[Day 5, LA] Value in Education (Closed)

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
Grandmaester."
says Nathan, approaching Orwyle with a smile. "
You have been talking for hours. I thought you could use some refreshment."


The young man was dressed simply, carrying a tray of light repast and a bottle of fine Highgarden cider. He made no secret that he came with an agenda, although, truth be told, he could talk to the Grandmaester for hours if the old man would let him.

[Reader]

"
A kind offer, I am not as young as I was, although none of us are?"


He poured himself a glass of cider, not standing on ceremony.

"
I'll rest my tongue a moment, and the ears of my fellow sages and windbags, and sagely windbags."


"
How may I aid the newest friend of the queen, and the realm?"

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
Well, I do admit there is a small favor I would ask of you. A personal one."
smiles Nathan wryly. "
But first, I would be intensely interested in what welcome our friend from across the narrow sea received, and how happy he was when he departed."


It should have been no surprise that someone with Nathan's insatiable curiosity wanted to know the ending to the story he had began. Indeed, it would have been a surprise if he didn't want to know.

[Reader]

"
Understandable Nathaniel - the man who places the key pieces deserves a chance to step back and admire the finished mosaic."


"
Our guest departs more satisfied than he expected to be. A frank fellow - he confessed to some degree of disappointment. I know the feeling - one works oneself up for a grand confrontation, to rage against the heavens for being denied your just desserts, only to receive them."


He smiles.

"
It is a curious feeling, but I understand the man and admire his candour."


"
Lord Tully has been chastised, and the Queen in turn has reminded her supporters that she stands behind them. The bank remains open as a source of funding to the Queen and her friends. Discretion is vital in this matter - sometimes the greatest victories are won in the shadows."

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
I am relieved to hear things are settled. It's nice to know I have accomplished something at this Tourney."
said Nathan with a sigh. "
I do admit I would have loved to hear his speech, but that would be indulgent of me, and I try to keep my indulgences to things that don't harm others."


"
I do have a small personal favour to ask. One that you would be uniquely qualified to fulfill, and one that I do not think would require much effort on our part. For the last year, I have been the quiet patron of the Bartheld orphanage. I call it the Bartheld orphanage, but truth be told it is a dilapidated manor I came into possession of when a cloth merchant wished to settle his debts to me and leave the area when his mountain of indiscretions caught up with him. I have been slowly renovated the building and it is close to being completely habitable."


"
My problem, is that I have no-one to run the orphanage as yet. I had hoped to hire someone with a fair education and a passion for raising children. Obviously I would pay them well. I understand that some who go to the Citadel are not always suited for the scholarly life. I hoped that you might know of someone who would relish a life raising young people more than they might at the tower. They need not be experts in any field, as long as they can teach a basic level of education and are willing to give support to those who no longer have their parents to look too."


"
You now know the story of my childhood. I would like to see others given the same opportunities I was... although not perhaps for the same price."
Nathan smirks. "
The strength of the realm is based on the strength of it's people. I would see that the most vulnerable of those people, at least as far as I can provide, be cared for and nurtured until they are strong enough to do so themselves."

[Reader]

The grandmaester listens thoughtfully.

"
My body fails me, but happily the Seven have so far largely spared my memory. A full recounting of our distinguished guest's words may find its way to you, once I find time to set pen to paper."


"
As for your quest, it is a noble one."


"
I believe I may know just the right man. Happily, he is even in the locale."


"
Tell me, does the Arryn Stokeworth mean anything to you?"


[OOC: Knowledge and Cunning (memory), both TN 9]

[Nathaniel Mason]

Nathan thought for a moment. "
Arryn Stokeworth. Fourth son of Lord Stokeworth. Sent to the citadel for the unimaginative reason that his Father couldn't think of anything better to do with him. I suppose he was lucky. Some Lords send their fourth sons to the Wall instead. A rather short-sighted policy in my view, given that there has been many examples in history where the first three sons have met unexpected ends before they could inherit."


"
The only thing else I remember about him is that he failed to earn any links to his chain and left the citadel. He now acts as a private tutor to the nobility and some wealthy patrons. I don't know why he left the citadel. Presumably his family is wealthy enough to keep him there as long as he might wish regardless of his performance, so he must have left of his own accord unless he was forced out by some private scandal."



[url=Arryn Stokeworth-Education][/url]: 3d6 7 Fail

[url=Arryn Stokeworth-Cunning][/url]: 4d6 14 2DoS

[Reader]

"
Well remembered. Drink problem did for him at the citadel, along with a certain dilettante tendency that I imagine you can sympathise with."


Maester Orwyle is pleased - a pupil that gets most of the answer, but leaves some room for his teacher to assist, is preferable to a know-it-all or a dolt.

"
Winning him over with the bottle might be the easy path, but you'll have a more able tutor - and for longer - if you can drag a sober Arryn to the Bartheld Orphanage."


"
A word of warning - his political leanings have a Black tinge to them, although he is not a radical. More a sympathiser for female learning and other modern or Dornish sentiments."

[Nathaniel Mason]

"
Most people drink to excess because they are deeply unhappy."
shrugs Nathan. "
Given the lack of control he has probably had over his life up till now, I can certainly understand why he might be. If he is responsible and will care for his charges, he can drink himself into a coma in his private time, so long as it does not interfere with his duties. I can also provide him with enough diversions to satiate even the most lascivious man."


"
I don't consider the education of woman either a Green or Black issue. Whether or not inheritance follows the paternal, maternal or first born tradition has nothing to do with education or skill. Even if the Blacks were to win, there would end up being just as many incompetent Ladies running Houses as there is now incompetent Lords. When both factions argue succession, the question of merit is never seriously considered. I doubt the idea of putting the most competent person in charge regardless of order of birth is one that has even occurred to either faction."


"
I support paternal succession because the core of our society is based on the Lord protecting his people. He builds castles for this, he dispenses justice for this, and if necessary he rides into battle for this. The few Ladies who run Houses in their own right in the Seven Kingdoms must often depend on others to do these things for them. Perhaps if we were like Dorne where woman are often the equal of men in fighting and trained from birth to take a leadership role, things would be different, but that is not the case. The Blacks believe that the Princess is more qualified to sit on the Iron Throne. I don't know the woman, perhaps they are right, but as I said, the Princesses qualifications are irrelevant, the only thing being contested is whether males should take precedence in the order of birth, and that is a precedent that will not only apply to the Iron throne, but all noble inheritance. It is a fundamental change in the structure of our society, and it is one we are being asked to accept virtually overnight, when realistically such a change would require a generation to prepare for, perhaps two."


Nathan caught himself. "
Sorry."
He smiled ruefully. "
By the way I can go on, you'd never know the bulk of my job is listening. I can certainly approach Master Arryn. If the man carries your recommendation, that certainly weighs very strongly in his favour."

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