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ooc - If Lara is following Seth we'll need opposed rolls, if she's going directly to the shore she'll arrive before Seth.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tannyr's Quay - Roger, Daeron, Seff, Lara
Tannyr's Quay was busy today. Two galleys had arrived yesterday and another just moments ago. Many regional merchants from all over the Blue Fork riverlands and the hills to the southwest were in for market as well. The taverns and inns by the docks were all bursting with patrons and their coin. Seff found it easy to dissolve into the crowd and make his way toward the docks and then North to the shore.
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Lara tried to catch sight of the young squire as she pushed her way through the Tannyr's Quay crowds. (Awareness 7)
ReplyDeleteLara lost sight of Seff as they rounded a corner onto the Weavers street. Try as she might, she couldn't pick him out of the crowd.
ReplyDelete"Bloody..." Lara cursed under her breathe.
ReplyDeleteAt least I know where the beach is, even if I can't find one little squire. Stupid buried treasure.
Ser Roger coughs up the dirt he has just inhaled and turns to watch the Lady and the knight as they ride past. "Well, that was close," thinks Roger as he brushes himself off and briskly makes his way into town.
ReplyDelete"I think it may be time for a drink," muses Ser Roger as he makes his way to the nearest pub, Dunk's Inn and Pub. Dunk is an old fool, but he has some marvelous stories to tell. He also tends to know most of the town's gossip.
Ducking under the door frame, Roger enters the pub. It is a bit early for it to be too busy and only a few chairs are occupied. Roger saddles up to the bar with a hearty greeting to Dunk who is currently wiping down a table.
"A full horn of Ale, if I may," announces Roger as he slaps down the exact amount. Dunk quickly prepares an extra large horn of ale and hands it to Roger. "Heard anything of interest lately, my dear Dunk?" asks Roger, always interested in a town's newest gossip. It is a hard habit to break.
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ooc: how much $$ is a full horn of ale?
Awareness, Empathy roll: 20
After retrieving the papers for Maester Aldrik's study, Daeron made his way through the castle and into town. As usual, the servants in Tidehall gave him a respectful yet awkward greeting as he passed; Daeron figures they would have been comfortable around him by now, if not for the circumstances of his arrival. And, possibly, his appearance.
ReplyDeleteBefore exiting the castle grounds, Daeron grabbed a cloak and pulled up the hood. As Maester Aldrik said, Daeron was still fairly anonymous in town, but that condition would not last long if there were very many sightings of "the silver-haired boy" coming and going from the castle...
Seff arrives at the shore and sees a small group of smallfolk gathered around a bedraggled looking old man by the water. He is waving a piece of driftwood wildly and shouting. His robes are an odd seafoam green and his curly beard hangs heavily on his chest. In his other hands he holds a cup, kneeling beneath him is a older man, a fisherman you would guess by his dress.
ReplyDeleteLara arrives shortly after.
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ooc: If Seff is remaining hidden we'll need new opposed rolls, or if Lara is trying to remain hidden for that matter.
Lara scanned up and down the beach, but saw no other activity, certainly no septon digging up treasure.
ReplyDeleteLooking back to town she tried to see if she had somehow passed the squire in the urban bustle (11).
"Slippery bugger," Lara sighed.
Lara settled down to watch the strange old man's "performance." She parked herself in the fringes of the gathering - those viewers more motivated by curiosity rather than any desire to partake in the festivities. She knew the type on sight - they almost never applauded, and never parted with their coin.
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ReplyDeleteDaeron found that few even gave him a second glance on the busy streets of Tannyr's Quay, and he reached the ship easily. He found the crew working hard unloading cargo. He did not see the Tyroshi captain.
ReplyDeleteooc: Am I to assume the priest is giving a fairly boilerplate sermon?
ReplyDelete"Arise. What is dead can never die, but rises again. Now you are a son of the waves, a child of the Drowned God. Only he can protect us from the Storm God's wrath. His harbinger is here already. It wrecks ships in the stormy nights, dashing them against the rock and chewing on the bones of men. Who among you still thinks that the Seven can protect you," the priest intones. The man rises and rejoins the crowd.
ReplyDelete"Um, I have a question," Lara waved at the priest attempting to catch his attention. The priest must have been used to hecklers, as he didn't flinch at Lara's interruption.
