The quiet in the room was near deafening, the only sounds being those of distant wordless noise from the courts below the Tower of the Sun. Upon your eyes a heated rage so deeply seeded it almost tore you apart by mere thought. Conversely, upon Lord Jon Arryn’s, one of immense displeasure, as if he had just eaten a foul egg. It was a disdain that extended to yourself, you were unsure of who to blame in this. From the moment you had stepped foot in King’s Landing your head had been filled with lies, both boldly to your own face and those in quiet word behind closed door. The Spider, the King, his Queen, and even the men you thought you could trust the most, Dontos and the Lord Hand, gave you false truths. Prevented you from single truth. That your sister, Isis Malroy, yet lived.

Your lips attempt to form word, and though a pain in your temple complimented the wild fire upon your eyes attempted to prevent such you choke out a few in a harsh whisper, sounding more of threat than question, “Where is she?”

Lord Arryn ruffles himself up like Benjin would, the elderly man looking far more his age with each coming word, as if each pulled at the few teeth he had left, “My Lord Malroy. Before I continue, we must coming to an agreement. Your actions in the coming months will determine the path of your House, of the Crownlands immediately beyond King’s Landing. Your actions must be kept, they need be careful. I need you to keep lips locked, focus upon what we need do. Not what they wish you to do.”

The burning upon your face has extended to your ears by now, his words washed upon you. Again preaching to you of your actions, of the need for subtle step, rather than brash booted foot crashing through the bloody gates of your enemies, “Who is they?”

“Lord Royce Redward, no doubt the Landwards possibly the Blounts. They would like nothing more than to see you attempt to go to war with them.”

Three houses again, to your one, upon thought you remember the Dargoods and their possible position in this, of your family’s long standing disdain of the Thorne’s and theirs of yours. Of House Celtigar and their connections to the other Valryian Houses. The hidden shadows that held daggers to your throat claiming dedication to a Magister of Myr. Upon every border far and wide their seemed to be an enemy. You were unsure of House Chelsted, further of Chyttering. The Longwaters were likely your staunchest allies in this, a mere footnote in the grander scheme of things. You wished to rip them all to shreds with your own hands so hell bent on vengeance, of seeking revenge, yet...

“Lord Redward is in current possession of your sister,” he continues, his eyes of grey sky locking with yours in defiant fearless notion, “Upon the conclusion of the Rebellion your House was diminished to less than three members, that the crown knew of my Lord. Your aunt in the Crownlands, your Uncle whose location we did not know at the time, and your sister. Lord Redward had taken her hostage during the Sack of King’s Landing, before my time there. The King had taken court many times, giving favor and deeds of land and personage with little thought to them. It was there Lord Redward had been granted your lands south of the Blackwater Rush, where he requested ownership of your keep of Steadhold, by right of marriage to Lady Isis. He had been granted all of these things, your family likely would have become bannered to his own, had Ser Dontos been the only one we knew of.”

“The man that murdered my family, that betrayed them upon the field of battle, raped and kidnapped my mother and sister, he is granted all of this? Where is the justice in this? How could such a thing be allowed?”

“There is no justice in war my Lord. The victor enjoys exclusive right to the narrative that shall follow, where you would see a turn coat, another would see a war hero.”

You rise from your seat, slowly, with purpose and turn your back to Lord Arryn. Your body shudders from the sheer rage building upon your mind, “Why did they lie to me?” you throw over your shoulder.

“Lord Varys recommendation my Lord. When Ser Dontos arrived in King’s Landing to our summons months prior to your own he had informed us of your existence. He warned of your brash actions, of not knowing the man you had become in your time in Essos. It had become abundantly clear to us in order to prevent the extinction of your House we would need to keep certain truths from light. I ill liked it. Having just arrived to serve the King as his Hand I was still in the midst of fixing wrongs done by reckless decrees. At that point in time I had little other choice than to mitigate the damage done. And to wait.”

“Wait?” you had begun to pace back and forth the room, eyes landing upon the Sea of Dorne whenever you would cross to the window again.

“Yes my Lord Malroy. To wait. For your arrival, to gain measure of you, of the man I had only knew upon words of a broken Uncle and a spymaster. Your youth betrays you my Lord, upon you is the air of a Lord. But yet your actions speak to a man still conflicted by his very nature. I knew you needed to be tempered, your focus upon your House. Before... “ he sighs deeply, pinching the brow of his nose, “Before I could tell you this.”

The nicest way to call you a sellsword still playing at Lord, “Why tell me at all? Do you not betray the King in doing so?”

“Yes my Lord, to an extent, I do. In the courts of King’s Landing an honorable man would find more enemies at his doorstep than friends. Do you know the words of my House?”

An easy reach, “As High as Honor.”

“Very good my Lord. Yes. I betray my own ideals in the many ways I must mitigate the damage of the Rebellion. Some would say I even tarnish my honor in what I have done. But behind closed door… I can still help you my Lord. To give you the truths and point you in directions to further.”

“But why Lord Arryn? Why do you do this now?”

“Because it was only a matter of time my Lord Malroy. Better you were given direction by my hand, than forging blindly into the future.”

You fix him with a level gaze, eyes still alight with the day’s sun, “What do you want of me?”

“Your word my Lord.”

“Of what?”

“That you will follow my lead in this. That you will stave of your need to be the sellsword jumping to action. That in the months, years it may take to fix this wrong you will exercise caution. That you will act the Lord I know you can be.”

The quiet returns as your eyes search his own. For answers. For reason.

“I need your word my Lord. Elsewise I cannot help you further.”

>Give your word to Lord Arryn
>Do not, you would do this in your own way now

>Questions for Lord Arryn?

>>43725491
You expect me to leave my sister to that bastard for years longer? There must be something I can do sooner! The head of house must have something to annul a marriage.

>>43725491
>Give your word to Lord Arryn

For our sister we will do it. But if he tries to doublecross us or to continue is lies. It wont be pretty.

>Questions for Lord Arryn?

Talk about the Qorgyle. That we have an interest in Obella and is currently socialising with her brother, trying to get them to help with the peace talk.

Also ask him if he can help lessen the burdens on our house. Even so more as a "reward" for helping with the peace talks.

Also great to see you run again, hope the cold is gone.

>>43725546
>>43725491
Oh yeah, i forgot. Brynden should probably find himself a girl for a quick fuck or a fight so he can get some of that anger/fustration out of the system before he says or do something really, reall stupid.

>>43725491
Basically supporting
>>43725546


>>43725566
Maybe invite obella for either a hunt or a freindly competition? It would be interesting to see her interact with him while he is angry.


Note: With a marriage to Obella we would be gaining something immensly valuble to our family: A safe haven.

Dorne was never conquored even when the targarians flew on the strongest dragons, and was only brought under the seven kindgoms through marriage. All our foes to any great extent (myr notwithstanding) are in the rest of the kingdoms. Marrying Qorgyle gives us a place to send our loved ones where they will be basically untouchable even for a king, should shit go seriously south.

>>43725680
>Maybe invite obella for either a hunt or a freindly competition? It would be interesting to see her interact with him while he is angry.


Obella has closed out the sex and now expect us to court her like a proper noblelady. Just grab a pretty maid, that is like half the reason they are there anyway.

>>43725717
It was more to gain measure of her and to work off steam to clear our mind with a competition, rather than sex.

While the pretty maid is tempting, its also another thing a lord shouldnt really do kind of affair, especially if we want to seem sincere about courting.

>>43725759
I guess taking Obella out for Falconeering might be a good thing to do. Its entertaining, competitive and you burn a lot of energy doing it.

We still have the race against her brother. That will take a lot of anger out of Brynden I bet.

>>43725803
yeah, but we want a clear head for that.

>>43725782
We will have to do it around our arrangements with her brother.

We also need to do a few more freindly meetings with him here and there to gain his confidence. I.e. invite him to dinner with us (and maybe a few of the westrosy lords with us?).

>>43725820
No reason we cant do all. Besides, you really wana horse race while having your mind clouded like that ?

And yeah. I agree some more friendly meetings and some dinner would be a good idea

The fucking balls on Arryn.

Really? Honestly? Tie yourself to be a lesser in your own revenge to a man who purposely misled you, who did not even give you the proper decency to trust you when arriving on land, and only now seeks to redress a wrong that will take years and decades?

Fuck that. On his honor, if he is really committed to righting these wrongs he would not ask such a thing. If he wants to help, to restore some luster to his tattered precious honor he will help where he can, but our revenge is our own and will not take backseat to the conniving of houses greater than our own.

We will be patient, we will be prudent, and we will be cautious. We are a sellsword, and we know a losing contract when we see one, and a losing fight when it comes about.

So we will find a way, and Arryn will help, but our actions will be our fucking own and not by the leave of some other agent.

>>43725897
>who did not even give you the proper decency to trust you when arriving on land
To blindly trust a stranger is not honor, it is foolishness.

>>43725897
Arryn is about as bro teir as he can be right now, considering his position. It probably speaks volumes of Malroy that he has not exploded at the man by how much he has been helping us when we have no right to expect it.
Like angry child to parental figure really, which is kind of funny.

>>43725491
I'm willing to promise caution but following his lead will require seeing what his lead actually IS, and whether we'd be better off bribing the high septon for an annulment.

>>43725957
I personally take it as a win that Brynden is not trying to beat Jon Arryn to death right now.

>>43725491
And already the King proves he truly is like the old one. You'd have me leave my sister with her rapist for years more? As soon as it was known I lived the marriage should have been void. How many more times will you have me compromise, even now you are saying it's a shame that about the death of Elia but that it couldn't be helped. If this is true then where is her murderer? It is one thing to admit there was a wrong and another not to take any actions aside from telling the victim take their it with a smile.

>>43725962
The marraige was under false pretence and unsanctioned by the family house. We could get an annulment easily by pushing on that. Especially if we are willing to exchange something for it.

Hell, dangle being loyal to the crown infront of the queen (figuratively) by saying this in passing to the new septon of our sept in exchange for getting our sister back and you'll see the game table shift like a centerpede doing a tapdance on speed.

>>43725944
>>43725957

I'm not saying not to trust arryn, he is pretty bro-tier.

