Re: [Day 3, Late Morning]Seeking a Further Unkindness (Close

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
Yes. Ser Fendrel"
replied Nathan absently as he concentrated on the book in front of him. "
He's Brom Bartheld's youngest son, although he isn't that much older then Davain. He is of the opinion that Davain is not suited to the position."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

*Ser* Fendrel. Interesting. Hadn't heard he was a knight. Wouldn't have expected it, either, from his reputation.

"
And what does that have to do with anything?"
Daveth seems puzzled. "
If Davain was the heir, by being the eldest son of the former lord's eldest son, he becomes the Lord. Titles are inherited through blood, not through a popularity contest. Is Ser Fendrel claiming Lord Davain is illegitimate? I can't see how else he would have a leg to stand on."

[Ser Jorah Holt]

Ser Jorah entered the library a concerned man. After what had happened down at the water gate, he needed to concentrate on something else and also keep an eye on Daveth.

Looking for the scribe, he spotted Daveth and a young man who looked familiar and walked over.

"
How are you feeling Daveth?"
he asked, before looking at Nathaniel, "
and you look familiar to me. Have we met before?"


ooc
Invited by Daveth. Should give Nathaniel a chance to talk to Ser Jorah.

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth gives a small smile at Ser Jorah's arrival. "
I'm"
he spreads his arms in an ambiguous gesture. "
about how you'd expect."
remembering his duties. "
I should introduce you, to be sure. Nathan, this is Ser Jorah Holt, a knight in my father's service. Ser Jorah, this is Nathaniel Mason. He's been helping my search on the ravens, and was just telling me about the Bartheld situation."


(OOC: I was assuming an audience of 2 for the price of 1 wouldn't be a problem?)

[Reader]

Pate the scribe tracks down several unusual scrolls on raven keeping that had not been indexed in to the main collection. While helpful to your research, Pate seems more pleased at the improvement in the library's records.

[url=Knowledge][/url]: 4d6 14

[OOC: +1 success to Daveth's tracker]

[Daveth Coldbrook]

(OOC: Woo! That's half the successes I need in a single timeslot! 4/6 total, now. This has probably been my most productive slot doing *anything* to date.)

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
And what does that have to do with anything?"
Daveth seems puzzled. "
If Davain was the heir, by being the eldest son of the former lord's eldest son, he becomes the Lord. Titles are inherited through blood, not through a popularity contest. Is Ser Fendrel claiming Lord Davain is illegitimate? I can't see how else he would have a leg to stand on."

"
Except Fendrel is second in line after Davain, isn't he."
smiled Nathan. "
Bring enough political pressure, grease enough palms, relay enough whispers and Davain might be forced to step down or could be removed. Brom Bartheld is not dead, but he is not Lord of House Bartheld either."

Daveth gives a small smile at Ser Jorah's arrival. "
I'm"
he spreads his arms in an ambiguous gesture. "
about how you'd expect."
remembering his duties. "
I should introduce you, to be sure. Nathan, this is Ser Jorah Holt, a knight in my father's service. Ser Jorah, this is Nathaniel Mason. He's been helping my search on the ravens, and was just telling me about the Bartheld situation."

Nathan rose to shake Ser Jorah's hand. "
We did meet, Ser, briefly in the Drunken Huntsman last night. Although you were in a hurry and we were not introduced."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth grunts. "
Second is not first."
a thought occurs to him. "
Have you ever met Lord Davain?"
he frowns. "
Wait. Sorry, despite the 'tenuous' situation, he would be Lord Bartheld now, wouldn't he? Anyway, have you met him? Or have you heard through other channels as to what he actually *wants*? It could be he doesn't even want to be Lord, but feels obligated by his sense of duty. Lordship is a heavy burden, particularly if you feel compelled to change your house's ways."

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan shrugs. "
I cannot speak to whether he wants the Lordship or not. Is duty not enough? Certainly Davain has a strong sense of duty. Besides, he is very close to his Grandfather and I am sure he wants to do Brom proud."


Thinking for a moment, Nathan continues. "
Of course, I have my own opinion, but I will try to present the situation as unbiased as possible.

The one thing that both men seem to have in common is a loyalty to the House and a sincere desire to see it prosper. While the goal may be the same, the methods are very different and oppositional.

