Day 2 LM - Truth or Dare?

[Athelstan]

Athelstan is in a good mood after talking to the septon and riding back to participate in the Hunt he makes his way to the Warrior's Seat, trying to find the hunting party to join them.

Well, I guess I just found the biggest prize!

Corrine was walking by the hallway and Athelstan tries to sneak up on her, but decides against it

Clearing his throat from right behind her 'Good morning, lady Corrine"


Good morning indeed...

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine is briefly startled by the sudden sound, and turns swiftly on the balls of her feet. When she sees it is only Athelstan, her tension releases somewhat.

"
Ah, Athelstan. Good morning to you too. Forgive my surprise. I was miles away. Are you joining in the hunt too?"

[Athelstan]

"
I don't know now, I think I just found the best thing there is in this corner of the world"
he winks playfully.

Does she still feel anything other than hate and fear to me? Maybe something physical?

A big smile "
Yes I will be in the Hunt, after two days of investigation I'm already getting tired of it, but Blackbuckle is still by far the worst place"
covering his mouth with fake shame "
My manner's are just not all here"
he bows enough to kiss her hand gently again.

"
How does your investigation goes? Mind sharing anything, it would save us both time if we can at least cross places that we have been and what we have found, I trust you have no agenda, unlike others..."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She waves off his compliment shyly.

Such flattery. It's nice to be complimented, but remember the other side of him.

"
I rather felt the need for a diversion too. I have not seen Blackbuckle yet, but I intend to go there tomorrow. If you would walk with me to the courtyard, I can tell you of what I have learned thus far."

[Athelstan]

Athelstan nods and offers and arm out of courtesy, knowing she might not take it "
I would love to, guide on Corrine"
smiling to her

She won't fall to easy, put an effort if you really want it!

"
I..."
stops talking to rethink his words "
I'm trying to change, for the better"
nervous, but confident "
Not as hard if you really try, just not many chances to do it"


Ease her into it, smile.

After all it's appearances that count, you are and will always be a bastard just of a different kind.

Remember fear is a tool make it yours, but know when to use it.

After a strange silence and finally arriving at the courtyard "
Take something to cover your face, when you go, the smells are... not pleasant"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She takes the offered arm.

Just treat him like anyone else. Don't give him cause to anger.

"
I will bear that in mind. I had not thought about the rot. Would you like to know what I discovered yesterday? As House Longshore is one of the few close to being a neutral party, I would feel comfortable sharing my findings."

[Athelstan]

"
Yes, it would hep us build a more neutral case, and one that ends this feud"
nodding to Corrine "
I still have few question to ask to the Bracken's regarding Blackbuckle, but I can share all I've got. I've visited Blackbuckle and the Iron Mines what have you investigated and what did you find?"


She is probably still afraid, you do have a... temper

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Well, I first investigated the septry at Battle Valley. It was a dispiriting sight, for sure, though no doubt not as bad as Blackbuckle. The place has been horribly destroyed, and it's wealth taken. The monks could not give reliable information, as the attack happened in darkness, but they claimed to have seen Blackwood shields on the men. I did find one such shield among the rubble, but I have reason to believe it may have been planted there as false evidence. I have a reliable source of information, who I'm afraid must remain anonymous for their safety, who has reported that those who desecrated the septry were not Blackwood men at all, but mere bandits. Possibly in the employ of a Blackwood, but not from their House. I strongly suspect that someone hired them to commit the crime, so that it could be pinned upon House Blackwood. I tried to find out more in town this morning, hoping I could find a trace of the stolen money and goods. Sadly, I found nothing."


She looked up at his one grey eye;


"
There is speculation that the recent attacks on both Houses may be instigated by a third party, looking to test loyalties."

