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Post by Father on Dec 30, 2018 22:54:20 GMT 1
Lady Johanna Meadows is stern, tall and thin like a twig. Once, like at least a decade ago, she must have been beautiful, but now it seems as if her skin has tightened around her cheeks and jowls, with her pale skin, dark eyes and fading color of her once vibrant reddish-golden hair. "My Lady Laena." She greets courteously enough, though it is doubtful that she has any warmth for people that she likes, for Laena, her voice taking on a particularly chilling hue, a cold icy fury no less dangerous than the fiery rage awoken in Ysilla by Lord Bryce's murder. A woman was his downfall; a woman glimpsed from atop the Wall, with skin as white as the moon and eyes like blue stars. Fearing nothing, he chased her and caught her and loved her, though her skin was cold as ice, and when he gave his seed to her he gave his soul as well. |
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Post by Laena Pyre on Dec 31, 2018 0:37:31 GMT 1
"Lady Johanna Meadows." Laena greets her back in a neutral tone, giving a textbook curtsey. When - since it seemed inevitable - this turned ugly, she would not have onlookers say she provoked the other woman further by her conduct.
Made rather easier by the fact that Laena cared not one whit for her, for good or ill. A state of affairs she suspected would not last long, but was determined to enjoy while she could.
They both knew what this meeting was about. Time to see what Lady Johanna intended to do about it.
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Post by Father on Dec 31, 2018 10:34:22 GMT 1
"I had a curiosity, if my lady would indulge me, from one mother to another." Lady Johanna's voice cold eyes takes a particularly malicious tint. "I have but the one child, and I love him dearly, perhaps even more since I have just the one. I would do anything for him, would my lady not say the same about her children?"
Oh, we are going into intrigue happy fun-land. Intrigue Iniative: 6d6k4 14Free Breeding: 6d6k4 15 +1b Objective: Publicly recant your vicious slander, you bitch! ID: 12 DR: 7 Composure: 13
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Post by Laena Pyre on Dec 31, 2018 14:09:38 GMT 1
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Post by Father on Dec 31, 2018 17:29:54 GMT 1
"Then my lady surely understands my position" She speaks with the authority of one used to the power and command of holding a lord's seat, like Lord Ulbert when he must, but she appears considerably more vicious. "My husband was taken from me before our first and only son was born, he is my only treasure and I have nothing else but his future to live for." Laena notes a very distinct pattern in how she speaks of Lord Lucas as the son of her late husband, all the right words, rehearsed to perfection, but not from the heart. Only the most skilled could lie so convincingly as to fool a trained observer knowing what to look for. Though the part about her own ambitions and well-being she leaves out, but to some extents, she identifies those and the future fortunes of her son as the very same thing. "I love him so dearly that I would stop at nothing to secure his birthright and through it a life of success and happiness. Surely, my lady would agree that it would be most negligent of me to ignore a clear and present danger to the future of my only son? Would my lady not agree that I must do everything that is necessary and within my power to defend him from such a threat or have failed in the most important of a mother's duty?" The part about her concern for his future and her willingness to do whatever it takes to secure it seems real enough, though many are those who had intended to murder and do harm, but could not bring themselves to do it. But given the questionable circumstances of her husband's sudden passing, that would seem a great risk to take. Notably, the words "everything necessary" speaks more of pragmatism than vengeance. She can content herself with the damage being undone.
Read Target is very much a success, Deception 17 is 0 DoS. Objective: Publicly recant your vicious slander, you bitch! ID: 12 DR: 7 Composure: 13 Intimidate +1b: 7d6k4+4 23 is 3*5-4=11 Influence dealt. Also: Vindictive: 6d6k4 17
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Post by Laena Pyre on Dec 31, 2018 18:30:39 GMT 1
Laena, for all of her claims of having the 'blood of the dragon' is visibly cowed by the other woman, folding like wet paper before her power and majesty. Clearly struggling to hold back tears, and with a hitch in her voice, she responds. "You are more right than you know, my lady. For that is my reason for saying as I did." Locking wet, desperate eyes in a pleading look with the other woman, she continues. "On the day of the mummer's performance, I received an anonymous message. It told me what to say about you, and demanded that it be in the public's awareness by the time of the final of the joust." She swallows, her difficulty in continuing difficult. "It said if I didn't ... my children would pay the price." A single tear escapes her eyes, despite her best efforts. "The message had attached a small figurine of a knight - one of Landar's favourite toys, which had gone missing a couple of days prior. Proof that the writer could reach them whenever they wanted." She swallows again. "So I did it. And I'd do it again were the circumstances the same. You yourself have just made a very convincing argument as to why. But I bear you no ill-will, my lady. How could I? We've never interacted. I have nothing to gain from your troubles. Personal or political, I have no motive to attack you. I'm just trying to protect my children, as you are."
