Re: [D8, EN] Lights in the Dark (Open)

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I'll have to do that later, would rather be here than in an overcrowded barn where the hygiene standard on par with Ibbenese sailors. Comparing them to Ibbenese sailors would insult the sailors."
Yoren shakes his head.
"
I better see him when his head is clear and I can hear him speak. I've never been fond of these noisy places myself, how about you?"

"
Such an establishment is not a fitting place for a lady,"
Corrine replies tactfully. "
Though I do enjoy camaraderie, my place is in a quieter environment, with more rules,"
she adds, with a wry smile.

[Yoren longshore]

"
I must admit that I share your views there, though I believe that Loreia is quite taken with the more lively places around here, isn't that so Loreia?"
Yoren asks the northern woman.

OOC
(In case Loreia has something she wishes to add. )

[Loreia]

She knew the Red religion was about visions and prophecies, but Loreia can't keep disbelief from registering in her eyes. The fire's gone to his head in addition to whatever he's been drinking.

She shrugs. "
Well, we all need someplace where we go and drink. I like a stiff drink to take the edge off in friendly company, an' the Huntsman smells decent enough that nobles don't seem to mind. Rules'd only complicate what a smart woman knows to do when goin' into an alehouse. Since you've trapped Benedict in the Maiden's embrace, mayhaps you could visit sometime, with him to keep you safe."
She suggests this with the implied understanding that Corrine's never been.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I wouldn't call him 'trapped' myself, since he seems overjoyed by our betrothal, but I daresay I might visit, with him as a chaperone. I wouldn't know the etiquette of such a place. It is the sort of thing I have long been steered away from. Still, I'm ever willing to learn, especially now that I am more fully my own woman."


She offers a friendly smile.

[Yoren longshore]

"
What you have not attemted you may neither like nor dislike properly. Visiting a Tavern, any tavern has to be done once."
Yoren mimes an upward pointed nose, in proper noble fashion: "
However, now that I have become a proper noble, I guess my drinking days are over... How are your wounds after the tournament Loreia, are they bad?"

[Loreia]

"
I"
ll be fine,"
she answers, patting a not-so-lone bandaged cut. "
I really let myself go early on, but no wounds are as deep as you've suffered out there."

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren chuckle a little: "
just because someone has had it worse doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt... have you had Daveth taking a look at it yet? I heard that he's had a few problems in his camp, but I'm sure that he has the time to check on your wounds regardless."
Yoren smiles: "
you are a valued member of the guard after all."

[Loreia]

"
Really now? Did someone tell you that, or is it a gut feeling? she laughs genuinely at his buttery praise;
however, she catches herself before it can die down naturally. "
Thank you, but I've had worse, there's no need to concern yourself. I'll go see a healer if I need to."

[Yoren longshore]

"
Little bit of both. Daveth told me, but I asked him first. If he hasn't looked at it, he should, the smallest scratch may inflame to the point where amputation is the only solution."
Yoren holds up his left arm. "
Smallest bite you've ever seen, only through tendons and muscles. Just bandaged it, didn't get anyone to look at it. Few days later I unwound the bandage, and it smelled like the Other himself. Had to sit for an hour while they cut off the sickness. Even then it was uncertain if they had to take the hand later on... I got lucky, you shouldn't have to be. I'll need to have you strong for our trip."
Leaning back Yoren watches his hand himself, smiling softly: "
I got lucky."

[Loreia]

"
I am strong."
Is he concerned that I've been poisoned? She sighs. "
I'll go bother Daveth an' have him look at me. I think I passed him in the Great Hall."


She bows to Corrine. "
Forgive me m'lady, my soon-to-be fearless leader wishes for me to be at my utmost."


*Daveth may Diagnose, but assuming he finds nothing wrong that will prevent me from healing naturally(Endurance), no Treat Injury.*

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
It was good to speak with you, Loreia,"
Corrine replies with a little nod. "
My spirit rests a little more easily."

[Yoren longshore]

"
Good night Loreia! How about you Corrine? You think you get to sleep after all this mess? If not, how about a set of Cyvasse?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I don't feel quite ready to return yet. I have never played cyvasse, but I'd be willing to learn. Perhaps it would be a welcome diversion."

[Yoren longshore]

"
I Look forward to teaching you, wait a minute and I'll be back."
Yoren smiles and hurries of, returning after a little while with a battered old case: "
This is where magic happens, this is where you command Dragons for the fate of empires.

This is not real, but if you let it be, it will be real in your mind. Here are creatures most westerosi has never seen, but the craftsmanship of masters has seen to that this is all most correct, both in proportion and in capabilities.

When all seems lost you may still win here, on the fields of battle, where all is equal. True masters can turn situations where all is lost into victory. It clears the mind, in ways nothing else can."


After Yoren has set up the pieces and explained the rules, he asks: "
How is things working out with the clansmen? How many men will come with us?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She listens carefully to the rules, and watches Yoren make a move, pondering her own.

