A not-so chance encounter on the road [D0] (closed)

[Baelon Drakeson]

Gwyn, Baelon, Maester Leopold, and the Bloodriders rest at the designated spot alongside the Kingsroad, waiting for Daveth and whomever else will be coming from Castle Grenward in response to the King's missive.

A missive from the King! It could bring fame and glory, or it could be the downfall of many a house - some careful consideration would be required to ensure the former and escape the latter.

[EDIT/OOC: This thread takes place immediately prior to the actual story events, and is mostly a place where houses Coldbrook and Drakeson can meet up and have the sorts of discussions that the rest of you are no doubt having in your House forums...]

[EDIT2: Added Maester Leopold to the list]

[Ser Jorah Holt]

Ser Jorah rode ahead of the main Coldbrook force with one of the trappers alongside him. There was trouble here about and an outrider may be able sniff it out. Equally, things with Daveth were still awkward and the less time they were together, the better. Jorah did his duty as he always did and solving problems for House Coldbrook was something he was growing to enjoy.

Spying the Bloodriders ahead, he kicked Argo into a fast canter to meet them at the rendezvous. It did not surprise him that they had arrived first, as the Coldbrook contingent was protecting a carriage.

"
Hail Lord Drakeson, my Lady Drakeson, what a surprise to see you here,"
he smiled, "
hopefully it will involve less arrows than last time."

[Baelon Drakeson]

"
Ser Jorah! Always a pleasure, though I wish it were under better circumstances."

[Ser Jorah Holt]

"
Indeed, every time we meet seems to involve some form of trouble, but we shall be equal to the challenge set by the King."
Jorah smiled again and looked behind him, "
the others are not far behind and should be here soon."

[Baelon Drakeson]

"
I'd say that our meetings involve trouble because we are the sort of people who, in the face of such troubles, choose to become involved and not simply turn the other way."

Though our reasons for getting involved may vary.

"
As for our assigned task, I suspect there may be a hand other than the King's involved - but that is something we should discuss when everyone has arrived."


OOC: Added Maester Leopold to the first post.

[Loreia]

Trailing behind Jorah and his second, Loreia notices Jorah gallop ahead, and spurs her horse to reach the trapper left behind. "
Report?"


"
Drakeson cavalry, Shieldmaiden, if me eyes spot true."


She looks ahead and spies the gules dragon and star on a sable field(bend sinister?). "
As you were."
She rides back to the main force to inform Daveth. Long moments pass before she is seen closing in on the knight and the Bloodriders.

Slowing to a canter to a trot, she salutes and bows curtly to each and reaches full stop on Jorah's flank. "
Lord and Lady Drakeson."
Just as the awkwardness inherent in a mere salute to the legitimized son of Daemon Targaryen, albeit a vassal of House Coldbrook, her eyes narrow as she notices the telltale chain around Leopold's neck. "
Master Daveth'll be along shortly."


OOC: So far, what I know about the Drakeson sigil: a star and a red dragon on partial black field divided. Would like to know for sure, because flavor.

[Baelon Drakeson]

Leading Jorah a little aside, he asks quietly:
"
Ser Jorah, if I may ask a favor. I am aware that my skills at leading troops in battle are... rudimentary. I have gotten by with bluster and feigned confidence, but that cannot work forever. I saw your skills plainly when we were defending Castle Grenward against the Faith Militant. Would you be willing to train me? I also ask that we keep this quiet - I have been victorious so far, but if word got out that I was not a skilled commander it could have disastrous consequences. My soldiers might lose faith in me, and my enemies may be emboldened to attack Caladan Hall."

Not to mention that it could damage my reputation, or that Ser Jorah being too closely associated with me could ruin his chances at the Kingsguard.

When Loreia arrives, he warmly greets her.
"
Good day, Loreia, it is good to see you."

He says with a grin. Loreia can see that he is using the saddle that she gave him as a wedding gift.