But holy shit, to take a backseat in your own revenge. As much as I like Arryn, as he has shown before his interests when push come to shove come first, and I do not doubt even for one second that there will be a situation down the line, in the next few years, even the next few months, that he would sacrifice us should the opportunity arise.

So I would say that if Arryn wants to help he can help us, give us advice, etc. But we will take actions that we think are necessary and not because he allows us. I do not want to go begging to arryn for every single goddamn action we take against those houses.

>>43725491
We can't give our word.

This is bullshit.

>>43726094
Its a shitsandwhich alright, but we do have to take a bite of it.

>>43725491
Can we counter offer or something?

>>43725491
>>43725995
Yeah that's a vote for no.
If he tries to guilt us with all the help he gave us point out that he's invested as much in us as he would any agent. We'll still work for him but like hell will we do it his way especially since we can't trust him not to throw us under a bus because it'd be easy for him.

>>43726127
With what?

>>43725491
>Questions for Lord Arryn?
Does it give you joy, Arryn? Does it give warm the cockles of your decrepit heart to know that my sister is some rapist's plaything?

Are you happy now? Has the rebellion you started worked out the way you hoped?

Are you gratified to see the servants of the man you rebelled against debased in front of your eyes for no other reason than they kept their vows? That innocence is tossed into the dirt by the man you call king?

We do need some sort of guarantee

>>43726142
Not him but:

we can give our word specifically:

Not to be rash in carrying out our revenge.

Does not infact rule out doing certain things in anyway, while still netting us the help of the hand, who we are beholden to to keep our asses safe if we like it or not.

>>43726157
Lots of edge and exploding at a man who has helped us.
Please don't. It will do nothing to aid us and piss off a powerful man we currently need.

>>43726142
We can act lord but we need to be less restrained in doing things our way.
Since we might have allies and/or unique info in Dorne, we can help him with that.
Just my two cents

I'm willing to follow his lead, but I absolutely must see our sister free from her rapist and Redward dead, and "years" is not acceptable.

“Years? You want me to leave my sister in the hands of that bloody bastard for years?”

“If that is what we must do, then yes my Lord. If these truths should ever come to light as they have, Lord Redward no doubt knew she would be the only hostage he would ever need.”

“And I as the Head of my House can do nothing to have this marriage annulled? Have I lost the rights promised to me under the King’s Law?”

“Lord Malroy, a royal decree extends far further than your own rights. It is hardly the first time a House on the near brink of death has been absorbed by another. Had we known of your existence sooner perhaps we could have prevented such actions. But the King was not outside of his rights to marry your sister to Lord Redward in lieu of Ser Dontos and your own word. We know little and less of what occurs in the Redward’s domains. We cannot go about annulling marriages without cause, least of all when the knowledge of such a wedding should not even be upon your mind.”

You frown deeply, and cross your arms, your step had stopped at the window, watching the calm sea, “So I can do nothing?”

“But exercise caution and know that hope is not all but lost. Upon my honor, you will see your sister again my Lord. She will be returned to you.”

“And Lord Redward?”

“That future is of your own devices my Lord.”

You turn eye to the Hand of the King again, watching him flexing his fingers, the look of disdain still heavy upon his face, “You have my word Lord Arryn, for now. For my sister, and only for her, should this change… My actions become my own. No more lies.”

“No more lies my Lord. I know now doing so would only lead to war,” Lord Arryn responds fitting about with a ledger upon his desk, “Do you know the strength of your enemy my Lord?”

You shake your head in wordless response.

“By law they are required to disclose such information with the Crown, their standing strength, their Knights, should we ever need call upon them in times where war is the only possible solution,” he fingers to a page, “Lord Redward at present counts 740 men, 20 Knights. Lord Langward… 1500, 100 Knights, his banner Ser Langly, 300. Lord Blount, 1000, 40 Knights. Beyond that Lord Redward is near finished with a castle his father had begun work upon many years ago.”

You tally the numbers quickly in your head and pale at the thought compared to your own might of no more than 340, if you called upon the Longwaters you could perhaps have 600. Dislike it as you did, there was a truth there, war could not be an option, not now. It tasted foul in your mouth, to know that you need wait, that Isis was within your reach, yet held so far away.

Reaching again for your seat you take in the breadth of the situation, “What would you have me do?”

“Wait. I only ask you wait and keep lips silent moment’s longer. When we are in King’s Landing I will call you to court my Lord. There we will discuss the beginning steps of this. Until then I need you return to your duties as a Lord of the Realm, to help maintain the peace we had come here to broker.”

You sit back, toying with the thoughts further, it all sat wrong with you, every word of it, and every fiber of your being pulled at you for action, but stronger words prevailed, “How long?”

“As long as it may take for me to gather the information I will need to set your course my Lord.”

>>43725491
>Give your word to Lord Arryn
>Questions for Lord Arryn?
I don't like it but right now he is our strongest ally and seems to want to help to some degree.
If we can get information from him on Redwards that we do not have access to since we dont have any spies, such as his force size and what is the enemies plan.
They must have some context in which to start a war with us. And while im thinking if we didnt somehow exclude that asshat redward he might dangle our sister in front of us to goad us into an incident which can be spun into a war.

“I… Fine Lord Arryn,” you say, the words coming bluntly, and with an unsure foot. What else could be said? You wished to ask for more, but were unsure of where, or how.

“Very good my Lord Malroy,” he leans back and the tension in his face seems to wash a bit, you notice the sweat beading upon his brow, how much he looked his age in this moment, he asks suddenly, “How does your pissing match with Lord Qorgyle go my Lord?”

Words you never thought you would hear from Lord Arryn’s mouth, “They… Go. We are to decide a victor in the coming days, with a horse race.”

He scoffs, “No doubt you will win. Have you thought of further action from there?”

“Speak with him more privately I would hope. He is ardent in his support to Prince Oberyn.”

“And would be a valuable ally in the coming days should he be shown to see reason my Lord. Very good,” he says nodding along, “Anything more of that?”

lolwut? So we are facing 3 Bordains? I thought 1000 men was a large amount!

“He… Has a sister, estranged to an extent. But… She may prove valuable, if I court her…”

The elder man quirks an eyebrow, “Lady Giselle has competition then? Very well my Lord. Do keep me updated on such things.”

You nod and your lips mumble into wordless thought, forming words in a moment, “Is there nothing my House can do to regain what is by law ours?”

Lord Arryn frowns again at the turn of topic, “There is the Princewood my Lord, the land to the southwest of the Blackwater Rush. Far too often have I heard complaint of banditry from those lands. There is a strong possibility we can see those lands returned to you, thought more than likely by right of conquest than of ancestral claim. We will speak of that at a later date as well, if you have further proof of this ‘banditry’ please do bring it when I ask you of court.”

There was something to sink your teeth into, enough of a bite for now. Lord Arryn does not seem to want of sending you away as he usually does, leaving you stew in your thoughts and answering questions as they come to you. The heat of wildfire is still blazing upon your face, but it feels more tempered, focused.

>Any more questions for Lord Arryn?

>>43726279
We also don't know how well trained his men are
Bordain has a large well trained army with awesome equipment. Or at least, that's the plan.

I can run the gambit on information for Lord Royce, not everything will be in full detail. But enough. I decided to do sort of a middle ground approach with agreeing to Lord Arryn’s terms of this. You will have every option to break off at a moment’s notice should you think you need to, and he accepts that for now.

And yes, this is a right mess. I understand the mixture of opinions and thoughts. I thought it best to allow you guys to hammer them out further and gather all the information you need wanted and when Lord Arryn calls you to court you can fully decide if you throw your lot in with him or not. You are absolutely not locked into that decision at present.

>>43726283
Ask him if he knows a good wine for cooling a head as a joke. At least we have the ball rolling and some idea of what we face now.

Nice to know he is not adverse to us persuing someone other than he has chosen for us.

>>43726283
>Any more questions for Lord Arryn?

Is there any chance we can get her away from Redward, let her stay in Kingslanding? Or atleast let us see her.

>>43726315
>Nice to know he is not adverse to us persuing someone other than he has chosen for us.

He can see the advantages in Obella no doubt.

>>43726283
How are you doing? Are the talks going along a desired route?

Time to show Lord Brynden. Yea autocorrect knows Brynden's name!

>>43726315
This
We need to cool off and more info about the current dorne court

>>43726245
>that Isis was within your reach, yet held so far away.
I laughed more than I should have.

>>43726283
>Any more questions for Lord Arryn?
"Are you serious?"

"I'm just to trust the people who lied to my face and gave my sister over to an honourless worm in the hope that they will make everything turn out alright in the end?"

"This must be some kind of sick joke."

>>43726234
>Lord Malroy, a royal decree extends far further than your own rights.
yeah, that's what the BRIBE is for. I mean not that we'd CALL it a bribe but we'd go "you know having lost my own sept i was thinking about setting up a fund for the repair of damaged septs. By-the-by i need my sister's marriage annulled."

>>43726401
Your very determined with this line of input arnt you?

Are you Brydens little devil part of his mind?

>>43726279
My real life group works in numbers upwards of 3000. Between banners, alliances and what have you. But this, >>43726295 is correct as of right now.

Really for me this isn't outside the realm of possibility. House Langward is strong right now, they benefited greatly from your fall.

>>43726401
Alright, so I've been trying to keep Brynden relatively level for this. He went into the situation hotheaded but has turned more to that dark humorless attitude as of right now. Blowing up on Arryn now isn't going to serve you any purpose whatsoever. Your interactions with Dontos should tell you that.

>>43726439
>Your very determined with this line of input arnt you?
You're very determined to ignore that Brynden cares about his family, aren't you?

This is his sister he's talking about, not some lump of horseflesh he's trying to get the best deal for.

>>43726449
Can we 'cunningly' bang every Redward's women?
ya know like his maid, mother,sister, bedwarmer and so on..

>>43726462
I think you are ignoring the fact he is being offered next to a guarantee of someone helping him deal with this, when faced with 3 large, powerful armys. Anger is justified, stress is justified, but not at Arryn. Not right now. The man may have lied, but hes also the one telling us the truth.

