[D1, Mid Morning] BookWyrms (open)

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben and Ellie arose early to make a trip to the famed Tully library. Ben was in search of a book on long blades referred to him by an old friend Maester Leopold. They began their search with and adventurous fervor, which soon turned to hide and seek. Eventually leading to Ben catching Ellie and a tickle onslaught. This was quickly concluded when a servant aggressively "
ssshhh-ed"
them.

The search resumed with a little less fervor and a good deal more playful smiles and quiet laughter at the previous escapades.
[url=Assist Book Search Knowledge][/url]: 2d6 12
[url=Search for book Knowledge][/url]: 3d6 9

OoC: Reader if you would be so kind as to toss a Difficulty my way. Thank you!

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth Coldbrook was in love.

Being a largely self-taught scholar, and having had his precious books taken away before, his valuing of each book extended well beyond the merely monetary. His tiny collection within Castle Grenward would almost certainly be his most prized possession, and yet here, in Riverrun's library, his precious collection could get lost in one tiny corner.

Arriving as early as he could, he spent his first half-hour just wandering around, a dopey grin on his face, joy at the experience overwhelming his usual stoic mask. Eventually, however, he began his search in earnest for a book on raven husbandry. Now, would that be under 'husbandry', 'avians', 'ravens', 'animals', 'communication', or something else? Enjoying the feeling of there being so much knowledge, he danced about from shelf to shelf, looking for what he was after. However, he couldn't help noticing as he did so that most of the other residents were all very serious and grim in their searches and reading.

Why? Why are you here if you don't find joy? How can you love knowledge, and yet treat spending time here like it's just another chore? Isn't there *anybody* here who loves learning for its own sake?

At that precise moment, he heard a young woman's giggling, and a stern servant's 'Shhh'. Well, it seems the gods do tend to answer you when you least expect it.

Moving over a couple of rows, he found the culprits, still clearly in high spirits, though rather more focused on their task. Speaking quietly, so as to not invite further censure, he coughs lightly so as to attract attention before speaking. "
Well, it's good to see there is at least *someone* else in here who can combine learning with fun."
he extends a hand. "
Master Daveth Coldbrook. I've never been here before, but I've lurked about a few others before. Need a hand finding anything?"

[Reader]

The search proved fruitless, at least for these hours. Ben and Ellie were dwarfed by Riverrun's great library, and Ben's talent at swordsmanship countered against them.

They had found a copy of Ser Hendrick Tyrell's The Footman's Art, and two copies of Maester Glenn's Introductory Swordsmanship - one illustrated! - but such works were too basic for Ser Ben's needs.

House Tully's Maester Mendrick observed their initial efforts and then shuffled off, content that the enthusiastic scholars were unlikely to damage his treasure trove.

[OOC: Riverrun's library is large (6 successful tests needed) and the subject matter is scare (TN 12) - you can try again in future timeslots or enlist the aid of other PCs/NCs]

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben takes the outstretched hand enthusiastically. "
Ser Benedict Blackthorne and this"
he twirls the young girl like a dancer. "
is the one and only Ellien Blackthorne."


When done spinning Ellie punches Ben in the arm. "
This mummer needs his arse whipped"
she indicates Ben. "
Everyone calls me Ellie and pardon my language I know its not very Lady like but my brother brings out the worst in me."
She give Ben a devilish grin.

Ben returns the grin, shaking his head. "
I do apologize. Help is all ways accepted by the wise. What has brought you to be proficient with libraries."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

"
Well met, both of you. And believe me when I say, Lady Ellie, that I suffer from almost exactly the same issue with my elder brother."
he says with a little twinkle in his eye. "
I think it's a requirement of the role."


Turning back to Benedict, "
And well, my proficiency is born of necessity, I'm afraid. My house is deemed as yet not significant enough to be worthy of a maester, so I fill those big shoes myself as best as I'm able, with what skills and knowledges I've been able to teach myself during my life. Unfortunately, our 'library' could fit on a single one of these shelves"
gesturing about him "
so much of my learning I fit in on my diplomatic trips to neighbouring houses, when time is somewhat lacking. As such, I've grown fairly proficient in finding what I'm after and devouring the relevant information quickly.

"
Though, I feel I must admit."
he says, looking around. "
This place is on a whole other scale to any library I've been to before."
his tone turns wistful. "
Oh, if I could just hide away in here for a year, the things I could learn!"

