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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Sept 18, 2018 21:36:07 GMT 1
"Well said." Ashara smiles mischievously in response.
"It is information I seek, not secrets to be used as information. I do not wish to pry into your personal life, I merely seek clues that might be used to find those who may harm you. to that end, if something is too personal, just say so and I will not press you on it. I would prefer blunt honesty to politeness - especially as it is just we two. No need to wear the mask of courtesy. I am not fool enough to be swayed by such and I doubt you are either." She pauses considering. "To keep things fair - and interesting - for every question I ask, if you wish you may ask me a question as well. I am asking you to trust me, it is only right that I be willing to trust you as well. Though as with you I may decline to answer if I feel the matter is too personal." She smiles again. Less mischievous, but honestly friendly. "So to begin. As I understand it, the attack occurred when you went to seek out Ser Roland at the conclusion of the hunt. When did you decide to do so, and who else might have known?"
Mechanical note: Ashara is not actively looking for signs of deception, but a Deception test would have to exceed her passive Awareness(Empathy) of 21.
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Post by Father on Sept 19, 2018 20:29:11 GMT 1
"I didn't really tell anyone, but I joined a group of ladies of the court that went to greet the returning hunting party, it was a good opportunity to find him and follow up the lead uncovered." Most would probably mentioned the attack or the death of the septa or utter some sort of regret or hindsight, but not her. Most likely she tries not to think about it. "Does my lady have any clues or evidence as to suggest that the attack was not motivated entirely by a belief that I knew something about the veracity of the rumor?"
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Sept 19, 2018 22:22:03 GMT 1
"Lead?" Ashara looks perplexed. "What lead? I wasn't going to ask, but now I'm rather curious, and it may be relevant. What was your purpose in seeking out Ser Roland?"
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Post by Father on Sept 20, 2018 19:58:11 GMT 1
"Well, when I heard the rumors, I got curious, asked around and heard from people that usually are reliable sources." She makes an expression that Ashara is quite certain conveys "So much for that". "They said that it was Lady Gwenys Rivers spreading the tale, which is just about not her way at all considering everything I know of her, so I wanted to ask Ser Roland if there was something I missed. Well, there wasn't."
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Sept 20, 2018 21:41:24 GMT 1
"I see..."
Ashara considers. She had heard that Lady Gwenys might be the source, but found it similarly unlikely. Of course she knew it was false, but it wasn't even all that believable.
Why do so many people think it was her? It can't be coincidence. Perhaps someone wanted to cause trouble for Lady Gwenys. Disturbing. Not that I wasn't considering doing similar, but Lady Gwenys? Why her? It's too unlikely... unless she really does have some evidence? Maybe she told somebody she knew it was true, and that led to her being thought of as the source? She could be in terrible danger. If Lady Alicent heard it, and I heard it... I'm sure others have as well.
"There is little doubt that the attack was meant specifically for you, and planned in advance as well. From what I have been told, the captured culprits gave a timeline that does not fit with it being about the rumor. To procure and provide the knives, find and hire men reputable enough to get the job done and disreputable enough to do it... it seems unlikely that it could have been done in just a few hours. Also, there seems to have been no reason to think you the source of the rumor."
She ponders.
"What was it they asked you about the rumor, specifically?"
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Post by Father on Sept 21, 2018 17:02:26 GMT 1
"I know exactly which of Lord Tyrell's men that would point me to the right name in Gardenton, were I to place my hand upon his thigh and offer a good look down the front of the low cut gown I have that has a certain effect on men and but offer him a few moments of where all that he imagines seems possible." She protests with a hint of enjoyment at the thought of using such tactics to her advantage. She would have liked Sunspear, most likely. And the Dornish men would have liked her. "If we assume for a moment that I could go alone and unprotected to certain places, I would have thugs to do my bidding within hours, I think. Good enough to do the job if no knight or guardsmen stands in their way."