While Davain recognizes the need to continue the hospitality of House Bartheld, he believes that such events have become too extravagant and wasteful. He thinks that the line between honored guest and freeloader has been crossed far too many times. He feels that being a good host does not extend to offering up maids or handing out the key to the wine seller. It is true that he is uncomfortable around lavish social events. Some consider this a flaw in his character. He is a serious man and a man of the people;
caring deeply about his smallfolk. He would prefer to spend the House's coin on protecting the House from threats, training men, investing in infrastructure, and slowly growing the House's Fortunes.

If Davain casts his eyes down the social structure, Fendrel's are firmly planted up. The man believes that the House Bartheld hospitality is the cornerstone of the House's influence. The revels, hunts and balls that the House hosts are the key to maintaining the House's position and good will throughout the Riverlands and beyond. This is not surprising as Fendrel is very interested in his own pleasure. I state that only as a fact, not a judgement. He believes that Bartheld should continue to curry favor by catering to the needs of powerful nobles of the Realm. I cannot argue that such methods have been very effective in the past."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth frowns as he considers Nathan's words. "
I see. That is a well-detailed explanation. To your knowledge, do *they* realise that they both have their house's best interests at heart?"
a puzzled look "
And whereabouts do you fit in with all this?"

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
The fact one of them may be wrong does not mean both of them aren't well intentioned."
smiled Nathan. "
Perhaps Fendrel merely seeks power. I was trying to be unbiased so I was giving him the benefit of the doubt.

As for me, I live on House Bartheld lands, so I have an interest in watching the situation. If you are asking my opinion, I would choose Davain over Fendrel.

Davain cares about those he leads, as all good leaders should. If the House's coin is to be spent, I would sooner see it spent on fortifications, granaries, artisans, libraries, and orphanages then on debauched parties and oceans of ale.

It is true that Davain is inexperienced in social situations, but if he has a more prudent outlook, I do not see that as a bad thing. From what I can see, he has no objection to parties or pleasures, he simply does not see any reason he needs to always be the one to pay for it.

In my experience, it is easier to teach a reserved man to be more liberal than it is to teach a liberal man to be more prudent."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

(OOC: Sorry for the delay! Tangling with troublesome Tullyson twosome took time and distracted me away from other threads. Thanks for the reminder.)

Daveth nods, considering Nathan's words carefully. "
That is an interesting summation, thank you. I am as yet undecided if I should push for House Coldbrook to get involved in the situation or not, but this at least helps.

"
Still, to make a proper decision, I should probably meet the men involved directly. No point in making any decision until I know everything I can."
Daveth says, more to himself than Nathan. Then his eyes flick over to Nathan, and he snorts at himself. "
I'm sorry, I'm muttering to myself again."

[Nathaniel Mason]

[NP. ]

"
I would not expect less from a scholar."
smiled Nathan. "
One should always try to get as many facts as possible before making a decision. As for pushing your House, I doubt anyone would expect that. I am certain Davain would appreciate any allies in House Coldbrook, but each should decide for themselves where their conscience lies."


Nathan thought for a moment. "
If you like, I could arrange for you to meet Lord Davain, so you might decide for yourself."
He considered further. "
I might also be able to arrange a meeting with Ser Fendrel, although I have not hidden my opposition to his efforts, so perhaps that is not a good idea. I would not wish to taint your meeting by my involvement."


"
I would only request you meet with Davain first. He is a more direct man with little time for games. Ser Fendrel, on the other hand is renowned for his silver tongue. While I am sure Lord Davain would be fair and forthright about Ser Fendrel, I am not sure the reverse would be true."

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth looks rather surprised at that. "
You could arrange for that? That would indeed be helpful"
though his tone does little to disguise his curiosity as how quite *how* Nathan could accomplish such a feat.

"
You request I meet Lord Davain first, and my days tend to fill up quickly. So, given what you've told me of him, would I be amiss if I were to guess he is like me in that he breakfasts in the early morning? Perhaps a relatively informal situation like that would be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other?"
And maybe catch him with his guard lower than it would otherwise be.

