Re: Back Home

[Dunstan Tullison]

"
She won't be in the castle"
he says.

But she will be in Lordspor, he think.

With a display of affection Dunstan smiles, this time a less naive smile than before, when she told him her secret.

"
My Lady, in that case, our thoughts are similar. I think us two will be just fine"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I am glad to hear it,"
she replies, her smile changing from shy to cheerful, and she leans in to kiss him.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Later in the day, after both Dunstan &
Aofie, and Corrine &
Theomore had returned to Mountains Reach, Corrine seeks out Dunstan for a private meeting before dinner.

[Dunstan Tullison]

Dunstan arrived to the room Corrine was in. Taking of the armor after a day's worth of horse riding always felt good, and now he was claen and clad in his usual clothes - dark blue tunic with a Tullison sigil.

"
Lady Corrine."
"
he said and bowed.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
My lord Dunstan,"
Corrine smiles warmly, wandering over to him. "
How was your ride today? I trust you and Lady Aofie had a nice time?"

[Dunstan Tullison]

"
It was, very much so."
he says and takes a seat.

"
Are you enjoying the castle?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I am. I like the view,"
Corrine replies, folding her hands. "
Though I had hoped to discuss more involved matters. A thought occurred to me earlier, and it has compelled me to formulate a proposal for you. Will you hear it?"

[Dunstan Tullison]

"
Of course."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She gives him a knowing smile.

"
Aofie tells me you two get on well, and are inclined to begin the process of betrothal and marriage. This has made both she and I very happy, though I did have a slight concern about ensuring things go smoothly."


She steps a little closer as her tone grows more serious.

"
The smallfolk girl, Marei. I do not think it would be prudent to keep her nearby, where she and your bastard can be flaunted in Aofie's face, however unintentional it may be. She has had a difficult time of it. I do not want my friend to get hurt. With this in mind, I would like to propose that Marei and her child come to live at Hartshorn. They will be well cared for, and I can even arrange for little Ben to be educated, and become a page when he is old enough, putting him on the path to becoming a knight, like yourself, and his namesake. They will be far enough away that they will not be an insult to your lady wife, but not so distant that you cannot discreetly visit them from time to time."


[Intrigue]

[url=Initiative][/url]: 4d6+2 18
[url=Addendum to first initiative roll][/url]: 1d6 2
Total Initiative = 20

Objective: Persuade Dunstan to send Marei and her baby to Hartshorn before he weds Aofie.
Disposition: Friendly
Intrigue Defense: 9
Composure: 12/12
Frustration: 0

[ooc: I've fixed my initial errors.]

[Baelon Drakeson]

[url=Initiative][/url]: 4d6+2 18
[url=Persuasion - Convince][/url]: 6d6k5 16
[url=Attractive reroll][/url]: 3d6 9
Total Convince = 21
Disposition: Friendly
Intrigue Defense: 9
Composure: 12/12
Frustration: 0

[ooc: I've probably done something wrong. Please give guidance if you can.]

[OOC: mostly looks good;
3 things though:
First, it is generally best not to roll your first round action until after you have the other person's initiative - your action might be affected by what they do (for instance, the manipulate action)
Second, the number of attractive rerolls is capped at half persuasion, round down;
you would only get two. However, in this case the third reroll would be dropped anyway so it has no effect.
Third, being Friendly gives you a +2 (I believe, away from books) to your persuasion, so your total would actually be 23]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

[url=Initiative][/url]: 4d6+2 18
[url=Persuasion - Convince][/url]: 6d6k5 16
[url=Attractive reroll][/url]: 3d6 9
Total Convince = 21
Disposition: Friendly
Intrigue Defense: 9
Composure: 12/12
Frustration: 0

[ooc: I've probably done something wrong. Please give guidance if you can.]

[OOC: mostly looks good;
3 things though:
First, it is generally best not to roll your first round action until after you have the other person's initiative - your action might be affected by what they do (for instance, the manipulate action)
Second, the number of attractive rerolls is capped at half persuasion, round down;
you would only get two. However, in this case the third reroll would be dropped anyway so it has no effect.
Third, being Friendly gives you a +2 (I believe, away from books) to your persuasion, so your total would actually be 23]

[Thanks! Done!]

[Dunstan Tullison]

"
I already arranged accommodations for Marei outside the castle. As for the baby, it will have to stay here - I won't let my son grow up without me."
Dunstan says.

[url=Intrigue initiative][/url]: 5d6+4 16;
we need to roll a tie-breaker. Here's mine: [url=Intrigue initiative tie breaker][/url]: 5d6+4 14 (wow, four 1s!)
Objective: Make Corrine believe Marei and the child staying is a good idea.
Disposition: Friendly
Intrigue Defense: 9
Composure: 9/9
Frustration: 0

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine looks at Dunstan almost pityingly;


"
Dunstan, you can't keep calling the boy your son and presuming to raise him. He is a bastard. That is not the same as a trueborn child. You should not even be acknowledging him. You are inviting further scandal upon your House. The fracas at Riverrun was already a knock. I know you feel attached to them both, but this is not appropriate behaviour for a Lord. Keeping the two of them in your lands will erode your marriage before it can even begin, attract ridicule and consternation upon your real family, and will hurt and insult someone dear to me, who is already being remarkably tolerant. Many women would not be as understanding as her, or me.

