[Day 4, LM]Gathering witnesses[Open]

[Theomore Tullison]

Coin for information was not a bad idea in and of itself, but Dunstan did lack refinement. Might be Dunstan will succeed, but Theomore was not one for taking chances. And for that reason he went back to the scene of the crime. It would not do to have him fail to present a solid case to Lord Tully, and a solid case would require the testimony of the girl, Brenna was it? Yes, Brenna. From the proprietor of course, and then a neutral witness, a knight of unquestionable breeding and honor would be perfect. To find these three, there was no other place to go but the Drunken Huntsman.

With him he had brought Lady Yve, Theomore had seen enough unpleasantness to know that it might be better to apply a woman's soft touch when it came to soothe a girl so terribly broken as Brenna had been. Pity that the smallfolk must pay a heavy price for the games of their betters, but such is life.

They enter the inn, two guards in tow to protect the lady, the rest remaining outside, it would not do to march in with half a dozen men-at-arms, might leave the wrong impression. But two might not be enough if Ser Benjen also happened to be here.

[Reader]

Mercifully, even Ser Benjen appears to have the good sense to steer clear. Or more likely, has been warned off by wiser heads.

Theomore's intention to go straight to the source was wise, as was his decision on his companions. However, the staff of the establishment still seemed traumatised and reticent following the events of the last few days. They were simply pieces, caught up in a larger, crueller game.

[OOC: Slight bump to intrigue defence due to trauma

Simple intrigue TN 10 - Brenna - victim
Simple intrigue Masha Heedle TN 9 - innkeeper
Knowledge (Streetwise) TN 9 - find a knight]

[Theomore Tullison]

Theomore is almost disappointed that Ser Benjen is not present, almost. Outside the joust he cannot stand up to the Ferocious Frey in a fair fight, and Theomore hates fair fights. Never fight fair, the prince had thought him, fight the fights that is unfair for your opponent, avoid the rest...sound advice. No matter, he is fighting him now, on the playing field of words, and that was hardly fair to a grunt like Ser Benjen, now was it?

It is a simple matter of swaying both the girl and the proprietor to agree to bear witness to what transpired that night, they both want justice, do they not? They do indeed agree to his argument that they must to what they can to ensure that the girls he may likewise harm in the future must be protected. His niece provides additional words of support, woman to woman, stressing that no girl is to blame for what goes into the head of men like Ser Benjen.

Finding a knight of repute, one that can corroborate the story and make their case doubly strong. The words of smallfolk carries little weight compared to that of a knight. But the words of another will make it all balanced, and then the words of woman and girl will be like the feather that gently slides down through the air, and provide just enough to tip the scales of justice towards Ser Benjen's doom.

The search however is difficult, Theomore is almost about to give up when Yve flutters her eyelashes at a grumpy patron that would have no Tullison knight worsen the headache he woke up with this morning, a Tullison lady on the other hand, a young beautiful one too, is another matter entirely. For a moment, until he catches himself in it, Theomore finds it a pity that she's his niece. But mostly he feels pride over his most diligent student.

[url=Convince Brenna][/url]: 4d6+2 [url=BoA-reroll][/url]: 1d6 16
[url=Convince masha][/url]: 4d6+2 [url=BoA-reroll][/url]: 1d6 15
[url=Find a Knight][/url]: 3d6+1 9 Nephews are useless...sexy nieces on the other the hand....

[Reader]

[OOC: Trigger warning territory.

Brenna is genuinely traumatised.

- 2 DoS = she's willing to testify, if House Tullison will protect her
- Ser Benjen came upon her outside
- He was too strong to fight off
- She struggled to fight him off at first, but that only seemed to encourage him, he seemed to think that was what peasant girls wanted
- Eventually, she just kept quiet to avoid more violence, and feels ashamed about this
- She then breaks down in tears
- If Ser Theomore has a shred of conscience (not sure on this?) he may feel some guilt at his role in this, particularly the final remark

Masha - 2 DoS - she'll testify too, albeit she's not a very helpful witness

Masha Heedle runs her hands through her grey hair with worry.

"
Well, Lord Benjen was in his cups all night, drinking with you, begging your pardon."


"
He'd drank a lot, even for a big lad like 'im. Kept tellin' his men he was going to celebrate the hunt by 'getting his other spear wet tonight' after the day's huntin'."


"
Brenna came in weepin' later, claiming he'd forced himself on her. Might be the truth of things, might be another silly girl who regretted what she done."


"
I've no desire to get involved in the business of lords and knights, just leave me to my inn."


[OOC: 2 Dos and some nasty victim blaming from Westeros's charming culture]

Knightly witness - 1 DoS, not a wonderful witness and won't testify anyway (justifiably scared of duelling Ser Benjen).
Ser Kyle Crakehall, defeated by Ser Baelon Waters, was near the inn when the upsetting incident happened.
- He hard screams, and had just seen Ser Benjen disappear to the stables.
- He didn't intrude? Would you? It could have been consensual.
- Some peasant like it rough, it helps them explain things to their parents on husband.

[OOC: more unpleasant victim blaming]

[Theomore Tullison]

"
Lass, the only one that should feel ashamed of anything is Ser Benjen, he and no other."
Theomore tells the girl..and himself, outwardly he seems sure of that, on the inside however, there is still a shred of doubt. But it was Ser Benjen that did the deed, and a man with such capacity, especially a man that would deny it after the fact..such a man would do it to another girl if he had not done so already, this was probably not the first time, and if the brute wasn't stopped now, he would do it again, and again, and again. Indeed, Ser Benjen was the only one that should feel ashamed of anything, it was he, and he alone that raped the girl. Whatever responsibility Theomore had in this would be redeemed by his efforts to make Ser Benjen's wicked ways be exposed to the world, and see to it that the world will punish him for it.

"
My lord nephew would indeed want me to offer his protection, so if you so wish, we shall make room in our camp, a place Ser Benjen will not be allowed to enter, you may stay there for as long we remain at Rivverrun, and I do believe we can arrange it so that you may come with us back to Mountain's Reach to take service in our household if you want, that is a place where he may never set foot so long as my lord nephew draws breath."


As for Masha, Theomore decides that her testimony probably won't be needed. Rationalizing that the woman is not like to help the accusing side enough to be worth the bother.

Ser Kyle, however, a knight that can attest to Ser Benjen following the girl and hearing the screams, Theomore wants him to testify, and better yet, make him feel sorry and guilty that he did not intervene, subtly encouraging the thought that he *should* have investigated.

[url=Feeling manipulation][/url]: 5d6k4+3 16

[Reader]

Ser Kyle listens, impatiently at first, but with an increasing look of disquiet.

"
You have given me much and more to think on Ser Theomore. You prowess in the pageant is matched by your wisdom. My thanks Ser, I must depart to the Sept. I had hoped to pray for good fortune in the joust, but fear I must now seek the Seven's advice, forgiveness and a suitable penance."


Would that Ser Kyle knew the truth of Ser Theomore's nature!

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