[D2, ME] Gross Negligence (Closed)

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

After finding the highly suspect circumstances surrounding Lord Blackwood's death, Corrine all but storms her way to Ser Myles Blackwood. She forces herself to keep composure, and politely requests a private audience.

[Reader]

Ser Myles Blackwood is a study in contrast to Lord Haig Bracken, a lean, whip-strong man on the short side of average.

House Blackwood's regent stroked his beard thoughtfully and bowed in greeting.

"
My lady of Marsten, good evening. These are trying times, and I am afraid House Blackwood cannot offer such entertainment as House Bracken sees fit to provide."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Thank you, Ser Myles, but entertainment will not be necessary. I am here purely with the business of investigation in mind. I wish to first tell you that I intend to seek truth and justice for all those who deserve it,"
she replies, tactfully, with a deep curtsey.

[url=Awareness - Empathy (Ser Myles)][/url]: 4d6k3 11

[Reader]

"
My lady's commitment to justice without fear or favour does her credit. Let no Blackwood man impede the Heaven's light."


"
There are no many here who have suffered more than they deserve."


He pauses, stroking his heard again.

"
Aye, and a few who have suffered less than they deserve."


[OOC: awareness roll reply via PM]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I quite agree. And who is which is sadly not always clear,"
Corrine replies, her tone cool.

"
I shall get straight to the point, Ser Myles, for time is pressing. I have found most distressing evidence that the late Lord Blackwood and Raventree Hall were insufficiently guarded on the night of the murder. Your own elite guard should have been on duty, but were conspicuously absent. I must insist that you explain yourself."

[Reader]

Ser Myles is cool under Corrine's impertinent questioning.

Normally she'd have found the crafty knight unreadable, but destiny or a lucky guess seemed to lend a hand.

It is clear to Corrine that Ser Myles is both sincere and greatly irked by her line of questioning.

"
My personal bodyguard is exactly that Lady Marsten. My personal bodyguard. Where would my Lady expect my guard to be except guarding me?"


"
My late brother had his own men, good men and talented. Billy Burley was the best of him, and perhaps if he had lived I would still have my brother. The men who succeeded him were almost his equal in skill - the blasted assassins were well trained, well equipped and suspiciously well informed. Blackwood had hoped to see the royal investigators delve in to dishonourable assassination plots rather than accuse their hosts."


"
You have been ill-advised by whichever fool put you up to this."


He fixes Corrine with a hard stare.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine meets him with an equally hard stare;


"
I am engaging in a line of questioning, Ser. It is not an accusation, but it is troubling that you see it as such. Good men have died, and an innocent boy has been robbed of his father. I have a confession from one of the prisoners that he was given a map of Raventree Hall, in order to carry out the assassination. Someone the late Lord Blackwood trusted betrayed him. I would be most negligent in my duty to assume innocence in anyone, especially those close to Lord Blackwood, who could benefit from his death. Benjicot is vulnerable right now, and I intend to ensure he is protected. So, rather than posturing in outrage at me, Ser Myles, I would prefer that you co-operate."

[Reader]

"
A map my lady? Someone my brother trusted?"


"
Listen to yourself. Any servant could have drawn that map, although I doubt not your word that it played its part in my brother's dishonourable death."


"
House Blackwood has done nothing but cooperate. We have suffered much and receive only insult and insinuation for it."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine sighs heavily.

"
There is no scrutiny House Blackwood is receiving that House Bracken is not also receiving, Ser. You are not being unfairly singled out. Think! What would a servant have to gain from his death? Nothing."


She shifts to a slightly gentler tone, though still on edge.

"
Look, I see that you are also angry about what has happened. I want to be sure that you did not knowingly participate. But, the sad fact is that everyone close to Lord Byron is a suspect, so please understand that it is my duty to ask uncomfortable questions."

[Reader]

"
My lady, it is a kindness to both of us this is a private audience."


"
What do you think would have happened had you made your bizarre query about my personal guard in open court?"


Ser Myles goes on to answer his own question.

"
Every man who has served under arms present would have called the question naive on martial matters. As your advisers are men tutored in the art of war, informed observers would justifiably assume you knew my personal guard would be guarding my person."


"
Therefore, they would know that you were implying I had some hand in my brother's death."


"
Driven by grief, political expediency or the need to conceal my crimes I would be forced to defend my honour, by steel if necessary."


[OOC: Ser Myles' disposition towards Corrine deteriorates to dislike.]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine remains cold and unmoving;


"
The fact of the matter is that you stand to gain most, and your attitude does not help your case, especially since you have not offered me an alibi. My fears for Benjicot are great, and I would hope you understand that those fears are entirely justified, even if they are uncomfortable for you. By all means, convince me that I need not worry about you."


