[D1, Mid Afternoon] Little Birds

[Reader]

Little Birds
With the great lords of the realm in attendance, wise heads know that the games played out on the tourney field are as nothing compared to the game of thrones.
Servants, squires, couriers and maids are all drafted in to the game of thrones by their paymasters and lords. Skulking in the shadows, they play a more dangerous game than many, potentially exposing those unskilled in intrigue to great risk.
However, those who can root out these agents of subterfuge will be able to turn the situation to their advantage...

Participants:
One participant per house.
Characters of any age may participate, however, the difficulties of the challenges are increased by 3 for anyone of adult age or older.
Post your rolls and roleplay to this thread, one post per character please.

Challenge:
Awareness (7) – to determine who is spying on your house
Athletics (7) or Cunning (7) – to catch the spy before they go to ground.
Persuasion (7) or Deception (7) – to extract useful information from the spy.
[Any speciality may apply to the rolls above, if justified in your role-play]

Consequences:
Select one of the rewards below – you may wish to note your goal in your personal forum rather than in public.
Information - Learn a useful piece of information about a rival PC house.
Misinformation – feed a false piece of information to a single house targeting yours with the Information option.
Countermeasures – increase the difficulty by an amount equal to your total DoS across all three challenges against those all those targeting your house.

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan moved about the kitchen purposefully. A boy skulking about with no apparent reason to be there would draw attention. A boy looking like he was about to be caught with his hand in a cookie jar even more so. However a boy stacking glasses, scrubbing the floor or carrying a salver didn’t even draw a second glance. Luckily there were so many pages, squires, and servants running about the kitchen, and so many extra staff hired for the tourney, the fact no-one knew him was discounted. If you acted like you were supposed to be there, people assumed you were, and were usually too busy and too disinterested to inquire further.

It was curiosity more than anything that had drawn Nathan. He generally tried not to involve himself in politics, but the Tourney was a unique opportunity. There were so many Houses all vying for advantage. Any tidbits of information could prove useful. There would be many looking for information just like him, so the best target would be any who took notice of him. Want to catch a spider? Act like a fly.

[url=Little Bird's Awareness][/url]: 3d6 13 2DoS

His target became clear soon enough. A young squire of House Tully took a decisive interest in him as he did his work, making reasons to be around the area. Nathan could feel his stare on the back of his neck, and if their gazes met he would suitably blush and lower his gaze. Now that he had his quarry, he just needed a quiet area and suitable lure. Volunteering to chop wood was simple enough. The area they kept the cords was secluded. Peeling off his shirt he hefted the axe and began to work;
wondering how long it would take for his friend to arrive. Four minutes as it happened. That had to be a record.

[url=Little Bird's Cunning][/url]: 4d6 11 1DoS

“You’re far to pretty to be doing such hard labour.” The man’s gaze practically slithered over Nathan’s naked chest.

“It must be done Ser. Might as well be me.” Nathan gave a self-conscious smile and pretended to concentrate on his work. The man was obviously not a Knight, but he accepted the complement and did not correct him.

Coming closer, the young man put a hand on his shoulder and moved around him. “You know, if you want to have a workout, I can think of better ways to get it.”

“But it has to be done Ser.” By the Gods, this man desperately needed lessons in seduction.

“Well…” the man said, licking his lips, “How about we help each other.”

Nathan smiled coyly. “Well that is why I am here… to help out.”

[url=Little Bird's Persuasion (Seduce)][/url]: 5d6k4 21 3DoS

Two hours, two cords of wood, one extremely satisfied squire, and dozens of interesting tidbits of gossip later, Nathan head back to the Tourney grounds.
The young squire had even been a likable sort, once he dropped the 2copper seduction routine. Certainly it might be worthwhile to see him again.

[Benedict Marsten]

Ellie made her way to the central nervous system of castle information, the kitchen. She was about to play one of her favorite games. The game noble woman were meant to play. She had been taught by the best, her cousin Yve, but being a lesser noble girl and just a Lady in waiting gave her access to areas outside most noble womens reach. She went about the kitchen speaking to many under the guise of searching out "
ingredients"
for her Lady.

[url=Little Birds Awareness(empathy)][/url]: 5d6k4 15
As with all central nervous systems there must be a brain, a controller, and it did not take long to find this individual. Many pathways, nerves spread out form him/her, quite possible none knowing of the others, really the best way.