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben seems pleasantly amused by Daveth's enthusiasm. "
My gusto for books has not quite hit that level. Ellie got most of the smarts and as a Lady has had a better opportunity to explore them. For me as son of a third son, it was sword in hand or helm under my feet."
He locks eyes with Ellie a sad smile passes between them. "
But I am not enthusiastic about the water. So the option was easy."


Ellie pushes Ben out of her way as she places herself between the two men, then cocks her head playfully. "
What's your favorite area of study?"


Ben laughs... quietly. "
Does your older brother have to deal with this?"

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth grins at Benedict. "
Oh, I assure you, I'm *much* more subtle when it comes to letting my elder brother have my way. And, I would argue, much more effective. Maybe, if you find her current methods objectionable, I should borrow her for the tourney? If she's a quick study, by the time I return her, you won't even realise how many decisions are being made for you."
he turns his face to Lady Ellie. "
I think every elder brother needs a younger sibling watching over them, don't you?"
from his tone, his offer clearly isn't serious, but more of a 'careful what you wish for'.

"
As for study? Well, my current area of interest is ravens. As with pretty much everything else they do, the maesters make it look easy, but there's a fiendish amount of difficulty hiding once you start trying yourself. But I would say my favourite is the healing arts. It's not that it's the most interesting area, but once you've treated a man's injuries from facing bandits, and you know that he would otherwise have died, every time you see them after that, you realise 'the only reason that man is standing there is because of me, and my learning'."
a small smile and a wistful shake of the head. "
It's a feeling that I'm not sure you can get any other way. Our castle is small, there are no strangers within its walls. Every loss is a tragedy. Every loss averted? That's my legacy."

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben feigns fear, before returning to his easy smile. "
She would make a scary puppet master. I will leave her as she is ... a pest."
He then dodges the incoming blow from Ellie.

Rolling her eyes to dismiss Ben Ellie returns her attention to Daveth, her interest peaked. "
Ravens may make for an interesting topic. Healing is far above me, but very noble. Let me guess your brother is on the other end of healing?"
She glances back at Ben giving his longsword at rattle.

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth grins. "
You are indeed most perceptive, Lady Ellie."
he places his hand over his heart in mock injury. "
We truly both have such heavy burdens to carry that so few others will understand. It pleases me no end to find someone else who does."
he leans in, and places his hand flat to the side of his mouth, and stage-whispers to Lady Ellie, pretending that Ser Benedict can't hear him. "
Still, they make all the effort worthwhile sometimes, right?"
a quick grin. "
Just don't let them hear that, it'll go right to their heads."

[Benedict Marsten]

"
Master Daveth you are interesting fellow. Its too bad you seem to be an important link in your family's chain. For you are definitely the type of man I would want the council of if I were ever to find myself in the position to hire."
Aside from the maester reference his words seem heartfelt.

Its Ellies turn to feign fear. "
Dear brother would you replace me that easily? Or is a womans council not worth a grain of salt to you?"
Her eyes twinkle with playfulness. "
Would your brother replace you so easy?"

[Daveth Coldbrook]

"
You flatter me, Ser."
Daveth grins. "
Nonetheless, you are correct. At the moment, my house does need me. I would even be heir if my brother has his way, though I'm confident I'll win that particular battle, and leave him awaiting the big chair. Still, thank you for that."


Answering Lady Ellie, he sighs theatrically. "
Well, if he could get a good deal for me, I'm sure he would."
a twinkle in his eye "
Even if he had to subtly pushed a little to get there."
his voice turns sad and wistful, and quiet. "
That's what I believe differentiates good lords from bad ones, at all levels. The ability to differentiate between that which is *necessary*, and that which they merely *want*, however badly, and act accordingly."
He locks eyes with Ser Benedict. "
Any time you seek my council, bear that in mind, and you will find my advice."


Daveth pauses a second, like he just realised what he just said. "
Sorry, killed the mood a bit there. Please, pay it no mind. My head just gets so full sometimes it overflows when it shouldn't."
he gives a rather embarrassed grin.

[Benedict Marsten]

"
Never apologize for the truth. Not being able to make those necessary decision has led to many downfalls."
Ben's somber tone quickly reverse as he kneels to Ellie. "
Dear sister I could never replace you, but some day you will be puppet master of some young knight or lords household. With no time for your decrepit old brother. So I must make arrangements for that day."


