The maesters apprentice. (d9)

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren and Lorreia goes out hunting at the last day of the tournament. The hunt is after the most dangerous creatures in the world. They decide who lives and who dies, they decide what you tell your friends and they decide what is right or wrong. They are the Maesters. The hunted today was no one else than the well reputed Maester Colton.

[Maester Colton]

The wizened maester seemed out of place at the Huntsman, however the word that carried around suggested he was not the only maester to be seen drinking on the establishment lately. For all that, his mug was large, and not the first he'd paid for, either.

The sight of a towering woman - Bear Island plastered on her face - and an Ironborn walking into the place together drew his attention promptly, and through the top of the mug he eyed them unconcernedly.

[Yoren longshore]

Slumping down on the seat next to Colton the ironborn starts in Valyrian: "
We have some dealings we are assured a man of learning. We are mounting an expedition north of the wall. We need someone who has a good understanding of herbs to assist us. We are hunting for edible plants that may grow in the darkest winters. You understand what this could do to the small folk that starves in the winter?"

Yoren covertly pats a well filled purse. "
Even for less scrupulous men, we have things that may prove interesting."
Switching to Common to let Loreia in: "
shall we head to a more secluded area? Loreia has much to add to this conversation, and for that we should switch language."

[Maester Colton]

The maester blinks at the barrage of information launched at him, in Valyrian, no less. He inches back on his seat, then frowns at the ironborn and answers in the common tongue. "
Well, a fine day to you as well, good sir! How wonderful I find to see an ironman who can abide to proper etiquette. An exceedingly rare sight these days, I must add. A toast to you!"
He rises his mug mockingly before taking down a swig, and carefully resting it on the table again. He eyes the purse then, narrows his sight, and looks sharply at Yoren.

"
Are you suggesting,"
Colton speaks in Valyrian now, "
that I am a less scrupulous sort, ironborn? How absurdly uncouth of you, I must say. To even entertain the thought, that a scholar, a pupil of the Citadel would debase himself so! Pah!"
He waves an exasperated hand about, and glances at Loreia. "
Where do you wish to talk?"
He adds out of nowhere.

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren rises and starts walking towards a room: "
I'm not suggesting that you are that sort, I merely cover all posibilities. I've gotten a private room, just tag along."
Yoren tells him with a smile. "
I've heard you got your maesters chain in all but record time."

[Loreia]

Loreia stares agape at Yoren's fluent understanding of a flowing language she is not familiar with, and when he switches to the Andal tongue, her face morphs a dirty look at the idea that she should have anything to say. She remains unimpressed by the maester's gesture towards him, however sympathetic she might be. In fact, she doesn't seem very interested in being present, deferring to Yoren whenever she can.

She waits where she is, allowing the scholar a chance to take Yoren's offer of relocating, having yet to open her mouth.

[Maester Colton]

The maester sighs, finishes his drink in a single swill, then stands up laboriously. The alcohol only adds to his age when he leans on a cane, but he walks away from the table, his chains rattling softly as he stops to let the guardswoman walk ahead of him - something to which he gently waves ahead. "
I will not walk before a woman, you know, Loreia."
He says sheepishly to her.

Tagging along Yoren, he strokes his beard thoughtfully. "
I can scarcely remember how long it took for me to forge my links. Is word of that still running around?"
Colton shakes his head. "
Seven hells, I thought the fools had forgotten me already. Can't let an old man carry his life in peace. Tsc."
Every now and again, he shots a glance at Loreia, perhaps impressed by her figure.

[Loreia]

Loreia moves ahead to the room Yoren mentioned, satisfied that her pause served a purpose.
[url=Empathy vs Colton][/url]: 3d6 4

[Yoren longshore]

Yoren settles on a bench that has been placed next to a table. The observant eye may see that there is only one bench, and not one on each side, as would be usual. Perhaps to avoid creating a barrier? To create a feeling of familiarity?
"
Maesters tends to focus on the chains, not what was done afterwards, that is true. However, the ones that are relevant within a field are those who finds knowledge first. Maesters have been to all of the civilised world, barring Asshai and the far east. However what they don't consider is that much wisdom lies in the less civilised parts of the world. I traveled to Ibb, where a man rode a horse with an arm and made it do things people could never do. This horse was as tall as two grown men and weighed as much as a longboat. It easily ripped trees from the ground. What would take a team of axemen a handspan of the sun this behemoth did in seconds. What could your citadel do with such information? You are a maester, devoted to knowledge. Your citadel needs knowledge. We need a knowledgeable man to tell us what plants will be interesting and that we should bring back. We need a man heal the wounded, if accidents happen. We need each other, so to say."
Yoren looks at Loreia to see if she approves before he finishes. "
Now, are you interested?"