Her tone softens a little;


"
A relationship like that with a smallfolk girl is just not the done thing. You have to let her and this child go, and focus on making a proper, trueborn family. The Gods frown on those who are not faithful in wedlock. Is an extra sheath in town worth eternal damnation? Besides, if your concern is truly for the child, and not just wanting a sly dalliance at your disposal, he will only be a short journey away if you desperately want to see him. I would even keep quiet to Aofie about where they've been sent, so you visiting Hartshorn would not seem suspicious, as long as you don't use it as an excuse to make a cuckquean of her."


She places a hand on Dunstan's shoulder, her voice coaxing and gentle;


"
I will soon have a child too. As will Lady Sofia, who will also be nearby. The little one will not be alone."


[Accidentally, I rolled 1 too few dice for initiative. The missed dice has been rolled and added. There is no longer a tie. Corrine wins Initiative.]

[url=Persuasion - Convince][/url]: 6d6k5 16
[url=Attractive reroll][/url]: 3d6 9
+Disposition
Total Convince = 23

Objective: Convince Dunstan that it is best to send Marei and her child to Hartshorn
Disposition: Friendly
Intrigue Defense: 9
Composure: 12/12
Frustration: 0

[Reader]

[OOC: just roll another dice and add it manually, good solution. ]

[Reader]

[OOC: thanks to Baelon for his help! Should add that Friendly is +3, not +2 to rolls]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

[updated! Should I add my Persuasion roll to my second intrigue post, and have Dunstan tweak his initiative post?]

[Benedict Marsten]

[ooc:Yes to your roll. Dunstan doesn't need to change anything just make his move.]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

[ooc:Yes to your roll. Dunstan doesn't need to change anything just make his move.]

[ooc: Done. Sorry about the mix-up, Dunstan!]

[Dunstan Tullison]

"
Call him son? He is my son, Corrine. There's plenty of bastards roaming around, and many of them are acknowledged by their Lord fathers. Many of them are twice the men their trueborn brothers are! One of them, don't forget, was my very own grandfather.

I doubt anyone would bat an eye if he is to be known as my son. As for Ladie Aofie, the child is conceived before I even knew she exists. I certainly did not sleep with Marei while married. The entire issue concerns her little.

As for the Gods, I doubt they care who f.... sleeps with whom, let alone if they are married or not. It was in the name of Gods that those imbeciles kidnapped Marei in Riverrun. It's pitiful when men start pretending to know the will of the Gods.

He will have children to play with, but not me, his father. As someone in a similar situation, with your own child coming to this world, I hoped at least you would understand. Marei can live outside the castle, but the baby can't. I am sorry if that offends anyone, but I fail to see how it''s anyone's business but mine."



Intrigue initiative: Corrine, Dunstan
Objective: Make Corrine believe Marei and the child staying is a good idea.
Disposition: Friendly
Intrigue Defense: 14/9
Composure: 2/9
Frustration: 1

Free action: Anointed for +5 in ID

Action: Yield Offer, Marei leaves , baby stays.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

[ooc: Placeholder, while we untangle this issue.]

[Dunstan Tullison]

Edited

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine almost snaps at Dunstan's stubborn reply, but she realises she has perhaps taken the wrong strategy.

This is a matter of the heart. Be gentler.

She glances away, thoughtful, for a few moments.

"
I do not want to upset you, my friend. I am just trying to get you to understand the wider implications of what you want to do. This may have happened before you met Aofie, but the after effects will still impact on her. Enormously. If you keep the boy around, you are making a statement about her as well as yourself. You are telling everyone that you do not respect her or care about her dignity. I do not fault your caring for the child, but you cannot do so publicly, so close to you. It holds political implications, as well as personal ones. I agree that it should not be the concern of others, but the fact is that it does matter."


She looks at him sadly;


"
I wish I could be supportive of you being an active participant in the boy's upbringing. I do believe that men should take responsibility for their children. But there are other ways to do that than the way you are choosing. Less damaging ways. Aofie is doing better now than she has in years, but she is still vulnerable. I fear that the unkind things people will say about her, because of your bastard, will push her back into melancholy. I care about her, so I cannot support a husband for her that will not be faithful and respectful. She deserves to be happy. I know how frustrating it is to have to put one's duty as Head of House before one's true desires. But, if you want your House to retain good standing, and if you want to marry Aofie, you must play along."


Her eyes beseech him to reconsider;


"
Sometimes the best thing a man can do for his natural son is spare him unnecessary ignominy. Being illegitimate will make things hard for him as it is. Please don't place more future scorn upon him. I'm not saying be totally absent from his life. I'm just asking you to have enough distance to be discreet, for the sake of your wife's and your House's reputations. You will be welcome at Hartshorn to spend time with him as often as you like. We could even disguise it as visits to oversee the construction of the watchtower you so generously gave me,"
she offers.

Objective: Convince Dunstan to send Marei &
little Ben to Hartshorn.
Disposition: Friendly
Intrigue Defense: 9/9
Composure: 12/12 (or should it be 9/12?)

[Counter-offer: Send Marei &
the baby to Hartshorn, and Corrine will help Dunstan to have frequent secret visits, provided he remsins faithful to Aofie.]

[Baelon Drakeson]

[OOC: yielding in an intrigue is not an action, so if there is no counter offer, or if the counter-offer is rejected, the intrigue resumes from the point the yield was offered - Dunstan's action.]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

[OOC: yielding in an intrigue is not an action, so if there is no counter offer, or if the counter-offer is rejected, the intrigue resumes from the point the yield was offered - Dunstan's action.]

[She wouldn't just stand in silence. Urgh, fine, I'll edit in a counter offer.]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

[Edit completed]

[Sponsored content]