[Athelstan]

"
Wouldn't surprise me"
crossing his arms in front of his chest "
Blacbuckle was a mess. the Bracken's used it as a prison, but otherwise a place with no real military value, but I do not know what poison they used that can kill an entire village. There was also no sign of Blackwood prisoners, so they somehow escaped after the entire village perished, but they were spared, while Bracken soldiers and smallfolk lay dead, I think it's now abandoned with the well poisoned and probably now the ground itself if they have been like that for a while"
putting his arms down "
It was no pleasant, to see and it was a deliberate action. Bracken's lose to much to have done it, but the problem is that leaves us with the Blackwoods"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Or someone else entirely. Someone who benefits from continuing, or escalating the feud. Perhaps we are thinking too narrowly,"
Corrine suggests. "
Lord Tully has done little to quell the animosity. Should he not be the first to take action? Why has it taken an edict from the King himself to get the matter addressed?"

[Athelstan]

"
Lord Tully is greedy and not strong enough most likely. I was panning on revisiting Blackbuckle with someone that can identify he poison and possibly more trained eyes than mine, because there is no definitive evidence to point to Blackwoods or thirds party if there is one, but doing that is not something bandits would have done, someone with maester training or expert with poisons that also set free the Blackwood prisoners"


Snapping his finger remembering something "
The False flag problem was an attack made by the Blackwoods, Yoren investigated that place and was trying to get to the root of it, but it was just a disorganized attack made in the moment from emotional duress than anything. It should be easy to resolve, a simple act of contrition and minor remuneration by lord Blackwood should suffice for that, maybe some coin, but that's a maybe to pacify"


"
Well that solves the Septry and the False Flag problems"
[ooc]waiting on Iron Mines results[/ooc]

"
Any other places you know of that the Marsten have investigated? Don't get cheap on me, I'm giving you all I have"


Yes, again giving her all, you stupid fuck, maybe you do need to lose both your eyes to be this blind...

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
That is all I know for certain, so far. However, I also suspect that whomever murdered Lord Blackwood had help from within Raventree Hall. I'm going there after I've done a bit of hunting, to investigate. But it seems very shady indeed."

[Athelstan]

"
Interesting, so there might be a third party within both Houses keeping this feud alive, but what is their goal?"
waving the thought away "
Either way, I'm sure next I go to Blackbuckle I might find more evidence or even prisoners in common clothing, my initial investigation was to check the poisoning and if there was any survivor or what kind of battle might have taken place and why"
leaning forward a bit as if looking at something and signaling Corrine to follow "
Any pressure yet to play favorites? We have been approached already, but we don't have the same pressure you have with all the ties t the Blackwoods and your support of the Bracken's before that"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

At Athelstan's beckoning, Corrine leans in closer, her voice similarly lowered;


"
Of course, there is pressure in all directions upon my House. We have ties to both Bracken and Blackwood, and I believe we are on good terms with both, for the most part. This does create conflicting interests, but also places us in a unique position to make use of both sets of allies. Fundamentally, I seek the truth, and to help justice to be done. However, smallfolk and innocents have suffered, and will continue to suffer, for as long as this feud rages. So, my primary interest is in establishing peace, at any cost. And I feel that transcends politics. Ser Theomore believes that I am foolish to insist upon neutrality, and says that the reality of politics will lead to inevitable compromise, but I will not give up on trying to do the right thing, even when doing so is difficult."


She becomes more determined as she speaks, her eyes bright with resolve. She seems stronger than she once was. Before, she had often seemed soft and yielding, but there is more steel in her now. Perhaps taking her mother's role had changed her, perhaps motherhood itself, or perhaps the war against the clans, but she was definitely more woman than girl now.

[Athelstan]

"
Let us hope the rest of your House thinks as you do, this is more a test inside your House than anything, lord Tullison has already expressed that no matter what it's the bracken's fault, so we know were he will stand in all this and Ser Theomore is still a Tullison, the question remains of what are the rest of your House doing and thinking, and if they have your goal. You can think they do, but this will put that to the test, specially Ser Kevan"
Athelstan smiles "
I'm happy we are the neutral party all we want is to get out of this alive and with no enemies if possible, so we are trying to stay neutral, and let's hope I can get information out of the Bracken themselves in the Hunt"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Yes, I'd be careful about what you say to the Tullisons if I were you. Theomore in particular is good at twisting things to his advantage. But I have spoken at length with my husband, Ser Kevan, and our companions about our intentions and strategy. I am certain that we are of a mind on the matter, and want to be as neutral as possible. All have been urged to keep open minds."