[Loreia]

Loreia chooses to stand when she enters the room. She thinks for a moment on what Yoren could be referring to that is so tall, with an extra arm. The closest thing she could come to, something north of the Wall, is...

She rolls her eyes. Bloody mammoth, is this fool serious?

[Maester Colton]

"
You have been to Ibben? Remarkable."
The maester nods, his eyes brightening for but a moment before his eyes settled on the table. "
What sort of fools would set aside a room with a single bench on but a side of the table? This place ought better be called The Drunken Innkeeper!"
He harumphs, then steadies both hands on his cane as he remains standing, albeit quite far from Loreia.

"
Anyway."
Colton clears his throat. "
An armed horse the size of two grown men would be an impressive sight, and evidence of the existence of such might yet do good in the Citadel. But I believe the beasts present in Ib are a pachyderm we call mammoths, and which are, in fact, commonly present here in Westeros. Too far north for us to have any practical use for them, unfortunately. Not easily tameable creatures."
He waves a hand dismissively. "
But you are right in that I am a man devoted to knowledge, and if this expedition of yours could grant me knowledge our order does not already possess..."
His gesture trails off.

"
Tell me more, ironborn. Where are you headed? The Wolfswood? The Rills? Cape, or perhaps the forest west of the Grey Cliffs, in northron lands? You can't expect me to comply on less than a full report."

[Yoren longshore]

"
Mammoths, you do know your animals. Although I'll have to disagree with you on the point of them being too far to the north.
Lesser men ma y settle for the fist of the first men, where the nights watch stops their patrolling. This is where we start our proper journey. The Thenns are the most civilised people up there, if anyone has food we may groe in the winter, it's them.
We'll head that far up, before we turn south. We'll head down to the delta of the milkwater before getting renewed supplies and dropping off our samples before heading east. Through the haunted forest and through hardhome sraight for the riverlands. 90 days of your life. You will not regret it. And I know that we'll not be disappointed in you either."

[Maester Colton]

The maester's brow shoots up. "
Are you insane, ironborn? Have you looked at me?"
He gestures to himself. "
I am an old man, and I lean on a cane to walk - even then, slowly. I don't exactly have the stamina to endure months beyond the Wall! Do you mean to kill me? How absurd."


Colton shakes his head severily, and glances briefly at Loreia. "
I won't deal with Thenn, or go through the gates of Castle Black, for that matter. This expedition of yours is foolish, and doomed!"
He waves his cane at Yoren. "
Besides, even if I were to cast aside my brain and decide to accompany you, I have duties to attend to. I'd believe it unlikely that Lord Tullison would give me the leave to wander for so long a time with my return to Mountain's Reach assured. With my death assured, then, I can affirm it will all be disallowed. The nerve!"

[Loreia]

Loreia merely shrugs. "
It's too bad that Haelis fellow is gone. He might've been a little more eager, eh Yoren?"
Her attitude has noticeably dropped.

[Yoren longshore]

"
Yes, too bad the maesters finds their comfort in their ivory towers instead of doing proper research."

Yoren then turn back to the maester: "
We would not ask you to join if it was unsafe for you. We have gone to great lengths to procure extremely surefooted garrons. We have agreements with ships to wait on the western shore to pick us up, should illness strike. We have Ibb sailors on the eastern coast. We have great coldbrook trappers experienced with the cold. We have Fossoway support and Fossoway animal handlers, should that be necessary. We have all secuities that you'll need to stay safe. I won't lie, it will not have all the comforts of the Citadel, but think of all the knowledge! By a little cold you may make the citadel more comfortable for all the future!"
Yoren smiles: "
I don't think you'll want to pass up an opportunity like this."

[Maester Colton]

(OOC: This sounds like an intrigue to me, does it not? What do you think?)

