|
Post by Titus Blackbriar on Nov 5, 2018 20:06:31 GMT 1
Garth, or Young Garth as he was called around Gyldenhaal (Old Garth was his grandfather; still strong of arm despite his many years, a permanently crooked back and blind from old age) had never attended a tournament before. His father Master Gareth had been the blacksmith of Gyldenhaal ever since Old Garth grew too old and too blind and little over a week ago it was all he had ever known. When Ser Donnel and his two younger sons had returned from a tournament at Horn Hill Titus returned a knight and all knights need a squire.
So through the grace of the Seven (and proof of his own willingness to work and their family's service to the House of Blackbriar) Young Garth had been taken into the service of Ser Titus at the age of twelve. That was little over a year ago.
He had always been a hard worker, father had taught him as much labouring by the forge, but was predisposed to to wonder and more than once had Ser Titus had to tell him to hurry up or not to linger to long when the young lad was simply awe-stuck by the splendour and glory of Highgarden. Ser Titus did not seem to blame him for such though - this place was amazing.
Today however, anyone who would care to notice would see a young, red-headed boy hurrying the best he could through the pavillions, moving with a purpose. He had little time before Ser Titus was to attend his first joust of the day and he had clear instruction.
Upon reaching the encampment of House Starkwood he addresses one of the servants, announcing that he carries a message for Lady Ashara. When asked to just leave the message with the servant he out-right refuses until the tired old man brings him to the Lady.
"A message for you, m'lady." he says dutifully and bows deeply handing over the small folded note with a care that suggested it held the truth about King Daerons parentage.
When dismissed Young Garth again bows deeply, a sombre and serious (if slightly stressed) look about his freckled pate and walks off - first slowly and dignified but after a few paces he picks up the speed and runs for the Jousting Grounds.
A bit too much all of it perhaps, but when asked to do something Young Garth tended to take it very seriously.
Whilst Titus and Ashara might have a scene later today (once a few other things have been clared up) during the Great Hall I thought this would be appropriate from yesterday. Once we're good to go for rest we can carry on here.
|
|
|
Post by Ashara Starkwood on Nov 6, 2018 3:23:23 GMT 1
Ashara takes the message and dismisses the squire without so much as unfolding the note. She would read it later - she had matters of significant consequence on her mind, and she had preparations to do.
Wait, was that... Titus squire? Yes, I remember him at the jousts.
Despite her initial intention, she unfolded it and quickly read the note. She was glad she had already dismissed the young ginger, as her face felt like it was contorting into numerous gruesome expressions as her mind darted from emotion to emotion too quickly to fully process. Of course, the squire probbaly wouldn't have noticed anything, keeping a steady face in a storm of emotions was one of the first courtier's tricks she had learned in Sunspear.
She re-folds it and steps over to a cook fire and tosses the note in... or at least, she motions to do so, but her fingers don't release it. She stands there, looking at the folded paper as if it were magically adhered to her hand.
She pauses.
Slowly she draws her hand back and slips the note into a pocket.
Quietly, she returns to her tent, shaken.
|
|
|
Post by Titus Blackbriar on Nov 9, 2018 17:16:16 GMT 1
And so the day passed. Jousts where won and lost, alliegences declared and solidified and things as always moved in the shadows.
It was in the Great Hall where Titus and Ashara would meet again, a mere day passed since the Moonlight Dance. Balon had yet again drawn dishonour to their name by his hate-mongering but now stood challenged by the very man he idolised. Ser Daemon Blackfyre. Titus had searched for his brother afterwards but failing to find him and not sure of what he would say anyway, he gave up.
Across the Great Hall he for a brief moment met the dark brown eyes of Lady Ashara Starkwood.
Damn.
He did not know what to say to her and had hoped that at least for one day be able to avoid her. But for all it’s size and grandeur, Highgarden seemed so small.
|
|
|
Post by Ashara Starkwood on Nov 9, 2018 19:06:34 GMT 1
And so the day passed. Information was gathered, leads followed and dismissed, and things as always moved in the shadows.