She started walking again, towards where they were to assemble for the hunt.

"
As for the hunt, I wish you luck in getting something useful out of Lord Haig. Do let me know if you learn something. I intend to focus on hunting down that shadowcat he was crowing about,"
she said, with a wicked smile.

[Athelstan]

"
Yeah, I got something bigger to hunt, wish it was the shadowcat, at least it would be a straight fight and no scheming"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Something bigger?"
Corrin asks, looking at him curiously. "
What do you mean?"

[Athelstan]

"
Well, I can't really tell you right now, it may be nothing"
shrugging his shoulders

I can't really tell you, it's you now can I

"
Let's wait and see, it may turn to be nothing, but I must continue to search clues and evidence, hope I meet you again so we can exchange more information"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
How mysterious,"
Corrine comments, amusedly. "
Well, I wish you luck in your hunt then. At least I know I won't have to fight you for the shadowcat's pelt,"
she chuckles softly. "
What weapons do you intend to use for hunting? I have only ever seen you with an axe, and I don't recall seeing many people hunt with those. But, of course, my experience is limited."

[Athelstan]

"
I used my smaller axe for Riverrun, I normally use a larger two handed one, but it's a rather... terror to see me with, it's named Misery's End, Ser Theomore saw me use it in a smaller tourney already, it does not leave much of anything with every swing, but for the hunt, depends on what it is, a boar spear for boars or maybe I'll just give chase to animals to guide them toward the hunters, after all I'm not that great with bow's or throwing things anymore"
looking closer at Corrine and stepping a bit to close, but not enough, just at the edge were it becomes to personal "
It's dangerous for you, I don't want to think you can be in danger men die at the tusks of boars or simple fall from a horse in the wrong place, not to mention other ways..."
the danger of their situation implied, that something might happen during this hunt.

But to hunt you, I need none of those weapons...

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

He was quite a bit taller than her, so his standing so close forced her to look up, making her seem more vulnerable than she really was, her huge, piercing blue eyes as alluring as ever. She smiles amiably;


"
I'll be careful, don't worry. Being an archer allows one to keep a safer distance than with a spear or blade."


She unslung her elegant, rune-carved weirwood hunting bow from her shoulder, displaying it proudly.

"
Huntress. She and I felled a mighty stag and countless other animals in the forest at Hartshorn last year. I may not be a tourney champion, but I have proved to myself that I can hunt well. We feasted for a week upon that stag. It brings me great pride to feed my family by my own hand. And if I manage to kill that shadowcat, I will have a fine winter cloak made from it's fur,"
she says, relishing the thought. Then she laughs;


"
Gods above! I'm starting to sound like a barbarian! Forgive my getting carried away,"
she says hastily, blushing.

[Athelstan]

"
Like a barbarian, while thank you lady Corrine but there is nothing wrong with expressing yourself like you want to, there is nothing to forgive. This is when you are the most beautiful when you speak from your heart"
smiling "
There is one more thing you must know, the Iron Mines have more to them, and probes to me that lord Dunstan has already made a move to make things go in a certain way"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

She smiles at him. A genuine, warm smile, though his mention of the mines causes her brow to crease slightly.

"
What did you find out about the mines? What has Dunstan done? Has he tampered with the evidence at the scene?"

[Athelstan]

"
Can't say for certain, but last night I asked him about it, and he was certain the Bracken men did put them to the torch, but when I asked more about it he said he was there for a few moments, found no one and that it was hard blowing winds that made him turn tail"
crossing his arms in front of him again "
Does that sound like that stubborn ass!?"
he shakes his head "
So i decided to go early as possible to see, and yes there was fire damage, even if the mines were fortified, the beams were targeted, both Bracken and Blackwoods. Some more recent than others, but his story does not check there was something else to easy to find, and just sitting there, so does that sound like tampering to you?"
an inquisitive eye set on Corrine waiting to see if they were of similar mind 'I did question him in front of Ser Jorah and Yoren if you wish to confirm that, and I hold evidence of what was found there, while I left some behind it's to dangerous to carry around and very expensive"

[Sponsored content]