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Post by Father on Jul 5, 2023 15:34:48 GMT 1
The Vulture must have taken a low profile at Appleton, Daeron cannot say with certainty to have taken note of his presence at the feast or the lists, at least the latter would seem unlikely given that his name being heralded would surely make a call upon his attentions. Or maybe the absence of his more prominent brothers makes him forgotten? The unsigned invitation "to share another bottle of wine" at the nearest inn the day after almost everyone else would have departed does point assumptions in a rather obvious direction. |
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jul 6, 2023 22:34:47 GMT 1
Daeron wasn't 100% sure who invited him, but the context of the letter certainly gave him some suspicions. Frowning at the note he crumpled it up and tossed it into the nearest flame.
Probably a good thing that an unlikeable halfbreed didn't show his face at Appleton, lest Lord Walgrave tear it off too. If he has anything to say to me other than where Ser Simon's body can be found, I'm apt to do the same.
Pulling his hood up, he warily accepts the invitation, but doesn't doubt for one moment that he'll be incensed by the upcoming meeting.
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Post by Father on Jul 11, 2023 18:56:57 GMT 1
Ser Eustace excuses himself with that the innkeeper only had cider to offer, although he should have expected as much given what the place they find themselves in is named. As for the task at hand...
"To have him followed in the hope that one might catch him in the act of is impractical, so to ensure justice is brought to him will most likely require dishonorable methods on our part."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Jul 21, 2023 4:13:25 GMT 1
"I believe that was the original idea, yes. He has managed to escape the Father's justice, so the Stranger's will have to do instead.
I assume that you have an update for me on this matter?"
The Vulture was not Daeron's favorite individual, so he wanted this meeting to be quick. The sooner he could leave his presence, the sooner he could wash the man's stink from his hands.
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Post by Father on Jul 25, 2023 13:10:35 GMT 1
"I was under the impression that you wished for him to face the gelding in the name of the king, not vigilantes on the road, although naked corpses tells only the tale of highwaymen, and perhaps not be recognized for who they were in life." Eustace replies with eerie calm given the subject. "It is certainly more easily accomplished than the more creative means I had envisioned, although I dare say it would be a deal more satisfying to see him squirm as he is sentenced to be gelded in the name of the king. I imagine that you did not chance to hear the story of Ser Benjen Frey while you were in the Riverlands?"
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Aug 4, 2023 0:04:06 GMT 1
In hushed tones Daeron laid out his response.
"I suspect that any blackguard with the name 'Tarly' will escape the King's Justice for quite some time. At least until the realm agrees more fully on who deserves to sit upon the Iron Throne. After all, why should King Daeron risk alienating a potential and powerful ally who was terrorizing his political enemies?
No. If he is to come to justice, it will have to be the Stranger's Justice for now and if there is no trace of his fate all the better. Let the Realm question if it was Bittersteel, Bloodraven, or bandits, especially if it makes would-be scoundrels think twice."
He clenched his fist under the table, despising himself for these underhanded methods. He had long used the excuse that those who act without honor don't deserve its protections, but every step he took down this path made his justifications ring just a little more hollow. Especially when it came to dealing with a snake like Ser Eustace. He knew the man had an ulterior motive and was probably setting him up for some disaster, but he had yet to figure out what it was.
"No, I can't say that I've heard the name while I was up north."
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Post by Father on Aug 7, 2023 19:57:31 GMT 1
"There are lords that puts honor before the interests of his house, what would your own liege do if a son of Lord Tyrell were to force himself on a serving girl under his roof?" Eustace has likely not misread Lord Willem, Highgarden's best hopes would like be in Lysette succeeding at the very same machinations that rumors accused Bloodraven of having done at Raventree.
"And this is where Ser Benjen Frey enters the picture. The Rivleranders seems threatened by the notion that Lord Tyrell's tourney might give rise to even more myths and legends as the one at Riverrun some sixty years ago, it was before the dance, with both The Princess and The Queen in attendance, that particular Princess and that particular Queen, they were wearing black and green the way we now wear red and black. Ser Benjen was bethrothed to some Blackwood girl, Septon Eustace briefly mentions the episode as an example of the depravities of the blacks, Mushroom has the more interesting account of the Blackwood lady herself arranging the whole thing to escape her impending marriage, both agree on Ser Benjen being a brutish thug of ill repute who showed his true colors by deserting the night watch to end his days as an outlaw in the Westerlands, they also agree on him being found guilty of the rape of a serving girl, a crime likely forgotten had his bethrothed not confronted him about it and he then proceeded to compound his stupidity by striking her in anger. Mushroom also suggests that the girl somehow had chanced upon seducing a knight that already played both sides for fun and profit to assist her in this endeavor, House Tarly intriguingly believes this to be none other than the founder of House Levalle, but I suspect mushroom has veered into the half of the tale that should not be believed, it is ridiculous enough already"
"But if we accept that Ser Benjen was lured into committing the foul deed, there is surely an opportunity for the tale to be repeated, with a little help, no? It just needs to happen in the domains of a lord whose sense of justice and honor overrides that of his own self-preservation, Lord Karl would have been perfect, but there are others."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Aug 24, 2023 1:50:59 GMT 1
Daeron's cocked a doubting brow,
"Let us imagine for a moment that whatever scheme you're hatching is likely to be more successful and ignore for a moment that we're likely arranging an additional innocent woman to be harmed in the process, what lord do you think will be willing to incur the wrath of House Tarly? Most of the Reach has seen the ongoing conflict between Starling and Merryweather and I believe they're content to not be in a similar situation.