It was in the Great Hall where Ashara and Titus would meet again, a mere day passed since the Moonlight Dance. Balon had yet again drawn dishonour to himslef by his hate-mongering but thanks to her and Laena's earlier actions he now stood challenged by the very man he idolised. Ser Daemon Blackfyre. Ashara had searched for Laena, but she did not appear to have arrived at the Great Hall yet - hopefully no ill had befallen her in her hunt.
Across the Great Hall she for a brief moment met the light grey eyes of Ser Titus Blackbriar.
Damn.
She knew what she had to say to him, but had hoped for one day to be able to avoid him. But for all it’s size and grandeur, Highgarden seemed so small.
~ ~ ~
A Wolf had wounded a Golden Knight, and wolves do not apologize. However, she was not only a wolf, but a woman, a lady at that. Not only must she apologize, she wanted to. Eventually. When she didn't have so much else on her mind - murders and betrothals and politics all knotted together into one gigantic mess that she wished she could just hack to pieces with a sword.
Such was not to be, however. Having seen him, and knowing that he had seen her as well, she could not avoid it. She would have to talk to him now.
Part of her was not upset at that in the slightest. Part of her had wanted her to seek him out earlier in the day, to run to him immediately after she had gotten his message - if not before. It was the part that had not let her toss his note into the fire, but instead tuck it away in a concealed pocket in her gown, near her heart.
Just a coincidence, that. It happened to be where the pocket she had sewn into this gown was.
Or perhaps you chose this gown because of where that pocket was? Of course not... Utterly unthinkable? Right... Or you are deluding yourself? I'm not...
~ ~ ~
"Ser Titus."
She curtsies gracefully.
"I received your note. Please forgive me for not responding immediately. My cousin Laena was quite fond of Lord Bridges, and his passing was quite hard on her. I..."
She pauses, looking for the right words.
"You did not need to apologize to me. Quite the opposite. I had a... difficult day yesterday, and that led to... what happened. I hope you will forgive me."
|
|
|
Post by Titus Blackbriar on Nov 11, 2018 2:06:22 GMT 1
Damn. She's coming closer. Suddenly he's standing up much straighter than before.
Damn. She's almost by him now. What is he supposed to do with his hands? Have they always been this heavy?
Damn. There she is. She curtsies. His mouth is dry.
He swallows hard and smiles as he bows deeply to her, a closed hand over the left side of his chest. "Lady Ashara." The room seemed warmer somehow? "It seems that all we do is apologise to one-another." he clears his throat. "I did not know Lady Laena was close to Lord Bryce." Why would you? "Is she well?
"And you, my Lady, how are you?"
|
|
|
Post by Ashara Starkwood on Nov 11, 2018 3:25:27 GMT 1
"She is... as well as can be expected. She was certain he would wed her, take her and her children in. A widow once, she kept her heart guarded... but she had opened it to Lord Bryce. Emotionally, she is now twice a widow... I cannot even imagine. If there is war there will be a great many more widows, unfortunately."
She shakes her head, and changes the subject.
"I hear you are to fight on Ser Daemon's team in the melee, rather than alongside your father with Ser Roland."
|
|
|
Post by Titus Blackbriar on Nov 11, 2018 13:08:46 GMT 1
”Aye, on Lady Daena’s request.” There was nothing wrong with that, so why did it feel so odd to speak of Lady Daena to Ashara? He rode with her favour, not Ashara’s, didn’t he? And was not Ashara bethroed any way so what was the point of - never mind.
”Ser Daemon seems a good, honourable man and...” for a moment he trails of, eyes wandering to the place where Balon had stood ”...a skilled warrior. Shame that it should have to come to this” the last part is quiterer, under his own breath.
”Your Ser Quentyn fights along Ser Aegor, I heard.” Why had he been interested in what side her bethroed fought? None of House Cordwayner had joined Roland as all swore to Bittersteel but was it for political reasoning he kept a check on Ser Quentyn?
|
|
|
Post by Ashara Starkwood on Nov 11, 2018 16:16:50 GMT 1
"He is not and will never be MY Ser Quentin. I would as soon see his head rot on a spike for treason as welcome him to my wedding bed."