Her Skin - R2 - Influence - Persuasion (Act) +1D - TN12: 7d6k5+2 31 ....Wow. 4 6's and a 5. That is *insane*. 4 DoS for 4*4 = 16 - 7 = 9 Influence in return. |
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Post by Father on Dec 31, 2018 22:30:55 GMT 1
"I see." Johanna doesn't melt or thaw, but she seems slightly less dangerous, or maybe that is just imagination. Sympathy is something this woman appears to be incapable of. "Still, the slander my lady did seed is growing sprouts, and this cannot stand, they must be brought up by the roots."Undo the damage you did willingly, or the pain I will inflict upon you as I do it myself will be far worse than whatever cost you must bear by helping me.
Objective: Publicly recant your vicious slander , you bitch!ID: 12 DR: 7 Composure: 4/13 Intimidate: 6d6k4+4 17 1*5-4=1 influence dealt.
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Post by Laena Pyre on Dec 31, 2018 23:04:08 GMT 1
"My lady, nothing *I* can do will make the slightest difference right now. Whatever I say, those with the inclination can have a maester look through records and determine the truth or falsehood of the matter themselves. "As you say, the matter needs to be taken out at the *root*. "Fortunately, I believe I can direct you in the correct direction, and good luck to you in following it. The penmanship of the letter was good, but lacked the beauty of a female's hand, or the rigid methodology of a maester. That, combined with the fact that the letter related the deadline to the *joust* strongly indicates to me that it was a nobleman of some measure, quite probably even a knight. Technically, at least. "That doesn't help narrow it down much, but combine that with the fact that Ser Aladale Levalle was very quick off the mark supporting my accusations, and suddenly ... well, the suspect list becomes very short. Threats? Blackmail? These are acts typical of a Levalle. I cannot see a connection, but I do also find it ... interesting that the deadline was the final of the joust. Where, according to rumour, Lord Alliser had laid significant money earlier on on both finalists, when such a match-up seemed highly unlikely. Who knows what nefarious games are circling around that house? Whatever they may be, I suspect you are their latest victim." She lowers her head to the other woman. "For what little it may be worth, while I cannot say I *regret* my actions - like you, I will do much to protect my children - I am sorry for my part in this scheme, and wish the mastermind's nefarious eye had fallen on someone else."
Sigh. Which is just enough to cause me to take frustration. ID: 11 Frustration: 1 Composure: 4/12 Her Skin - R3 - Influence - Persuasion (Act) +1D - TN12: 7d6k5+2 26 Urgh. 1 Off 4 Dos. Still, 3 DoS is 3*4 = 12 - 7 = 5 influence, pushing her to take frustration as well, if she wishes to continue. Assuming she does wish to continue, Yield offer: Laena will quietly (so as to not provoke harm on her children) use her network to dig in to what the Levalles may be up to, and pass on what she finds to Lady Johanna. Lady Johanna will in return ... 'overlook' Laena's role in this whole affair, accepting that the damage has already been done, and move on to trying to find the root of the problem - where the actual *danger* lies. |
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Post by Father on Jan 1, 2019 21:13:31 GMT 1
"That very much sound like the spongeholder" She says contemptuously. "But I cannot allow any threat to my son fester, the weeds must be dealt with, it's roots, it's stem, everything must be burned, including my lady's coerced leaves." She does not lower the threat of her raised sword. Probably not aimed at Laena's children, probably. Most likely she would seek to destroy the reputation and credibility of the messengers, Laena, Aladale, the spongeholder. Should she succeed, Laena's marriage prospects are likely to sink like a stone.
Hmm, no she needs recanting from both you and the Levalle's, but it would be acceptable if Laena, say, confess of "the message" privately to Lord Tyrell and try to convince him that it was Aladale/Alliser that did it. Lord Leo coming down hard on the Levalle's and letting it be known that the allegations are slander and falsehoods would solve just about all of Johanna's problems. Objective: Publicly recant your vicious slander, you bitch! ID: 10 DR: 7 Composure: 4/13-1 Frustration. Intimidate: 6d6k4+4 16 2*5-4=6
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Post by Laena Pyre on Jan 3, 2019 0:18:11 GMT 1
Laena's body language collapses entirely, displaying total submission to the other woman. "I cannot recant my words in public without endangering the lives of my children. But .. I can quietly tell Lord Leo the truth behind the matter, and encourage him to act against the criminals responsible. I cannot see how he'd overlook such acts. Then hopefully we can all put this sorry matter behind us."
Counter-offer accepted. Laena will testify to Lord Leo as to what happened, in exchange for being 'overlooked' in her vengeance.
Laena's disposition towards Lady Johanna drops to Malicious(-9) for coming after her with closed fist, and being unwilling to compromise.
Since the main point of this thread is now done, after her response, I'm happy to call /scene.
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Post by Father on Jan 3, 2019 18:00:19 GMT 1
"That would indeed be acceptable, my lady" Johanna almost smiles, almost. She does not appear able to.
/scene
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