ReplyDelete"So you've convinced me," Lara tries again. That briefly caught the old priest's attention, "now which of the seven do I replace? Or does he make 8? Can I replace the stranger?" (Performance 12)
"Do I need to add the storm God, too? He sounds like a nasty bloke," Lara's mocking grin belies her nervousness as the eyes of the smallfolk slowly turn toward her.
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ReplyDeleteooc: What's your goal here? Are you trying to pull the crowd from him? get his attention? We may need to start an intrigue.
ooc: I'm trying to pull the crowd from him, Lara thinks he's a quack.
ReplyDeleteooc: Okay, give me a while to set it up. I might separate the thread. Still waiting on responses from Daeron and Seff, I'm purposefully holding on you Roger to let something else catch up.
ReplyDeleteAs Daeron came closer to the shipyard he lowered his cloak's hood; he was recognizable here, if not identified. When he arrived at the ship, he waited a while for the captain to show; at one point while waiting, he waved down a passing crew member.
ReplyDelete"Hey, is the captain coming ashore anytime soon? I have some papers for him," he said, waving the papers for a second, then holding them back up against his body.
While Daeron knew Eyrolio from his days in Braavos, it was generally wise never to board a Tyroshi vessel uninvited (if at all).
When Seff arrived on the shore, he stood with the crowd that had already gathered to listen to the priest's sermon (blend in 12). It didn't look like the boy had followed him, but he kept his eye out for the boy or anybody else who looked like they were paying too much attention to him, just in case (awareness 12).
ReplyDeleteAs Seff listens to the priest, he tries to get a feeling for how the crow is receiving the sermon (empathy 18) (ooc: Can I use empathy to get the general feeling of an entire crowd, or can I apply it to only one person? If I can only do it to one person at a time, then I'd like to do it to one of the random people in the crowd.)
Seff saw the troupe girl yell for the priest's attention. He thought to himself, "Her! She must be the one that sent the boy after me. What is she doing? I need to find out why she's paying so much attention to our activities. For now, though, maybe she will rille the priest into giving attentional helpful information. Or maybe she'd just get herself into trouble."
Seff stayed quiet in the crowd and watched her performance.
"The Captain's already drinking and left us to do all the work. He went to the Iron Maiden, that's Dunk's place, the one with the sign of the naked mermaid with the huge tits holding an axe. Take your papers to him there, I got no time to deal with them."
ReplyDeleteSeff blended into the small crowd easily, the crowd seemed to be divided on the sermon, some already convinced and eager to do what the priest said, others more skeptical and unsure what to think.
ReplyDelete-------------------
ooc: I'm going to start an intrigue thread for the shore scene in a bit.
Before Dunk can answer Roger a fat balding man with a long forked bear dyed green to match his silks saunters into the Inn. "Ale and meat pie, Dunk, and a girl in my bed upstairs when I finish those, Eyrilio will be staying the night." Despite his rich clothing, the man's skin is tan and worn from work at sea, and his arms are muscled even if his belly is fat.
ReplyDeleteDaeron shrugs, turns and begins walking towards the inn in town. When he arrives, he steps in and moves to the side of the door and waits for his eyes to adjust to the inn's lighting and takes in his surroundings. (Awareness 18 (dang))
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ReplyDeleteooc: Since Daeron is disguised we're going to need opposed rolls from both before you can recognize him, Roger.
ooc: I missed that he was disguised. Awareness Roll: 5. It appears that I am not meant to notice him.
ReplyDelete---------------------------------------------------
Roger waits patiently while Dunk takes care of his new customer, understanding his place as a "regular".
Roger slowly enjoys his ale and contemplates the training from earlier. "I definitely need to work on my agility," brooded Ser Roger.
Daeron sees that the inn is mostly empty, there are a few patrons sitting by the fire, fisherfolk and sailors by the look of them. His eyes pause on Ser Roger, who turns back to look as Daeron enters the room but who clearly doesn't recognize him. His eyes finally come to rest on a Tyroshi man with the telltale forked beard, whom he recognizes as Eyrilio. "What do you mean you don't have any girls here? Your sign has a topless mermaid," Eyrilio says to the innkeeper.
