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Post by Alliser on Aug 10, 2018 2:16:15 GMT 1
Lord Alliser sat next to his wife watching the proceedings. Having been knocked out of further rounds in the tournament Alliser sits leaning towards his wife in an almost scaldious act of touching her in public, whispering in her ear about who he thought stood the better chance as well as any maneuvers that were outside the realm of normal for tournament knights. When Otho nearly killed Mikel he gasped, then pointed out how the knight clearly had aimed for the knights body, rather then shield as was proper. Taking a moment to mull this new development over he decides quickly that an opportunity had just arisen and decided to spread his shame to any who would listen.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Aug 10, 2018 18:15:00 GMT 1
When Otho nearly killed Mikel he gasped, then pointed out how the knight clearly had aimed for the knights body, rather then shield as was proper. Taking a moment to mull this new development over he decides quickly that an opportunity had just arisen and decided to spread his shame to any who would listen. Laena is watching the jousting with interest, though she lacks the skill to recognise just how Ser Otho is cheating. Still, while she is not sitting particularly close to the Levalle's, she is close enough to hear him yelling invective about Ser Otho's actions. [Laena's disposition towards Lord Alliser increases 2 steps: -6 -> -4. One for showing more moral courage than she would expect from him, for publicly criticising a powerful man. The other one, because it's in favour of one of 'her' knights.]
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Post by Lysette Starling on Aug 10, 2018 18:47:48 GMT 1
Lysette as well doesn't quite get what happened, though she knows someone was badly hurt and she recoils from that.
Alliser's words catch her attention, and she puts a hand on her maid's arm to comfort her but turns her attention to Lord Lavelle.
As always, when faced with human cruelty, her question is why? But there's no answer to that to be found here. Even so, Lysette reasons, Lord Lavella may be wrong. With all that galloping and such, it was easy to imagine a lance slipping, just so.
Was that the simpler explanation?
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Post by Daeron Wildfyre on Aug 11, 2018 3:42:49 GMT 1
Still dusty from his own recent roll in the dirt, Ser Daeron takes in the other jousts, especially those involving his Companion brothers. He cheers when Lord Starling and Ser Addam unmount their opponents, boos as Otho attempts to maim Ser Mikel, and is ominously silent during the joust between Ser Roland and Fireball. It's only during the joust between Balon and Ser Walton that he becomes truly animated and starts sharing with his neighbors his "wittiest" bestiality-themed quips.
"Do you think Ser Walton will ransom his armor today, or just the horse?"
"I imagine his wife must be jealous of all that time he spends riding that horse instead of her."
"Ser Balon's horse is charging true, it must really not want to be in the hands of the Dornish."
But when he heard the sickening crunch and saw Ser Walton slump over his mirth was replaced with a silent fury and his thoughts were filled with vulgarities that would make a Lysene whore blush.
FUCK! Balon you stupid fucker, do you know what you've done? You've fucked yourself and our cause by killing an old man that you slandered. Now he's gone from being a shamed fornicator to a martyr and the Red Keep will have reason to retain a far more capable Master at Arms. Short of laying down your title and taking up the septon's robes, there's no way your reputation can recover from this."
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Post by Alliser on Aug 11, 2018 7:42:11 GMT 1
Lady Delena pats Allisers arm, pointing to the limply riding Ser Wyl. "Is he ok?" she asks plaintively. With a thunderous clamour the knight falls off of the ground and into the dirt, kicking up dust as the Maesters rush over.
"No, he does not look alright my dear," giving her a comforting squeeze he says, "It looks like poor wyl had an accident."
"But what about Otho? Did he not have an accident as well?"
Alliser shakes his head, Foolish boy, you could have been more careful. Especially with the rumors going about. What will your father have to say? "I doubt that it was the same, Balon looked to be aiming for his shield. He was a bit harsh for the first pass, but his lance point never drifted from legal targets." His face is sour as he continues, "Although this will not be good. Even though accidents such as these do happen that is the reason most here tilt their head away at the last second, as well as aim to dehorse the rider rather then the more solid blows that some prefer. It helps keep the list fields clean. I imagine should Balon choose to continue in the tournament he will be facing some exceedingly difficult challengers. No list master wants to bury a knight."
Balon turns and leaves, but the page comes forward and announces that no ransom will be collected, Lord Alliser nods approvingly. "It is good that he did not collect ransom."
"But he is leaving the field?! Why would he leave so suddenly?" Delena asks her husband.
"I do not know, He is no Maester so he is not able to do much in the way of helping there. Perhaps he is off to find his firey Septon. Maybe seeking forgiveness for the accident because he is afraid of the seven hells?" Lord Alliser shakes his head, "it is good he is not openly celebrating, but perhaps he is off to find his fiery friends. Gods knows how they hate the Dornish so. " Alliser shrugs, "Either way their is not much we can do for now. We should go pay our respects to his wife when we leave though. It would be the proper thing to do."
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Aug 11, 2018 15:43:21 GMT 1
Anger and disgust are evident in Ashara's voice.
