Re: [D4:MA] Touring the Devastation (Open)

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
Sometimes one must amputate a limb to save the body."
says Nathan absently. "
But you are right. It would be a shame if it was necessary. As for Lord Blackwood, if you need any help in that regard, let me know. I would happily..."
There is a flash of viciousness in the young man's eyes, quickly suppressed. "
... 'punish' anyone who harmed a six year old in the name of politics."


"
As for House Darry, if safety is a concern, I and Ser Jon can come with you. I won't be able to do much more in Blackbuckle till after tomorrow, and the other irons I have in the fire need time to heat up. The House Darry charge is the least interesting to me, but it must be dealt with. I would like to know what the Darrys think they will gain from this. In my experience, those that sling mud are rarely clean themselves."

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
In that case, you are welcome to accompany me on the visit. You have a keener mind for scheming than I. I will be the first to admit that is a blind spot of mine."

[Septon Arlyn]

"
My Lady, The fact that you can recognize a blind spot of yours, and have the humility to know to ask for assistance from those who do are better at something then yourself, shows that your blind spot is not so blind. Think of it more like a newborn lamb, who is weakness of the knees but grows stronger with every step, and is being watched over by its ewe while it learns."
Reassures Septon Arlyn.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
My Lady, The fact that you can recognize a blind spot of yours, and have the humility to know to ask for assistance from those who do are better at something then yourself, shows that your blind spot is not so blind. Think of it more like a newborn lamb, who is weakness of the knees but grows stronger with every step, and is being watched over by its ewe while it learns."
Reassures Septon Arlyn.

Corrine gave the Septon an amused, amiable smile.

"
I do take your meaning and appreciate the sentiment, Septon, but Nathan is no ewe,"
she said, with a little giggle.

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
I have one or two clients that like to dress like shepherds that might disagree."
Nathan grinned.

"
Will it be alright to bring Ser Jon?"
he asked. "
I am not sure what duties he has been assigned now that he has been appointed to this tribunal of yours."


Corrine could hear the barest hint of something in Nathan's voice. Not jealousy... at least not jealousy of her... or not in the usual way. It was well known that Ser Jon Roxton had a large sexual appetite. The Bold Knight had often flirted or seduced many young men and women in the Vale. Nathan hadn't even raised an eyebrow. But there was something there. A slight petulance or protective concern. Perhaps he resented Corrine making this appointment, or involving Jon in the Lord Drakeson situation, or both.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
If you think he would be helpful, then he may certainly come along. The tribunal will likely not take long, and he needn't devote all day to it."


Corrine detected the oddness in Nathan's voice, and gave him a questioning look.

"
I hope I have not caused offence by commandeering him without telling you beforehand."

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
If you are concerned about the safety of House Darry, I think it would be prudent to bring a man of his skill along."


... and he will be a lot safer than having to deal with Lord Baelon Drake 'bastard' son, or Ser Theomore.

"
I was not offended. Just a little surprised."


... a little bloody warning would have been nice.

"
You hardly need my permission. We are all at your disposal."


... but I don't have to be happy you dragged Ser Jon into that mess.

"
I am just not sure what a tribunal accomplishes, at least in the case of Lord Drakeson. You were there for the incident, where you not? Can you not judge him with your own authority?"

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I do not wish accusations of bias to be levelled at me. If I exonerate him on my own authority, I will be accused of protecting him because of politics. If I condemn him on my own authority, I will be accused of not giving him the chance to clear his name. I chose Ser Jorah, Ser Jon, and Ser Markus because they were the only people here of sufficient status whom I feel I can trust. I trust you more, but many would not accept your authority, even if it came from me. Gods, plenty of people don't even accept that I have any authority at all, here or otherwise,"
she added, a little bitterly.

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan put his hand on Corrine's arm. "
For what it's worth. I respect your authority, not that that is worth much, but I am not the only one."


"
Tell me, my Lady, what would you do... if politics were not involved... how would you judge Lord Drakeson? You were there. You saw what happened. What do you think the right thing to do is?"

[Septon Arlyn]

"
Aye, my Lady, I respect your authority as well. Many of the most devoted are women, so I know of a women's ability to lead."

Nodding at Nathan's words Septon Arlyn continues, "
I will not reveal your personal thoughts on the matter"
and gives Corinne q friendly smile

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

Corrine gave them both a weak but genuine smile.

"
Thank you, both of you."


She inhaled and exhaled with the restrained weariness of some desperately trying to hold themselves together.