"
Do you mean what other forces are promised to us?"

[Yoren longshore]

"
Forces and plans. I'll put two hundred men behind you banner, I'm committed, but I'd like to be prepared for what I might see. Will we be outnumbered? Will we try for diplomacy? Will the battles be guerilla or pitched? I know you probably can't tell me everything, but could I get a general overview?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
The exact details of plans and techniques will be largely up to my Keeper of the Gate and those who command the units, as I myself am not skilled much in military tactics. However, we will have nine or ten units in all, most of which will have experience and discipline. About half of them will have specific experience of fighting in mountainous terrain or against the clans or similar. We will have funds to construct a watchtower, so we will have better responsiveness to attacks. Unless all ten clans attack at once, which is unlikely, given their lack of unity and tendency for in-fighting, we will be able to subdue them without many losses."

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren nods: "
What language do they speak? Old tongue or common? Will it be an option to solve it peacefully? Fewer men lost here, will mean more men to eventual later engagements... Also, who will be in command?"

Yoren asks before looking at the board between them. Pointing at one of the dragons he states: "
things would be simpler with one of those, wouldn't it?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Simpler, but more destructive,"
Corrine replies, moving her heavy horse forward. "
I think we can do without fire-breathing wild beasts laying waste to our fields.

As for the clans, they have the common tongue, but their native old tongue dialect is what they use between themselves. A peaceful resolution is unlikely, but I hope to disarm them rather than kill them, so that there may be a chance at negotiation. The more of them we kill, the less co-operative they will be.

My military command structure is not yet set, but there will be units commanded by Ser Benedict Blackthorne, Ser Kevan Lyras, Lord Kellan Kriegar, and I imagine House Coldbrook's forces will be commanded by either Lord Coldbrook himself, or his bastard, Garrett Snow.

Kevan is to be my Keeper of the Gate, so he will be in charge of all the Marsten and Lyras forces, and I intend to give Lord Kriegar a high position of command. I will likely fold the Longshore forces into his command, as he is well-suited to instill them with the discipline you want for them.

Ultimately, all will be answerable to Ser Benedict, as Lord Marsten.

[Yoren longshore]

"
Destructive indeed, I never want to see one on the battlefield, the killing fields of Aegons conquests serves as enough of a memory to dissuade any fantasies of using one."
Yoren smiles as he pulls his Dragon forward: "
However, in Cyvasse where both sides are armed with dragons, you have to be the first one to strike with them."


"
Distrust would be understandable from them, so how do you plan to disarm them? I know that if i were in my native terrain with my mortal enemies just outside, I wouldn't just drop my weapons. Have you entertained the notion of starving them out? Making sure your holdfasts are protected and stocked, then simply let them starve? Sooner or later they'll have to approach your castles for food, then you may disarm them. You said you had the resources to build a Watchtower, how about using it to starve them out instead?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
It is a matter for my commanders to decide, I suppose. I am loathe to make children suffer for their parents' fight."


Taking Yoren's hint, she makes an aggressive move with her dragon.

[Yoren longshore]

"
Good grief, if we just continue playing a few more times, I am sure you'll beat me easily!"
Yoren says with a smile. Moving a piece of Rabble forward he tells her: "
Bomilkar, my master and mentor, Had allmost the same opening moves as you use here, although he prefered to have a spear out here."
Yoren tells as he points to a tile a little forward.
"
Diplomacy is for the lord or lady to decide, and as the oldest daughter you are second in command. Don't let the commanders decide whether you use diplomacy or not! They are men of war, even when they think they are not. You don't ask a horse if it wants a saddle, and in the same manner, you have to harness your commanders without giving them full command. If you don't wish to risk talking to them, let me. Try for peace before settling for war is always a good idea."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I am the head of my house now, actually,"
Corrine replies, nudging out the spearman. "
So, first in command, actually. We must show them our strength before we can make offers. If we can keep the first engagement relatively bloodless, we will be able to show them we are strong, but potentially merciful. They will likely never bend the knee to us, but they will have their chance. I have able negotiators on hand, but we shall see what transpires. We must conduct scouting missions and assessments of the land when we return to Hartshorn before making solid plans."

[Yoren longshore]

"
If I pulled out a dagger from my sleeve, put it to your throat and asked you for allegiance, would you keep the allegiance any further than the threat lasted? That is what you do, you put them to their knees with forces you cannot keep and hope they don't rise when the armies of the coalition dissapears. Talk first, then fight them. Allies won by cordial diplomacy is more worth than allies won with the sword."
Yoren grins mirthfully: "
Allies won with the sword is often all lies. If it has to be, fight them, but at least let me try to convince them to assimilate peacefully."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
If I send someone to talk with them, they will kill that person, as they think us weak,"
Corrine replies flatly. "
They are not as reasonable as you think they are."

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