[OOC: Loreia would have seen it several times before. There is a pic [url=in the founding thread][/url].
The blazon is: "
Per fess arched purpure and sanguine, a bordure sable, a dragon sable, a star argent in dexter chief"
.
You might be remembering his original personal knightly arms which was a simple "
sable, a bend sinister sanguine"
.]

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

For her part, Gwyneth greets Jorah as sunnily as if she were simply out for an afternoon ride. While she looks aorund and enjoys the scenery as they go along, she keeps an ear pricked listening to the conversation Baelon has with Jorah as she focuses on...

"
Loreia, I heard all about your adventures against the Mountain Clans,"
she says warmly. "
I'd love to hear it from you personally sometime though. Has Daveth decided where his contingent will be quartering yet?"


The question was, like anything in this matter, far more political that it seemed on the surface.

[Ser Jorah Holt]

Leading Jorah a little aside, he asks quietly:
"
Ser Jorah, if I may ask a favor. I am aware that my skills at leading troops in battle are... rudimentary. I have gotten by with bluster and feigned confidence, but that cannot work forever. I saw your skills plainly when we were defending Castle Grenward against the Faith Militant. Would you be willing to train me? I also ask that we keep this quiet - I have been victorious so far, but if word got out that I was not a skilled commander it could have disastrous consequences. My soldiers might lose faith in me, and my enemies may be emboldened to attack Caladan Hall."

Not to mention that it could damage my reputation, or that Ser Jorah being too closely associated with me could ruin his chances at the Kingsguard.

Ser Jorah raised an eyebrow at Baelon's admission and request for help;
not because the admission was something he was not unaware of, but more for Baelon asking for help.
"
I'd be happy to help you,"
he answered quietly, "
obviously in any engagement, you will be my second and where possible I will discreetly teach you."

[Loreia]

For her part, Gwyneth greets Jorah as sunnily as if she were simply out for an afternoon ride. While she looks aorund and enjoys the scenery as they go along, she keeps an ear pricked listening to the conversation Baelon has with Jorah as she focuses on...

"
Loreia, I heard all about your adventures against the Mountain Clans,"
she says warmly. "
I'd love to hear it from you personally sometime though. Has Daveth decided where his contingent will be quartering yet?"


The question was, like anything in this matter, far more political that it seemed on the surface.

"
He's said nothing of it, but knowin' him, he's like to pick a neutral spot,"
she answers with an idle guess. "
We'll probably set up camp in some fields near a stream. Where would you an' Baelon prefer to stay?"

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth arrives last of all, with the Company of the Morningstar and their supply wagon, riding Hoskagon. "
Lord Baelon, Lady Gwyneth."
he greets them with a smile. "
Hope we haven't kept you waiting long."

[Baelon Drakeson]

Ser Jorah raised an eyebrow at Baelon's admission and request for help;
not because the admission was something he was not unaware of, but more for Baelon asking for help.
"
I'd be happy to help you,"
he answered quietly, "
obviously in any engagement, you will be my second and where possible I will discreetly teach you."

"
If there are any smaller engagements, I suspect I would learn better if I were fully in command - though of course the lives of our troops are of paramount importance."

Daveth arrives last of all, with the Company of the Morningstar and their supply wagon, riding Hoskagon. "
Lord Baelon, Lady Gwyneth."
he greets them with a smile. "
Hope we haven't kept you waiting long."

"
Daveth my friend! No need to be so formal when it is just us. There will be plenty of that when we get to Market Town, I am sure. We were just discussing where we would be staying. Loreia suggested camping in a neutral location, and there is also an inn in the area. However, there is another option... both houses have offered to host us. Now, generally speaking, I would find that... questionable. Politically unsound, at the very least. However, we could take the option of accepting both offers - House Coldbrook with the Blackwoods and House Drakeson with the Brackens. I have a history with House Bracken so they are less likely to see me as a foe, and the same with you and House Blackwood. That might open up some opportunities... servants and soldiers with loose lips, or whatnot."