>>43726340
Can we ask if we could possibly approach the High Septon to see if he would annul the marriage? After we get back and about a week passes as word has reached Brynden that his sister is alive?

The more I'm reading, the more I'm thinking Arryn's making Brynden his "attack dog" like Tywin and the Mountain, and to some degree Brachen as we where shaping him.

>>43726283
No real questions. We know that we have to wait for a 'diplomatic' way to end him so its hurry up and wait until then.

>>43726462
You're needlessly insulting the only option we have in fixing things. Part of lord Malroy's conflict will be deciding against brash actions.

>>43726494
It's not like we can't say "yeah a dude who worked for Redward sold me the info. That's how I know about it"

>>43726488
I dunno I think anger is justified at Arryn, but also Brynden has enough self control to not blow up.

>>43726488
>The man may have lied, but hes also the one telling us the truth.
And he's the man who started the rebellion that led to the deaths of our family members, leading directly to the fall from grace we're currently enduring.

Our sympathy for his position should be next to negligible.

>>43726551
oh my god not this shit again.

Targfag pls go

>>43726526
Which is why im against this fellows line of "What the fuck dude?" + ranting and swearing. I agree with blowing of steam and ranting to say a freind with such lines. But right now at arryn is not a good idea, dude is hand of the king.

>>43726551

Right now it is the best deal in getting our sister, lets just not say something stupid then get the stress and anger out of our system.

>>43726563
Aerys II did nothing wrong!

>>43726566
>Right now it is the best deal in getting our sister
Our best deal in getting our sister is waiting until Redward is away from his tower, and then infiltrate it and get her out, setting a fire on our way out.

Speaking logically, and not at all in-character. This is the best result for us. We have better income than the bastard and we tossed away all our wealth in Holdings that will take at least 2 years to pay themselves off. Does Redward even have a Maester?

>>43726551
And i respectfully disagree.

>>43726597
I would state why i disagree, but you seem to be none too fond of logic and very wired up in the emotional department, so there is little point.
I shall keep shooting down rageing at the guy helping us write ins.

>>43726565
Oh yeah i'm absolutely against that moron's conception of Brydnen as a tactless idiot who blows up for no reason, just disputing that "Anger is justified, but not at Arryn."

I think anger is one of many emotions we feel toward Arryn right now, but not in like, the top 3.

>>43726597
And then our entire house is destroyed by superior military might. Our holdings are partitioned, and we are executed ignominiously.

>>43726604
He doesnt. And i am pretty sure his smallfolk will soon be petitioning the king for interference over his mismanagement of his holdings, it might be our chance to get some of our land back like Arryn mentioned.

>>43726628
Only if we're caught.

If you're too much of a coward to ever act against our enemies they'll ride roughshod over us anyway.

>>43726597
Yeah that lasts as long as it takes for one of the castle workers to decide redward might pay for the info that his wife is still alive and he's got a legitimate casus belli to seize the rest of our land, at which point we'll get attacked by three houses, and redward will take back our sister as well as the rest of our land.

>>43726580
He took a much better man than him to be his Hand and pissed him off enough that he quit the job, thus forcing him to take shit tiers Hands that couldn't reign in his House crazyness which in the end fuelled the slowly growing flame of rebellion.

Had Tywin still been Hand it's more than certain that Arryn wouldn't have raised his banners.

>>43726632
Really we should contact the surrounding lands around redwood.

From the hand we just learnt the king knows of a local bandit problem.

If was not us, nor the neighbour who we are marrying our uncle to, who reported this. So we know for sure others are suffering, which means we could gather a group of nobles and put together a joint petition for our land back.

>>43726659
Oh I absolutely think Aerys did just about everything wrong, i was just "hitler did nothing wrong"ing it up to make fun of the targfag.

>>43726677
Lady Chelsted also mentioned that. Once she and Dontos marry we can move together with that and hopefully the support of the smallfolk in the area.

>>43726677
In truth I wouldn't be opposed to petitioning that redward's land gets handed off to a neighboring rebel. It's more important that redward loses it than that we get it, though us getting it back would certainly be nice.

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176 KB JPG

>>43726680
We all know who the true best king is

>>43726680
I know what you where trying to do friend, but please there's enough shitpost as it is in the thread.
Could you find in yourself enough restrain and keep it in check untill Slowma's decide to run Banished next week? What you think he'll seriously run Friday?

>>43726713
itd be harder to claim it back if it goes to a neighbouring rebel. Really this petition (backed up by the other houses) is to fuck with redwards standing at court, since his actions could be considered contempt of the peace.

His allies will be less likely to back him up if his position seems to be deteriorating.

Honestly, this whole situation is fucked. I share the Targfag's outrage, but our situation won't be helped by blowing up at our sole influential ally.

If we can keep our mouth shut, our dick in our pants and our sword in its sheath, we'll get our sister back and a potential claim on the Princewood.

But relying on that alone is a terrible idea.

We should get back to building bridges, especially with the other valyrian houses. We insulted Celtigar, it's true, but we're far from enemies. If we can offer our assistance, they might still grow their influence: but as allies instead of having us as vassals.

>>43726786
Except he has Queen Bitch support for now.

>>43726786
yeah i'm aware, but at the same time if it doesn't look like a play to reclaim our land it'll be more likely to be successful. It's a tradeoff.

>>43726821
Having the Queen as an ally is like sleeping next to a rabid dog. It is either going to fuck you over or outright kill you

>>43726824
>yeah i'm aware, but at the same time if it doesn't look like a play to reclaim our land it'll be more likely to be successful. It's a tradeoff.


Very few people would even have a problem with us trying to regain our lands through peaceful means. We are perfectly within our rights to do so if it is proven that Redward is failing at his duties.

>>43726805
I'm still of the opinion that as the situation currently stands joining up with the Celtigars will actively leave us worse off. Especially now, with the crown knowing about their cracklaw point ambitions.

>>43726835
During the books yeah. But does anyone know that about her yet? I doubt that. In a few years she'll probably be like she is in the books.

>>43726821
Cerci is not going to pull a lord out of the fire if he is being disgraced when its a small group of nobles.

This is why we need to talk to others, because on our own we will be slapped down.

>>43726805
We could give the celtigars a peace gift, but any overt sucking up is going to backfire. Really we need to wait for an opportunity with them.

“Is there... Any way I could see her? At least get her away from that bastard? The Malroy villa is still her home, despoiled as it is.”

Lord Arryn wipes the sweat from his brow and fixes you with a long gaze, chewing aimlessly as he did, “Lord Redward attends the Queen often. I have seen her a handful of times in this, heavier with child as of the last. I cannot take her from his hands without cause, but I can arrange… Something. I know not what as of yet. Patience my Lord, I ask of you again.”

You frown but nod to the thought, if there was at least some possibility, you would take it for the moment. Running a hand through silver hair you pick at a split end and run your thoughts again, blurting out something to keep the quiet from entering your ears, “How do the peace talks come?”

“They do Lord Malroy, Prince Doran has been very helpful in turning the Houses of Dorne away from such thoughts, but the holdouts remain. Lord Qorgyle and Yronwood primarily among them, and the strongest of the Houses. It is my hope you are able to gain more trust of Lord Qorgyle in the coming days.”

Nodding again you sit up, placing your arm upon the table and drawing in closer to Lord Arryn, your thoughts were in turmoil, and at that moment you felt it better to leave. You wished anger, hatred, to curse the Seven above and below but this was the only option at present. And it sat with you poorly, incredibly so, “Lord Arryn, I would beg leave. I need to be with my thoughts for a moment,” you stand, hardly receiving a response beyond a nod and leave. The slit limp in your leg forcing your stride to a slower pace but not enough to keep your dignity in tact as you leave the Tower of the Sun.

You wished a private location, there was none here you knew of, unlike in Steadhold. A thought occurs to you and you feel an old pull to an old friend. You traverse the yard, ignoring the many knights and Lords practicing upon it and slip into the stable largely unnoticed. Traveling down the many rows you finally come to the one where Penance and Goldsong resided. Noticing your arrival the old courser stomps his foot, “I know boy… It has been too long.”

The gate gives easily and you find a stool to sit upon, you were unsure of what to do other than this. Taking care of Goldsong was something you had done to quell thoughts before, checking his hooves, brushing out his coat, speaking to him as if he could understand. He would neigh and breath heavily to your words at times and you felt as if your own emotions rubbed off on him in moments such as this.

“She is alive old boy,” you whisper in his ear brushing at the white gold mane you would need to fix into buns later, “They all told me she wasn’t, but yet here we are.”

The horse brushes his head against your chest and you scratch at his ears in response, pulling a cube of sugar for him to enjoy from your palm, your idle thoughts are interrupted by a sweet voice, startling you for a moment before realizing who it came from, “He is a very beautiful horse my Lord,” Lady Giselle says, leaning over the gate as well as she can at her height.

“The pride of my family…” you respond solemnly, “Should you not be at court my Lady?”

“I grew wary of Ser Dalt’s incessant attempts at courting my Lord,” she says with a sigh, “I caught a glimpse of you from across the yard and thought to follow. I do hope I am not intruding? Of late you seem so far away, stressed, angry… Sad. I thought to speak to you without others over our shoulders.”

>Speak with Lady Giselle
>Send her away, you wish to be with your own thoughts for now

>>43726926
Apologize that we aren't at liberty to talk about what's upsetting us, but we appreciate the intent.

>>43726926
>Speak with Lady Giselle

"I must warn you i am in a foul mood and was half in mind to do something very unlordly"

>>43726926
>>Speak with Lady Giselle
Would you like to know how to take care, properly, of a horse?

>>43726967
yeah i'll support this too in addition to what i already posted at >>43726964

Man you guys are all over the place today. Though it is interesting to see the varying thoughts of the matter. I really don't blame anyone for being furious right now. The Crown did take a mighty shit upon your House with all of this bullshit.

But hey, at least you aren't a Forrester.

There are a lot of options for how to deal with this. And not all of them are purely diplomatic, even Arryn knows that, and he knows it would be a waste of your potential.

>>43726926

>Speak with Lady Giselle

There is no reason not to. Though i would like it if we kept tending to Goldsong.

>>43726926
>Speak with Lady Giselle

>>43726987
So, how much does a faceless man cost these days ?