"
I think Athelstan was behaving suspiciously, and should have been questioned, but Baelon's aggressive demands made it impossible. He drove Athelstan to his suicide, and thus subverted the course of the royal investigation."

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan smiled. "
Your evading the question, my Lady. I did not ask what Baelon did. I asked what you felt would be the proper judgement of his actions?"


"
Do you think he perverted the course of justice deliberately? Or did he simply act hastily without thought. The former is a crime, the latter poor judgement."


"
My impression of Lord Drakeson is that he is extremely arrogant, although perhaps being the bastard son of a Prince, he comes by that honestly. Athelstan was hot-headed and abrasive. He chose to jump down that mine shaft. No-one picked him up and threw him down it."
Nathan shrugged. "
You are the head of a great House. You will have to make judgements like this for as long as you remain so. Not all of them can be as black and white as Mayor Seldon."


"
I can tell you that Ser Jon Roxton has told me shortly after the incident he fully supports Lord Drakeson's actions, based on what he knows so far."
Which I would have told you if you came to me first. "
I am sure he is willing to listen to the facts, but he is not neutral. He is also not alone in that opinion. Even the whispering from the Greens is favorable. There is a very good chance Baelon will be exonerated. Perhaps that is what you intended. A good solution. You divest yourself of the decision, the responsibility and the mess. Excellent if you want to turn your attention to the more important investigations. Not quite so good if you want people to respect your authority."


As usual, Nathan's words are even and measured. Not condemning her decision in any way, but not telling her only what she wanted to hear, either.

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
I believe he acted rashly, but without malice. It is my hope that the tribunal will exonerate him quickly."

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
Well, if the winds blow as I think they are, I expect you will get your wish."
smiled Nathan.

"
As far as House Darry, we can go whenever you wish. I do have some business in the morning. I have to plant about thirty men on spikes in front of the Septry."
said Nathan with obvious distaste. "
Gruesome, I admit. I tried to spare as many of the bandits as I could, but some were intractable... and some were downright evil."


Nathan glances at Arlyn. "
I must say, Septon, your brethren were only to happy to agree to my making an example. Some even wanted to impale them all, but I thought that was a bit excessive and unnecessary. I think some of your monks need to reread the passages in the Seven Pointed Star on the Mother's mercy."

[Septon Arlyn]

Septon Arlyn nods at Lady Corinne's words, "
of the incident at the assembly is any indication, I feel that Lord Baelon has a penchant for rash action if he feels that he is better plan then those in authority, and is willing to speak ahead of his betters if he feels he is at risk of not making his voice heard. It was a wise thing you did, My Lady Corrine, in placing a Marsten escort on him, for it may provide him with the additional pause needed for him to think through any rash decision he may feel forced to make."


Septon Arlyn made a wistful smile, "
aye Goodman Nathan, sometimes even holy men can have their blood boil when dealing with the loss of friends and brethren. But that is why we are mere men who are seeking to do the Gods will, not the Gods themselves."


He makes a slightly disturbed look, "
planting men an stakes is pretty ghastly though. Are you sure that is what the seven would want to be remembered by? Are you sure that it will prevent any further attacks against the brothers? Or will it merely lead to an escalation of violence. "

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
Well, to be honest Septon, as much as your compassion does you credit, impalement is fairly standard in this type of situation. It would certainly send a lasting message that attacking a church is unacceptable. I tried to spare as many as I could. I could probably have added another twenty and still slept peacefully at night. After the display of Arran today, I think the argument that all men deserve mercy is a thin one. I said I would impale those that did not seek redemption. That is what I intend to do. I always keep my word."


"
However..."
Nathan continues with a slight sly smile. "
If the High Septon of that Septry were to have a change of heart. If he were to come out and ask them to repent their sins. If he were to grant the Mother's mercy to those who did repent their sins, then they could be spared and sent to the Wall. That would take the matter out of my hands for those that did."


Nathan was clearly offering the Septon an out for these men, but would not hesitate to plant them all on spikes if they refused to take it... or if the High Septon of this church refused to offer it.

[Septon Arlyn]

"
Maybe I will have a conversation with the High Septon of the Septry, Or if he is dead whomever is leading that flock now. Maybe he will be more willing to see reason, and how a dead man can never repay his debts to society, but a living man still can."
Septon Arlyn appeared thoughtful for a moment. "
Aye, impalement is fairly common, but having seen the effects, and having had to bury men who have been impaled. It is quite a ghastly process."