ReplyDeleteLara spies the sign of the inn and sees a man in a cloak entering below it. She follows and looks inside as he stands in the entryway in front of her. The inn looks fairly empty still. She glances back outside. The sun is getting low and the tide is in, the inn should be filling up soon.
ReplyDeleteooc: Awareness 17.
ReplyDeleteDid I notice the young performer following in behind the cloaked individual?
sure, both are aware of each other.
ReplyDeleteWhile looking at the cloaked newcomer, Roger notices a girl enter behind him. Roger greets the girl with a knowing grin, "Come to spend your new silver on some ale and a meet pie, I see. You definitely chose the best place to do it."
ReplyDelete"What's your name, girl?" Roger asked, offering her a seat and hoping she wouldn't just disappear again.
Lara is adjusting a newly acquired cloak on her shoulders. She had been down at the market trying to find a suitable cloak at a good price. In her impatience she hadn't succeeded in getting the price she wanted, but after she had rolled it around in the market dirt, it was at least serviceable. (-1ss Peasant's Garb)
ReplyDeleteLara is surprised to hear someone address her.
"Ser Roger?" She has no problem recognizing the giant of a man perched almost comically on a bar stool that looks much too small for him.
As she approaches, she appreciates Ser Roger in a new light - as a man who almost certainly would not be forcibly held down in the surf against his will, no matter how unruly the rabble.
She smiles at him. "Lara Clearwater," she offers her name. She sits down next to him, "Ser Roger, don't you know performers don't come to bars to spend coin, we come to earn it. Watch."
She pulls the cloak over her arm hiding her face. When she pulls it back she has affixed a sickly green "beard" of seaweed to her face.
"BARKEEP!" She thunders, "Give me your finest glass of seawater. And prepare a mermaid for me to bed!" The barkeep looks up from his conversation with a green bearded captain, and suddenly Lara realizes that she had better be more specific in her mockery before she risks the ire of one more "man of the sea" today.
"For I am the Priest of the Drowned God! I've come to overthrow your seven!" Lara stands up on her stool, one foot on the bar.
"You there!" She points to a patron she assumes by dress to be a fisherman. "For a coin I'll tell you of Grod, the Cod God. You may have caught some of his heralds in your nets this morning."
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ooc: Unless interrupted this is going to be my performance for the night. (Persuasion 14) Roll of 6(!) for number of silver stags baseline on performance.
Ser Roger, a knight anointed in the seven oils, squirms a bit at the blaspheme of the seven, but continues to watch, unsure of the game Lady Lara was playing at.
ReplyDeleteDaeron pulled his cloak loose and hung it by the entrance of the pub. While the mummer girl began her act, he gathered the papers, straightened his back, and began striding toward Eyrilio (Stealth 14). Daeron waits for a pause in her performance before saying anything.
ReplyDelete"Dunk! Since when does this establishment serve pirates!" (Deception 7)
Eyrilio hears the accusation behind him but says nothing. The room gets quiet.
ReplyDelete"Pirates?! This is an honest business it is, a family establishment." Dunk looks at Eyrilio, "I don't know what your game is, but I don't want any part of it, I don't want no trouble."
Eyrilio finally looks behind him and scans Daeron without recognition. (4)
Roger is surprised to hear the voice of his young Lord Daeron, but is quick to jump to his feet upon hearing an accusation of "Pirate" coming from his lips.
ReplyDeleteSer Roger stretches to his full height with his hand on the hilt of his Great Sword. While moving closer to Eyrilio, Roger loosens the sword in its scabbard and leaves just enough distance between himself and the pirate to make a full draw and a quick slice if need be.
Upon seeing Eyrilio's blank face, Daeron smirks. He turns serious and looks at Dunk.
ReplyDelete"My apologies, Master Dunk, for my poor jest. This scallawag is an old friend of the family. I would still suggest you keep any daughters or wife out of sight until he departs our lovely port."
Breaking into a wide grin, Daeron addresses Eyrilio directly, "So, Eyrilio, is it the ale or the wenches that has finally addled your brains?"
Ser Roger frowns down on the young Lord, lets the sword slide back into its scabbard, and walks back to his seat.
ReplyDelete"He is going to get himself or someone else killed one of these days," Roger thinks to himself.
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ooc: I'm going to do my best to keep track of their conversation from my location. Let me know how many rolls you need. First Awareness roll: 17.