>>43726987

Don't talk to me about Forresters. Absolutely terrible sequel-baiting for a linear story where your actions have absolutely no relationship with what happens.

>>43726926
>>Send her away, you wish to be with your own thoughts for now

>>43726926
>Speak with Lady Giselle
"Well, there could be a reason for all that."

"I AM stressed, angry and miserable."

>>43726680
Listen, Aerys and his heir were in the wrong, no doubt. That being said, that did not give Robert the right to run roughshoud on the entire Targaryen line and murder and pillage any remaining sympathizers.

Robert IS an usurper, he DID wrongfully take the crown from the Targaryen heir, and while Aryn I'm sure was merely doing damage control and trying to stop a mad man from doing bad things to his country, Robert is an angry opportunist in bed with backstabbing turncoats (the Lannisters)

I can see Brynden rationalizing Arynn's part in the war, but not Robert's and certainly not Tywin's. We can have Brynden ally himself with Arynn, but I sure as hell don't see him suddenly bending over to the Usurper.

Let's talk with Giselle. I like Giselle and the thread keeps blowing her off

>>43727055
Targfag pls. You're the only person here who thinks that

>>43727088
>You're the only person here who thinks that
He's not the only one. I happen to agree.

>>43727055
None of that is quite wrong, but at the same time this whole line of conversation started with a targfag declaring that we should have no sympathy for arryn, because he started the rebellion with the terrible crime of not wanting to let Aerys murder his wards.

>>43727088
Giselle makes me think we walk on egg shells around her.

Nothing against the woman, or hanging out with her (or hell, if anons really want to attempt another bastard), but really not who i would choose to marry.

>>43727105
Same here.

>>43727088
I'm not Targfag, and no he's not the only who thinks that. Robert and Tywin were wrong for killing the child heirs to the Targaryen line, and you can fuck off the edge of my dick if you think they were justified in killing them after Aerys and Rhaegar were dead.

>>43727130
>Robert and Tywin were wrong for killing the child heirs to the Targaryen line
Robert didn't actually do that or have any say in it, he just okayed it after the fact. I suspect that if Tywin hadn't had them killed Arryn and Ned PROBABLY could've talked Robert into "merely" keeping them as permanent prisoners under orders to be immediately killed if dorne tries anything.

>>43727130
If they didn't do it, there would be another civil war the second Viserys, or a new grown Targaryen boy declared his claim on the Iron Throne.

>>43727130
Not the same thing as making legal arguments about lines of succession the basis of everything you do. We haven't been shown to give much of a shit about who sits the throne compared to the immediate welfare of our family. There's no need for us to argue fine technicalities about who was justified in what. All that matters is House Malroy surviving

>>43727166
Or, robert would have married joffery to denarys, valididating his family lines claim to the throne (lol), while killing viserys.

I seriously mangled the names there somehow i think.

The wrongness scale goes from stark at "nothing wrong" and arryn at "could have done a couple things better" to robert at "well you can sympathize with some of his motives and most of the real crimes weren't even under his direction" then aerys at "it's not his fault all his family tree is a straight line" then finally Tywin "did literally nothing right" Lannister.

>>43727192
He wouldn't do that and you know it. He hated the Targaryens to his dying breath. He even told Ned that he would kill every single Targaryen if he could at the start of the first book.

>>43727192
Joffrey, Daenerys, Viserys

I wouldn't worry about mangling the names though, GRRM does that himself.

>>43727214
yeah there's a reason we all just say "danny"

>>43727203
Tywin is still pretty boss, despite dropping the ball and not killing the mad king himself to put the son on the throne.

>>43727208
At the time of the rebellion your right. But in this alternate timeline where ned and arryn keep the brats alive, he might be forced to marry the two to quell all remaining rebellion. The prize of a loyal dorne would be worth it.

>>43727245
>alternate timeline
Interesting. I should probably read up on this quest then. I was speaking more from the perspective of the books.

>>43727279
no no, this is just a theoretical alternate timeline for the purpose of discussion of what would have happened if it weren't for tywin. The thread has the standard timeline.

So are we in agreement that we'll keep working with Arryn but as soon as he dies we focus only on ourselves until we find a way to fuck over Robert and the Lannisters?

>>43727279
Ah, i was talking about the hypothetical proposed by another anon.
This quest follows the kill all targs fuck up line so dont worry too much. Though back reading the quest is a) good quest ettique and b) a good read, so please do so anyway.

>>43727309
>So are we in agreement that we'll keep working with Arryn but as soon as he dies
To be honest, as soon as we have our sister back, our lands back, the crown's limit on our troops lifted, i'd rather we disappear from court and go full isolationist.

>>43727309
When Arryn dies we should be in a sustainable position.

Fucking over Robert and the Lannisters is more a opportunitst thing rather than going out of our way to do.

Mainly because 1) is treason which could destroy our house and 2) would get our asses killed considering the lannisters (Read: Queen Cerci) is already busy planting spys in our household.

>>43727309
By the time Arryn dies, Robert will already have done a good job fucking himself over.

>>43727344
Playing the game with such a small family is not a good idea. Isolation would probably be the best course of action, and then lip service when we inevitably get pulled out of it.

Though any war we end up serving in should give our troops some solid experience.

>>43727345
What if, hear me out guys what if
We manage to sneak Stark out when he was imprisoned in the black cells?

>>43727396
Yeah i'd be down for that if the timeline doesn't get changed. Though it'd probably be easier to disrupt the execution.

>>43727396
Why ? Baratheons and Starks killing eachother is the best thing for us.

We just sit back while the upsurpers kill eachother while paying lip service to the crown when the war of five kings begins.

>>43727426
Just imagine Varys face when he realises he can get the seven kingdoms to civil war and add the north to the pro(or at least neutral) targ faction in one go.

>>43727430
Yeah how dare the wolf not put up with his sister getting raped and kidnapped with crown support!

>>43727489
Huh.
That sounds real fucking familiar now dont it?
Just got to hope Stark is in the room when we deliver that line.

>>43727522
If* we ever have to.

Shits fucked... i really hope Isis has a daughter, so we can make her identify more with her mothers family.

We will have to sonehow get her back before the bastard can get her with child again. A sneak raid ending in his death when they are in the road (horse archers ftw) -bandits fell upon them, and we only would rescue our dear sister and perhaps a assimilation of his lands into the rightful owners.

Celtigar would have been a good option now would it not?

We could exceed our force limit if we increase the sobs of gold and treat them as a mercenary company, not household knights and troops. Contracts and all between house malroy and the captain of the company, all by the book and at the usual rates for free cities, perhaps a discount due to food and board, and favoured client, but sellsword free company contract none the less. We would however pay for it quite a lot...

But we could exceede our troop limit if we pay wealth upkeep. Especially if we have lots of highly trained archebusiers and horse archers and a big block of pikes...

>>43727396
>>43727426
>Ned Stark survives
>Robb Stark doesn't call the banners and the North doesn't march to war against the Crown
>Arya isn't escorted North and is captured by the Hound which eventually makes her end up becoming a Faceless one
>Sansa Stark isn't held in King's Landing and eventually becomes a female version of Littlefinger in terms of manipulation
>Theon Greyjoy never gets the chance to betray House Stark and remains their ward
>Brandon and Rodrik never travel North
>When Ned gets Home and has rested up, he'll travel to the Wall and Tell Jon about his mother, revealing the truth and his birthright.

Yeah, saving Ned Stark won't change the timeline at all, mate.

>>43727430
>>43727430
Well it'd still be stark versus Baratheon because Ned would be shouting about incest to all that'd listen. Renly would try to declare for himself again. Ned will go for Stannis, but as soon as hinky shit goes down at the wall how likely is it that he pulls back north?

So Vale is on its lonesome, Stannis and Renly are duking it out, Tywin hates everything and suddenly everyone in Dorne wants us at their parties. Meanwhile Dany just has to sit and wait until it all settles then swoops in with a swagga on a dragon and targs restored.

>>43727545
no, i mean if the timeline hasn't ALREADY been changed to the point where ned stark isn't even in prison to be rescued.

My plan
>secretly meet with our sister
>kill her so she won't have to deal with reddi whip anymore

>>43727587
>Making Bryden a Kinslayer
>A good idea ever

>>43727545
Little finger orchastraded the poisoning of the hand. Cerci will eventually manage to get King robert to kill himself hunting a boar. From that point onwards, everything is fucked as soon as someone mentions that the kids are bastards. War is pretty much inevitable then, and its a scramble between stannis, renley, the lannisters and which ever bastard of robert someone can put up as a puppet.

>>43727587
That is a stupid plan.
And also still leads to war and house malroy getting wiped out.
Just admit to trolling already.

>>43727633
Not that guy but now that he mentioned it i also wouldn't be opposed to sneaking her poison if she wants it. Be honest about how long it'll probably take to rescue her, let her make her own choice.

>>43727570
Relying on that useless shit Dany to do anything useful other than play queen to slaves? This sounds like a poor plan I would much rather support the guy from the Golden Company

>>43727656
Repeating once again what a moron Dontos is for not sticking with Vys and Dany and calling up on the guy who know how to navigate essos to help with that.

>>43727681
He did kinda had to rush back to Westeros and check up on the family.

Lady Giselle was sweet in her intent, her empathy more than welcomed though little you could do for it. Your eyes turn to Goldsong again, his nose flaring when you whisper in Valryian into his ear again, easing his demeanor. Your horse was usually calm in the presence of others, but he was a warhorse all the same, and could be a nasty bastard when he wanted to be. He turns to his side, feeding from his trough flicking his tail in response to your words.

“My Lady you would not be wrong. I am stressed, angry and miserable,” you say turning to regard her fully, removing the gloves you were using and coming across to regard her fully, “Though I am hardly at liberty to discuss the reasons as to why.”

Her lips turn to a pout and her eyes match your own, the soft hazel reflecting in your own flame, “The business of a Lord?”

“The Lord and the sellsword both I would suspect,” you say, allowing a slight smile, “Ser Dalt then?”

She rolls her eyes, rocking back and forth on her heels, “A good man, but with children already. And elderly, he may not even last the next five years and then where would I find myself? My brother insists it would be good for our House, for the peace talks but…”

“But you doubt it?”

