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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Aug 12, 2018 6:31:28 GMT 1
Time: *After Day 4 Jousting and the death of Walton Wyl. *After Balon and Ashara interaction at the Pavilion
I created the thread here because the Pavilion thread is pretty crowded at the moment.
Balon's head felt like it was going to explode. Not from a well placed lance strike by Ser Walton but from everything else that had happened. His confrontation with Ashara. The information he'd learned about Lady Denyse. The remnants of shock from Walton's death. Regardless of what was to come Balon needed to focus on the now. He didn't know what the result of this meeting was going to be but there would be repercussions. Of that Balon was certain.
A trip to the Cordwayner encampment had revealed Lady Maegelle and Lady Denyse were within one of Highgarden's halls. Leaving the camps Balon made for the hundred halls. He went over the information repeatedly and tried to anticipate any response they may have. Eventually he found them and he presented himself to the two ladies and anyone else that accompanied them.
"My ladies, a pleasant evening, is it not?" he bowed, "I bring news of the slander your daughter has had to endure over these last few days."
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Post by Father on Aug 12, 2018 12:43:11 GMT 1
Lady Denyse gives Balon a courteous smile, but it is her mother that takes command, Balon gets the feeling that this is how it usually is in this family. "You have indeed, ser Balon?"
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Aug 13, 2018 7:29:41 GMT 1
"Indeed I have." Balon began relaying what he'd learned over the last few days, "Two days ago I met with your good-brother Ser Roland (Cordwayner) while sparring with a group of knights. He informed me he'd learned of the person who was slandering your daughter and that he planned to confront them and learn why. I offered to assist but he was less than pleased in receiving my help."
Is there a reaction to that piece of information?
"He never told me what the outcome of that meeting was but he did tell another Companion. This Companion had conducted his own inquiries and his discovery was corroborated by Ser Roland's findings. It appears that Lady Denyse's future good-sister, Lady Ashara (Starkwood) has been spreading these filthy lies about you."
Balon let the revelation sink in for a moment before adding, "It appears Ser Roland confronted Ashara about this and she convinced him someone was trying to frame her. He believes," Balon was incredulous when he said, "that there may be sorcery afoot." he added derisively, "Of course I've heard the second a Dornish woman bats their eyes in his general direction he gets weak in the knees so I'm not surprised she convinced him it wasn't her."
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Post by Father on Aug 13, 2018 12:36:51 GMT 1
"And there was a witness that could identify her, ser?" Maegelle asks pointedly. "Ser Normyn tracked down the very men who first retold the tale, they confessed that a Dornish girl had told them the lie, but they could not be certain that it was her."
"We do, however, have confirmed that the bastard Mya Rivers is the one to have spread the most recent lies about you and Denyse."
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Aug 13, 2018 20:29:23 GMT 1
"And there was a witness that could identify her, ser?" Maegelle asks pointedly. "Ser Normyn tracked down the very men who first retold the tale, they confessed that a Dornish girl had told them the lie, but they could not be certain that it was her." "Ser Addam Velaryon discovered it was a young comely Dornish woman spreading the rumor. I can only think of three women at this tournament that meet that description." Balon listed the names of Blackbar, Footly, and Starkwood. "Ser Roland spoke with witnesses who provided a more detailed physical description that matched Ashara Starkwood almost exactly." Balon asked, "Has your good-brother not spoke with you about his findings?" Balon found an odd satisfaction that Roland was potentially withholding information from his kin. "We do, however, have confirmed that the bastard Mya Rivers is the one to have spread the most recent lies about you and Denyse." "How odd." Balon thought for a moment, "Does she have any quarrel with House Cordwayner? Ser Normyn?" A realization came over Balon, "Perhaps she takes issue with me for supporting Ser Daemon and builds off the lie Ashara already told?" He didn't know if he'd get an honest answer but Balon asked anyway, "Did Lady Denyse attend the masquerade ball?" he waited to see the answer before asking what costume she wore.