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
Yes.. I suppose such a man does get up early."
replies Nathan uncertainly. While Lord Davain may rise early, it is clear that Nathan does not.

"
Of course."
he continued. "
That's a wonderful idea. Consider it done."


He seems to notice the books beside him have not diminished during their conversation and sighs. Standing, he picks up a large stack and unceremoniously drops it in front of Ser Jorah. "
Glad you could join us, Ser Jorah."
he grins broadly.

[OOC: Ser Jorah can do a research roll. You are no worse off if he fails.]

[Daveth Coldbrook]

Daveth nods. "
Excellent. I look forward to meeting him. Thank you, Nathan, you've been very helpful."
Not least in revealing that there's more to you than meets the eye. No simple 'entertainer' could book his Lord's time so confidently. I wonder if Lord Davain is perhaps more pragmatic than described.

(OOC: as far as I'm concerned, Daveth spends the rest of the time on his research/occasionally helping Ser Jorah a bit in a non-mechanical fashion.)

[Nathaniel Mason]

(OOC: as far as I'm concerned, Daveth spends the rest of the time on his research/occasionally helping Ser Jorah a bit in a non-mechanical fashion.)

[OOC: Same.]

[Ser Jorah Holt]

Nathan rose to shake Ser Jorah's hand. "
We did meet, Ser, briefly in the Drunken Huntsman last night. Although you were in a hurry and we were not introduced."


I did see you there, but that’s not what I was ….” he pondered for a moment, “You definitely seem very familiar. I'm sure it will come to me.”

[url=Awareness - Nathaniel][/url]: 3d6k3 11

“As Daveth said, both seem to have what they consider the best interests of House Bartheld at heart. Certainly Davain seems like the type of Lord I would be inclined to follow, but at least Ser Fendrel is not a sybarite. Is there a possibility that either would resort to violence against each other?"


[url=Status check][/url]: 3d6k3 4 for the scribe's attention - never mind,, the curse strikes again


[url=Knowledge check to find book][/url]: 2d6k2 9 is that enough for a 1 DOS?

Ooc
We’re not so easy to convince as Dunstan Tullison
and sorry this took so long.

[Nathaniel Mason]

[The TN for the Knowledge check is 12. . No matter. Daveth has had a very successful thread thus far.]

[Before I answer your post, you will have to do the TN13 Awareness test to be able to recognize me. You didn't roll that test in the Queen's Arrival thread at the time. I will respond appropriately after that test is done. (Daveth failed the test).]

[Reader]

[sorry guys, there was an awareness roll to spit Nathan at the time. if you were present and didn't roll, you can try now ]

[Nathaniel Mason]

“As Daveth said, both seem to have what they consider the best interests of House Bartheld at heart. Certainly Davain seems like the type of Lord I would be inclined to follow, but at least Ser Fendrel is not a sybarite. Is there a possibility that either would resort to violence against each other?"

Nathan pondered the question, giving it the seriousness such a question deserved. "
Nooooo. I don't think so."
he finally said. "
Davain certainly is not the type. Fendrel? The man certainly has the reputation for being a schemer, but I would be shocked if he went so far as kinslaying. Both men have their strengths and their flaws, but both men are Barthelds. Unless there were some extraordinary set of circumstances that I can not yet see, I would think it unlikely that either would perform violence on the other."


"
And what do you have against Sybarites?"
grinned Nathan broadly. "
In all seriousness, I doubt Fendrel is pursuing the Lordship simply because the party has been put on hold. I think he genuinely believes that Bartheld hospitality is the one true way to making and maintaining alliances and any interruption or reduction of that hospitality jeopardizes House Bartheld politically."


Despite Nathan obviously disagreeing with Fendrel point of view, it seemed the young man was making a strong effort to look at the situation objectively.

[Ser Jorah Holt]

"
It takes a rare person to look at things from both sides."

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
Perhaps it is rare."
smiles Nathan a little sadly. "
And isn't that unfortunate. If more people tried to look at a situation from both sides, perhaps we would all be much better off."


"
To be honest, I fear for Lord Davain. He is a very good man, and I honestly believe he is the better man. However, it is often the case that charm and reputation win out over more mundane things like facts and logic. Whatever else Ser Fendrel may or may not be, he is very very charming."

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