>>43727693
No, he really didn't. If Vys and Dany were worth abandoning the family for they were worth going all in on. By splitting himself between the house and the targ kids he ultimately ended up abandoning both.

She nods, coming to a stop a few inches away from yourself and leaning around to watch Goldsong, “Do you know how to take care of a horse my Lady?” you ask suddenly.

Her eyes light up and meet yours again, “I do not my Lord. The horses of the Vale are poor creatures, I would rather take a litter or walk than ride them again.”

“I assure you my Lady, the horses of House Malroy shame any others that dare use the word,” you push the gate open and offer her a hand, “Do you wish to learn?”

She daintily places her own hand in yours and you help her through, she attempts to brush away the hay that sticks to her dress to little avail. As much as your mind sat in turmoil, it was put at ease by a distraction, particularly one as pretty as this. You lead her to Goldsong, keeping her hand aloft as you do so and pull Goldsong’s head up with cupped hand to his jaw with little resistance. His dark eyes regard her with a silent look, “Here my Lady. Take your hand…” you place her and over yours and slowly remove it to allow her to hold his head. She strokes his jawline with a soft approach, your old courser giving little more than a steady gaze in response.

“Does he like me?” she asks softly.

“He hasn’t nipped at you, or acted out of line, I would imagine so,” you respond, watching him carefully, gaining a smile from her. The horse chews a bit and shakes his head, Lady Giselle pulling her hand back with a gasp and you laugh a moment.

“Why did he do that?”

“He’s an ornery old man. And probably wants his ears scratched,” you say, giving him the eye, he only responds with flaring his nostrils again. Her hand goes tentatively to his ears and scratches them carefully, Goldsong responds by pushing into her hand, happy for the attention and she smiles again.

Pulling your gloves on again you allow Lady Giselle to get to know your old friend better, talking to him in her sweet little voice, asking for secrets that you whispered into his ear. You come up from behind her and place the brush in her hand from over her shoulder, “Here my Lady, I had not finished brushing him out.”

Your guide her hands through the motions, long strokes to keep his coat in good order, taking care of his more delicate areas, he always favored his left leg on the front, old injury now. She pushes herself into you fully, allowing you to control her range of motions, interlacing her fingers into your offhand. She speaks in a soft whisper, talking to Goldsong as if a friend, keeping him calm. Your mind attempts to not wander, your range of emotions at present strained against your body, you could have her now… No focus. Focus was what you needed and you gained it when her voice calls to you again, “Did you know there was a song about your family’s horses my Lord?”

The only one you knew was Lysa’s, half forgotten words upon aimless tune, “I… Did not, my Lady.”

She giggles as your movements had stopped when her voice called your attention again and she begins to sing, her voice a gorgeous lower soprano, “...Someday we’ll all live like horses. Free reign from your iron fences…”

You stop, quiet, allowing her to control the motions of the brush now, her voice keeping your attention. It reminded you of the past, of your own want of freedom. It was a song from years ago you remembered. She notices your almost blank expression when she turns her eyes from Goldsong back over her shoulder to you again. Her voice continuing in song as she turns around and presses her body against yours again.

“We're the victims of the heartbreak.
That kept us short of breath.
Trapped above these bloodless streets.
Without a safety net…”

She finishes and watches your eyes. She removes her hands from yours, placing them both upon your chest and upon her tip toes kisses you on the cheek before removing herself from your reach as she usually did, “My Lord, would you accompany me about Dorne, tomorrow?” she asks innocently, her hands again taking to Goldsong’s ear.

>Accept her invitation
>Reject

>>43727778
Reject

>>43727778
>Accept her invitation
Eh, I like her. Her house also suffered during the rebellion, and it's not like we've done anything unbecoming of a lord to her.

Sorry if I'm a bit slow today guys, having to get back into the swing of things and try to keep up with everything going on in the thread is messing with me.

That and I owed Giselle a couple of scenes, so I had to make them with some meat.

>>43727778
As long as it is after our horse race

>>43727778
>Accept her invitation

>>43727778
>Reject

We have business to take care of and to prepare to. Obella and her brother

>>43727778
She's a disney princess

Accept

>>43727827
That and I owed Giselle a couple of scenes
did your girlfriend find out you blabbed on which waifu was based on her yet?

>>43727778
>Reject

We have buisness to attend to. But be polite and state that we appreciate the invitation etc.

>>43727778
>>Reject
But it's not gonna matter.

>>43727778
>Accept her invitation

>>43727778
>Accept
Giselle a cute

>>43727778
>>Accept her invitation

>>43727778
>>Reject

Guys, we have important shit to do.

>>43727778
>Accept her invitation

>>43727778
>Reject
And the samefagging commences.

>>43727852
If Disney Princesses knew Elton John.

>>43727853
Haha Yeah she read the archive, and was so mad at me.

I'm surprised how split this is. Always thought Obella was more popular. Anyway, going to call it now.

>>43727929
>Courting prospective brides not important shit
do you even feudalism

>>43727929
They don't care anon. The waifu wants attention.

>>43727941
Pretty much guaranteed to have samefagging till the marriage vote.

Really i think its people more along the lines of "well why not? we gave orbella a scene so we might as well the other side). Things have been rather civil so far.

>>43727941
I'm surprised how split this is. Always thought Obella was more popular. Anyway, going to call it now.

Got a feeling that there is some samefagging going on

>>43727941
>Always thought Obella was more popular
We're not committed to either, c'mon. A vote for Giselle is not a vote against Obella.

Frankly i'd rather we marry neither and wait for a Reach qt.

What are the odds a Reachwoman has to be taught how to care for a horse? Pretty low i'd wager.

Now voting to knock up giselle then marry obella for the sake of imagining the look on OP's girlfriend's face.

>>43727949
We need to be courting a man right now.

>>43727991
hey now, if we do marry giselle now that'll be part of our relationship, every time she rides a horse she'll remember how we taught it to her.

>>43727994
To be fair, it was a kind of bad idea to admit to basing a girl on his GF before the marriage was chosen.

>>43727991
Oh for fuck's sake, from a maps-and-armies perspective the only match worse than a reach house would be bear fucking island

>>43727979
Of course there was, I wouldn't doubt it.

>>43727991
Fair point.

You guys want an option three though? I have a Lady Vyrwel in the wings if you guys want to make this even more complicated.

>>43727994
>>43728054
I'd laugh. She's a good sport about it really.

Anyway, writing now.

>>43728075
Nah anon.
The only match worse would be a freefolk from beyond the wall.

>>43727778
> fug
> I mean accept

>>43728083
From a political perspective there's no possible way another option could hurt.

I mean from a WAIFU perspective we've got a very carefully cultivated balance here that we're very lucky to have, things are astonishingly civil and i'm not sure i want to risk fucking that up... but i still think i'd be down with an option three.

Though yeah i'm going to basically repeat the sentiment that if it's a reachwoman don't even bother

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>>43728075
>Oh for fuck's sake, from a maps-and-armies perspective the only match worse than a reach house would be bear fucking island
Wrong. We are on the goldroad and the blackwater rush. That means Reach houses are some of our closest neighbours.

>>43728209
it depends on WHERE in the reach

Currently readign the archives, fuck Illiad almost died.

>>43728277
Certainly a better prospect than a dornishwoman or a landless courtier from the vale, even if they're as far away as Highgarden.

And let's not forget that our horses are famous in the vale.

But barring a reachwoman, I still think that a merchant's daughter with a fat dowry would be a good one - especially if we could find a Volantene or Lyseni merchant with prominent valyrian features to increase our mystique.

Lions>dragons

“I have plans with Lord Qorgyle earlier in the day, my Lady.”

“Then the afternoon, it is far too hot during the day for me my Lord.”

You chew the thought over and Goldsong shakes his head again, eliciting a giggle from Lady Giselle, “Alright, the afternoon. I will collect you after court?”

“Very well my Lord,” she says with a smile.

You offer a hand again and lead her from the stable, allowing her to leave off when you emerge into the yard again. You roll your neck and attempt to keep your thoughts focused on the next few days, when you were home you would have the time to vent, here you were a Lord in service. A Lord in service, with a pissing match to settle.

---

Lord Quentyn had found you earlier in the morning, warming Goldsong up with rounds about the small course there. Mounted upon his own steed, a grey sandsteed, slightly shorter than your own but with a lean and strong build. An impressive horse all the same in truth. He had jested with you in a restrained manner seemingly aware of your sour mood leaking into the day and you attempted to loosen your mind and tongue enough to be of use again.

“Come Lord Brynden. There is a proper course beyond the Spear Tower,” he says and you trot off, only the two of you in the early morning sun, “My Lord, I must admit, you are a worthy adversary. It would be an ill thing to see you on the opposite side of a battlefield.”

“A thought I am inclined to agree with Lord Quentyn,” you respond, not making too much notice of the breach of such a delicate topic.

“And I am glad to hear it. Prince Oberyn knows of your family, of your loss. Of all the Lords gathered here these past weeks, I would think you the most ready to sympathize. And yet, you clearly are upon the side of the Crown? If you would allow me to be so bold, why is this so my Lord?”

>Response for Lord Quentyn Qorgyle?

>>43728344
Merchants daughter would be a bad idea in the long run.

A single injection of gold is not alltogether that valuble to us right now, would lack long run posatives and affect our prestige negatively.

>>43728344
Well Obella could help with.

Peace talks.

Have a safe haven in Dorne thanks to our relations with the Qorgyle.

Make Arryn happy that we helped in the peace talks.

Get on good terms with Doran Martell, opening up possiblity for trade.

We could possible get the crown to owe us a bit for our "sacrifice" for the realm

Also Hot Dornish Wife

>>43728344
>a landless courtier from the vale
That's an exaggeration of how diminished those two actually are. Her brother does have a knightly house and i think there's a good chance we could reconcile her with her uncle, especially since we weren't actually around for the rebellion (thus lessening the loyalist "stink") and good with the hand.

>>43728344
Father explicitly stated there was a path to run away to the bank laughing via a Giselle marriage.

