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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Oct 9, 2018 21:48:30 GMT 1
"You would put some captains to shame my lady, despite the absence of spurs from your shoes. I have made war in Dorne, and the Dornish were adept at denying glorious open battle and making interlopers suffer. Still, there are already green knights that seem intent on learning such themselves, and old heads that seem to have forgotten much."
"I would have wished to face Ser Simon Tarly - the man is a thug and a bore, and we have a mutual antipathy that dates back to my knighthood. He joined the mob in speaking out against me when only Redtusk and few others would defend my return of Dornish prisoners."
"Ser Titus's prowess have denied me the opportunity, to his credit."
"I have heard mutterings of Lord Lothston attempting underhand methods from his guardsmen, but could not decisively prove the matter. Putting an end to such risks falling foul of such a scheme, but would be a knightly deed if successful."
Lord Lothston campaigning for Ser Aegor Rivers to be made a melee captain would have only attracted small notice from Roland, had the man not done so alongside the vile Otho Bracken.
"Maestar Marlon would doubtless argue a prudent course, trying to match Starling man against Starling to increase a Kingsbridge knight's chance of claiming a fortune in the last eight, but that is why he wears a maester's chain and Ser Daeron and I earned spurs."
There was wisdom in such a course, but little honour or glory.
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Oct 9, 2018 22:57:25 GMT 1
Ashara made note of the mention of Lord Lothston. She had heard of him, a little, and had thought he sounded... interesting. She was a little disappointed that he seemed to be throwing in his lot with Bittersteel, but if the rumors of his underhanded ways were true, he might well be positioning himself as Bloodraven's eyes and ears on the inside. That was all speculation, of course, and more than likely he simply sought to raise his standing by using Blackfyre much as Bittersteel was. Well, if he was truly crafty he would have a foot in each camp to profit no matter what the outcome was. Well, that was neither here nor there, but perhaps something of interest to consider in the future.
"'Glorious open combat'? You mean, the type of combat that allows for the charge of mounted knights against poorly armed and untrained peasant conscripts? The sort of battle that would favor the Reach, with it's multitude of knights? Why is that glorious? Is it glorious to surrender your homeland to invaders by allowing them to use their preferred mode of combat? Did our generals tell the Dornish to send for reinforcements at the Princes's Pass, to have a more glorious fight? Certainly this farce of a reenactment indicates otherwise. Is it glorious to invade a neighbor in the first place? Would it be glorious for House Caswell to sack Longtable to repay their debts from the Dance?"
Glorious open combat. Typical Reach-man thinking.
"I am no soldier, and certainly no general, but even I am keenly aware that wars are not won by seeking honor and glory. I doubt the Gardeners found the Field of Fire to be 'glorious'. War is not glorious, and while it may allow some such as yourself to display honor, it is not honorable to start a war. If anything, I would say the Dornish did the honorable thing in defending their homes with their lives, against greater odds."
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Oct 10, 2018 9:47:14 GMT 1
"There is little glory in running down levies. The knights of Starfall were most unlike their countrymen however, they were most worthy foes."
"We may have to agree to disagree my lady, for I have seen justly ordained warfare carried out with honour by men such as Ser Roland Redwyne and dishonour and hatred by the likes of Lord Oakheart."
"The Warrior is one of the faces of the Seven that are One, after all. If a castle is taken unjustly or heresies spoken against the Seven then war is just. Wicked men prosper when good men do nothing."
"I may have favoured the same tactics as the Dornish, and their defence of their lands was as honourable as my comrades and I defending the Reach from their raids. However, honour in a cause can be undermined by dishonourable action. I would have been tempted by their skirmishing tactics in their place, but would have drawn the line at poisonings, at maiming and executing prisoners."
Roland's voice is pained, weary.
"I cannot, will not serve a lord that argues for extreme measures in the name of victory, whether it be a Dornish man's poison or the likes of Lord Oakheart and Ser Simon Tarly arguing for unknightly treatment of widowed noblewomen. Evil should not be repaid by evil - such sows the seeds of future conflict and justifies your foe's next atrocity."
Roland shook his head.
"My apologies Lady Ashara, we dwell on unhappier times in the realm. Let us drink instead to King Daeron's peace, that makes the realm prosper and allows the faith to build beautiful new Septs."
He offered a toast.
"I would have us speak of happier topics. Are you looking forward to tomorrow's dance? From what I hear your footwork is the equal of any sword master's."