[url=Little Birds Cunning][/url]: 4d6 7
She comments on his ability to coordinate such a vast network and do it so subtly, playing to his/her hubris. She points out enough details of what she has seen transpire here to show her own knowledge of a systems workings, to keep him/her a bit fearful. Just enough to not scare him/her, but to keep him/her listening.


[url=Little Birds Persuasion][/url]: 6d6k4 22
Now for her favorite part, for Ellie truly did like to make friends, even if she could never trust them. With "
the brain"
baited she talked him/her up, fed him/her useful information. She shared mishaps, and bright moments, all to build a bond. Then she made her request. This bond and information she had gathered in finding "
the brain"
all leading to a proper bit of leverage.

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyneth loved kitchens. Partly it was the food. The FOOD! The smells and sounds and the very taste floating in the air! And cooks were so clever with their hands, so instinctively knowledgeable about what ingredient to add, when, and how much. It was fascinating to watch them work. More than that though, all the servants of the house passed through the kitchen. To serve food or to bring the dishes back, or to grab a morsel for themselves. Watching them was at least as fascinating as the chefs, if for very different reasons.

Two things she had become quite adept at were hiding her feelings, and reading the faces of others. Dealing with Yves and Isobel, nothing else would have sufficed. The stuffy, frostbitten Lady Marsten only let the tiniest of cues slip past her rigid self control...and that overprotective little sister was constantly, CONSTANTLY watching for any sign of weakness. A hard way to learn, but she'd learned well.

So when one of the serving boys' eyes met hers and quickly darted aside as he rushed from the kitchen, Gwyn smiled slightly to herself. She didn't give chase of course...ladies didn't do that. And it would only set things off against her talents. She waited a bit longer, then strolled out of the kitchen as if she had not a care in the world...carrying a handkerchief along with her, whose contents wafted a temptingly sweet odor.

Awareness (Empathy) 23
http://orokos.com/roll/270745

She didn't pursue the boy, but saw him several more times over the next hour, and managed to work out what he was doing. And of course, the more you know about someone, the easier it is to predict what they'll do next. And so, when the boy went to the stables, he nearly bumped into Gwyneth directly as she fumbled with the buckles of her horse's saddle. The boy froze, not sure what to do, and Gwen smiled at him and said, "
Oh, thank goodness. Could you help me with this? I'm afraid I don't know where the groom went off to."


It was technically true. She'd sent him away for a few minutes, but hadn't specified where he ought to go.

Cunning 11
http://orokos.com/roll/270746

There was very little like a shared toil to bring people together, and somehow the strap of the saddle had gotten twisted around so it wasn't easy to work free. An actual stablehand might have realized that such a thing would be very unlikely to happen by accident, but this boy was just here on an errand, and didn't know any better. By the time they'd gotten the cursed thing free and calmed Gwyn's horse, they were laughing about it like old friends. He accepted the sweetcake she offered him in thanks for his efforts, and then they walked back towards the castle proper together, chatting amiably.

Was it any fault of his that he didn't guard his tongue?

Persuasion (Charm) 21
http://orokos.com/roll/270747

(OOC - Aww yeah)

[Yoren longshore]

http://orokos.com/roll/m-Refork?
Yoren takes a quick walk. Me on a horse? In a tourney. He thinks to himself: “Oh dear I’ll be minced before I even enter. I could of course just ask the tourney master to take me of the list, with a sizable bribe I’m sure he’ll accept, he’ll understand. But a man like me should compete, I might talk to my uncle, get him to give me a little help, he’ll guide me.” He suddenly stops and hears a branch snap behind him. (Awareness roll 9+4 from dp=13) He turns around and sees a small street urchin. He is not overly suspicious of this little kid, but when the kid turns and runs Yoren runs after him, catching up to him with difficulty and grabbing one of the kids small arm (Athletics 15). He sees that the kid is scared, and wants to calm the child down, but he decides to be adamant, his gut wrenching he threatens the child (13). “Were you following me? Do you know who I am? Rhollor needs a sacrifice, will that be you” With fire and fury, the interrogation continues.

(ooc, this is my first time rolling and I ruined it a little bit and just linked my history Also I did not know how much I was at liberty to put words in the boys mouth, so this was simply a short tekst.)

[Garret Snow]

The kitchens. While he loved the ring of steel in the training yards, or the roars of laughter in the taverns, there were few places that had the same sense of "
home"
as the kitchens. As a boy he had spent countless hours in the kitchens of Karhold with his mother, watching as cooks scullery maids and servants busied themselves with their various tasks. His mother had told him once that a proper kitchen was much like an army;
everyone had their job to do, and victory or defeat hinged on everything coming out just right. And just like a battle, things rarely if ever went according to plan so a good cook needed to have quick hands and a quicker mind.

