[D1, LA] Talking Politics (Closed)

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Riding with her guards through the countryside, Corrine makes her way from the septry to the agreed spot where she intends to meet Ben for a time, before she is to spend the night in Lord Bracken's hospitality.

A little while after starting to feel like they may have taken the wrong route, she spots a familiar figure, and trots up to him;


"
Ser Theomore?"

[Theomore Tullison]

[I believe this would be LA, yes?]

Theomore appears to have been napping by the wayside, squire and another Tullison man Corrine has seen though not been introduced to playing some sort of improvised game of tiles in the dirt with stones and sticks. The approaching horses does make enough noise to wake him, and get ready to mount, it never hurts to be careful, though when he sees who it is, he relaxes.

"
My lady, I understand congratulations are in order."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

[ooc: Yes. Sorry for not initially including that. I've added it now.]

"
Good afternoon, Ser Theomore,"
Corrine greets him with a polite nod. "
There may be, but do you mean for our victory over the clans, or the birth of my daughter?"
she adds, with an amiable smile, dismounting.

[Theomore Tullison]

"
When my lady mentions it, yes!"
Theomore smiles, obviously quite pleased with the remark. "
I trust all is well? Aside from the circumstances that led us to this place, of course."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Circumstances aside, I am very well. I am just on my way to meet up with Ben for a short while, to discuss our day's activities before we must go our separate ways for the night. I see you have afforded yourself a rest. I take it by that your day goes well?"

[Theomore Tullison]

"
I spent my youth on the stepstones, my lady, soldiers learn that in times of war, you better take your rest when you have the chance for it, you won't know when the next opportunity arises."
Theomore answers grimly.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I see. Well, that makes sense."


She stands at his side, her hands folded.

"
Have you investigated any of the sites yet?"

[Theomore Tullison]

"
I were at Pennytree, my lady, and I did happen to stumble upon Ben and Ellie there also."


"
Not entirely sure what to make of that situation."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Oh? How so?"
Corrine enquires. "
What did you find, or not find, that has made it puzzling to you?"

[Theomore Tullison]

"
What puzzles me the most is that it seems obvious that Bracken men were involved, so obvious that I wonder if that is what *someone* wants us to see."
That was true enough to a certain extent, at least Lord Haig had not sanctioned the attacks, perhaps not punished those responsible if he knew of it, or cared to investigate the accusations himself. For he would not want so many trails leading back to Warrior's Seat for a certainty.

"
I had hoped to find that those behind the deed are merely opportunists, a blood feud is one thing, but in the larger picture, when it spills over to affect others, all sorts of trouble will follow."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Interesting,"
Corrine intones, sitting nearby, now looking at Theo with interest. "
Intriguing that you too have in mind the possibility of a façade. A similar thought occurred to me while I was investigating the ransacked septry this morning. The evidence of the alleged culprits was too... convenient. I am concerned that someone, whose identity is as yet unclear, and may indeed be more than one person, is hoping to cultivate this feud, or trying to test loyalties by sowing conflict. I have been trying to discern who would profit most from such a thing."

[Theomore Tullison]

"
There are many possibilities, my lady."
Theomore's mouth twitches. "
Had you asked me a year ago what the next move from the supporters of either queen or princess might be, someone posing as Blackwoods to provoke the Brackens to retaliate or the other way around would be one of the first things to spring to mind, I suspect that merely using unmarked sellswords would be enough, they would assume their old foes were at it again. Of course, since they did not actually do anything wrong in the first place, that retaliation would be seen as a provocation."
He lets out a sigh "
And here we are."


"
I would imagine that most of the attacks are what they seem to be, the old feud spiraling again, each circle of blood larger than the last. But are there other groups deliberately fueling the fire? Or are the Blackwoods or Brackens simply trying to pin the crimes of outlaws and brigands that thrives in such chaos on each other to vilify their foes? I have a feeling that we will not have our answers."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine rubs her palms together thoughtfully, her brow furrowed;


"
As much as the truth is important to me, and, by association, justice, my most important goal is to protect the smallfolk of both lands by finding the best chance of peace. I don't care as much about who started this fight as I do about finishing it. There are bigger fights coming, and being wrapped up with petty feuding will make things worse."