Ellie shoves him unceremoniously on to the floor. "
I will die an old spinster in your sons house, his favorite aunt. I will have him bury me next to you so i may worry you for eternity."


She turns back to Daveth a devilish grin. "
Why do you refuse a Lordship? That seems very..."
she obviously searches for the right word. "
Uncommon."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Spoken like a true knight. Blind to the fact that 'truth' is a razor-sharp blade with no hilt.

Would that he could remain such forever. Would that they both could.

Shaking off the morbid thought, he chuckles at Lady Ellie's question. "
Well, firstly, thank you for not using the first word that came to your mind. As for the answer? There are many, but one of the key ones is simple enough to explain."
his tone, while remaining quiet, becomes like that of a maester lecturing. "
Our house is, I believe, the youngest house in the kingdom. Our father was born smallfolk, so we have no friends;
"
unwittingly, a hint of bitterness enters his voice, "
he has now but two children, one of natural birth, and the other only his through marrying the boy's mother, with both as-yet unwed, so we have no allies;
our castle is so wrapped up in stupid smallfolk superstition that none of the servants will even sleep there at night;
"
the bitterness is now replaced more with frustration, "
our lands are small, poor, and barely populated."
he pauses for a moment, to be sure they're both still paying attention.

"
In short, we have *nothing*. Except for a fighting force, man-for-man a match for pretty much any other in the kingdom."
His tone carries no boast, nor bravado, just a simple, quiet intensity. "
That's what gives us the little power we have, Lady Ellie. It isn't love that keeps our neighbours' knives from our throats, it's fear.

"
So, you tell me. If the fear of those men was the only thing keeping *your* family safe, would you seek power yourself, to turn them into direwolves led by a lamb, devoid of all threat? Or would you do whatever it took to ensure a man like your brother,"
nodding towards Ser Benedict's sword "
was in command, someone who could keep the fear, and from that, your family, alive?

"
In a generation or two, when we'd have respect, and allies, and trust, I'd probably make a fantastic lord."
he says, as a simple statement of fact. "
In this one? I'd make fantastic epitaph for our fallen house."


His tone softens, energy spent. "
And that is the pure, ugly truth at the heart of the matter. Do you understand?"


Dammit, Daveth! I know you like them, but there's a time and a place! Whatever's wrong with 'Well, I have no Coldbrook blood, so by law, my brother should inherit'? Nice and simple. There's no need to spill your guts all over them! Weren't you just thinking it would be nice if they could keep valuing truth for a while?

I know, but ... I want to help Lady Ellie. I want to help her understand. If she does, maybe she'll be able to protect her brother. Maybe she'll avoid knowing the pain of losing one.

...Idiot.

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben looks on assessing Daveths words. "
Vast knowledge and passion. You may be a much more dangerous man then I first thought. The one thing you miss is that council can work both ways. A Lord not need be a warrior if he is wise enough to surround himself with great generals."
Ben cuts through the seriousness with a look of levity. "
The Ice Queen has been ruling house Marsten for sometime"
he gives a small shiver. "
And though she may be scary she is no fearsome warrior or strategist. That is left to old Ser Markus."


Ellie stands listening. Making fishy lips until a break in the conversation. "
I think you would be a good Lord. Would you be just and kind?

[Daveth Coldbrook]

A small grin crosses Daveth's mouth. "
Good Ser Knight, if you think *I'm* dangerous, you should meet my mother. Still,"
and he touches his forehead in a gesture of respect. "
A salient point well raised. However, I miss nothing."
he pauses a second. "
I'm sorry, that was a blatant lie. I did not miss that particular point, however. You'll note I did not talking about crippling the men's fighting ability, merely their threat, for I am something of an expert in the ancient martial secret of 'shutting the f-"
a quick glance at Ellie. Focus, Daveth. You're losing it. "
-flapping gums and letting the experts get on with it. However, the primary use of a military force isn't actually in being a force, but rather in being a *deterrent*. The 'fear' I mentioned earlier. With me as a ruler, their battlefield effectiveness would be undiminished, but their deterrence effect would be crippled. And by the time ambitious neighbours realised that, we'd likely be so weakened proving such, that the initial belief would prove to be fact."
Daveth taps beside his eye. "
Perception may not be everything in this game, but it's certainly a major player."