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyn nods at that and adds, "
And while I'm Lady Drakeson now, it wasn't so long ago that I was a Marsten...and the Marstens supported the Brackens in the past. And of course, more importantly, dividing ourselves like that will sow uncertainty, and set jaws to wagging. Is it a ploy? Is it evidence of a rift between our Houses?"


"
Keeping others guessing will make them waste time trying to figure THAT out, giving us more leeway for our own investigations."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth takes the correction with an apologetic smile. He listens carefully to the options as laid out before him. "
The slight wrinkle is that both our houses were not invited. You are here as part of the Coldbrook contingent. If there were such a rift, why would we bring you along? I fear that were we to split our groups, it could be seen as, well, as it is. Cunning double-dealing. Not something House Coldbrook is known for. If our house holds one advantage in that field, it is that of being overlooked.

"
If we do that, your house could well withstand the added scrutiny. I am less sure of mine, that is not where our strengths lie."

[Baelon Drakeson]

"
I'm less concerned with the political angle, or confusing potential enemies - let them think what they will, but no need to try to make it more than it is - make no promises, spin no tales. I more had in mind that we would be a constant presence, ready to listen in to the gossip of the houses when their guards are down. Well, that and to have comfortable beds and roofs over our heads without having to pay inflated rates at the Inn."


He smiles.

"
Regardless, if you are not comfortable with that arrangement, I see no reason to push it. However, I still think we should seek the goodwill of both houses - again, you to the Blackwoods, we to the Brackens. They are far less likely to interfere with us if we start off on the right foot. As for the neutral options, I would prefer the Inn over the fields, however - camping in the fields would make it look like we can't afford the Inn and would reinforce the image of House Coldbrook as being a family of up-jumped soldiers. Exactly what we are trying to change."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth gives a small grin. "
No sooner out of my father's sight, and already making decisions in the name of comfort."
he shakes his head. "
He'll be so disappointed in me."


His tone turns more serious. "
Your point is well-made, Baelon. There's more than one way to be neutral, and I'm fed up of my house being the last to know things. The war of swords here has largely passed. Now it's a war of information. This is not one we Coldbrooks are best equipped for, so it would be foolish to turn down any opportunity to advantage ourselves."
he nods. "
We'll split up. But make sure we meet up regularly."

[Loreia]

"
As for the neutral options, I would prefer the Inn over the fields, however - camping in the fields would make it look like we can't afford the Inn and would reinforce the image of House Coldbrook as being a family of up-jumped soldiers. Exactly what we are trying to change."

"
Not sayin' I deny myself luxuries of any form, but takin' advantage of newfound wealth to spend lavishly is exactly what most up-jumped heels do,"
Loreia snipes - cautiously. "
Let them chuckle like fools, there're more important things we can buy with our coin."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

"
If our initial plan falls through, we can worry about that then. There's no point in borrowing tomorrow's troubles. We have enough today."

[Baelon Drakeson]

Baelon nods.

"
Agreed. We should meet daily. In the evening perhaps, to discuss the day's findings and make plans for the next. Somewhere out of the way, away from prying eyes - perhaps on a hill or in a field somewhere where we can be sure there are no eavesdroppers. To be sure we are walking a perilous line here. One misstep could spell disaster."


He pulls out the letter that Daveth sent to House Drakeson, with the copy of the King's missive.

"
There is something I wanted to say about this that Gwyn and I did not feel comfortable putting in writing. I suspect that the Queen - or one of her supporters - may have had a hand in the arrangements. I suspect that it is intentional that so many houses linked closely by blood with House Blackwood were chosen - someone wants us to either punish them significantly or else stand accused of bias - either way would weaken the Black faction - drive a wedge between it's supporters or weaken their standing with the King. Further, with enough provocation by Black aligned houses, House Bracken would swing even more heavily in favor of the Envious Queen, and perhaps would even be driven to attack us - or the Blackwoods again. We are ostensibly here in the name of justice, but someone is using the pursuit of justice to cause more injustice. I'm not sure what is better - to be just, knowing it would cause more injustice, or to be unjust to prevent even worse atrocities?"


