Re: [D4, LM] Assembly (Open)

[Loreia]

As Baelon speaks softly to Lady Corrine, Loreia shoots an outraged glare across the table at the mention of vengeance, that someone would insinuate that House Coldbrook would stoop as low as murder.

In response to Baelon's speech, she lends her own voice to support him. "
Aye, there's the truth,"
she grimly chimes. "
Athelstan took his own life. Baelon didn't aid or push him to it."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Your permission is not required, Baelon. You ignored a direct order to stand down. And I will be giving evidence like everyone else who was there. I have appointed people I trust to be fair and thorough. Unless you would prefer yourself and Ser Theomore to guard eachother,"
she added, tersely.

[Yoren longshore]

"
Baelon: If your hands are as clean as you state, why will you find a issue with Corrine making a tribunal? The tribunal is there to help. If you are as innocent as you say you are the tribunal can only help you clear your name. Why not let others see for themselves that you are innocent? If you have nothing to hide this tribunal will serve you well."
Turning to Corrine he asks: "
Perhaps you should put a representative from each house on the tribunal? You won't need to put a Longshore man, but it might be that some other houses feel underrepresented.

Yoren then looks at Corrine and speaks loudly as he states: "
I, Yoren Longshore will subject myself to these changes in schedule, and will happily submit my reports. I hope that others will do the same, as we are all on the same team here!"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Baelon: If your hands are as clean as you state, why will you find a issue with Corrine making a tribunal? The tribunal is there to help. If you are as innocent as you say you are the tribunal can only help you clear your name. Why not let others see for themselves that you are innocent? If you have nothing to hide this tribunal will serve you well."
Turning to Corrine he asks: "
Perhaps you should put a representative from each house on the tribunal? You won't need to put a Longshore man, but it might be that some other houses feel underrepresented.

Yoren then looks at Corrine and speaks loudly as he states: "
I, Yoren Longshore will subject myself to these changes in schedule, and will happily submit my reports. I hope that others will do the same, as we are all on the same team here!"

"
Thank you, Yoren. I agree whole-heartedly. However, a tribunal is typically composed of three people. I would be willing to forego this and allow all Houses, including yours, to be represented, if that would be more agreeable, with the tacit agreement of all appointees to earnestly dedicate themselves to truth and justice in their task."

[Septon Arlyn]

"
Lady Corrine, Due to my involvement with questioning of Lord Baelon, I wish to recuse myself of the tribunal, if it agreed to involve all houses. I think that your tribual of 3 would be effective. Ser Jorah is an honorable knight and I feel like he would not allow his vows to house Coldbrook to interfere with the judgment in the proceedings of Lord Drakesone"
states Septon Arlyn.

[Baelon Drakeson]

"
An order? I heard no order. A request and a plea that violence was not necessary, but no order. Further, my duty to protect the royal overseer takes precedence over any obligation I may have to obey you as a royal investigator;
aside from that obligation we are equals. There can be no tribunal as there was no crime."


He pauses.

"
Now, I would like to remind you all that there is still a cache of wildfire out there that could be used at any time. We have serious and important business to attend to here, but no time to be wasting on spurious accusations. Drop this farce and let us move on to the task we were charged with. House Coldbrook has some crucial information to share regarding the poisoned well at Blackbuckle. Loreia, would you please go get our... experts?"

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben steps up to Corrine's side, until now he had remained quiet. His face makes his displeasure obvious. "
Lord Daveth, will you please have your bannerman exit the tent as further words may bring consequences unwanted by any here."

[Loreia]

While the others speak, Loreia grimaces, mouth open, ready to say her peace with forceful delivery.

"
At once, Lord Baelon."
Cut short by Baelon's latest inept attempt to diffuse the situation, she swiftly, yet stiffly, rises from her seat and exits the tent leaving the occupants to continue butting heads. As she leaves, she spares a passing glance to Daveth, unable to dispel the negativity in her expression as she does.

Later, she returns escorting in the persons Baelon mentioned.

OOC: She returns when you say she does for roleplay/narrative convenience.