Her tone is dark and full of vitriol.
"Ser Daemon is a good man, the paragon of chivalry, it seems. I do not begrudge those that would choose to fight beside him in the melee - he is the likely victor, thought that has as much to do with Bittersteel and his cronies as his own prowess. No, his one fault, from what I have seen, is that he will not openly declare himself to support the King and denounce those who would place him on his brother's throne."
Her dark eyes darken further, almost to black. Surely a trick of the light?
"He may not have used the poison himself, or even condone the killings, but he has not done what needs to be done to stop them - to that degree the deaths of Ser Walton, Lord Jon, Lord Bryce, and countless others is his fault. If he truly harbored no traitorous intent, he would put a stop to the traitors that act in his name, yet he does not. For that, I can no longer forgive him - even if he does stand up to the more beastly of his followers when pressed."
|
|
|
Post by Titus Blackbriar on Nov 11, 2018 18:19:19 GMT 1
"He is not and will never be MY Ser Quentin. I would as soon see his head rot on a spike for treason as welcome him to my wedding bed." The sheer savagery of the response caught him off-guard and jaw agape for a moment before he regained himself. Dornish passions indeed, surely no woman of the Reach would speak of their betrothed in such a matter? Unless one was betrothed to Lord Eldon or one of his ilk and whilst Ser Quentyn did not seem so black a man, such ire and disgust must be earned somehow.
But the idea of Ashara unbetrothed opened up a flood gate within his mind. Base and unchivalrous thoughts of possibilities and wants flashed before him. Before he could speak she carried on.
He sighed. Not out of annoyance or frustration but as if carrying an ever increasingly heavy burden, unable to unload it. "I am no lord and I am no politician. I don't know if it's my place to condemn a man for not speaking out more when he already does. Dragons are a breed of their own, my lady, are they not? He fails to understand just how important the subject is to the young woman, ever the astute one he returns to a previous topic. "My lady is not... happy in her family's arrangement with House Cordwayner then?" Careful, Titus.
|
|
|
Post by Ashara Starkwood on Nov 11, 2018 21:03:30 GMT 1
"No, I am not, nor are my Lord Father, Lord Ilyn, or Lady Maegelle. However, none are willing to dishonor themselves by breaking the betrothal. all involved desire a strong alliance to see our houses through the coming conflict, but with House Cordwayner choosing to ally itself with Bittersteel, and my Lord Father righteously committed to defending the King, any alliances between our houses would be naught but a sham - worse, I would be a prisoner at Hammerhal, a hostage against my family." She shakes her head. "I will admit that I was not thrilled to be recalled from my place as a lady-in-waiting at Sunspear. However, the betrothal has gone from frustrating to unacceptable in my eyes. Not so serious a sin as the murders that have happened in his name, but still an ill situation that both originated and was exacerbated by Ser Daemon's unspoken ambitions. You will forgive me, Ser, that I do not forgive him quite so easily. I had originally thought him a mere figurehead, a tool for the ambitions of Bittersteel and Peake, but I have realized that his inaction against them is an implicit endorsement of their activities - even the darkest deeds. Standing against Ser Otho and your brother..." She sighs. "After my first encounter with your brother, I met with Ser Daemon. He is even more impressive up close... my cousin and I felt that the ignoble brutality exhibited needed to be stood against to prevent more needless deaths, and convinced Ser Daemon that those acts sullied his good name, too. Thus did he stand against Ser Otho and thus does he stand against your brother. Yet what stand does he take against the murder of Lord Bryce? What stand does he take against the treasonous words and that push us towards another disastrous war of succession? None." She shakes her head again. "He is not a dragon, he is a man - and like all men he should be judged on his inaction as well as his action."