"Maybe not now, when four corpses have made the rest all too aware of the risk"
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Sept 21, 2018 18:44:47 GMT 1
"Certainly, and I could have done the like in Sunspear had I desired to. However, I could not do the same here. You have the benefit of knowing the terrain, so to speak. Further, acquiring four daggers of Longtable make in short order with no questions asked..." She shakes her head. It was no doubt possible for someone with the right connections, and gold has ways of opening otherwise impassible doors... Unscrupulous and wealthy. A good descriptor of those who prospered from the Unworthy. Also the exact sort fueling these ridiculous rebellious sentiments. Also the sort that would seek to prosper by murdering Lady Alicent. Is Lord Slime smart enough to leave obvious evidence against House Merryweather, so that it appears that someone else is trying to cast the blame on them? Maybe.... but there are certainly other ways to prosper from breaking the betrothal. Particularly if they are unscrupulous enough to sell their daughter into marriage with a man like him. Well, that describes most of the Reach."Even if such were plausible, it would not explain why you specifically were targeted. While our shared heritage from beyond the Red Mountains perhaps leads many in the Reach to believe that we would be incorrigible gossip-mongers spewing vile lies at every turn, it frankly seems unlikely that you would have reason to create that particular rumor. It may seem out of character for Lady Gwenys, but the longstanding feud between her House and House Bracken - not to mention the ongoing personal feud between her brother and Bittersteel - lends a certain amount of credence to the thought that she might. The same cannot be said for you."
She sighs.
"For the moment it seems that we have two possible motives for the attack. More than likely one was used as cover for the other, or whomever ordered the attack sought to profit from both. It would be unwise to ignore either possible motive. if it were just about the rumor, then you are unlikely to be targeted again. However if it is about the betrothal, there may be future attempts - less rushed, better planned, and possibly far more dangerous."
She pauses for a moment.
"There is a third possibility - that you were targeted for some other reason, having nothing to do with either the betrothal or the rumor. Is there anyone that you can think of that would wish you harm for... personal reasons?"
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Post by Father on Sept 22, 2018 13:23:00 GMT 1
"If there is a third motivation, I have no idea what it might be"
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Sept 22, 2018 15:54:51 GMT 1
"Oh, I can think of a few - but none you would not have noticed."
Ashara smiles mischievously. She knew that Lady Alicent knew exactly what sort of motivation she had been implying.
Jealousy is such an ugly thing, but sometimes it is useful - even necessary - to lead men around by their desires like a bridle on a horse. Really, it is their own fault for thinking a lady would dishonor herself for their sake. Men's egos are such big yet fragile things; sometimes they crack under the strain of unrequited lust - but it's not our fault that some men are so weak, is it? You don't blame a knight for unhorsing a weak jouster, you blame the weak jouster for not being better skilled. It is the same thing, really.
She shakes her head, bringing herself back to the present conversation.
"I have my suspicions of who might have profited from your death, but nothing more. I will continue to look into it, discretely. One final question - so I can know first hand - from whom did you learn the rumor, and when?"
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Post by Father on Sept 22, 2018 22:24:03 GMT 1
"Just after the sermon for Lord Hightower, it was Lady Erena Smallflowers that spoke of it, one of Lady Rhonda's ladies in waiting, she is usually quite good at separating the idle fancies of the ladies at court from that which is worth a closer look." She doesn't seem too think it matters.
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Sept 22, 2018 22:49:39 GMT 1
Ashara nods. It probably didn't matter much, but it corroborated what she had been told already, which was good.
It seems less and less that this was about the rumor... unless it really was a case of mistaken identity, but there doesn't seem to be any reason to think she was the Falcon. I really think that the rumor was just an attempt at obfuscation, or at an attempt to get information in addition to the murder for other reasons. At most it was used as a way to get someone else to do the deed.
"Very well then. I hope that we may find a time to speak again in the future, about less dire matters."
She stands.
"Ser Roland?"
(OOC) Not sure if Roland has any questions to ask, this ended up taking the entire game day leaving no time for him to ask questions. mea culpa!
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Sept 24, 2018 9:44:48 GMT 1
Ser Roland bowed.
"I am at both of your disposal if I can be of any aid. These are troubling times."
He smiles in an attempt at reassurance at Lady Alicent, even if the matter is grim.
"I spoke to Lord Tyrell on seeing that you are well guarded, and the knight he is appointed is a man of mettle."
With that, Ser Roland made ready to escort Ashara back to the Starkwood pavilions, paranoid of further attacks. Well, that and keen to spend a few more precious minutes in a Dornish woman's company...
[/scene]
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