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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Mar 10, 2019 22:57:17 GMT 1
After he had given his gift Mikel kept his distance from the Lord and any of his men who had been there to shoot Mikel disproving looks during his fine display of diplomatic savvy.
He had been doing more wandering then mingling until a familiar face caught his eye. As the man was not currently occupied Mikel approached and greeted Ser Parmen Redwyne.
"Ser Parmen it is a pleasure to see you again, I hope time has been good to you?"
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Mar 11, 2019 1:32:36 GMT 1
Parmen turned a smile forming when he recognized the knight who addressed him.
"Well enough, now that that I have had a chance to return to my own lands and heal."
He leans closer to Mikel. "And what of Ser Mikel the Valiant? You seem to have recovered well from your wounds."
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Mar 11, 2019 3:57:00 GMT 1
"Rest does wonders when given the time." He smiles. "But I fear Maester Ronnel has grown tired of my company. Or perhaps only the fresh wounds interest him." He dismisses the thought with a shrug and laughter.
"I suppose the benefit of those beatings was getting to watch the melee, and from what I saw your family deserves every but of its reputation and then some, you were all quite impressive."
"It would have been nice to be on that field, but I do cherish being witness to it all the same. A high point of the tourney, though with some tradgity."
Remember that Parmen was married Mikel enquired, "I hope your wife is well, Ser? And of course your Lord and Master Malyk. "
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Mar 12, 2019 4:36:26 GMT 1
Parmen smiles at the mention of Alys. "She is well, thank you." He nods his head in the general direction of a group of young ladies laughing together. "She is enjoying the opportunity to mingle with acquaintances from the Black Tourney."
"It was a shame that you missed out at the melee, although from what I heard you spent enough time swinging fists and swords to make up for it. Perhaps next time we compete I might recruit you onto my team? I'm sure that Alys would much rather I fight with you than against you." He says the last with a self-deprecating laugh.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Mar 12, 2019 10:05:19 GMT 1
Mikel cannot help but laugh at the memory. He stayed out of the melee for his health only to end up in a bar brawl against what, seven or so of Merryweather's blackguards? "Some people just need to be hit. It would have been selfish of me not to do it while they stood before me begging." His smile still paints his face. "Though I am fortunate that it did not spin into something worse, like if he himself got involved and fell on top of me." The humor felt nice, especially after how the wedding had begun. "It would be an honor to stand beside you, Ser. Though I imagine if we stood across from one another your wife would only need to worry about all the nicks my helmet would put in your sword." He appreciated Ser Parmen's modesty, more men should some.
"Have you been making the local tourneys? I confess that I have only competed in the early bouts." Mikel rubs two fingers together, indicating the motivation for his dabbling.
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Mar 14, 2019 4:56:48 GMT 1
"Alas, my duties at Highever and social events such as these have kept me out of the lists and melees. As a squire I used to think that training was the most exhausting thing a man could do. Then I learned what it takes to run and hold a castle. If I had known I would have paid more attention to my masters lessons.
"I hope to enter a few tourneys before too long, to see old and new friends if for no other reason. And you Ser, how have you done so far? With your talents I would expect that will earn a fair bit of glory and coin."
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Mar 20, 2019 23:26:42 GMT 1
"I have seen success in the early matches but stopped my participation there. By that point I have some winnings and look for familiar faces or try to simply hear what is going on throughout the reach. We all know those storm clouds are coming, I just worry about seeing them before the lightening strikes."
"It is probably better that way anyhow. I imagine I would loose my winnings if I continued past the opening matches, though I might make it a respectable distance. My ability to point the lance exceeds my ability on horseback I fear. Something I will one day focus on balancing."
"May I ask, as I have never been in a position such as yours, what duties do you find before you, and which are the most consuming?"
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Mar 29, 2019 4:43:30 GMT 1
{OOC: Apologies. I lost track of this thread while traveling.}
"I understand. When I squired for Lord Fossoway he often said that riding well was the greatest indicator of a knight's success in the lists. Of course Lord Jaimie always seemed to think that horses and riding were the greatest indicator of success in anything that you could name." Parmen chuckles at the memory.
"Duties of running a castle are surprisingly confounding. There are the things like managing the books and accounts, tracking farm yields, and negotiating with neighboring knights. None of which I am especially well-prepared for. I'm lucky in that I have good teachers and assistants. Malyk, Lord Alliser's senechal, alone is worth an army of regular men."
"Most complicated of all are the people. The ones who look to you for leadership or guidance. It's immensely frustrating. I often wonder why are these small folk asking me to resolve their problems; don't they know that we have better, more important things to do. Oddly enough however, when you are able to find a solution it's also the most rewarding part."
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Apr 3, 2019 8:44:52 GMT 1
"Sounds like Lord Fossoway truly loves horses and good horsemanship. I have heard that the best horses are bred in his stables, is it true?"
"I imagine Master Malyk is extremely helpful in a variety of situations. We spoke twice at the Black Tourney, unfortunately the second time was immediately after the second riot - still in the field where it had occurred. He was tending the wounded and directing assistance and found me saying good bye to my horse. It had gotten me through the crowd into the Merryweather camp, but had died making it happen." He still thought of that day - it hadn't been so long ago. But he had no intention of taking the conversation a somber direction, so he redirected where he had led it.