Disposition: Indifferent (read - conflicted, but more positive than at the dance) Technique: Convince Objective: Declare for Blood D9 WW Intrigue Init Status(rep): 4d6 18You *could* tie that and would win the tiebreaker (higher # of reputation dice) but odds are heavily against it so I'm going to take my first round action now. Free Action: Ashara wants to know how Titus feels... D9 WW Free Action Awareness(empathy): 6d6k4+3 22 vs passive Deception(act) From the dance I know that TN is 9, so 3 DoS for a pool of +3b to be used on non-influence actions. Round 1: Name dropping because she wants Titus to like her... D9 WW R1 Shield of Reputation w +2b from FA pool: 6d6k4 13 vs passive Status(reputation) Again from the prior intrigue I know you have a passive reputation of 13, so I'm really glad I used BOTH those bonus dice! Result: Titus increases in disposition towards by one step (reminder - that's only one point, so it may or may not change your disposition). This increase will only last beyond this intrigue if nothing else affects Titus' disposition towards Ashara. ID 11 DR 4 Composure 12/12 Frustration 0 Bonus dice remaining from Free Action: 1
|
|
|
Post by Titus Blackbriar on Nov 12, 2018 14:01:26 GMT 1
"So the man is clearly open to heed the advice from wise councillors such as yourself and your cousin. But I am certain that Ser Daemon has many paths and briar-ways to manoeuvre. Perhaps if one sought his aid in finding Lord Bryce's murderers he would be amiable?""You may be right though, my lady. He is a man and fallible as such but is not him throwing the gauntlet against malice and brutality signs of responsibilities? I myself rode against it just two days past, it is not something to be taken lightly." Maybe it was naivety, fear or just sheer ignorance but the prosepcts of war did not want to take root with him. For all that Titus could see, Ser Deamon Blackfyre was a good man supported by many of the greatest knights and commanders of the Reach, could they all be so wrong? "Dishonourable men will flock to any banner and any cause, something I am sure you'll find here in Highgarden as well as the capital... and Sunspear." He isn't necessarily presenting arguments to prove something, more innocently trying to understand something that he thinks is to big for him to grasp. "How did my lady find it during her time there?"
Disposition: Amiable (2 -> 3 with Shield of Rep) Technique: Charm Objective: Let's not talk about politics (Friendship) Wounded Wolf - Intrigue Initiative: 4d6k3 16 - that is indeed a start for you (and got my own thread-title wrong)
Free Action: Wolf Wounded - Reputation(Breeding): 4d6k3 9 - Crit. Fail if it makes any difference but I don't think it doesID: 11 DR: 3 Composure: 11/11 Frustration: 0 Wolf Wounded - R1 Influence (Charm): 6d6k4+3 18 - 2 DoS 3*2=6-4(DR)= 2 Influence Dealt
|
|
|
Post by Ashara Starkwood on Nov 12, 2018 15:29:22 GMT 1
"Oh, aye, it is never a bad thing for ill deeds to be challenged. I do not mean to denigrate that. However, ill deeds can be cloaked in the righteousness of such a challenge. Lady Kyra issuing a challenge on behalf of her slighted daughter was righteous, but her evident desire to see Lord Karl die at the hands of Ser Rennifer was not. There is nothing in the mortal realm so pure that it cannot be used by the black-hearted as a false justification for their darkest deeds. Just as the most vile villain may do a good deed from time to time, the purest of hearts will also face temptation - and in many cases, give in.... or just do nothing while ill deeds are done by which they benefit." Ashara watches his face carefully to see how he reacts. It could be quite telling about a man's character how he reacts when the realization occurs that there is neither pure white and nor pure black, just various shades of grey. D9 WW R2 Read Target Awareness(empathy): 6d6k4+3 24 vs passive Deception(act) of 9 is 4 DoS - not that DoS matters. Ashara learns Titus' technique (charm) and gains +1D on persuasion and deception tests for the remainder of the intrigue. ID 11 DR 4 Composure 10/12 Frustration 0 Bonus dice remaining from Free Action: 1
|
|
|
Post by Titus Blackbriar on Nov 12, 2018 16:32:26 GMT 1
"In some cases good men will fall, yes. But far from all. Hence the importance of honour and chivalry! In the end Ser Roland stood for Lady Kyra, not Ser Rennifer and Lord Karl is yet with us, if bruised from the experience but alive and well! But had Roland wished it so, things could have ended very differently, he is a to capable of a rider not to. Just as Ser Daemon spared Otho Bracken despite the dishonour of the man." To Titus, it seemed that even if life is all but shades of grey, one of those shades has to reminisce black and another white. He was very much a young knight of summer.
