Re: [D6:MM]The Storm before the Calm before the Storm (close

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Mon Dec 21, 2015 11:31 pm

Corrine looked at her hands, then at Gwyn. Her eyes were red, but the fresh tears were subsiding as she kept breathing and trying to focus.

"
Right. He wants assurances then. Very well. Will you fetch him and Ben? I think I've got myself together enough."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Mon Dec 21, 2015 11:34 pm

"
Not so fast,"
Gwyn said with a chuckle. "
You don't honestly think I'm just going to let you drop a head in a basket in your bedroom, and then forget about it do you? What in the names of the Seven is that about?"

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Mon Dec 21, 2015 11:56 pm

Corrine looked blank for a moment, then remembered what she'd said while she'd been babbling in her heightened emotional state.

"
Oh that. Gods, it's horrible. Ser Rufus Bracken confessed to supplying assassins with a map of Raventree Hall, thus being one of those responsible for Lord Blackwood's murder. He seemed willing to go peacefully into custody, so I let him go get his affairs in order, with Sam following him discreetly, but while I was discussing the particulars with Lord Haig, we were informed that Ser Rufus was gone. A few hours later, Ser Rufus' head was delivered to the Marsten pavilion in a box, with a message claiming that he had been executed for resisting arrest. Sam knew he was not the only one involved, so we're still working on getting to the bottom of that matter, but..."

She rubbed the back of her neck wearily.

"
... We're still left with this grotesque... thing. I don't know what to do with it."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Tue Dec 22, 2015 12:12 am

Gwyn snorted at that and shook her head.

"
Clearly someone didn't want him to be interrogated. I hope this Sam is up to the task. I was going to suggest you use him to help in other ways, but..."
she shrugs. "
If it was me, I'd just bury it. The thing was probably only given to you to intimidate you."

"
But if Samurel is busy...hmm..."
Gwyn rubbed her chin, looking at Corrine speculatively. "
Do you think you might get the assistance of that Bartheld boy? I've heard he and you are on good terms."

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Tue Dec 22, 2015 12:29 am

"
I have spoken with Nathan about it, though I haven't had much chance to speak with him since. He's been very busy dealing with Blackbuckle. Don't worry, Gwyn. We have it in hand. We'll get the person responsible, whatever it takes."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Tue Dec 22, 2015 12:33 am

"
I've no doubt of that, but that's not what I meant."

Gwyn leans forward a little.

"
You should have either Samurel, or this Nathan, do some checking on other things. My suggestion would be to keep Nathan on this head-sending person, and move Samurel to checking up on the activities of Green sympathizers in your midst. Nathan himself, if I'm thinking of the same person, has some green inclinations, yes?"

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Tue Dec 22, 2015 12:39 am

"
Yes, but I understand his reasons, and believe them to be rooted in reason &
compassion. He has always been open with me about his political beliefs. I do not believe he would deceive or betray me without telling me why he was going to act to my detriment, and explain why. It may sound odd, but, I think he'd consider that rude."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Tue Dec 22, 2015 12:46 am

"
Even so, best not to give him a conflict of interests if you don't have to,"
says Gwyn. "
Let him take care of the investigative side of things. Samurel, who is the more politically allied of your assets, can keep an eye on your rivals."

She rubs her chin again. "
I envy you, having two skilled men you can call on for this sort of thing. Chasing rumors and clues is exhausting work if you have to do it yourself."

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Tue Dec 22, 2015 1:00 am

"
That sounds sensible. I will see what I can arrange. Sam was supposed to be dealing with that innkeeper spying on us, but I suppose there's no need for that now."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Tue Dec 22, 2015 1:03 am

Gwyn nods. "
Agreed...one small silver lining in an otherwise thoroughly wretched event."

"
Now to deal with who was colluding with that innkeeper. I'm going to be working that angle as well, but the more the better."

She stands up and pours a little wine out, then offers it to Corrine.

"
Feeling a little better? I've no qualms letting them stew for a while."

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Tue Dec 22, 2015 1:22 am

"
A little,"
Corrine says weakly, gratefully taking the cup and having a sip. "
I'll be glad when this is all over though. Ben and Ellie have been doing their best to keep me sane, but it gets so overwhelming. tomorrow is the big day, and there is still so much to do."

She took a deeper gulp of wine.

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Tue Dec 22, 2015 1:26 am

"
Build consensus,"
Gwyn advises. "
Meet with the other Houses here, get a sense of their feelings. What they want, what they're planning. Most of them aren't your enemies, exactly, but any of them could have been influenced by them. Use this time to avoid unpleasant surprises. Let others finish the investigating. You've more important work to take care of."

She pauses for a moment, then nods. "
I'll bring Baelon and Ben back in."