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Oct 10, 2018 16:15:20 GMT 1
Ashara is stunned. Not because of what Roland has said so much as that she more or less agrees with him. It's not very common that any man is able to draw forth a concession from her, and she certainly wasn't expecting it from a 'useful tool' like Ser Roland. "I must admit Ser, I failed to consider the full breadth of the depravities of war. I am so often in the role of defending the Dornish for what is justifiable that I oft neglect to consider that ill deeds were in fact done on both sides. Skirmish tactics I do not deem dishonorable, but certainly the mistreatment of prisoners is inexcusable." She briefly lowers her head, a mild symbolic act of contrition. "I did not mean that all war is dishonorable, but to have hatred for one's enemy when it was one's own lords that instigated a dishonorable war... that to me is hypocrisy of the worst sort. Certainly there are honorable wars, however I do feel that too often war and violence are seen as the only way to resolve a situation, when there are other, better means. The actions of King Baelor to bring Dorne closer to us, and good King Daeron to expand upon that with peace - that was the wise and honorable way to bring Dorne into the Seven Kingdoms, not ineffective wars." She shakes her head. "Why, even bringing justice to Lord Eldon has been relegated to mock-war in the joust. The Warrior is one of the Seven, but it is not his role to pass judgement - that is the role of the Father; in the mortal world it is the role of the lord to pass judgement, not the knight, yet too often our lords are afraid of the consequences of a just - but unpopular - judgement and pass that responsibility on to knights both honorable and corrupt. The entire institution of 'trial by combat' places the Warrior in the role of the Father, and excludes the guidance of the Crone and the mercy of the Mother. Not that I would decline to call for a trial by combat were I falsely acused; I may disagree with the practice but I am more practical than to shun it when it is the only recourse against false charges." She smiles. "Forgive me, you wished to speak of lighter matters, and yet here I am rambling on about the prior topic. I am indeed looking forward to tomorrow night's dance... and if my masquerade partners were any indication, my footwork is more deft than many a knight." Her voice takes on a jovial, joking tone. "Perhaps footwork is the reason that the Dornish have not been conquered - to the Dornish, dance is a form of art as well as a social activity, so better footwork is a natural outcome."
Awareness(empathy) TN 17 to learn something interesting. |
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Oct 10, 2018 16:37:25 GMT 1
Awareness: 3d6 12Roland would have picked up on a cue from many ladies of the court, but not one such as Ashara. He saw no deeper than the face she wished to present to the outside world. He nods at Ashara's religious metaphors on judgement, such descriptions put the discussion in terms that are familiar to him and clearly have his sympathies. Better the Warrior's path when the Father's judgement is denied against Lord Merryweather. Roland regarded Lord Starling's actions positively, making the best of a bad situation that other Lords would have glossed over, but he did not press the issue. "I have ever been one for visual arts over words my lady, as I have demonstrated in seeking out your aid in deciphering tonight's entertainment. Give me the beauty of stained glass or a ball over dry texts." "If the Maid is kind, perhaps we shall share a dance tomorrow, and we shall see if I can do better than your earlier sparring partners. I look forward to seeing a social pastime elevated to an art form." It seemed his nephew was a more fortunate man than Roland in many ways - a beautiful young maiden to defend, but religiously learned and with an honourable spirit. He had quite misjudged her on hearing the initial slander about his niece, Ashara was clearly the victim here and must not fall victim to House Cordwayner's internal strife.
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Oct 11, 2018 3:21:28 GMT 1
"If I am particularly lucky I will be able to evaluate whether you or your nephew is the better dancer."
She smiles with anticipated pleasure - perhaps it was over the idea of dancing with Roland? Or maybe with Quentin? Or just to have another opportunity to dance, perhaps.
I've nothing else to really add, gotten everything and more out of it than I was looking for. More than happy to just keep on RPing though.
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Post by Roland Cordwayner on Oct 11, 2018 11:57:52 GMT 1
Roland bowed, returning Ashara's smile sincerely.
"Let us hope I am resolute enough to withstand any reviews."
He gestured to the stage.
"It seems the intermission is almost over - we may have a moment yet but I understand if you need to retake your seat."
"I shall watch the second half more closely and with a more informed view, my thanks for educating me and making the intermission seem as if it were an instant."
Roland's tone is briefly serious.
"As I said, you have my word that I shall join with Ser Donnel in keeping your brother from harm."
He awaits any parting words from Ashara before returning to his seat.
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Post by Ashara Starkwood on Oct 12, 2018 18:47:13 GMT 1
Ashara returns the bow with a curtsy.
"My sincere thanks, Ser Roland. It is a great relief to know that good men such as yourself and Ser Donnel stand as a bulwark against the hatred and ambition of lesser men."
She then turns to return to her seat.
I shall have to think on a way to repay him for this - I doubt he would be one to call on a debt, but better to settle things now in a way of my choosing than run the risk. Perhaps some words to increase the odds of a favorable match in the joust - the farther he goes the less likely his team will be targeted as 'easy prey', which is good for Symon as well.
[/scene]
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