She drew herself up to her full height, placing one hand upon her hip;


"
Since this is a private conversation, let me continue to be frank a little longer, as time is not on our side. Tell me, do you have any crimes that you are concealing, Ser Myles? Either on your own behalf, or that of someone else in your House? If you had a hand in the crimes committed against House Bracken, or can provide information about others who did, it would save the investigators' time and aid the peace process, if those responsible were to choose honour over their grudge by owning up. If any of you were to come forward willingly, and repent, I can offer leniency. The King's Inquisitors are capable of mercy, as well as judgement. If you chose to unburden yourself of information relevant to any of the incidents being investigated, it would go a long way, for House Blackwood, and yourself personally.

[url=Empathy][/url]: 4d6k3 9 (I suppose her anger is clouding her judgement.)
[url=Persuasion (Convince)][/url]: 6d6k5 22

[are we entering an intrigue?]

[Reader]

"
Gain?"
Other men may have raised their voice in a fury, Ser Myles remained a paragon of self-restraint.

"
I lost my brother to a knives in the dark my Lady. I gained a poisoned chalice."


A rare slip or simply an unfortunate choice of words, given the outrage at Blackbuckle? Corrine's anger clouded her judgement, making it hard to discern the truth.

"
Regency is nothing to gain - how many noble regents appear in stories or songs? Every time a crop fails, every time a battle is lost, men will say 'This would not have happened had Bryan lived'."


"
It seems you are a neophyte in these matters - no sense denying it my lady, this meeting proves as much."


"
My advice - confer with your advisers before making rash insinuations."


"
As for what I know - many in House Blackwood hate the Brackens, and in many cases with good reason."


"
You have my word, if you can present evidence of wrongdoing in House Blackwood I will not contest any proportionate punishment, provided House Bracken is treated equally. I had no part in the command of any atrocity, but I will not obstruct efforts to follow these outrages up the chain of command. There will be no lowly knights given up as sacrificial limbs to protect the body and head."


The final part could be seen as defiance or aid, depending on how one interpreted it - would the investigators be allowed to as high as their investigations took them, or was Lord Blackwood signalling an unwillingness to give up even a single "
lowly knight"
? Again, Corrine's temper made it hard to tell.

[OOC: simple intrigue, so you've convinced him of your aims but he's still less than entertained with you.

Getting in to wrap-up mode here]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine sighs heavily, realising, too late, that she has dealt with things poorly. She briefly rubs her forehead, feeling it start to throb.

Corrine, this may have been a mistake. You stormed over here without a thought. You can do better than this.

"
I am... sorry, Ser Myles. I may have been over-zealous. It is true that I am inexperienced. I would be the first to admit it, were others not so fond of reminding me,"
she adds, with a weary dryness.

She meets his eyes earnestly. "
However, I can only explain myself by saying that my strong words are a reflection of how much I want to bring an end to these atrocities, and protect the innocents yet left in the wake. I am sure you can understand that, when those one cares about are harmed or endangered, it can create... difficult, powerful emotions. I will think on what you have said, and continue to seek justice for your brother, and for Benjicot. I would hope that, despite this heated exchange, we can be of a mind in care for him in particular. My husband &
I are very fond of him. If you can find it in your heart to forgive my former sharpness, I would very much wish us to work together to foster peace, for Benji's sake, if nothing else."


[url=Charm (damage control)][/url]: 6d6k5 24

[Reader]

The skilful admission of her youth, couched in an entertaining joke, seems to break the tension. He smiles - a rare sight - with genuine humour, the amusement reaching his eyes.

"
Well spoken my lady. I am sure you are as tired of such comments as I am of rumours of wicked plotting uncles."


"
The naive ingenue and the sinister regent - perhaps the two of us have stepped in to Westeros from a child's illuminated storybook?"


"
Benjicot is a sweet natured boy, thrust in to a perverse adulthood and orphaned young. Let us do what we can to protect him - I hope you will remember this at any breaches of propriety or flashes of temper you uncover in your investigations."


[OOC: 3 DoS - Ser Myles' disposition slide halted at dislike with a potential to recover.]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She returns the smile with a grateful look in her eyes, giving Ser Myles a respectful nod;


"
If only life could be a storybook. Then we could skip ahead to when everyone lives happily ever after,"
she jests.

"
I shall certainly endeavour to better reserve my judgement, going forward. Many things are not as they seem. I should take my leave, speak with my counsel, and think on the facts. I may return to follow up on further information, but I assure you that I shall remember to bring my manners next time,"
she says, with genuine contrition.

[Reader]

Ser Myles bows politely, escorting Lady Marsten to the door.

A charming young woman, but is their substance behind the charm? Or was the charm simply a defence mechanism she'd developed to cover for reckless blunders?

[/scene]

[Sponsored content]