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Tue Dec 22, 2015 1:32 am

"
I do intend to speak with as many as I can. Thank you for your advice."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Tue Dec 22, 2015 9:55 pm

Gwyn hesitated for a moment, wanting to ask if Corrine felt she could trust Baelon yet...but instinct stopped her. Corrine had come a long way, but poking sore spots could provoke her to curl up again.

She went outside the tent to where Ben and Baelon were waiting in what seemed to her to be somewhat uneasy quiet.

"
Thank you,"
Gwyn said sincerely. "
She's feeling better now. Bennedict, why don't you take a moment with her? Baelon and I will follow in just a minute."

by **Baelon Drakeson** Wed Dec 23, 2015 8:23 pm

After Ben enters the tent, Baelon steps over to Gwyn. Taking her into his arms, he pulls her into a firm embrace.

Whispering into her ear, he says:
"
Thank you for this. I know I'm not making it easy, and I'm sorry. It is difficult not to be offended by how we are being treated... even if I know it's as much them reacting to me as I am reacting to them."

Relaxing the embrace a bit, he looks into her eyes.
"
How is Corrine doing?"
His tone evinces his worry. "
Is she going to be able to make it to the end of this hellish week?"

by **Benedict Marsten** Wed Dec 23, 2015 8:33 pm

Ben enters the tent, his posture rigid and face void of emotion. He quickly checks they are alone before dropping to Corrine's side. Placing a firm kiss on her head, his face now reveals his worry and exhaustion.

"
Are you well, my love? I am sorry it has come to this. Just a few more days."
He rubs lightly at her neck.

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Thu Dec 24, 2015 1:06 am

Corrine stands as Ben reaches her side, and embraces him tightly.

"
I'm sorry,"
she murmurs. "
It all just got to be too much."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Thu Dec 24, 2015 2:55 am

Baelon wrote:After Ben enters the tent, Baelon steps over to Gwyn. Taking her into his arms, he pulls her into a firm embrace.

Whispering into her ear, he says:
"
Thank you for this. I know I'm not making it easy, and I'm sorry. It is difficult not to be offended by how we are being treated... even if I know it's as much them reacting to me as I am reacting to them."

Relaxing the embrace a bit, he looks into her eyes.
"
How is Corrine doing?"
His tone evinces his worry. "
Is she going to be able to make it to the end of this hellish week?"

"
She'll get through it,"
Gwyn answers. "
With help. I know it's been hard on you as well, and what I have to ask of you won't be any easier."

She regards Baelon for a moment, then says, "
I know it's a little unfair to ask you, but would you be the first to apologize? It has to start somewhere...and while I'd prefer it to start with them, I don't know if it's sunk in that far. Some of this healing will take time, and you making that gesture would help things along."

"
Just...see them not as lord and lady, but as friends. Even if you feel like they haven't been doing the same."

by **Benedict Marsten** Sat Dec 26, 2015 4:41 am

Lady Corrine Marsten wrote:Corrine stands as Ben reaches her side, and embraces him tightly.

"
I'm sorry,"
she murmurs. "
It all just got to be too much."

"
It's quite alright, dear. They are family and it makes this all much harder and more ... personal."

He squeezes her back with reassurance.

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Sat Dec 26, 2015 4:52 am

She squeezes him tightly, then pulls back slowly, giving him a grateful and apologetic look. She turns her apologetic look to Baelon;

"
I'm sorry, Baelon. I did not mean to lose my composure like that. It was undignified. Things have been rather trying, but I should not shout at you for that. I'm ready to talk about how to move forward."

She still dabs at her eyes a little, and her breathing is somewhat tense, but overall seems to be calmed.

by **Baelon Drakeson** Sat Dec 26, 2015 11:03 pm

Gwyneth Drakeson wrote:"
She'll get through it,"
Gwyn answers. "
With help. I know it's been hard on you as well, and what I have to ask of you won't be any easier."

She regards Baelon for a moment, then says, "
I know it's a little unfair to ask you, but would you be the first to apologize? It has to start somewhere...and while I'd prefer it to start with them, I don't know if it's sunk in that far. Some of this healing will take time, and you making that gesture would help things along."

"
Just...see them not as lord and lady, but as friends. Even if you feel like they haven't been doing the same."

Baelon's hands drop and he takes a half-step back, his face a stony mask.

"
I don't think that... "
his expressions softens, a look of weariness crossing his face. "
No, strike that. This has gone on long enough;
we should all learn from the Blackwoods and Brackens that holding onto grudges is bad for everyone. I will do as you ask."

He embraces Gwyn once again, burying his face in her golden hair.

"
What would I do without you? Come, let us return and work this out."

Lady Corrine Marsten wrote:She squeezes him tightly, then pulls back slowly, giving him a grateful and apologetic look. She turns her apologetic look to Baelon;

"
I'm sorry, Baelon. I did not mean to lose my composure like that. It was undignified. Things have been rather trying, but I should not shout at you for that. I'm ready to talk about how to move forward."