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Post by Father on Aug 14, 2018 7:13:00 GMT 1
"A description matching her does not mean that it is her, and the circumstances suggests otherwise, no matter her blood, Lady Ashara was raised in a castle. They have ladies in waiting in Dorne also. Few of them very different than ours. And while there are three half-Dornish ladies here, there are many more of common stock." Maegelle seems not overly impressed. "Besides, she is to marry my son, why would she slander the house she is about to become part of?"
"Someone must be pushed up against the wall for this, but how would it look if we levied such accusations against the betrothed of our heir on flimsy evidence? Mya Rivers already ran her foul mouth in the sept no less, but like before, she would just hide behind her kingsguard champion."
I am not entirely sure if Roland shared, but they have the same information as he.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Aug 15, 2018 22:32:25 GMT 1
I checked with Roland beforehand and info 'should' be relayed to Balon. "The specifics of Ser Roland's physical description led me to believe it was her, my lady." Balon added, "And considering how hard she slapped me earlier I doubt she'll admit anything to me." short of torture.
"As to why she'd slander your house?" Balon shrugged, "The Dornish tend to be untrustworthy in the best of times. Perhaps she doesn't want to *be* part of your house. Maybe she's jealous of your daughter." Balon looked over to Denyse, "She outshines Lady Ashara in every way, my lady."
"There is a lot of talk around Highgarden that neither Cordwayner nor Starkwood are happy with this betrothal. I spoke with Lady Laena Pyre and she implied that they are looking for ways to break the betrothal."
I should mention based on Balon's conversation with Laena he thinks that elements within House Starkwood would break the betrothal if they could do so. http://greatbastards.boards.net/post/6094 Balon agreed with Maegelle's assessment that Mya would hide behind a member of the Kingsguard. Though if Balon believed in his own abilities he might have a chance against one if he fought on foot. "Might I ask how you confirmed it was Mya Rivers? Do you know what costume she wore at the ball?"
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Post by Father on Aug 16, 2018 15:33:47 GMT 1
"She did what now?" Maegelle stiffens up in surprise.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Aug 17, 2018 7:10:26 GMT 1
Well that got her attention.
"We randomly crossed paths on the road to the camps." Balon decided to give Lady Maegelle his version of events, "She accused me or murder. I accused her of spreading lies about Lady Denyse. Some heated words were exchanged. She slapped me more than once." Balon subconsciously rubbed his cheeks. "She said some very heinous things that were unbecoming for a woman of her station."
Balon decided to add, "She'll deny it but I'd swear to the Seven in the Starry Sept about what she said." The Blackbriars were known for piety so Balon decided to use it (though with recent events he didn't know how much it'd work).
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Post by Father on Aug 17, 2018 15:13:39 GMT 1
"Heated words were exchanged? Pray tell, ser, which ones made her lose her lady-likeness?" Maegelle puts a steely penetrating gaze on him. Empathy x2: 2#6d6k4 22 14 (Factoring in supreme Denyse arrogance) They probably see things more clearly than Balon let's on....and they want everything, and will intrigue you to get it (although Denyse will be sitting out mechanically). Intrigue Iniative: 4d6 14 +1 ID until read target succeed. Free Deception: 5d6k4 14ID: 13 (12+1) DR: 4 Composure: 12 Objective: Get a detailed, non-embellished, non-self serving, account out of Balon.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Aug 21, 2018 6:36:07 GMT 1
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Post by Father on Aug 21, 2018 15:03:45 GMT 1
Convince: 5#7d6k5 24 23 29 24 18 4 influence/DoS, so 3, 4, 3, 3, 2 for 8, 12, 8, 8, 4 after DR, which looks like game over on round 2.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Aug 23, 2018 6:17:11 GMT 1
Balon began to weave a story about how he simply wanted to clear the air with Lady Ashara regarding her involvement with Denyse's rumor and the death of Ser Walton but his tale quickly fell apart when Maegelle began to question him. Before he knew it he was tongue-tied and contradicting himself.
