ale, his eyes seeking hers in a manner suggesting his interests now included more than beer.
Taunt Daeron by simple intrigue: 6d6k4+2 19That is probably sufficient, Daeron being furious allows simple intrigue. This might not qualify to put Redtusk on the vindictive list (but...maybe if Daeron falls for it and loses), Byron much more likely I guess.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Mar 16, 2023 4:02:34 GMT 1
The angry flush in his face was impossible to hide, Daeron didn't like it when smart-ass comments got him in trouble, but his pride was too great to ignore the challenge.
With a clearing of his throat he did the only thing possible at this point and accepted Redtusk's challenge.
"Indeed you did Ser.", he said through gritted teeth, "that is if Ser Byron is up to the challenge."
Turning to Ser Byron, "What say you Ser? Swords at dawn, or are you afraid of this 'Green Reacher Boy's' swordplay?"
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Post by Father on Mar 19, 2023 20:57:48 GMT 1
Whether it's the drink, genuine belief that he is the better swordsman, a calculation that he has nothing to lose or simply the bravado of knights hardly being exclusive to The Reach, Ser Byron does not back down, seemingly quite confident of victory.
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Mar 21, 2023 1:16:50 GMT 1
The Nightsong: CodaThe maester here must hate me. He thought as the dull throbbing of his leg reminded him that he shouldn't even be participating in the joust, let alone this swordfight. At least the Milk of the Poppy numbed the worst of his pain and let him leave his cane with his squire as he entered the circle.
As the cold light of dawn crept over the horizon, he drew his sword and stared down the foolish knight across from him. Perhaps a night to sleep off his drink would give him the clarity to not challenge Wildfyre. Perhaps it wouldn't make any difference. Either way Daeron gave his opponent a chance to back out of this fight and still save some face.
"Ser Byron, because I am an honorable knight I will grant you this one opportunity to recant your insults and we may go our separate ways. However, if you draw your blade against me you will not be given a second chance." |
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Post by Father on Mar 22, 2023 18:09:40 GMT 1
Ser Byron snorts at the offer, perhaps more likable now that he has sobered up though that Daeron would have to find out later if he cares to, but the unwillingness to back down from a challenge is no different from that of his peers in The Reach.
Byron Byron iniative: 3d6-3 9CD: 11 AR: 10 Health: 12 Wields Bastard Sword. |
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Mar 22, 2023 20:12:49 GMT 1
Maybe it was his leg slowing him down or the milk of the poppy tempering his reflexes, either would serve as his justifications in later stories, but today Ser Byron was starting with the advantage.
Nightsong-Initiative: 4d6k3-2 7CD: 13 AR: 11 Health: 12/12 W/I/F: 1/0/0 (Poppy negates this wound) Superior Full Plate Superior Large Shield Superior Bastard Sword Will spend a point of fatigue to negate AP, bumping CD to 15. |
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Post by Father on Apr 2, 2023 16:16:26 GMT 1
Ser Byron opens up with a powerful swing, clearly not one to be underestimated, though Daeron has faced a few who are better, and a whole lot more who never will be this good.
Knockdown+Attack, +1b: 6d6k4 18 7d6k5+1 26 1d6 3Pretty nice hit, for 3*7-11=10 and Daeron prone. CD: 11 (maybe 14) AR: 10 Health: 12 Takes fatigue to negate AP if Daeron goes reckless. |
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