He shakes his head.

"
It is a terrible grey area, and I'm not sure what the righteous thing to do is. In absence of that, I have thought about how best to perform the investigation. No matter what we do in the end, we should make sure to do our job properly in the meantime."


He pauses, looking over the list of sites to be investigated.

"
It strikes me that House Coldbrook has been fighting against the Faith Militant to a large degree recently. Perhaps it would be best to start with the Sept investigation - to show that Coldbrook animosity was to the zealots, not to the faith as a whole. Remind people that there are those faithful to the seven among House Coldbrooks most trusted servants, and that Coldbrook faith does not include hatred for the Seven."

[Loreia]

"
If our initial plan falls through, we can worry about that then. There's no point in borrowing tomorrow's troubles. We have enough today."

She nods in deferential respect. "
Of course."

"
It strikes me that House Coldbrook has been fighting against the Faith Militant to a large degree recently. Perhaps it would be best to start with the Sept investigation - to show that Coldbrook animosity was to the zealots, not to the faith as a whole. Remind people that there are those faithful to the seven among House Coldbrooks most trusted servants, and that Coldbrook faith does not include hatred for the Seven."

"
We're safe from the bulk of the zealots spreadin' dissent against us after our game of tag came to a head at Grenward,"
she salves. "
It should be much less trying than during for us to reach out and allay concerns of the Faith."

[Ser Jorah Holt]

"
I agree we should investigate the septry as quickly as possible. From what little I have heard so far, I'll take Trapper John with me to help me find who caused that vile incident, but I am not the best at convincing people to talk to me. There are others among us who are better at that and I would like one of you to accompany me."
He looked at Daveth and Gwyneth as he spoke, though his gaze may have lingered slightly longer on one of them.

[Daveth Coldbrook]

"
House Darry should have been providing political cover for us there, along with their participation in the actual fight, so it's not as bad as it would otherwise be, though your point is still valid.

"
However, I would like for the Darry border crossing investigation to also be a priority. It may not be a significant act in the grand scheme of things, but our new-found ... willingness to get on with House Darry is still fragile, and I feel we can benefit politically by prioritising the matter that means the most to them. Because of House Darry's pious reputation, this would also help us avoid accusations of fanaticism."

[Baelon Drakeson]

"
Gwyn and I can go with you."

It wouldn't hurt to look a little pious myself.

[OOC: To make sure I'm crystal clear on what we've discussed before I act on it...
The Coldbrook contingent will be going to the Blackwood "
Calling first..."
event, and accepting Blackwood hospitality.
The Drakeson contingent will be going to the Bracken "
Calling first..."
event, and accepting Bracken hospitality.

After (shall we say LM?) Ser Jorah, Gwyn, and Baelon, along with NC Trapper John (now I have the MASH theme stuck in my head) will be going to investigate the Sept.]

[Daveth Coldbrook]

[OOC: To make sure I'm crystal clear on what we've discussed before I act on it...
The Coldbrook contingent will be going to the Blackwood "
Calling first..."
event, and accepting Blackwood hospitality.
The Drakeson contingent will be going to the Bracken "
Calling first..."
event, and accepting Bracken hospitality.

After (shall we say LM?) Ser Jorah, Gwyn, and Baelon, along with NC Trapper John (now I have the MASH theme stuck in my head) will be going to investigate the Sept.]

(OOC: Correct. Meanwhile, Daveth, Loreia, a trapper, and Kieran Orell (Warfare 3 - confirmed by Reader), along with some guards, will investigate elsewhere, I'm currently suggesting the Darry border crossing)
Daveth notes Ser Jorah's slight lingering gaze.
[url=Empathy vs Ser Jorah - who are you looking at?][/url]: 3d6 15 (Why couldn't I get that roll when it actually mattered?)

"
Okay, then. I think we have a plan. Any more comments?"

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