"Those people appreciate you more then you know, Ser. To have a fair and just Knight watching over them, even when they must answer to you, is something no small folk would take for granted. Many here might disagree, but to be loved and respected is to truly have them. I spent half my life as one of them, and now having seen both sides I have come to see this as a truth." His comment was not the press of an opinion, but gently sharing something he had learned over the course of his life.
"But being landed sounds challenging though to be sure an honor. And one I imagine you are well suited for. Does it ever make you dream of the open road though? I am curious what you might miss most from before you had these responsibilities."
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Apr 8, 2019 4:01:30 GMT 1
“Other houses may produce champion-caliber horses that are worthy of carrying the greatest knights and lords, but none that I am aware of do so with the numbers and consistency of the Fossoway herds.”
“Malyk is a good man. He makes organizations and men of all sorts better, often despite themselves.”
“Being a married man and a landed knight is a true blessing, but yes they both sometimes feel like a weight on my shoulders, and unlike my plate this weight can never come off. When the burden seems especially heavy I remind myself that every role comes with its own rewards and challenges. The open road has its appeal to be certain but you are only too aware of its hardships.“
“I had always enjoyed hearing the tales of the adventures who sailed from the Arbor ports and used to dream of taking a ship, my armor and sword and seeing what lay across the narrow seas. I never got to sail farther than Old Town but perhaps in the years ahead my wife and I will have sons, gods willing, who will travel from the Tear and create their own tales to tell.”
“But what of yourself Ser? Do you ever yearn to leave the Starkwood lands and set out on the open road? Surely your martial skills and honor would earn you a place of honor wherever you ride?”
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Apr 12, 2019 16:06:18 GMT 1
"After my Knighting I lived on the road for around a decade, traveling tournament to tournament to support myself. It was a wonderful life for the most part. Westeros has much beauty, and while the people are mostly the same anywhere you go, they also have slight differences that I have always found interesting. I had only come into Lord Starkwood's service a year before the Black Tourney. Having lived as I have for ten years or so I often think of going back to it, or perhaps expanding upon it. Going across the Narrow Seas and serving in a company of professionals is a thought I wish I'd had five years ago," He thought of Ser Davos and wondered how the urge to cross the seas had never occurred to him. "but it wouldn't be very worthy of me to leave Lord Starkwood's service with the turmoil that is likely to come into the Reach soon."
"Speaking of it, might I ask if you hold the same belief - of what is to come - and what you have done as a Lord to prepare your lands for? I understand if this something you would rather not answer, and apologize if it is not appropriate."
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Apr 18, 2019 2:34:49 GMT 1
Parmen waves his hand to show that no offense is given and takes a moment to consider his response.
“First I am no lord, just a landed knight in service to Lord Levalle. Therefore my first responsibility during these times is to support and provide counsel to Lord Alliser. During this time we must also prepare ourselves and our people to survive whatever may come next. To that end we maintain defenses, train our recruits and make sure that our cellars and larders are full. Although the harvest are good a war could burn all that we have
“Finally I am searching for a way to prevent a full blown war from breaking out. Although I freely admit that none of my efforts seem likely to be successful.” He says the last bit with obvious frustration.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Apr 18, 2019 20:33:38 GMT 1
"How might you prevent the war - or had you meant a war on Levalle lands?" Mikel thought some well paid assassins might end the trouble, but if you didn't kill the right people all at once you would be more likely to start the war.
"Creating alliances with those around you I imagine, or at least treaties in advance of any action." Mikel wasn't trying to answer his own question, he just wanted to say something that wasn't another question.
A thought struck Mikel in that moment and it likely showed plain as day on his face. He held his tongue until Parmen could answer with interruption, and used the time to consider if it was something he should share.
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Post by Parmen Redwyne on Apr 23, 2019 23:24:12 GMT 1
"Primarily through finding a way to convince the supporters of both blood and fire that they stand to gain more from peace than they care to risk in a war. Also by finding a way to bring Ser Daemon into a position of power within Kings Landing, giving him the respect and power that he deserves while bring his honor and skill in support of the king." Parmen shakes his head. "Thus far my efforts have been as successful as you might imagine. Honestly, I not even sure if I believe that there is a chance any more to prevent a war, but the effort needs to be made. If nothing else maybe the damage can be mitigated." Parmen shrugs his shoulders, his frustration slowly turning to resignation.
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Post by Mikel of Harroway on Apr 28, 2019 3:15:16 GMT 1
"I am not nearly so well versed in the politics, especially in regards to the affairs of others, but my perception is that the core of the movement is supported by those who believe they have something to gain, or that the King owes him. Is that a fair if overly simplified statement?"
He continued. "So those that who have fallen in with that core group but are not of it, those who want a warrior - king, or strongly object to some action of his, your method strikes me as most valuable towards dealing with them. But the core group..." Mikel shales his head. "I believe at least for some of them they have laid all bets and only a war can change their course now. Though perhaps with more of your sort of work being done and taking hold, it wont end up being the same kind of war."
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