Then let us imagine that we can lure Ser Simon to.." he throws up his hands in a pantomime "let's say Goldenram. What business would he have with House Yelshire that anybody would find believable?
I find that the simplest solutions are also the best."
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Post by Father on Aug 30, 2023 11:11:31 GMT 1
"As far as innocent women goes, while Mushroom suggests that Ser Benjen was egged on by some unnamed agent, some say a Levalle, some Lord Tully's own bastard acting on behalf of his ailing green leaning father, the truth is likely more simple, Ser Benjen just happened to be a swine that fancied the serving girl and did not care to ask her opinion, and expected to get away with it much like Lord Eldon at Harrenhaal. Even if true, enticing Ser Simon to do such a thing is far from certain to succeed, and while he surely is not above doing the deed on his own, it is not something we can count on.
He takes a long sip of his cider, but very little is actually drained from it.
"So instead of an innocent woman, we shall find a pretty whore and dress her up to seem like the daughter of a smith come to the tourney to ply his wares, a somewhat well-off smith perhaps, most men are always willing to believe that a girl finds them attractive, she will lead him to a secluded area and scream for help once his swordbelt is tossed aside and his breeches hangs around his angles, just within earshot of one or more gallant knights who will surely rush to the scene to find him standing over the poor victim with her gown torn open. Her rescuers will march him to the presiding lord and bear witness, there already have been such a tourney at Kingsbridge, and to have one at Starkwood...not under it's current lord, we just need a loud enough cry for justice from knights of prominence to pressure the presiding lord into no other choice than holding trial, and trust that he will seek to wash his hands off the matter by letting it be by combat."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Sept 11, 2023 22:06:42 GMT 1
His face was still showing doubt, why should such a complex plan be set into motion when an easier one existed; however, the Vulture was a clever bastard and maybe he had some specific ideas that would make it more viable than a simple ambush in the woods.
"I still prefer a more direct course of action, but I would also like to hear more of your plan. Perhaps with more solid ideas rather than theoretical ones. What upcoming tourneys are options for us and who can we expect to stand for the victim who isn't afraid of drawing House Tarly's ire and who has a chance to defeat Ser Simon. I've defeated him before, but honor was on the line, not his life and I suspect that he'll fight twice as viciously.
If the tourney plan fails though, we should have a backup plan.."
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Post by Father on Sept 12, 2023 23:32:00 GMT 1
"Its the Reach, there are always tourneys somewhere, we would need one where Ser Simon is present and assuming you want to be the one to face him in trial by combat, best not have Lord Eldon and his dogs present" Eustace shrugs. "There would be a need to plan for visiting several such and be prepared to set the trap at each, sooner or later he will show, his tourney prowess being the only thing of value to his house."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Sept 14, 2023 15:57:45 GMT 1
He frowned, House Starling could scarcely afford another powerful enemy like House Tarly, and Daeron himself certainly couldn't either. It wasn't like in the Riverlands where he had hoped that a coalition of Brackens and Blackwoods could hold him accountable. Here he was much more politically isolated in seeking revenge and he had to be cautious about it. He also wasn't enamored with the Vulture's amorphous plot, to him it seemed like a delaying tactic.
"This is feeling like to complex a plan and in my experience complex plans have a much greater risk of failure. What's wrong with making him disappear while on the road? It solves our problem and I don't make an enemy of another great house of the Reach."
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Post by Father on Sept 18, 2023 12:00:26 GMT 1
"If Murder is what you want, I know where to find such men in Oldtown, might be easier to have the deed done there actually, the man will surely visit taverns and whorehouses, Oldtown may be pretty, but with a great many places to hide after dark."
"But the road is likely preferable if you desire to be the one to strike the blow, in the city, anonymity is afforded to those who are not worth a second glance, rarely a quality bestowed on those with the Blood of the Dragon."
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Sept 28, 2023 18:18:10 GMT 1
"It is *justice* I'd like, not wanton murder." He reiterated, more to convince himself than the Vulture, "and it matters not who lands the killing blow as long as he's brought to justice." He takes a long sip of his cider to steady his nerves. "I agree that the road is the best. There are fewer witnesses and there seems to be a spate of violence striking down knights returning home from the Riverlands. Perhaps he's not the only one whose northern vendettas have followed him home?"
Does it matter who lands the killing blow? To Take Justice-Vainglorious: 6d6k4 18 Not today, "pragmatism" for now.
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Post by Father on Sept 29, 2023 16:31:15 GMT 1
"The road is by far the best if you wish to be there and leave no witnesses to your involvement, Oldtown is probably easier if the important part is his death and you do would rather be carousing with men of honor that later can attest to your whereabouts." Eustace ponder. "Though true justice would be to perform the gelding I suppose, killing him would seem like vengeance to me, and there would indeed be someone else than ourselves with a rather obvious motive either way"
"Vengeance does seem so much simpler, as long as his kin never learns of who did the deed"
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