[Day 4: Late Morning] Baiting the Piglet (Closed)

[Jon Cobb]

Still feeling the effects of an early morning and a poor night's sleep, Jon trudged towards Davain Bartheld's tent. As he walked, he reflected on the fact that what he was about to attempt was probably the biggest gamble so far in the shadow war between Ser Fendrel and Davain. Will he see sense, or is he as stubborn and self-righteous a boy as Dunstan Tullison?

Stopping outside the tent, he nodded to the lone guard. "
Morning Ned, will you tell Davain I'm here for our appointment?"

[Reader]

Davain Bartheld strode in to the tent, as neatly turned out as ever but without descending in to appearing fussy or impractical. He looked a perfectly disciplined Andal soldier or diligent Iron Bank clerk.

Despite the rumours flying around the tournament, he offered Ser Jon a firm handshake.

"
Ser Jon."


He nods in further greeting.

"
I trust the day finds you well."

[Jon Cobb]

Jon returns Davain's handshake with equal firmness, no more, no less.

"
I've had better days, certainly. This damp and chill is playing havoc with my old wounds,"
Jon replies in an irritable tone. "
And how is the day treating you?"


OOC: Still considering how to lead into this, hence the terse start.

[Reader]

"
You know me Ser Jon, I was up at dawn to review our supplies and ensure we have enough for the journey home."


Davain was a wonder of efficiency, but also one of nature's irrepressibly irritating early risers, in contrast to an old warhorse like Ser Jon.

[no worries, we can drift in to D5]

[Jon Cobb]

"
How irritatingly efficient of you!"
Jon laughs, not unkindly.

"
Thank you for seeing me by the way, I understand it must be awkward now that I find myself an advocate of your uncle. But I know you appreciate brevity, so I'll get straight to the point. I have a question for you, one that I've been meaning to ask you ever since the matter of the succession came to a head, and I hope you'll give me an honest answer."


"
Why do you feel House Bartheld must change its ways?"


[OOC: Cue intrigue!]
[url=Intrigue Initiative][/url]: 4d6k3 11

[Reader]

"
Such revels are not for me on a personal level, but as you know Ser Jon, it is much more than that. I fear for the risks House Bartheld runs with these events - we have flown too only narrowly avoided disaster several times. Even my grandather's falling out with his superios speaks to this, surely?"


[url=Status (Initiative)][/url]: 5d6 20 - actually, just noticed I have an altered Davain on my spreadsheet
Disposition: Indifferent, DR 4
ID: 9
Composure: 9
Action: Read target [url=Read Target][/url]: 3d6 7 - miserable failure

[Jon Cobb]

Exchange 1
Initiative: 11
Disposition: Indifferent, DR 4
Objective: Make Davain doubt himself and his cause
Intrigue Defense: 9
Composure: 12

Free Action: [url=Will Test][/url]: 6d6k3 11 - Fail!
Action: Consider;
+2B on any one test during Exchange 2

As Davain began to speak, Jon suddenly felt a bone deep weariness come over him. What am I doing? Why did I ever involve myself in this mess? What does it matter who's in charge at Hart House - it won't be the same without Brom in any case. And if I help destroy Davain, who will thank me for it apart from Fendrel? What will Brom say when he finds out that I've crushed the spirit of his favorite grandson?

"
Risks, Davain? What risks would that be? The only troublesome episode I can recall is the incident with Lord Jamys, but the farmer's family was compensated for its loss and as you well know, Brom barred Jamys from Bartheld lands for his actions. As for Brom, what do his current troubles have to do with the policies he instituted? He was always impulsive when he got an idea in his head, and that impulsiveness is what got him into trouble this time as well, so his scandals are no more than the consequence of Brom being Brom. Now state your case plainly - what great harm do you think will come to House Bartheld for hosting the revels your grandfather so loved?"


OOC: Are Davain's stats right? If he has ID 9 and he's got Status 5 and Awareness 3, which I gather from the dice rolled, that gives him Cunning 1! Even if you have revised his stats, I hadn't pegged him as being deficient in the brain department...