[Yoren longshore]

"
You tell us adamantly that it was no crime. We have understood that by now, but why should we trust you? Where are we going to draw the line of what's right? You call it justice, I call it rampant vigilantism. I'm involved in this case quite heavily, and I have yet to hear a single shred of proper evidence. Even if you make your evidence, that still does not justify the amount of force used. Threatening to kill somebody if they do not comply, without any authority. Corrine could have done that, you can't. As you said, there's bigger things than you to discuss, so let's see about getting a proper tribunal in place. With that done we can start working on the investigation again."

Yoren talks quietly, and seems more tired than anything else.

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth finally finds the energy within himself to raise his head from where it had sunk deeply into his hands. This was supposed to be so simple. Why, gods, why must every damn day be such hard work?

"
Lord Baelon. I acknowledge you are my father's bannerman, rather than my retainer, so I have no authority to give you a direct order, but please, as your friend, I am *asking* you, not out of any sense of guilt or shame, but pure pragmatism, to follow Loreia, and let the morning air cool your head. Your words are understandable - we have all felt the stress of being under what feels like an unjust siege of the mind for the last day, none more so than you, but they are angry words, regardless, and do not aid our houses.

"
The men Lady Corrine has chosen for the tribunal are good men and true. Politics will not sway them, so I do not feel you need fear their judgement. Let it happen as Lady Corrine wills it, then let the matter be buried so we can all move on."

[Gwyneth Drakeson]

Gwyn looks over at Baelon and gives him a small nod, silently agreeing with Daveth. She'd support him if he wanted to push, but she didn't think it was the best course of action.

[Baelon Drakeson]

Baelon takes a deep breath.
"
For the sake of my friends, I will go."

He looks like he is about to say more, but doesn't.
"
If you need me I'll be out looking for the wildfire."

He turns and strides from the room.

[/leaves]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I am sorry for that display,"
Corrine says stiffly. "
I would like to ask Master Daveth to remind Lord Drakeson, when you have the chance, that he is here as a guest of House Coldbrook, and as such has no authority to 'decline' the appointment of a tribunal."


She flexed her fingers, wanting to shake off the dark mood in the room.

"
Now, I'd like anyone who has discovered information, but not yet shared it, to please take this opportunity to update their fellow investigators. If you would rather speak to me privately, or submit a written report, that is fine."


[ooc: Corrine's disposition towards Baelon drops to Dislike.]

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan listens to the exchange with interest, but watches the audience more-so than the actors.

[OOC: [url=Assembly - Awareness (Empathy)][/url]: 5d6k4 17

Assuming your passive Deception is 16 or less, please PM me with your current Disposition towards Corrine and Baelon.]

The young man clears his throat softly. "
My reports to you are mostly up to date, Lady Marsten, but I do have two things to add. Maester Forthwind's research on the Blackbuckle poison progresses slowly. He has not yet found a counter-agent. However he estimates that even without treatment, the water should be safe to drink again in about ten months."


"
You should also know that I spoke to Ser Myles Blackwood just before this meeting. He agrees with me that the poisoning Blackbuckle was a cowardly and heinous act. Whether it was done in support of his House or not, it is an action he firmly denounces. He has offerred to lend his support to the restoration of Blackbucle... provided the Brackens are willing to accept it, of course."


Given the situation, Lady Marsten could use some good news, however small.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Nathan listens to the exchange with interest, but watches the audience more-so than the actors.

[OOC: [url=Assembly - Awareness (Empathy)][/url]: 5d6k4 17

Assuming your passive Deception is 16 or less, please PM me with your current Disposition towards Corrine and Baelon.]

The young man clears his throat softly. "
My reports to you are mostly up to date, Lady Marsten, but I do have two things to add. Maester Forthwind's research on the Blackbuckle poison progresses slowly. He has not yet found a counter-agent. However he estimates that even without treatment, the water should be safe to drink again in about ten months."