>>43728422
"The greatest crimes were all committed under the command of Tywin Lannister. Not only has lord arryn been good to me, the more power he possesses at court the less is possessed by the queen. I'm sure Tywin Lannister would love nothing more than for a war to clean up this whole 'vengeful dornishmen' issue."

>>43728422
"Patience is a virtue."

>>43728422
To live. My house was near destroyed during the rebellion. To keep it alive I have sworn fealty to the crown.

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>>43728209
Canonically speaking House Malroy replaces House Rollingford it its position on this map. So they don't exist where you do.

House Vyrwel is on the border of Dorne and the Reach, it's a pretty good distance in Dark Den.

>>43728344
The merchant's daughter is always an option. You do know a way to get into the Lys nobility. I'm just amused people are considering it.

>>43728422
Because would you want me to do what was done onto my House?
I will have my revenge, but not at the price of seeing the land bleeding and burning.
It'll take time but like the slow poison it'll be done.
Or something that makes a good pun with the scorpion of his House.

>>43728422
"Do not mistake me, ser. I sympathise: believe me, I do."

"But my house has suffered enough already - and who do you imagine would be hurt most by the re-opening of hostilities? The usurper's dogs? Hardly."

"It's quite likely that he would oblige the Targaryen's former supporters to form the vanguard of any force to march on Dorne. Diminished as they are by war, and the schemes of the usurper's small council to saddle us with unpayable debts, we would be crushed. Our lands would be parcelled out to the lackeys of the new regime, and while Dorne would likely remain unbroken, the other kingdoms would be more united behind the Baratheon king than ever."

>>43728506
>>43728518
Mix and match

Throw in the fact a war right now would obliterate loyalist houses within the kingdoms, who are the only real support the dornishmen could hope to gain. On their own, Dorne can not conquor the other 6 kingdoms, or they would have done it a long time ago. A war between dorne and the rest of westeros will only end in a stalemate and even more pointless bloodshed, while our joint enemy would only grow stronger in their position.

>>43728506
seconded. Reuse the line we used on Oberyn about how it was war and that we need to bury our dead and move on. Focus on blaming the Lannisters for the atrocities and remaining neutral and the baratheon usurpation.

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>>43728536
So that's where Page got his funky map.
Bordain's the shank wielding "guy"

Wow. This is the best response I've ever got to an open prompt before.

That makes me really happy. I'll do a little mixing and matching, this is good stuff.

>>43728614
>Wow. This is the best response I've ever got to an open prompt before.
I think this is something that most of the thread has been thinking about since the peace summit first got mentioned.

>>43728560
>>43728422
I like this one

>>43728871
Thanks bby

"Do not mistake me, ser. I sympathise: believe me, I do. My House has suffered immensely from the Rebellion, as have many House’s who were loyal to the Dragons. Should hostilities reopen, who would suffer the most my Lord?”

You round the corner, Lord Qorgyle watching you with his lips fixed tight, giving you a shrug of knowing, but allowing you to continue, “Hardly Robert’s lapdogs I would imagine. We would ride to war, bleeding each other. Dorne may break away again unbroken, unbowed but would be wounded. Their only allies within the rest of the Kingdoms bled near dry by war in their diminished state. Those loyal to the Crown would begin to take pieces, parcels of land given to those ‘in service’ to their King. I would remind you of the story of House Osgrey after the First Blackfyre Rebellion.”

“Fallen low, a handful of chickens and a broken tower to their name of a once great House.”

“Aye my Lord. It would be only a matter of time before my own House saw such depths, the Darrys, Velaryons, many may even disappear. And while we bleed each other the Crown grows stronger.”

“An ill thought my Lord. Though dramatic I would add.”

“And yet, not entirely inaccurate, tell me my Lord. Do you think the Lannisters would not wish to settle the ‘rebellious Dornishmen’ issue once and for all? They are still at full strength, forming the backbone of Robert’s army even now.”

You watch Lord Qorgyle chew over the thoughts himself, he remained quiet barring the occasional comment, the two of you watched the course being worked over by a few of the stable hands giving you a moment longer to speak.

“The Lannisters are by far our greatest enemy in this Lord Brynden. You speak truth. Yet…”

“And no doubt mine own as well. The atrocities commanded under their banners were cruelty incarnate. Lord Tywin is as much a monster as those two brutes that did his bidding. He would dare you, dare myself, so he could finish this as he did the Tarbecks and Reynes.”

Lord Qorgyle sighs, leaning into his horse, and casting a look your way, “You are as if kin my Lord. You speak the words that my Prince does. Yet with a different outlook, you are loyal to the Crown, to the Hand…. Why?”

“He is… A good man Lord Quentyn. As High as Honor, I believe he at least attempts to keep to those words,” you respond, messing up your face with your words, unsure of how much you meant it now, “And in the end of all things… I am patient. A time will come, it may not be within my lifetime. But there will be justice for the wrongs done.”

“Even your own my Lord?”

“Especially my own Lord Qorgyle.”

Lord Qorgyle remains quiet again and rolls the thoughts over, not speaking when he urges his horse forward, the stablehands having left off of the otherwise empty course. You follow after and take place next to him, Goldsong stomps at the ground assuring himself of the footing.

“Once around the course then Lord Malroy?”

“To settle this? I would be inclined to agree.”

“Very good my Lord. At the count of 3?”

You nod, digging into your horse's saddle, and Lord Quentyn begins to count.

1-2-3.
Go.

Roll 6d6 for Goldsong’s Atheltics (Run).

Rolled 5, 6, 2, 4, 1, 6 = 24 (6d6)

>>43729008

Rolled 1, 3, 2, 3, 6, 1 = 16 (6d6)

>>43729008

Rolled 6, 1, 3, 2, 4, 2 = 18 (6d6)

>>43729008

I'm afraid to roll with my luck.

>>43729008
HI-HO GOLDSONG!

>>43729023
>>43729030
>>43729037

That sweet 24-3=21. God damn that old horse can run.

>>43729067
Damn straight he can! Why do you think we never sold him after being hired by the Second Sons?

>>43729067
We should invite him to dinner tonight. Tell him to bring the family, including Obella

>>43729093
Not in good standing with Obella, bringing it up is a gamble. But bringing it up alongside a mention of looking for a wife would probably work in our favour. Family is family at the end of the day.

>>43729151
Eh, I think now is not the time. "Oh yeah I've been conspiring with your sister and through her prince doran" is a great way to squander the goodwill we just earned and make him doubt our earnestness as opposed to just saying what we think will convince him.

>>43728924
ily2

>>43729173
I agree. Hence why i said it was a gamble.

Though we would probably approach it through "I heard you have a sister, why did you not tell me about her?" as opposed to openly telling him of schemes.

>>43729197
>I heard you have a sister
But where would we have heard that?

The whole issue is fraught, and bringing her up is a pointless risk for no clear benefit.

Success, one degree.

Your dig your heels into Goldsong, he knows how to respond, knows your every touch, every command upon slight shift your body upon his. Your oldest friend not named Mason, and he was just as strong and stout as he was the first day you rode him. Your father had given him to you, to be broken, to be trained. He was a wild stallion in his youth, hotheaded, he was like you. Needed to be tempered, given direction. No doubt your father hoped you would find a lesson in such things. And over time he grew into a steed without compare. In truth, Lord Qorgyle hadn’t the slightest idea of what he was up against.

Goldsong pushes into the course, body elongated, muscles tense under your command. He did not whine, did not push back. If he was wearing his barding he would not complain nor need the blinders so often employed by others. You race down the initial stretch, Lord Qorgyle matching your pace until the first turn where you begin to make your move into the inside lane, Goldsong was like a destrier when compared to the sandsteed, his bulk making it far easier to muscle in over the smaller faster horse.

Lord Qorgyle is seated deeply in his saddle, body held low. You maintain much the same position, your hands only nominally on the reigns where your legs do most of the talking to your horse. You dig in and begin to push ahead of Lord Quentyn and then veer into his lane, attempting to slow the gallop of your competitors on the first curve.

Animal Cohort activated.
>Brynden’s Animal Handling roll, autosuccess.

Roll 6d6 for Goldsong’s Atheltics (Run).

>>43729197
>openly telling him of schemes
The implication of "oh yeah i've been conspiring with your sister" was not that we would openly say that, but that's how he would probably react to the knowledge.

Rolled 2, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1 = 13 (6d6)

>>43729277

Rolled 2, 3, 5, 1, 1, 3 = 15 (6d6)

>>43729277

Rolling

Rolled 6, 3, 2, 2, 5, 3 = 21 (6d6)

>>43729277

>>43729093
Make something like.
I've learned the hard way that you can lose your family in the blink of an eye, make sure your's know that you love them even if you are at odds over the little things.

Heh, sounds hypocrite, but hey, Dontos is our uncle for a raisin.

>>43729277

>>43729304
Nice save

>>43729313
>Raisin

Must be one hell of a tasty raisin.

>>43729313
Some day we really need to give him the ol' "I LEARNED BY WATCHING YOU" about something dishonorable.

>>43729277
>One degree
>On a fucking 21

>>43729398
Our horse is heroic-tier.

>>43729398
I think Father might let NPCs roll three times as well, or gives them massive dice pools.

I mean, I like that. Otherwise letting us roll three times and take the best is OP.

>>43729442
Not to mention we are racing a experienced rider on a dornish sand steed

Failed.

But he’s quick, ready for you to make such a move, baiting you even. When you muscle ahead you are given a brief lead throughout the first turn, gaining half a length before losing it all in the small motion when the second stretch opens up. The grey sandsteed bolts to your side again and you are given a quick glance before Lord Qorgyle takes the lead by at least half a length down the stretch. You remain hot on his tail, never allowing him enough room to fully take the inside lane, if he does and opens up into a full gallop you have no chance of catching him.

The second turn is coming quickly and you think to make your move again before the final stretch, you needed to at least match him. Goldsong’s bulk would prevent him from opening up on the second turn if you did so.

Lord Qorgyle is far better rider than you had expected, undoubtedly like many of Dorne, but you wondered if it was from practice in the yard, or upon the field of battle he gained such skills. Goldsong was likely better in the field, able to charge or harry an enemy while you dropped arrows into them. But that little sandsteed was an impressive thing all the same. Light Cavalry would benefit greatly from such a mount you think.