[Reader]

OOC: my version has him at status 4, didn't reroll as he wins initiative even dropping his highest dice. Don't worry, the plot twists isn't that he has the brains of Hodor.

[Reader]

"
The balls and parties need not be halted, but managed and controlled. A Bartheld event already has cachet - surely this will only be enhanced by rarity?"


"
We will not always have a man of my uncle's discretion and ingenuity to cover up any indiscretion. You're a military man Jon, surely you know better than any the risks from unforeseen events?"


Status (Initiative): 5d6 20 - [should be 4d6 but wins dropping any dice]
Disposition: Indifferent, DR 4
ID: 9
Composure: 9
Action: [url=Read Target][/url]: 3d6 14

[Jon Cobb]

Exchange 2
Initiative: 11
Disposition: Indifferent, DR 4
Objective: Make Davain doubt himself and his cause
Intrigue Defense: 9
Composure: 12

Free Action: [url=Will Test][/url]: 6d6k3 18
Free Action: [url=Cunning (Memory)][/url]: 6d6k5 26
Effect: +1B to one test during the intrigue
Free Action: [url=Status (Breeding)][/url]: 4d6k3 11
Effect: +1B to any one Persuasion test during the intrigue
Action: [url=Influence (Charm)][/url]: 10d6k5 22 - includes all bonus dice from Consider and Free Actions. Aaand, that's a f-ing awful roll with that many dice...
Influence: 8 (4 Persuasion x 3 DoS = 12 Influence - 4 DR =

"
Managed and controlled? You're no fool, Davain, you know as well as I do that the only way to prevent 'unforeseen consequences' at a revel is to stop holding them altogether. Serve anything but bread and water, and you invite duels and boorish behavior. Put men and women in the same room as dancing and music, and you invite fornication. Hire mummers and you risk someone taking insult at their jests, and of course the mummers themselves are only too happy to spread distorted versions of events to anyone willing to listen."


"
You said it yourself - revels are not for you, and if you're honest with yourself, you'll admit that this is the real reason you would see the festivities curtailed. For certain you could hold them less often, or make them less grand, but in the end that won't make a difference. For the feasting to serve a purpose beyond mere merriment, your guests must feel that they are truly welcome at Hart House - that you care about their petty problems and their jealousies, their joys and their sorrows."


"
People aren't stupid, Davain. You can host the grandest festivities in the Seven Kingdoms, they'll still be able to tell that you are at best suffering their presence in your home when you sit there in the high seat. And once they understand that, word will spread until only the truly desperate will accept your invitations. Then where will House Bartheld's influence be? How will you make and keep friends when men and women of consequence understand that the lord of the manor finds their company a tiresome burden?"


"
Do you see what I am saying, Davain? The host is as important as the hospitality he offers. You said that you cannot always count on Fendrel to be there to smooth things over, but if you would be lord of the house, he shouldn't have to. It is you who are the host of any festivities, and it is you who must be willing and able to smooth any ruffled feathers. If you always send others to do the work you dislike, men will soon say it is because you are weak or incompetent. To be a lord, you must be seen to act as one - hiding in your forge when guests come calling is not an option."


"
Do you think I'm exaggerating? Then think for a moment on Ser Corbin Celtigar. Do you think it has escaped anyone at Hart House how poorly you think of him? I've seen you stalking the halls, looking down your nose at him when you meet, and so has he. The Celtigars are an ancient and proud house, close allies of the Targaryens since before the Conquest, and yet with every word and gesture you show him that he's about as welcome as a boil on your arse. You may not yet have rescinded Brom's offer of hospitality, but if this is how you intend to treat your guests, you won't need to. Your peers will soon learn that they're not really welcome and, most importantly, the king, Lord Tully, and the other great families will know that House Bartheld no longer wishes to play a part in the affairs of the realm by graciously providing hospitality - sanctuary even - as needed. Or have you forgotten that such services played an equally important part in allowing your grandfather to establish House Bartheld as a noble house of consequence?"