Eyrilio's face finally shows recognition and he grins. "Neither, all the coin counting and carrying to and fro for your uncle and your father have addled my brains far more than my moderate indulgence in drink and dalliances. How are you Daeron? And how is your father? I was grieved to hear about your mother."
ReplyDeleteThe crowd is at first puzzled by Lara's performance, but one of the fishermen finally starts laughing and says, "She's doing that addled old fool by the shore." After that, the crowd enjoys the performance. A few of the seamen don't seem to be laughing, and Lara eventually notices what she thinks are small smudges of black paint on their hands and faces. They leave quietly one at a time throughout the performance and afterward.
ReplyDeleteDaeron's grin fades, and he nods his head. "I thank you for your thoughts, as would my father, if he were well. He has not been the same person since I got back after word reached me of my mother's death, and he appears to fade more and more each day..." A deep melancholy seems to consume Daeron for a moment, then he shakes his head and blinks a couple of times.
ReplyDelete"Speaking of coin counting and carrying, here are the latest dispatches," Daeron says as the bundle lands on the table next to the Tyroshi captain's ale.
"Back to work so soon? I guess I should be grateful for steady employment. Although you may want to let me stay and relax for a while when I tell you this. Maester Aldrik had me make deals with the winesellers of The Arbor several years ago. He made some sort of calculation about the peak year of Summer. Anyway, he was right. My ships were full to the brim with the finest Arbor wine, we made a killing in King's Landing, far more than Aldrik or I had predicted. Jon Arryn, the Hand of the King himself, bought 30 casks for a premium price to use at a feast, and he toasted to House Castriati."
ReplyDelete-------------
ooc: The House Fortune Roll was 24, blessing. The House's Influence has gone up by 1 and its wealth has gone up by 5.
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ReplyDeleteEyes turn up from watching Lara's performance or from their drinks as Seff enters, then quickly return to what they were doing. Roger, Lara, and Daeron are aware of Seff's entrance.
ReplyDeleteSeff quietly walked over to where Daeron was sitting and leaned over to talk softly near Daeron's ear.
ReplyDelete"I am sorry to interrupt, but there is some concern that there may be danger in the area and you are wanted back at Tidehall. Ser Malcolmn is waiting for you outside the inn."
Daeron had been catching up with Eyrilio when he noticed Seff's entrance. After receiving Seff's message, nodded and turned back on Eyrilio.
ReplyDelete"Apparently mischief is afoot, and, well... life is a bit more constrained here than in Braavos. Oh!" Daeron suddenly blushes a bit, and stammers for a second before lowering his voice and continuing, "Could you deliver a, uh, a personal message for, um, uh, me? You know Meera, right? Captain Cortana's oldest daughter? Well, could you let here know... that is... She can be quite... tempestuous... She'll lay a man out cold for looking at her sideways, you know? Well, could you thank her for me? She was there for me when we received word of my mother's death, and she helped me get back to Braavos, and... If you see her, give her my thanks, and my thoughts, okay?"
Daeron abruptly stands and quickly turns, and begins striding towards the inn door. By the time he reached it, the flush of his face had returned to a normal color.
ooc: How much of Daeron's conversations (with Eyrilio and Seff) did Roger overhear?
ReplyDelete---
ReplyDeleteooc: You got a good awareness roll, so you heard the gist of everything.
"Any chance you'll need me in dealing with this mischief, Lord Daeron?" asked Roger as he stood after taking a final swig of his ale.
ReplyDeleteooc: I got the impression that Roger was just eavesdropping on the conversation from a few feet away. Daeron would not have been paying attention to Roger (and only slight attention to Lara), and won't notice any comments Roger makes at the bar while he is finishing his conversation with Eyrilio or walking towards the door to exit. In fact, he is quite distracted by his own thoughts at this point.
ReplyDelete---------------
ReplyDeleteooc: true you would not have been paying attention to Roger, but Roger's voice is probably pretty loud. I would think you would at least hear his statement as you're walking toward the door.
As Lord Daeron rushes out of the door, Roger sits back down, feeling a bit the fool. "Hey Dunk, can you get me a meat pie," asks Ser Roger, "I'm feeling a bit hungry and you never did get a chance to fill me in on the town's latest gossip."