[Theomore Tullison]

"
If someone gave the king's banner to House Marsten in the belief that it's lady is a callow youth."
Theomore comments dryly. "
I should have liked him to be with us now so I could watch his face."


"
Towards that end, I believe I can offer such assistance I am able to provide, with the caveat that House Tullison has friends and allies who expects us to leave a certain mark on the final treaty, and my lord nephew would prefer not to disappoint them. My priority in this is to support him, but this should not conflict with forging a conclusion that will seal this wound."
He falls quiet before adding. "
At least until the bells of king's landing heralds death and horror."


Would it be sinful to hope that the king would outlive his own children? The realm would likely be better off for it.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I do not believe it would be sinful, in spirit, to wish the King a long and prosperous life,"
Corrine replies, with a wry smile. "
Frame it that way, and it sounds less... callous. I do share the sentiment. Much destruction and pain is wrought because of pride in this world,"
she sighs sadly.

"
Might I enquire as to House Tullison's leaning, that you mentioned? I will not judge you for honesty."

[Theomore Tullison]

"
Did my lady see him, or anyone else of our house besides myself accepting bread and salt from Lord Haig this morning?"
Theomore can't resist his usual theatrics, though it should be obvious to pretty much anyone spending more than five minutes with Dunstan to figure that out. He may have matured in the past year, but he had not changed that much.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Well, your presence makes it ambiguous. Ben and I split up in order to effectively be in both places at once, as part of our committment to neutrality. We will be spending tomorrow onwards in unaligned lodgings. For all I know, that could have been the case with yourself and Dunstan."

[Theomore Tullison]

"
House Tullison need eyes, ears and a voice at Warrior's Seat as well as Raventree, my lady."
Theomore states flatly, though changing his tone into a more playful one as he likes to do "
And to cast ambiguity and keep people guessing is useful, too."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Why must you be so opaque?"
Corrine asks, frowning a little. "
Isn't toying with people just a cruel waste of time?"

[Theomore Tullison]

"
It is rather simple, my lady."
Theomore doesn't seem to take note of the remark. "
House Tullison presently has marriage alliances with exactly two houses, one is in the Vale, the other is with Raventree Hall. We are not about to favor the Brackens in this, no."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I was not saying you should favour them, Theo. Only to take into account that their grievances may also be valid. Our duty as investigators is to establish the truth, mete out justice, and establish peace. Favouring one party exclusively will not aid us in that duty. Ig is more important than local politics."

[Theomore Tullison]

"
I do not consider it possible, or even desirable, that the final treaty does not admonish Raventree for such crimes as they have committed."
Theomore nods. "
This does not mean that it cannot also have an overall result that would make my nephew satisfied."


"
And no matter what we do, my lady, this treaty will be a political statement, it will be seen as such, and that makes it so. None of us can afford not to take that into consideration when drafting it."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Perhaps not. But the political statement I intend to make is thst House Marsten is just and fair."

[Theomore Tullison]

"
There is a saying in King's Landing, my lady."
Theomore doesn't show any visible reaction to her words. "
There is no creature on earth half so terrifying as a truly just man"


"
A statement that makes sense when you consider that the king's court is full of cheats and liars, were a truly just man to sit on the Iron Throne, he would send half the lords to the wall, and the other half would remain in their castles hoping that the resulting revolt would put the crown on a more pragmatic man before they get to join their peers."


"
The king's justice is about securing the good of the realm, while it ought to be just and fair, it frequently cannot be so and secure the king's peace at the same time. The High Road might be pretty, but it is much too narrow for anyone to walk besides you, and it is a long way down."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I would rather die for noble principles than live in ignominy,"
Corrine intones, drawing herself up a little. "
Shall I take from your words that I would be unwise to share information with you?"

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