"
You should also know that I spoke to Ser Myles Blackwood just before this meeting. He agrees with me that the poisoning Blackbuckle was a cowardly and heinous act. Whether it was done in support of his House or not, it is an action he firmly denounces. He has offerred to lend his support to the restoration of Blackbucle... provided the Brackens are willing to accept it, of course."


Given the situation, Lady Marsten could use some good news, however small.

"
Thank you for the updates,"
Corrine nods to Nathan, managing a tiny, tight smile of gratitude. "
It is good to know that Blackbuckle can recover, with time. Perhaps it can be resettled someday, when things are more stable. And it is heartening to hear that House Blackwood has condemned the poisoning, and is willing to act on that feeling too. If we can all foster co-operation, then I have hope that, while wounds so deep rarely heal completely, that we may be able to at leaat let them close."

[Baelon Drakeson]

[OOC: Just want to note that this is the perfect segue into House Coldbrook's Blackbuckle information, but Daveth isn't on... I'd suggest waiting for him before moving on to other investigation sites.]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

[OOC: Just want to note that this is the perfect segue into House Coldbrook's Blackbuckle information, but Daveth isn't on... I'd suggest waiting for him before moving on to other investigation sites.]

[ooc: I'm happy to wait on Daveth. It makes sense.]

[Daveth Coldbrook]

"
Five."
Daveth says, quietly, but firmly. "
Blackbuckle will be healed in five months. I've already discovered, and applied, the counter-agent, alongside Maester Leopold, the Drakeson's maester. I just needed word of that to not leak out until we were ready to move against those responsible.

"
Now, we are."


Daveth stands, and steps forward. "
The poison is called 'Glass candle tears'. In more ways than one, it should have all been destroyed in the doom of Valyria. To the best of my knowledge, it can no longer be made. To say that this poison is obscure is an understatement. Even the knowledge of it is limited to the most scholarly of persons. Or"
with a sad smile and a shrug "
the luckiest, I suppose. Even so, to discover some would be either a stroke of unimaginable fortune, or the result of dedicated scholarly work to trace where some might have ended up after all these years.

"
In short, everything we have uncovered indicates it was a scholarly mind that was behind this attack.

"
It indicates that it was most likely a maester.

"
We have evidence that strongly implicates one of them in particular, but I wish to save that for afterwards, so as to not bias you prematurely. What I wish to do now is demonstrate to you all a simple test that will indicate if someone has been handling Glass candle tears. I will need a volunteer. Someone who has not touched the water at Blackbuckle, so I may demonstrate a negative result first. Then I will get them to handle - carefully - a small sample of the poison, and re-test. The same test will then show a positive result, albeit a weak one. Be warned, that as a result of this test, they will have some marks on their hands that will take a few months to wear off.

"
Once I am done demonstrating the test, Loreia will bring in the two maesters, who we invited under the deception that we will require their expert testimony, and we will perform the test on both of them. While I cannot say for certain, I am hopeful that one will show a positive reaction, and one a negative, clearly proving that one is innocent, and one is guilty. Regardless, I will then display my evidence which led me to the conclusion I currently hold.

"
I am a cautious man, and a maester is an important part of any noble house deemed worthy of having one. I do not wish to make any formal accusations without the backing of at least a majority of my fellow investigators against such a man.

"
So, the test volunteer. Ser Markus,"
he looks towards the Marsten knight. "
I have heard nothing but good things about you, and I believe that none would accuse us of conspiring together to fix the result of this test. If your Lord and Lady, and yourself, be willing, I would have you for my volunteer, so all may have faith in its veracity."

[Septon Arlyn]

Septon Arlyn stands, "
I can verify that the purple liquid vapor will identify the substance, and that it will leave a stain as Daveth states. I also agree that we should test both Maester's hands, but if neither tests positive I would ask the investigators here to not spread the information except to other investigating houses. That said, I investigated the Maester's chambers of the Blackwood's, and the guards hands outside his chamber did not change color with the application, and when I tested the work bench and floor for traces of poison the dye did not transfer. So I would suggest that we develop as list of other Maester's whom would have motive to do this act, or who's Lord's might benifit from a continued fued."