"
And in the matter of Arryn, I was given the sense that you wished to poison him. What purpose would that serve? I get that it would be slightly poetic in justice, but would that not make us accomplices in his murder. To offer one last victim to the stranger from that queer and dangerous substance? Would it not be better to simply destroy it in a fire and remove all traces of it from the world? I agree that it would be justice to see him die, but the poison I feel might take it into the realm of vengeance and out of the hands of the fathers justice. I'm sure that where ever the man ends up after his death, that spot in the seven hells will be specially made just for him, But for us to use that poison on him..."
Septon Arlyn lets that thought trail off.

"
Also if You and Lady Corrine would not mind, I can travel with you as well to the warriors Seat, I wish to search for some healing texts there, to further my knowledge. After being unable to correctly identify the poison, I feel that I need to expand my realm of research. It would also ease your fears about safety as well, as Ser Garred insists that I travel with an escort at all times now, given that I was attacked by bandits on the first day here."
Septon Arlyn gives a small chuckle, "
That seems as if it was weeks ago, even though its only been a few days, My how these busy days seem to stretch on."

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan is lost in thought for a long moment.

"
Burn him in the center of Blackbuckle beside the well he poisoned, after he has witnessed the destruction he wrought. Let his evil be purified by fire as it will purify his victims. Let all who survived see him die and know that justice has been done."


"
Yes... a very good idea Septon."
Nathan's sapphire eyes seemed to sparkle in a way they had not done in days. "
A very good idea indeed."


After a moment, he shook his head. "
Of course Septon. I do not mind if Lady Marsten does not. I understand the precaution. Ser Jon Roxton has been my shadow for days."
Although, clearly by his tone, he did not mind that one bit.

[Septon Arlyn]

Septon Arlyn swallowed slightly, Last time I made a suggestion that made a man that happy, It made me just as nervous. What have I done again.

(this is what I am referring to)

[url:26xpin0f]http:
//dragonsdance.
forumatic.
com/viewtopic.
php?f=53&
t=1311[/url:26xpin0f]

[Nathaniel Mason]

[OOC: LMAO. I know you were probably referring to the poison, and not Maester Arran when you said "
destroy it by fire"
.

Not the first time something you have said has been misconstrued.

Now what are you doing to do... rofl... he thinks YOUR idea is wonderful!

[Loreia]

[I would like to be here, if you don't mind. My character would wish to see this destruction for herself, and would wish to touch base on what we discussed at the assembly in the late morning. My idea is that you would have seen a familiar horse tethered outside of town, and at some point, maybe at this moment, you notice me gawking at the scenery.]

[Nathaniel Mason]

[You would certainly not be kept from examining the town, and you would recognize some of the Marsten men waiting for their mistress. You would probably recognize Lady Corrine's horse. Any guard could tell you that they toured the town and then retired to the Bartheld pavilion. You could tour the town and then join us if you wished.]

[Lady Corrine Marsten]

"
Burning him at the scene of his massacre would be fitting, without stooping to base cruelty, tempting though that is. As Ser Kevan said earlier, we should focus on justice, not poeticism."

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
I think you are right, Lady Marsten. Burning is not a pleasant death, but is is common for crimes such as this, not that there are many crimes such as this. It is also a relatively quick death, perhaps quicker than he deserves."


"
More importantly, it will put the dead to rest and help the living to heal. Once the smallfolk know that justice has been done, and been seen to be done. They will be able move on."


"
Septon. I thank you. I believe that you have come up with the perfect solution."


[OOC: he he he he.}

[Septon Arlyn]

"
Septon. I thank you. I believe that you have come up with the perfect solution."

Septon Arlyn balks at the reference that He gave the idea for burning a man to death, "
Master Nathan,"
Septon Arlyn starts, clearly not using the common vernacular of Goodman in this instance, "
I merely meant that we should destroy the poison by fire, clearly outside in large fire of course, but I did not intend for us to burn Arryn!"
Septon Arlyn nearly has his words trip over themselves in his haste to expel them from his body.

"
Albeit, death at the stake is common for such a crime. However I find it distasteful to say the least. It is much cleaner to merely take his head and be done with it, or to hang him by his neck. However you are correct about the preciedent for such things."
Septon Arlyn sees the spark in Nathans blue eyes, and knows that whatever the Septon may have meant or said, it was clearly misinterpreted. Although the fire priest might approve of that punishment, Yoren probably would call it a sacrifice to his queer gods as a blessing to purify the land.

(OOC LMFAO. I nearly had an asthma attack from laughing so hard (jk, but not about the laughing hard part))

[Sponsored content]