Awareness (Notice) 12
[url:jpu3w5o0]http:
//orokos.
com/roll/272086[/url:jpu3w5o0]

Garret's eyes wandered across the faces in the kitchens, drinking in the pattern of noise and smells and surrounded him. His gaze fell upon a waifish young girl, no more than 8 if he guess correctly, standing near the back of kitchens. She seemed to be scrubbing at the same small pot, while glancing up nervously. There was something decidedly suspicious about the way waif kept glancing at him. But as he began to move towards her, the waif's eyes went wide and she bolted like a scared rabbit, the pot dropping to the ground with a resounding bang.

"
Oh seven hells,"
Garret muttered as he slipped after her.

Athletics 19
[url:jpu3w5o0]http:
//orokos.
com/roll/272090[/url:jpu3w5o0]
Garret twisted like an eel through the crowd of servants and cooks, quickly catching the waif by the arm before she could go more than a few steps.

"
Hey now little one. No need for that. My name is Garret. Garret Snow. I'm just a former kitchen boy myself, and I got a bit lost. Perhaps you could help me a bit?"


Persuasion (Charm) 13
http://orokos.com/roll/272094
Garret gave the girl a warm smile, as the fear in the girl's eyes slowly softened. Finally she offered him a smile full of crooked teeth as he gently released her arm. Dropping down to one knee, Garret began to tell the waif a story of his time in the kitchens, a thrilling tale of a young boy who made off with an entire platter of lemoncakes from right under the lead cook's nose. The waif laughed as he finished his tale, and began to tell Garret a story of her own...

Damn. Sorry I missed this one.

[Athelstan]

Wasn't around for this.

[Reader]

Fear not, for this was one entrant per house and someone else stepped up to the plate.

Might have a reprise of this event at the end, to let people learn one fact they know OOC but don't know I, or similar. It will give people people a chance to shine!

Players are free to make a "
suggested events"
thread and pitch ideas.

[Septon Arlyn]

"
Oh goodness look at these wonderful chicken pies"
Says septon Arlyn coming down into the kitchen startling one of the chefs cleaning out the chickens causing her to cut herself. "
Dear me, I did not mean to startle you so badly, let me take a look at that cut."
Consoles the middle aged septon. "
It looks like we need to cauterize the wound"
, Remarked the septon to the plump chef. "
Here let me do that"
(healing(treat injury) 3d6b1: 13 difficulty 10 DoS 1?) "
Now tell me Child, has anyone asked you or any of your underlings to deliver any messages about house longshore? Ah yes I see that they gave you a note, here let me see that note (cunning(decipher) 3d6B2 : 12 diffulty 10 DOS 0?) hum now what could they possibly find that information useful? (knowledge(education) 4d6B2 22 difficulty 10 DOS 4) Oh my, could that really mean that house longshore is... I must inform Ser Walton Dulver at once!"

[Reader]

"
Oh goodness look at these wonderful chicken pies"
Says septon Arlyn coming down into the kitchen startling one of the chefs cleaning out the chickens causing her to cut herself. "
Dear me, I did not mean to startle you so badly, let me take a look at that cut."
Consoles the middle aged septon. "
It looks like we need to cauterize the wound"
, Remarked the septon to the plump chef. "
Here let me do that"
(healing(treat injury) 3d6b1: 13 difficulty 10 DoS 1?) "
Now tell me Child, has anyone asked you or any of your underlings to deliver any messages about house longshore? Ah yes I see that they gave you a note, here let me see that note (cunning(decipher) 3d6B2 : 12 diffulty 10 DOS 0?) hum now what could they possibly find that information useful? (knowledge(education) 4d6B2 22 difficulty 10 DOS 4) Oh my, could that really mean that house longshore is... I must inform Ser Walton Dulver at once!"

Arlyn, you'll need to either:

A) reroll the 1st and 3rd rolls with the abilities specified
or
B) spend destiny on one/both of them to use the "
ability substitution"
rule, which your flavourful ideas would certainly allow.

[Favoured of smallfolk applies here and you can use your pious bonus, so easiest option might be:

-Spend 1 destiny to for ability substitution
- Then use pious bonus on third option (=4d6 anyway) ]

[Septon Arlyn]

yeah I will use a destiny then reroll for persuasion using the pious bonus [url=persuasion (tell me what you know) with pious][/url]: 4d6 14 so 1 DoS

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