Edit: RP text added.

[Reader]

[OOC:
His next 10 rolls, 4 influence per DoS - includes read target bonus

[url=Persuade (Charm)][/url]: 10#6d6k5+2 23 22 23 18 16 24 20 21 22 25

[Jon Cobb]

Exchange 3
Initiative: 11
Disposition: Indifferent, DR 4
Objective: Make Davain doubt himself and his cause
Intrigue Defense: 9
Composure: 12

Intrigue Summary
Exchange 3
Davain is at 1/9 Composure.
Jon is at 12/12 Composure.
Davain does [url=Persuade (Charm)][/url]: 10#6d6k5+2 23 12-4 Influence, Jon's Composure reduced to 4.
Jon does [url=Influence (Charm)][/url]: 6d6k5 19 12-4 Influence, Davain's Composure reduced to -7.
Davain must take 3 Frustration to avoid defeat, Composure at 2/9. Davain cannot take any more Frustration.

Davain makes an effort to respond to Jon's heartfelt outpouring, but it is clear that he is shaken by Jon's words. Perhaps he has never considered matters in such a light before?

"
There is more, Davain, if you've still got the heart to listen. Do you understand why your grandfather chose the path he did for House Bartheld when the king granted him his lands? It was because he understood that the domain he had received had exactly one working asset when he arrived - Brom himself. The land was a wreck, the smallfolk traumatized, and your grandfather had to borrow heavily to even begin cleaning up the mess the Asrigs left behind. It might have been a recipe for disaster, but Brom has always had a way with people and he understood how to make that work for the best of House Bartheld. His hospitality was never forced and his joy in seeing others enjoy themselves at the feasts he gave was heartfelt. For this he won many friends who supported his efforts to build up House Bartheld, and even his creditors were prepared to offer lenient terms on the loans he needed. 'Joy in Service', Davain - those words were never a burden for Brom, they were the method for his success."


"
Yes, I said success, Davain. I have heard how Nathan has been busy questioning your grandfather's policies, and querying the use of house funds. And now I have heard you insinuate the same thing, while also telling me that you dread the scandals that might come from continuing House Bartheld's tradition of hospitality. But these are not facts, Davain - it is your own fears talking. What I hear from your own household is that the coffers of House Bartheld are well filled, the land at peace, and the smallfolk happy. That your soldiers are not battle-hardened is a not a sign of weakness - it is a testament to Brom's qualities as a lord that in over ten years he never had to defend his claim against other lords or a rebellion of the smallfolk. And I understand completely why Brom wished to avoid such a thing;
your grandfather feared no man in battle, but his heart was sick of war. He paid the price in blood for the lands he held, and so did your father and your uncles."


Inflamed by remembrances of the war, Jon now speaks with fierce earnestness "
Speaking of scandal, it takes some balls for you sit there and tell me that you worry about scandal when you're the one who's openly consorting with a teenage boy whore and seeking support from kinslaying ironborn madmen. Did you honestly believe that this would go unnoticed? If anyone is bringing shame to the Bartheld name these days, it is you Davain."


Calming himself, Jon continues. "
Davain, your uncle is not an unreasonable man. He wishes you no harm, and whatever wagging tongues may say neither he nor I have anything to do with the rumors questioning your legitimacy. The first I heard of them was when Lord Tully himself brought them up. Meet with your uncle in good faith and listen to what he has to say. Fendrel doesn't want to prolong this ugly business any more than you do. But, if you go to the meeting, consider this - you spoke of the need to manage and control the festivities because of the risks they bring. Can you understand how for Fendrel, your policies are the ones that must be managed and controlled, lest they overturn everything your grandfather has built?"


OOC: Davain accepts yield offer from Jon on Exchange 3. He will consider any compromise solution that doesn't involve him permanently giving up his claim to lordship. Fendrel will publicly confirm that there is no doubt about Davain's parentage. Depending on the solution reached, Fendrel will also swear that any children he fathers will remain outside the line of succession unless Davain dies without issue.

[Jon Cobb]

/scene

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