She still dabs at her eyes a little, and her breathing is somewhat tense, but overall seems to be calmed.

"
It is forgiven, completely. I know you are under a great deal of strain from this whole... mess. I too am sorry, if I ever came across as questioning your ability to lead or worthiness of your position as the head of House Marsten. I never intended to say, or even imply, anything of the sort."

He returns to his seat.

"
As for moving forward... aside from our own personal issues, which perhaps we ought to set aside for now, I see three things that need to be addressed, and that I think we will all benefit from working together on - or at least being in agreement on how to handle: the coins retrieved from the cave, Pennytree and related issues, and making peace between Bracken and Blackwood. First and most pressing, to my mind, is this coin. I think the Dornish support of this uprising - now that we know it is real, and not a ploy - is too big to keep hidden. Instead, I think we should use it. We take the coin and letters to Prince Aemond, and emphasize that the attack on the Green Door Inn was supported by Dorne;
make them out to be the villains, and the smallfolk here as mere pawns in a larger scheme. With luck his anger will be diverted southward and he will not decide to massacre the smallfolk. Now, by 'we' I don't actually mean any of the four of us. I absolutely should not be there, as Prince Aemond would likely interpret anything I am involved with as a Black ploy. Similarly, I would recommend that House Marsten not be involved either - too much risk that he react poorly and decide we would all be best served as food for Vhagar. I think Ser Jorah is a good candidate - he rescued the Prince from the Green Door Inn, which would likely have earned him some goodwill. I do think someone else should go with Ser Jorah, but I am at a loss. A noble from a Green house would be ideal, but I am not sure whom we can entrust this to."

"
Regarding Pennytree, I think Gwyn and I should pay a visit to Lord Haig to find out what he knows about the attacks there. I'm sure we can convince him that it would be in his and House Bracken's best interest to be honest with us;
it would be helpful if we could assure him that neither he nor his house would be held accountable for the actions of troops not acting under orders."

"
Finally, regarding the peace, I think that we should do our best to remove the most hateful elements from both houses, and bind the two houses with wedding ties. While I do not begrudge Ser Kevan his marital bliss, this would be much easier if his heart had been elsewhere - wedding Ser Wyl to Lady Sofia would have been ideal. Alas, that is no longer an option.... and Lady Kerry is far too old for Lord Benjicot. Instead, Lady Kerry should be wed to Ser Myles. I have it on good word - from a Bracken no less - that he is a good man, and I believe he will treat her well despite her family. Ser Tyron would not be so willing to forgive her for being born a Bracken, so he must be removed - to the Wall, or into the service of some house distant from House Blackwood if his crimes are deemed not to warrant the Wall. House Bracken will be somewhat more difficult to sort out... Lord Haig is well indoctrinated in his hatred, and I do not think he will forgive easily - but as far as I am aware he has not committed any crimes worthy of the Wall. Further, I do no know how much Ser Wyl has embraced the hatred, and if he has done so then even removing Lord Haig will be insufficient - though with his sister married into House Blackwood, perhaps he would be disinclined to follow through on the hatred."

[OOC: Apologies for posting everything at once, I just don't want to keep everything held up if I am unable to post again for a while.]

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Sat Dec 26, 2015 11:41 pm

Corrine listens quietly to Baelon's ideas, brow creased thoughtfully.

"
Thank you for laying out your thoughts. If I may, I will try to respond to them fully, then we can address points of contention. I do have questions. I agree that Tyron should go to the Wall. He is one of several that we feel should be sent there. I feel that would be a reasonable punishment for his crime. On that matter, we are in agreement.

I also believe Ser Myles to be a good man, but I would also want to be confident of Lady Kerry being a good woman. Marrying Ser Myles, assuming both parties consent, would place her in a position of influence over Benjicot. He is very dear to Ben &
I, as dear as if he were our own. And he has lost much from this feud. We want to be sure he will be safe, and I worry about letting a Bracken so close to him without knowing them better. I am sure this will be over-caution on my part, but I couldn't bear it if he came to harm. So, my question would how indoctrinated is Lady Kerry? Would such a marriage bring peace and balance, or would it be placing a fox in a chicken coop?