"Smug satisfaction, I would say, my lady. My lord, even if Ser Balon did not break the rules of the joust that does not mean he was not intending a death blow, does it?. It may not explicitly violate the rules of cyvasse to glue your opponent's piece to the board, but that doesn't make it any less contrary to the spirit of fair and clean competition."
She shakes her head.
"No, I fear that Ser Balon and Ser Otho are cut from the same cloth, though Ser Balon was a both more subtle and more effective at achieving his goal. I do not think it is coincidental that they hold the same political views, either."
Suddenly she realizes that she has not introduced herself.
"Forgive me for not introducing myself. I am Ashara Starkwood."
She curtsies politely, but her face still shows the anger and disgust of her earlier statements.
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Post by Lysette Starling on Aug 11, 2018 15:52:14 GMT 1
"We don't know it wasn't an accident," Lysette protests. In the case of Ser Balon she feels compelled to say something. Ser Otho she didn't know, hadn't met...but she remembered Balon.
"His political views are well known, and he...did have a very public feud with Ser Wyl..." she trails off for a moment. Hadn't Balon said some filthy thing about him, causing the other knight to challenge him?
"But we don't know," she finishes, somewhat subdued.
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Aug 11, 2018 16:07:36 GMT 1
"No, we don't. But we also don't know it was an accident. I have not had much opportunity to watch jousts, but my understanding was that such accidents are rare. That a rare occurrence just happens to fall in a match with well known animosity... it strains credulity."
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Post by Alliser on Aug 11, 2018 16:42:43 GMT 1
Alliser nods, "it is a pleasure to meet you last Ashara. And it could be that he intended to kill him, but my eyes did not see him targeting any illegal targets."
Frowning and shaking his head he continues, "rare, but not unheard of. I do remember their feud. Also his threat to kill him was one such rumor. However it is strange that the tournament Master fell ill look the same day if the jousts that ser Balon killed Ser wyl. But we also had that black guard try to kill Mikel as well, so even that is not solid evidence either."
Smiling helplessly at Lady Ashara he continued, "I agree it does not look good. But the only person who knows now that we could ask is Ser Balon. Seven help him if he made a mockery of the sacred trial by combat to score a kill for the Fires."
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Aug 11, 2018 17:41:53 GMT 1
Ashara glances at the fox sigil.
"Lord Levalle, Ser Balon would likely deny it, no matter what the truth is."
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Post by Alliser on Aug 13, 2018 3:20:14 GMT 1
Alliser nods, "Yes, he is likely to deny it. But I do not have anything besides rumor and speculation to suggest that it was more then an accident. While unfortunate I can not in good conscience accuse him of wrong doing." Besides, I imagine that half the reach would secretly be clapping him on the back to see a dornishmen that stole Lord Gormy's seat fall. It would be far to risky to challenge him on more then the words of a dornnish women. His tone was calming and low, "Besides Lady Ashara, if we can not take a man at his word then do we have to accept that men with the stronger lance arm are always correct? That is a dangerous path to tread. Let us see how he handles his reaction towards Ser Wyls widow and if he seeks penitence before we ascribe the death as purposeful. Perhaps a discussion with his Septon could set him straight. I doubt that a man who preaches flames for the murders of a Septa will take too kindly to living in a house with man who uses trials by combat as an overt assassination method."
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Aug 13, 2018 4:25:27 GMT 1
Ashara snorts derisively.
"I've known too many liars to simply take men at their word. Nor does skill at arms have any bearing on truthfulness. It is a man's actions that guide me to believe or disbelieve his words. I've heard little of Ser Balon's actions but the constant slander of the Dornish generally and Ser Walton specifically. That does not inspire confidence that anything he says about Ser Walton now would be any more true."
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Post by Alliser on Aug 13, 2018 4:40:06 GMT 1
A flash of something crossed Alliser's face, if it was pity or sympathy was hard to tell, for one so beautiful and so young to have such contempt for the words of men. It must come from being a dornish women in the reach for so long. How many knights have ridden in your honor just to try and bed you? Hating your race yet wishing the rumor's were true. Just like my niece and her bastard blood? "it is true that men can be liars, "he conceded, "but if a man's word can never be trusted because of previous action, then should I be trusted with what I saw of the boisterous bracken blackguard?"
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Aug 13, 2018 5:49:21 GMT 1
Save your pity for someone that needs it. She thinks to herself.
"From what I know you have little to gain from speaking out against Ser Otho, and quite possibly made a terrible enemy. Ser Balon, however, has much to gain by claiming it was an accident. Further, your words only confirm what I saw Ser Otho do. Intentions are difficult to perceive at this distance. Perhaps if I were to speak to Ser Balon directly I would be able to discern more... but I suspect few would take my word over his."
Her voice turns rather disdainful and sarcastic.
"I am only a woman, and that I have Rhoynish ancestors clearly proves that I cannot be trusted."
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Post by Alliser on Aug 13, 2018 5:57:56 GMT 1
"If My Lady would ask Baelon then I would speak with Ser Donnel. He is a good and honest man. I do not believe that he would mislead me if he feels there is deception in his sons heart. "
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