"I want the truth. Plain and simple." Maegelle demanded.
Balon sighed and began to recite what had truly transpired, "Well my Lady, she accused me of being pleased with Ser Walton's death. I said it was regrettable that the king lost a fine tactician. She called me a liar and said I was a stain on my family's name and all who taught me." Balon thought back for a moment, "I believe she said the Seven would turn their backs on me."
Balon paused and swallowed, knowing the next part would look bad on him, "Her accusations angered me and in my haste I" Balon scratched the back of his head, "may have called her a no good slut that spreads lies about her future good-sister." Balon briefly looked over to Denyse hoping for some understanding that his words, though uncouth, were in her defense.
"Hmmmm, I might have called her a half-breed that knew nothing of piety and the only house that was stained was the Starkwoods when they poisoned their line with Rhoynish blood." Balon quickly added, "I believe I called her mother a whore which prompted the first slap." Balon did his best to maintain eye contact with Lady Maegelle but say she was unhappy.
"As one would imagine the slap further enraged me and I believe I said she hit harder than Ser Walton then mentioned her Dornish lasciviousness made her fond of multiple partners at once." It was the nicest way Balon could imply she enjoyed orgies. "That prompted another slap and a rambling claim that she was more Andal than I, my mother was a bitch, and I had a sexual relationship with Ser Quentyn (Ball)."
"I told her there was nothing Andal about her. I said she was from a backwater house that people barely knew existed. A foreigner raised in a foreign land. And the only thing that came out of her mouth was venom, lies, and uhhh...." spit it out Balon, "cocks."
"That's when she slapped me a third time. She called me a coward. I called her a coward. I threatened her brother then I went to leave and bumped her and like a lying mummer she flung herself to the ground like I'd just ridden her down."
Balon let out a long sigh. "And there you have it. The truth. I was unsure if she was behind the rumors regarding your daughter my lady but am convinced of it now."
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Post by Father on Aug 23, 2018 18:55:34 GMT 1
"What were you thinking, ser? Or perhaps I should ask, were you thinking at all?" Maegelle looks like she knows not what to think. "Whatever you think she might be, and I suspect you would think Ser Daemon an abomination had his mother been from Dorne, she is the intended of my son. She sighs, suppressing the anger that surely must swell in her gut. Did it ever occur to you, ser, that when the champion of a daughter of Lord Cordwayner gravely insults and provokes the betrothed of Lord Cordwayner's son, that is makes for nothing but trouble."
Denyse is much less able to conceal her disgust. "I would have my favor back, ser. You are no longer worthy of it." And why the hell would Quentyn's fuck-toy to be bother with ruining the tourney for her? Mya Rivers sounds more like it, or the Seastar, or Tanda Peake. Denyse Cordwayner is far too beautiful and important that nothing less than a rival that felt too threatened could have assaulted her, and continued on. It must be Mya Rivers.
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Post by Balon Blackbriar on Aug 23, 2018 20:15:57 GMT 1
Balon knew he'd gone too far in his argument with Ashara but he didn't feel like he was the worse of the two. "I was thinking, my lady. I was thinking I wasn't going to let Lady Ashara talk to me like that. I don't enjoy being called a murderer and a stain on my house. Just as I suspect Lady Denyse doesn't care for the slander she has had to endure at Highgarden."
"Furthermore after how she spoke in private I am now confident it was her that spread the initial lie." Was he sure it was Ashara or just confirmation bias? Balon didn't have an answer for that. "This is what the Dornish do. They lie and spread discord among the houses of the Reach. I accept responsibility for my roll in the argument but I implore you my lady, please be wary. Her fangs will come out eventually. Of that I can promise."
When Denyse asked for her favor back Balon agreed, "I'm sorry to dissappoint you my lady. I will return it to you." I didn't want it in the first place you uppity bitch.
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