The turn comes and you lean into Goldsong, urging him forward and into the curve.

Roll 6d6 for Goldsong’s Atheltics (Run).

>>43729398
I'm rolling opposing checks, and Lord Quentyn also has 3 rolls. That's why you failed this time.

>>43729442
>>43729452
Oh yeah I forgot Father accounts for the op-ness of best of three behind the scenes. Objection retracted

Rolled 2, 4, 1, 4, 3, 3 = 17 (6d6)

>>43729482

Rolled 6, 2, 2, 4, 6, 1 = 21 (6d6)

>>43729482
Goldsong, show this prince the meaning of haste!

Rolled 3, 5, 5, 1, 6, 3 = 23 (6d6)

>>43729482

Rolled 1, 2, 5, 6, 1, 2 = 17 (6d6)

>>43729482
THE SEVEN BLESS MY DICE

Rolled 6, 6, 6, 5, 1, 1 = 25 (6d6)

>>43729482
Come on old boy.

Rolled 6, 4, 4, 6, 3, 4 = 27 (6d6)

>>43729482

>>43729516
>>43729507
Damn you, why couldn't you fuckers have been faster

>>43729482
>Light Cavalry

Dad do you have more homebrew units to share?

>>43729516
Sad...

>>43729533
Why couldnt you fuckers have been slower?

Huh: Drothraki stamina + sandsteed speed
Maybe a good cross for future consideration?

>>43728594
My shame is revealed to all.

>>43729452
>>43729482

That's... god damn it. I spent like, 2 hours thinking of ways to make things less insanely in the player's favor. WHY WAS THAT NOT THE FIRST THOUGHT?


Anyway, I just saw a live thread and wanted to jump in and say that I've been having a blast reading the archives of this thread, and hope to post anonymously in a live one soon. You're doing fantastic work Father, and expect to see a few flourishes borrowed from you in future Iron and Hate threads!

>>43729641
Next thread when?

>>43729641

I hope there'll be a crossover at some point~

>>43729664
My schedule gets much freer in the next few weeks, so I'd expect around Tuesday.

>>43729692
crossovers are always cancer.

Tied. Yeah for real.

Goldsong doesn’t open up into a full gallop yet, only enough to match his competitor. The turn is not the place to overcome even on the inside lane, those inches of difference would matter once you hit the final stretch. Lord Qorgyle’s horse doesn’t look to even be breaking a sweat, pushing ever forward to match the golden pride of your House. Quentyn hardly gives you a glance, seemingly unsurprised by you matching him again. Dust kicks up behind you in the early morning light, hard packed earth mingling with the sands of Dorne as you move further on.

Coming out of the second stretch you continue to match Lord Qorgyles pace, all before he finally allows his horse to open up into a full gallop, and gaining even the slightest of leads, of inches even. Pressing yourself lower into Goldsong you whisper encouraging Valyrian words into his ear and press into his sides to urge him into his own gallop. The old horse continues on, unphased by being pushed so hard after months of being nothing more than a stud. You match again, and each cast glance to the other, jostling for position in the final stretch of the course.

Roll 6d6 for Goldsong’s Atheltics (Run).

>>43729641
Don't worry, I still can't figure out a way to make House Fortune rolls not ridiculously in their favor. But I gave up and now it's hysterical.

Thank you though, hope to catch your next thread.

Rolled 2, 5, 2, 3, 6, 4 = 22 (6d6)

>>43729724
Come on old man. Again.

Rolled 6, 3, 1, 3, 4, 1 = 18 (6d6)

>>43729724

>>43729692
Would depends on how fast you want to progress on this quest since I&H is 18, maybe less now, months in the future at that point.

Rolled 1, 2, 4, 2, 6, 2 = 17 (6d6)

>>43729724

Rolled 3, 3, 4, 3, 1, 5 = 19 (6d6)

>>43729724

>>43729738
Meh.

Can only hope Quentyn's fucks up his rolls now

>>43729724
I like this. Close races are much preffered over shutouts, if we win it will be a close-run thing.

This gives us one win, one loss, and one close win/loss. Qorgyle will have respect for us no matter the outcome at this point.

>TFW me citing the rules when Father thought hawking was an Animal Handling check caused us to lose the pissing contest

>>43729810
Honestly, losing the pissing contest might be better for us in the long run, given how much Qorgyle was said to enjoy praise.

We focking lost

>>43729851
See
>>43729829

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>>43729851
>We're made to do a roll to keep calm.
>fail.
>go Mountain on Goldsong

>>43729886
Don't even joke about that. Goldsong is a strong beautiful horse who don't need no rider

Rolled 1, 6, 5 = 12 (3d6)

>>43729886
Rollan

>>43729886
Going mountain on anything would be like the MC hanging himself.
Quest end.

Hello? Anyone here? Thread just stopped posting

>>43730242
I'm still here. It's weird.

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>>43730242
Waiting for the next batch of update to drop so we can either shitpost congratulating each others or shitpost denoucing each others.

Failed. By one point no less.

A matter of inches in the final stretch, but Lord Qorgyle is experienced, even on the outside lane he knows how to position his horse, himself. You notice him dig into his horse again, finally eliciting a reaction from the horse but pulling ahead all the same. No more than a fourth of a length, you wish to urge Goldsong on further but begin to worry for his worse leg. This was a pissing match. It was not worth your horse hurting himself over. You lean off, Lord Qorgyle gains a half length on the final meters of the last stretch and passes over the finish line with little fanfare.

You both slow down, finally coming out of your positions and stretching to full length. You stroke Goldsong’s ear, he seems unperturbed by being beaten, you like to think it’s because he knows he’s going home to become prime breeding stock again within the month, the thought giving you a short internal laugh.

Lord Quentyn rounds and rides to your side again, out of breath as you are, “A fine race my Lord Malroy. It is rare that Greylyn need pushed that far, poor girl.”

You nod and watch the sandsteed give Goldsong the once over, they make noises at one another as if speaking and you shake your head before regarding Lord Qorgyle fully, “Fine indeed my Lord. Your horse is an impressive creature to be certain, her rider all the same.”

He smiles, if Ser Santagar’s constant fellating of Lord Qorgyle was any indication stroking his ego would give you as much an in as a victor would have. Perhaps you even were better off for a loss. You were both masters in your respective arts, and near equals upon a horse, a respect had been born, regardless and you would exploit it.

“I would suppose now you have bragging rights my Lord. If nothing else, you defeated the Crownlands in matters of pissing the farthest.”

Lord Qorgyle laughs and for a moment you feel he is far more comfortable with you now than he had been before, words still sat fresh upon his mind of what you had spoken of before, now mixed with a feeling of victor, “I would suppose so my Lord Malroy. Imagine, a foppish Lord beating the Horselord himself, oh how the singers will enjoy it.”

You in turn laugh at his self description of being a foppish Lord, “Hardly an apt description my Lord. You are a worthy competitor, it would indeed be a shame to see you across the battlefield. If all of your horses are of such quality, I would fear for mine own.”

Lord Qorgyle straightens up and gives you a steady gaze, “And I for mine own my Lord Malroy,” he sighs, biting at the cool air for a second before turning to you, “Lord Brynden today you had given me much to think about. Your words are not those I would expect from a sellsword. Nor your actions. I fear I misjudged you my Lord.”

You quirk an eyebrow and lip wordlessly for a moment, “How do you mean Lord Quentyn?”

“They spoke of you upon the first day of a man of wanton destruction and careless action, the brawl in that brothel spoke to that further. Yet here today I see a Lord, with the opinions and thoughts given beyond his years. With the hard pressed practice of man that does not only care for matters of the mind but that of his physical prowess as well. You are impressive my Lord, even should others think elsewise in their ignorance.”

A resounding compliment all things considered, you almost are speechless but Benjin’s words ring in your ears, “Well… I thank you Lord Quentyn. To hear such praise is unexpected.”

“It certainly is,” a voice calls from beside the track, another voice you knew, another Quentyn knew.

“Obella?” Quentyn questions, his voice turnt to confusion by his sister’s presence.

“You ask as if you’ve forgotten my face brother,” she says with a small curtsey to you both, her eyes linger upon her brother, her dress less revealing, more ladylike but still with the features that drove a panged desire in your loins, “Are you not going to introduce me to your friend?”

Quentyn glares at her a moment, suddenly aware of the situation, “Lord Brynden Malroy, this is my sister, Lady Obella Qorgyle. Who I had not been expecting to see for quite some time.”

“A pleasure to meet you my Lord, I do hope my brother is keeping good company, one of his little contests I take it?”

Quentyn interrupts, “Enough Obella, why are you here?”

“An invitation brother,” she says flatly, being denied her chance to play, “Prince Doran has invited you and his brother to dinner tomorrow night, with Lord Arryn and as it happens, Lord Malroy as well.”

She smiles at you pleasantly, not the same looks of lust and temptation as before, you don’t believe that invitation was for you, she’s clearly up to something, and you attempt to fix her with enough of a gaze to get her to crack, with little results.

Quentyn sighs, “Yes fine, I will be there. Lord Malroy? I would hope to see you as well. So we may continue our conversation, yes? Perhaps meet a moment before?”

>Accept the invitation despite your misgivings of the situation
>Decline, this suddenly became very sketchy

>>43730313
>Accept the invitation despite your misgivings of the situation

Holy shit. Sitting together with Doran Martell. This is a chance we cant let slip

>>43730313
>Accept the invitation despite your misgivings of the situation

>>43730313
Accept, this is pretty much what we were hoping for.

>>43730313
>Accept the invitation despite your misgivings of the situation

>>43730313
>>Accept the invitation despite your misgivings of the situation
I mean, I'm kinda suspicious but not enough to turn down such a good opportunity

>>43730313
>Accept the invitation despite your misgivings of the situation

Well, lets go see her revenge.

>>43730313
>Accept the invitation despite your misgivings of the situation

I have no idea how we're going to meet two different parties tomorrow. Maybe Lady Giselle will be content with an afternoon walk

>>43730313
>Accept the invitation despite your misgivings of the situation
This is what we're here for.

I mean, what's going to happen? Doran's going to red wedding us to secure peace? Unlikely.