Septon Arlyn sat back down, letting everyone think on who else might be responsible.

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben places his hand gingerly on Corrine's shoulder giving her a reassuring smile. Relax for a moment My love. I will handle this.

He nods approval to Ser Markus. The grizzled knight then approaches Daveth.

"
Maester Ronnel and I surmised the same test, but have yet to put it to use. I will ask one thing first. If the test is negative on the Maesters, then what? Perhaps they wore gloves. Maester are fairly intelligent men. If this the case they will then know we have information on them.

I only ask so we may be more prepared moving forward."

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan got that sinking feeling he always got when something bad was about to happen.

He thought it was a Maester too. Specifically, he thought it was Maester Arryn. He had been investigating quietly to try and verify if that were true. The last thing he had wanted was a public display. If it became common knowledge, it would be a massive blow to the Citadel and serious situation across all of Westeros. If the Lords suddenly got it in their heads that Maesters could not be trusted, it might shift the very foundation of society.

Nathan looks at Corrine. "
I certainly hope it is not one of the Maesters, my Lady. The consequences of that could be dire."


Tread carefully, Lady Marsten. If either Maester is guilty, what you do will reach well beyond the Blackwood/Bracken borders.

[Daveth Coldbrook]

"
Maester Ronnel and I surmised the same test, but have yet to put it to use. I will ask one thing first. If the test is negative on the Maesters, then what? Perhaps they wore gloves. Maester are fairly intelligent men. If this the case they will then know we have information on them.

I only ask so we may be more prepared moving forward."

Daveth nods. "
Good question. If we were dealing simply with the amount required to poison a man through his wine, protective measures like gloves would work. We're not. The amount required to poison an entire village would permeate even stout leather gloves, or some would splash onto exposed skin. If the palms show nothing, we re-do the test on the face, on the skin around the eyes - even maesters need to be able to see, so they cannot cover that skin up entirely.

"
Regardless of the result, I have a few questions for them. I hope that the answers they give will illuminate a path forwards, in addition to or instead of the test results."


Daveth then carefully goes through the test with Ser Markus in front of everybody. First, dropping some liquid purple vapour onto his hands, having him rub his hands together, then displaying his newly-stained-purple hands to everyone. He then is able to wipe the stains off using a rag, with a bit of effort.

He then provides two small dishes, and pours a small amount of a viscous, colourless liquid from a tiny, unlabelled bottle into one of them, and has Ser Markus carefully transfer the liquid back and forth a few times using a pipette*. He then re-does the test on Ser Markus, but this time limiting the spread to just the fingers of his pipette hand, to avoid staining him an unnecessary amount. This time, even with such limited exposure, some small orange spots are clearly visible on the knight's fingers, which he cannot wipe off with the rag.

Test completed, Daveth steps back, carefully tidying up the kit he used as he does so. "
Thank you, Ser Markus. I feel that a practical demonstration helps set people's expectations appropriately more than any number of purely verbal explanations. As I said, the orange marks are completely harmless, and should fade naturally in a few months. Though soaking your hands in water for a few minutes after this meeting would probably be wise.

"
I think now, we are ready for Loreia to bring in the maesters."


(*OOC: I'm assuming that falls within the tech level we have available.)

(OOC: I made a few assumptions regarding the test results. If Reader wishes me to change anything, I will, but it seemed relatively straightforward given what we know, assuming I haven't forgotten anything.)

[Reader]

[OOC: Confirmation that Daveth unlocked the information above weeks ago OOC and can dispel the fears over protective measures.

Loreia, please feel free to escort in the strong but limping Maester Arran and the organised but haughty Maester Humphrey.

Then the PCs can describe the test administered.]

[Benedict Marsten]

"
Perhaps it's best if we test each separately. We need no knowledge of our findings to to be exposed just yet. I am sure they will both know what you are looking for once you begin."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth shrugs. "
If you'd rather we only have one of them in here at a time, I have no objection. I'd prefer then, to start with Maester Humphrey."

[Sponsored content]