He turns to Lady Ellie. "
And as for your question, Lady Ellie, I would say not, for the simple reason that to be kind would mean to give people more than they deserve, while to be just would be to give them precisely what they do deserve."
a small smile, to remove any chiding from his words. "
As for what I would be like if I were a Lord, I would be unceasingly kind to my allies, to thank them for their fidelity, but I would be unceasingly cruel to my enemies, to discourage others from joining them, and encourage them to ... reconsider. Those who are neither, I would greet with an open hand, a friendly smile, and a show of respect. Until they prove themselves deserving of different."
a pause, and as a bit of an afterthought. "
And as for the smallfolk, well, they are to a noble what tools are to an artisan. A good artisan keeps his tools organised, and clear from rot, muck and grease, so that they all behave as they should, and don't break unexpectedly. A noble should have the same mindset."

[Benedict Marsten]

Ben shifts a bit, one eyebrow raising questioningly. "
I will concede to you Master Daveth for my knowledge of ruling is limited to the deck of my fathers ship as a young boy."
He looks on Daveth assessing him. "
But I do believe with a few years of tempering you would make a formidable Lord."
He glances to Ellie. "
Let us find a more entertaining topic. Perhaps ... food"
Ben laughs a little to loud and quickly quiets looking around for any 'shhshers'.

Ellie shakes her head, smirking. "
Your always thinking about food. Let me guess roasted potatoes? Do you believe this big oaf? Knowledge and new friends"
she eyes Daveth to see if he feels the same about the friends part. "
and he wants to talk about food."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth smiles in response. To Ser Benedict, he replies "
Well, history is a formidable teacher of the theory. The test is in being able to pull it off in practice. Still, I agree, I have darkened the mood enough with such matters."
and then to Lady Ellie "
On the contrary, food is a wonderful topic to segue to for lack of an obvious alternative. Like sleep, we all do it, but unlike sleep, where we are blessed with forgetting, we remember eating, so we all have opinions.

"
However, didn't I interrupt the two of you searching for something? And I believe I offered my assistance? Perhaps we should continue your search, instead? Three pairs of eyes will find whatever it is you seek quicker than none."

[Benedict Marsten]

OoC: I would love the help searching, but not sure if I will be able to do so again in this slot. Possibly we could assist you. We will need Readers input.

[Daveth Coldbrook]

(OOC: my thought was to assist your existing rolls. I believe your current total is 10, and you need 12 for your first success? I can do that. Of course, if you can assist my search as well in the same timeslot, that would be awesome. )

[Benedict Marsten]

OoC: I will PM Reader. Don't want to go to far and then have to delete posts. Even if we are unable to help each other it will give us a reason to meet again.

[Reader]

[In anything, you can lead OR ASSIST, not both. Thanks for checking with me.

I'll allow Daveth to COORDINATE the existing search - p70 GoT edition, TN 9 for now, unles a capricious mood strikes me and I change the difficulty]

[Daveth Coldbrook]

(Okay, Will check:
[url=Coordinating book search][/url]: 3d6 - 16 Oh yeah! King of the Library. 2 DoS.

Hmmm. If I'm reading this right, I grant a bonus equal to my rank in Knowledge (which will mean +4), plus my Will rank times my degree of success (which will mean +6), giving a total bonus of +10, for an end result of 20, meaning 2 degrees of success? Therefore 2/6 successes needed to complete the task. Is that all correct?)

[Theomore Tullison]

OOC: Unless you have a benefit saying otherwise, you add Will x DoS, to the result. Whatever ability test you coordinate assistance on is irrelevant.

[Daveth Coldbrook]

(OOC: Ah, thanks. I'm using the old version of the rules, where it is rather confusingly worded. That did seem a bit too good.
So:
+6, final result of 16, which is just 1 degree of success, 1 point off 2. Sadface.)

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Under Daveth's guidance, mostly revolving around keeping the siblings close enough for comfort, but distant enough to avoid them constantly distracting each other, the group manages to make at least a little progress, finding some fragments on advanced swordplay. Unfortunately, everything they find is either incomplete, or merely reference other texts.

"
Alright."
Daveth says, after a couple of hours of searching. "
Sorry, but I really should be looking out for my own book. My family kind of needs it."
he holds out a hand. "
Pleasure to meet you both."


(OOC: The results are an expansion of a PM from Reader. If you want me to edit your behaviour (which is entirely my fault), let me know, but it seemed appropriate from what I saw. )

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