I am not yet convinced that the plot was the will of Dorne as a whole, or even it's rulership. How sure can we be that this is not the doing of a cluster of fanatics? Can we be sure that it is Dorne that wants war? I do not think war with Dorne, especially if caused by the actions of a fringe group, would be wise. It would be costly and futile for the Realm. Prince Aemond is hot-headed, irrational, and prideful. He will not respond reasonably to a report with your proposed message, regardless of who gives it. I agree that he should leave the smallfolk alone, but I don't think that turning him on the smallfolk of Dorne is the answer. If it is not clearly a declaration of war by Dornish high command, then I don't think it wise to claim it such. I think it would be best framed as the work of Dornish fanatics, acting without the blessing of their government. The Realm would not cope with a war right now. We should avoid it. I would say that Ser Jorah is a good choice to give the report. I don't actually think another is necessary. It would only make Jorah look more biased if it looked like we felt we had to send a Green with him 'for balance'. I actually think it might be preferable to take the Pennytree matter directly to the King. It's implications, I think, are perhaps too big for us, and frankly, I don't trust Prince Aemond's judgement. He's too eager to resort to violence and cruelty. This matter needs a more deft hand.

The Dornish coins should, I feel, go to helping the smallfolk of these lands. It is they who have suffered most. The septry at Battle Valley needs to be restored, and the mines repaired. The damaged lands must be healed. It seems fitting that the funds of those who caused some of the damage should be used to repair it. Especially as I do not want to breed resentment between the Blackwoods and Brackens by forcing harsh reparations on them. That having been said, having them contribute funds to restore eachother's lands, a reasonable, balanced amount, could help to keep them busy for a few years. I no longer think there can ever be true, lasting peace here, but if we can get them co-operating a little, focused on rebuilding rather than attacking, then there might be a small calm, long enough to try and teach a better way to the younger generation. If only Ben &
I had gotten more time with Benjicot before this. We could have taught him not to hate the Brackens, or anyone else, for that matter."

She sighs wearily.

"
Those are my thoughts and questions. It's very important to me that we don't do anything rash. It is difficult to be calm and objective in the middle of all this, but we need to be able to answer each of the tasks we were sent to investigate, and in such a way that does not spark further violence unnecessarily."

by **Gwyneth Drakeson** Sun Dec 27, 2015 12:25 am

"
We can tell the Prince that,"
Gwyn says gently, "
Whether or not he accepts it is another matter entirely. And there's the other matter to consider as well. While we have no solid evidence suggesting this was sanctioned by Dorne officially...it very well could have been. In that case, we could expect instigations like this to continue. There's no end of trouble spots in the Seven Kingdoms they could make mischief in."

"
In the end, the decision to make war is not in Aemond's hands as well. He may well take an inflamed report back to King's Landing about how Dorne has done this, but our King is no fool. I would expect him to use other forms of pressure on the Dornish before charging off to war on inconclusive evidence."

"
But our goal, deflecting the Dragon from this place, will have been accomplished."

She shrugs. "
Politics on that scale is over my head. I feel that it's in our best interest to simply hand over what we have to those who know better, and let them draw what conclusions they can from it."

by **Lady Corrine Marsten** Sun Dec 27, 2015 12:44 am

"
Then at least can we agree to unambiguously state in the report that there is no solid evidence that the action was sanctioned by Dorne? Then, even if Aemond decides to take matters into his own hands, we have been honest to our King."

by **Baelon Drakeson** Sun Dec 27, 2015 1:05 am

"
Regarding the coin, I was perhaps, speaking to casually. No, it is not all of Dorne, nor is there any evidence that House Martell was involved. Just one Dornish house - House Wyl. I am not saying we should encourage Prince Aemond to attack them, merely that we present them as the ones pulling the strings of this uprising. What action Prince Aemond takes in response would be best left up to him. I for one do not wish to see a war over this - as I said earlier, the whole reason I took the coin in the first place was because I thought it was part of a plot to start a war. However, I would prefer the Prince to attack House Wyl than to attack the smallfolk here. As for what is to become of the coin, I agree that it would best be used to further the repairs here - Houses Drakeson and Colbrook have already committed workers and resources towards the recovery and rebuilding of Blackbuckle, the Sept, and the Mines, among other things. However, the coin should be presented as evidence of House Wyl's involvement - if Prince Aemond subsequently claims it for himself, that is a small price to pay for preventing him from releasing his wrath here. If he does not do so, then by all means let us use it to rebuild."

"
Lady Kerry.... "
he frowns disapprovingly. "
Her conduct toward me at the hunt was... inappropriate. I think, however, that any hatred she bears for House Blackwood is only a mirroring of what she has been taught - and there is no better cure for that than to learn better by living among good Blackwoods and to bear Blackwood children. However, I am no expert on such matters - I would suggest that you take her measure for yourself if you wish to be certain. I suspect that preaching her virtues to Ser Myles would be better handled by one other than myself, anyway. He would need to be persuaded to accept the match, of course."

"
As for Pennytree, I see no need - or justification - for the King to become involved. We have a witness to the first attack willing to testify, well protected. The second attack... well, our primary witness may have been murdered, but it was too late to protect the criminal. We know who is responsible, and no court of justice will protect him from those whom he has betrayed. We need only prevent him from doing any more harm in the interim."

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[D6:MM]The Storm before the Calm before the Storm (closed)