It feels really weird for Brynden to fail, this is the first time since the initial threads that he has, majorly at least.

Quentyn was rolling with about the same pool. He just got luckier was all. But the amount of good write in and how close it was saved the situation to a mutual respect.

>>43730313
>>Accept the invitation despite your misgivings of the situation

>>43730313
>Accept the invitation despite your misgivings of the situation

>>43730313
>Accept the invitation despite your misgivings of the situation

Alright pretty one sided results there. Let me get a quick snack, a beer and a piss and I'll get to writing.

Guys.
Guys.
We need to pick a wife.
For real.
Look how big those armies are.
We don't have time to be dicking around.

>>43730597
They're going to attack us, are they? Get real.

>Tfw still no Lannister Waifu that you can rub in Cersei's face
All her life she wanted the Rhaegar D, we have that Valyrian look, she would be heartbroken.

>>43730597
nigga they ain't going to attack us

>>43730633
>Not turning Giselle into the whore queen to rub it in Cersei's face

>>43730633
It's decided then
>We seduce Lancel Lannister

>>43730633
>>43730710
Memes aside, our holdfast is on the gold road, and as such a Westerland wife could be as good - if not better - as a potential match for us than a dornishwoman or a lady of the northern reach.

>>43730768
I dont think we can afford to drag out the wife business much longer. We need to produce some trueborn children soon.

>>43730768
On the other hand we'd literally be in bed with a Lannister lacky.

>>43730768
Fair point.

>>43730768
Never going to quit on the dornish wife man.
I think the personality matches too well while complementing the side Bryden lacks (spy work etc).

>>43730789
Lannister lackey would be the best case scenario, we could also be in bed with someone dumb enough to get involved with an enemy of tywin lannister while a lannister bannerman.

“Of course Lord Quentyn, I could hardly turn down such an invitation.”

He nods and pulls at the reigns of his horse, trotting her over to the entrance gate, “I will meet you in the foyer of the Tower of the Sun tomorrow evening, have a good day my Lord,” he throws over his shoulder, “Obella, may we speak?”

You watch as she shies away from his horse keeping her composure but being far more uncomfortable around the beast than you had expected. “Of course Quentyn, Lord Malroy, good day.”

They leave off, Obella keeping a sizable distance from her brother and his horse, you see Quentyn’s arms flail and clearly his voice raising to the otherwise calm Obella. You frown, you hadn’t expected Obella to actually make an appearance like that, And she was certainly good at ignoring your presence despite having found herself in far more compromising positions with yourself in recent memory. You shake idle thoughts from your head and take Goldsong back to his stable, giving him a good brush and an apple, not that he knew what for, but a treat for your old horse all the same. Perhaps Gawen had spoken true, he was getting old, his best days behind him, perhaps it was time to train another.

---

Taking a cool bath to wash away the sweat and dust of your early morning exercise was a welcomed relief. Benjin redressed your wounds, and you found yourself more able to move about without a limp, despite the gash being so brutal and deep. You were lucky, any further and it would have severed things far more important, and you may have never recovered fully. You dressed in lighter clothes, having preferred the sandsilk tunic of gold that allowed you a fairer degree of breathing room than your usual doublet, for once something not so tight in the chest that it was painful.

You were unsure of Lady Giselle’s intentions for the night, if she had a location in mind, or simply wished to wander aimlessly. Either case you thought it best to finally bring Orion around, he had been invaluable in navigating your small Household about Dorne, but today it was time to see if he knew of any locations far more interesting. He was a good lad, having become quick friends with Victus, despite their age difference and the defiance in the latter’s being. When Orion comes to you side you see Victus following after and for a moment consider. Having a friend for Orion so he did not get bored would just look a simple courtesy really, enough to pass it off should you wish to bring your son along. You had wished to gain measure of Lady Giselle’s opinions of him. Perhaps a good time to do so?

>Bring Victus along?
>Do not

>>43730785
>I dont think we can afford to drag out the wife business much longer.
By contrast, I don't think we can afford to rush it.

For instance, I would be uncomfortable if we rushed into a marriage before the tourney at Highgarden in nine months time.

>>43730853
>Do not

IF this is a trap I'd rather not bring him along

>>43730853
>Bring Victus along

>>43730853
Bring Victus.

Lets see what the reaction is.

>>43730853
>Bring Victus along?

Think we did promise him to take him for a walk through the city at one point.
>>43730862
Nine months is a lot of time. We need heirs

>>43730853
Don't. He'll blab about Obella.

>>43730853
>Bring Victus along?
Acceptance of Victus is important for courting

Dornishfolk a shit

>>43730853
>Bring Victus along

>>43730862
I see where you are coming from, but we really do need an heir. Between the two right now I would have to support Giselle, Obella is just too sketchy for my liking.

>>43730903
If Giselle can't face the fact that an unmarried lord is going to be shopping around, she can't handle the pressure of being married to us.

>>43730853
>>Bring Victus along?

>>43730920
Sketchy? really? Motives were pretty much laid out on the table in their entierty.

>>43730853
>>Bring Victus along?
Can we also bring a guard or two from somewhere? We did almost get assassinated last time we went into town

>>43730853
>Do not
I would rather not risk our son on a walk around where we might have to choose between protecting him and protecting Giselle. We've been attacked once before already.

>>43730880
>We need heirs
Sure. But if we lose to Redward and his allies, you think they'll leave an heir alone because they're trueborn? Please. I don't think we can in good conscience expose our wife and 'heirs' to that danger. We need to be secure first.

>>43730930
Letting him expose Obella before her brother knows she and Brynden have met is unwise in such a scheme-rich territory as Dorne.

>>43730950
>Sure. But if we lose to Redward and his allies, you think they'll leave an heir alone because they're trueborn? Please. I don't think we can in good conscience expose our wife and 'heirs' to that danger. We need to be secure first.
If we're fighting Redward and Co, our wife and children will not be in the crownlands, because we will send them to our stormland cousin uninvited if that's what it takes.

>>43730980
Yes, because with what we know of Redward he's bound to be the sort to announce his intentions in good time.

Good point.

>>43730980
Or if we marry into dorne with obella they will be pretty much out of any harms way.

>Do not

>>43731005
That's true too. Honestly I'm undecided, but I agree that getting wed soon is important (much like getting wed in CKII, gotta get dem gains)

If I was forced to pick, it'd probably be Giselle because she's basically a Disney princess and we'd be in good with Arynn, the one person from the Crown who is trying to help us and has been straight with us. That's a relationship I want to foster

>>43731208
But we are already good with Arryn and marrying Obella to help with the peace talks would put us on equally good foot with him.

>>43731208
>>43731224
Neither of them have troops.

Qorgyle isn't going to march his men to the crownlands, and Giselle is of a disenfranchised branch of the family.

Giselle would probably be best from a meta perspective, because we've told we can at least get a tonne of wealth from her: but we are better off looking for a match with a martial house in the northern reach, the eastern westerlands, the southern riverlands or the crownlands themselves.

Orion comes to you side nodding a greeting a quiet, “M’lord,” before you explain your particular wants of him that night. He still looked more a boy than a man every time you saw him now, but at least he made an effort with his leathers and beaten sword upon his side. Victus wanders on after in the foyer of the Spear Tower, and you finally decide to bring him along. He was your son, if she could not accept that, then she was less than desirable, even if by a small amount.

“Victus, dress yourself properly. we’ll be going about tonight with Lady Giselle Grafton.”

“Yes father,” he says with a lopsided smile, happy to be included.

Lucas comes after Victus down the stairs, and you decide it for the best to bring him along as well, the last time you were about Dorne someone tried to murder you, not a poor idea to bring one of your better Knights, at least for protection. Leaving off with your small oddball entourage, you go to the court of Old Palace, finding Lady Giselle waiting with another Lady, that eyes you with a sudden desire before falling to blushes and dashing off.

“Lady Giselle, a pleasure to see you again. I hope you do not mind, but Ser Lucas Longwaters, my son Victus Waters, and my guide will be accompanying us.”

She smiles prettily, being kind to each in turn, she hardly lingers over Victus long, not a particular poor or good sign in truth, “Of course not my Lord. I had hoped for a simple walk about the city, but if your guide knows of a better place, I would be more than happy to accompany you for the night.”

>>43731260
Father confirmed that the dowry would be equal no matter who we marry.

She interlaces herself into your arm, very ladylike and dainty in her actions, careful not to appear overly eager, careful not to come off as she has before with her less than subtle flirting. You travel into the third ring of the city, leaving the Winding Walls behind to delve into the corners and hidden treasures of Sunspear that you had never known before. Orion keeps a brisk pace, Victus running by his side, Lucas lingers behind a moment longer, giving you a fair amount of time to speak to Lady Giselle.

“My Lord?”

“Yes my Lady?”

“Dorne is all very different, I feel I could get lost here forever, is this what the Free Cities is like?”

You laugh a moment, “Very much so. Even down to attempted murder.”

Her faces dances with thoughts, and she shakes them loose, allowing her hair to flow about over onto her chest, “I would hope not today my Lord.”

“I doubt they would be so bold a second time my Lady,” you say still laughing at the thought.

She quiets, walking by your side in smaller steps than your own, but enough to keep pace with your long strides. You watch street performers for a moment, a juggler with fire, another peddling flowers from Dorne, exotic and beautiful in their very nature. Lady Giselle plucks a few and you give the vendor his coin allowing her a moment to weave the white rose into her hair. It was odd to see, she usually wore greys or fire red and orange, the contrast was gorgeous.

You continue on, following the young boys as they fleet about the streets, Orion attempting to find a place he knew in the general area, while Victus aimlessly helps him. You’ve a moment longer to speak with Giselle you think.

>Questions for Giselle?
I don’t think I’ve ever opened it up with Giselle before, Obella has had plenty of time, but Giselle less so. If nothing else, give me all of those write in flirting.

>>43731224
Hrmm, true. Maybe we should plant the idea of courting Obella to Quentyn? We don't have to worry about the hurdle of introductions now, and I'm sure he'd think us a good suitor if he respects us as much as he says. Although... maybe he'd feel it would be an affront to us to offer Obella to us considering she's not in his graces.