ID: 11 DR: 3 Composure: 11/11 Frustration: 0 Wolf Wounded - R2 Influence (Charm): 6d6k4+3 19Wolf Wounded - R2 BotA Reroll (Original Roll: 1): 1d6 6 - 22 - 3 DoS 9-4= 5 Influence
|
|
|
Post by Ashara Starkwood on Nov 12, 2018 18:29:05 GMT 1
"Of course honor and chivalry are important. If there are none who do good, then all is lost." Ashara places a hand on his arm and smiles. "The realm would surely benefit greatly if more knights were like you." She smiles. "However, honor and chivalry may be worn like a cloak to cover treachery, much as Lord Eldon used his position to get away with raping that poor girl of the Starlings. Ser Daemon is the face of the traitors, seemingly almost just a figurehead, presenting the image of nigh-indisputable perfect chivalry. Challenging the most openly foul of his supporters only adds to that reputation, as exhibited by your own statements. As the 'man at the top' he garners support through his chivalry, and gives the treason an air of honor and worthiness." She frowns, and her voice takes on a tone of disdain. "If Ser Daemon is the face, then Bittersteel is the hands - specifically, the hands that get dirty. No crime too vile, no knight too tarnished to find service with him. The Dornish-haters, vow-breakers, adulterers, and so on flock to his banner - why not, when he stands accused of kinslaying and murder with no repercussions? Nothing attracts the dark-hearted like the promise of giving in to their vile urges without corporeal punishment." She shakes her head. "Behind the two of them - more subtle than Bittersteel and less public than Ser Daemon - is Lord Gomon Peake. He is the mind behind the face and the hands. Whatever plan is behind these killings and the manipulations of the tourney events to favor the traitors, I have no doubt that they spring from him."
Just an FYI I have decided that this is much more interesting if Ashara does not know that Gormy is your cousin. not that it would necessarily stop her from badmouthing him, but she might be a bit more tactful about it. Wow that roll. Literally the bottom 0.34% of the range. That's roughly the equivalent of rolling a 1 on a d294... ah well, such are the vagaries of Orokos.
ID 11 DR 4 Composure 5/12 Frustration 0 Bonus dice remaining from Free Action: 0
|
|
|
Post by Titus Blackbriar on Nov 12, 2018 19:03:41 GMT 1
"Your flatter me but I am no Ser Roland." he returns the smile and places his hand on hers for a moment before removing it. As she speaks he sighs and looks away briefly. Sad? Ashamed? Or perhaps just, for a moment, alone. "I am Peake by my mother's side, Ashara." Surely she must know? "Lord Gormon is my cousin by blood and both me and Balon served as pages at Starpike in our youth and... he's a good man. Or at least he was. Just, kind and unrelenting. I hadn't seen him for years and now he's older but... I still recognise him. " Searching for the words he pauses. "I am my father's son, I squired under him whilst Balon squired under Fireball and consequently we are different men but Lord Gormon did not make Balon into that." he gestures towards the direction of Balon's confrontation with Ser Jasper. "Those early years with him made part of me what I am today. Make no mistake." His voice having grown more sombre, he stops himself and with a chuckle runs his hand through his hair. "It seems all I do is tell you that men are good..." he smiles again and looks at her.
ID: 11 DR: 3 Composure: 11/11 Frustration: 0 Wolf Wounded - R3 Influence (Charm): 6d6k4+3 16Wolf Wounded - R3 BotA Reroll (Original Roll: 1): 1d6 2 - 17 - 2 DoS6-4= 2 Influence Dealt
|
|