[Yoren longshore]

OOC: if you wish :;
): I'm quite certain that you'll whoop me and loreia: but lets go for it.
Do you know the system or would you want some help?

Goal: recruit the healer.
ID 9
Composure 15
[url=initia against colton][/url]: 3d6 13
Good luck!

[Maester Colton]

(OOC: I've got the book, so I can read on it. But any reminders or nudges would be cool. I don't think I'll whoop you - I'm competent in Intrigue, but not specialized at all. So, your goal is to recruit me - do I need a goal as well?)

Goal: ???
ID: 12
Composure: 9
Disposition: Indifferent
[url=Initiative vs Yoren][/url]: 3d6 13 (A draw, but I'll let you go first!)

[Yoren longshore]

You'll need a goal, although you won't need to tell me what it is, i just did as i have little to hide.
Goal: recruit the healer.
ID 9:
Composure: 15
initiative: 13
Starting disposition Amiable (man of learning).
[url=Read colton][/url]: 3d6 14

Yoren settles back on the bench thinking to himself: What does this maester really want?

*Tip: unless your awareness is horrible, starting with a read target action is often smart, as it assists you for the rest of the intrigue.

[Maester Colton]

(OOC: So I tell you now what my technique will be? Because on this exchange I am also reading you. You did succeed, by the way.)

Goal: ???
ID: 12
Composure: 9
Disposition: Indifferent
[url=Read Yoren][/url]: 4d6 11

The maester heeds Yoren's words, and his sight narrows slightly at the end of it. "
Hmmm."

[Loreia]

[url=Intrigue initiative][/url]: 2d6 4 (Yoren, Colton, Loreia)
Disposition: ???
Goal: help Yoren
ID: 8
Composure: 12

Action: [url=Read Target][/url]: 3d6 11
Read Target: If a person taking this action beats their target's passive Deception(4*rank), they learn their target's disposition(toward everyone?) and techniques used for this exchange, and gains +1D to Persuasion and Deception(vs everyone, or just the target?) for the duration of the full intrigue.

Loreia regards the maester with stoic appraisal.

[Yoren longshore]

[size=150:1udi7szw]Round 2, Fight!

Goal: recruit the healer.
ID 9:
Composure: 15
initiative: 13
Starting disposition Amiable (man of learning).
(Sorry, you didn't beat my passive deception, although you were only one away!)
[url=Persuade Maester][/url]: 5d6k4+1 23

"
Listen: your safety will be our highest priority! We will fund the trip, and you get much new knowledge. Knowledge brought your citadel to where it is, knowledge will bring it further."


OOC i got extremely lucky there
You take damage to your influence equal to
4(dos)*5=20 this is reduced by your influence resistance (4) for a total of 16 influence damage. You may take frustrations to stay in the fight.

[Maester Colton]

Goal: ???
ID: 12
Composure: 2/9
Disposition: Indifferent
Frustration: 3

The maester stares at Yoren, ruffles his moustache and takes a deep, nearly impatient breath. "
The prospect of what we could learn is inticing, ironborn. But that is not all there is to it! It's a dangerous trip nonetheless. If the wildlings or the beasts don't get us, the cold will. And I can't stand months sitting on horseback, no, not at my age anymore. If you can assure me security, and perhaps... some measure of comfort? In my transportation."
Colton gives a small shrug.

Yield Offer: The maester joins you and aids your needs in the expedition to the best of his capabilities. In return, you provide a carriage or similar transport, and more information on the escort (guards, etc.).

(OOC: So, I offer a yield. I assume that counts as my action? Also, Loreia's reading did not succeed!)

[Loreia]

*I don't think carriages would be ideal, or last, in the rough terrain beyond the Wall. I think we'll explain all the details to you anyway, if you're choosing to come with us. Perhaps knowledge only an Ironborn raider would be privy to, or knowledge only red priests possess?*

[Yoren longshore]

Ooc offering Yielding terms does not take a turn,tit's simply put a free action.

"
Ok, horse riding might be a problem for you, but we may not bring a wagon, as the roads are at times nonexistent. We may however make a proxy carriage between two horses, allowing you to sit or lie as you see fit, although it will still be under open sky, im afraid."


OOC
counteroffer: we'll tell you all the details, and you won't need to ride, but we will not be able to bring a carriage, more like a horse litter...

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