ReplyDelete"That crazy seaweed priest that the girl's mocking, have you seen him yet? Weird fellow. Seems like every day another sailor comes in here with black face paint on. Still pay good coin for drinks and drink as much as they used to so I can't complain. Some people are starting to talk about succession. They love Gilder and the prosperity that's come but they wonder about him not having a son after all these years and are not sure what to make of the brother and his son back from all the way in the Free Cities. Mind you this is not me talking Roger, I'm just telling you what I hear, so keep that axe of yours away from your friend's head," he says with a smirk.
ReplyDeleteThe tavern door opened, spilling laughter onto the street. The bright firelight silhouetted Daeron, his violet hair a halo as he adjusted his cloak. The boy looked sullen and distant. 'Must of took him from wenching, poor lad,' thought Malcolm. Over the laughter, Malcolm heard a familiar voice booming out the tavern door.
ReplyDeleteMalcolm dismounted, tied both horses to the post, and met Daeron at the door. He clapped the boy's shoulder and pulled him outside, spying a glance to see Ser Roger returning to his seat as the door closed. "Good to see you, Young Master. I apologize for taking you from your revels. I'd ask you made way to Tidehall." He leaned close and spoke low, "Your Lord Uncle has yet to return, and the men we sent north with Riker are overdue. I mean to ride as far as Seagard if need be, to find them. In my absence, it is best you find your way home." Daeron was hearing him, but he wasn't sure he was listening. "Wait here."
Malcolm stepped through the bar, trying to be as discrete as an armored swordsman could be. Most of the patrons were transfixed by a mummer covered in seaweed, holding aloft a plate of cooked fish, saying something about vengeance for the sea's bounty. Smallfolk humor would have to wait. "Ser Roger," he greeted the boulder of a man, "Tidehall has need of you. Master Daeron is on the stoop. See him safely home. I must ride north, and we need him within the walls until I return. Questions must wait; speak to Maester Aldrik when you return, but I must depart, old friend."
As he turned to leave, he saw Seff lounging in the corner. Their eyes met, and although his squire's expression did not change, Malcolm knew something had caught Seff's fancy and he intended to stay. Malcolm trusted whatever it was, it was more important than a nighttime ride.
He returned to Daeron, and explained that Ser Roger would escort him back to Tidehall, with no stops along the way. Duty executed, he mounted Steuben, and made haste north.
Lara holds the platter of cooked fish for the patrons to see. “You fisherman, selfishly harvesting the bounty of the sea. Why a true acolyte of the drowned god would throw his first born into the waves as recompense. However, seeing as you are all still adjusting to these new teachings, might I suggest just throwing your daily wages into the ocean? Or better yet, give them to me, and I’ll do it for you…”
ReplyDeleteLara sees Ser Malcolm enter the bar and address Ser Roger. The way they both look toward the door makes Lara think that they are about to leave. In fact, Ser Malcolm hurries out quickly, and Ser Roger seems to be following suit. Lara feels a moment of panic, but quickly quells it. This wouldn’t be the first time she’d walked from the inn to the castle alone.
She’s returning to her performance when she notes a new face in the bar – the squire. She feels a burst of surprise and annoyance. What an inconvenient time to actually catch up with him.
“Now, the drowned god strictly forbids drink,” she points an accusing finger at the nearest patron holding a mug. She gets a scattering of catcalls in response to that - surprisingly more than she had gotten when she suggested drowning newborns. “So might I suggest you do your religious duty and run this tavern dry?”
“I’ll drink to that!” Yells one of the patrons and the crowd howls.
"Thanks for the update," Ser Roger remarks quickly as he gathers up the fresh meat pie and starts toward the door. "I'll enjoy this along the way, if you don't mind, Dunk."
ReplyDeleteRoger exits the establishment just in time to see Ser Malcolm riding off to the North.
"Well Lord Daeron, you ready to walk back to the castle?" Roger asks as he takes a large bite of his pie.
Careful to swallow the bite before speaking again, Roger prods Daeron for some information, "You happen to know why Ser Malcolm is in such a hurry?"
Daeron nodded absently at Ser Roger's comments. He then looked up at Roger, blinked once, shook his head, and spoke.
ReplyDelete"Do what? Oh, right. Yes, we should be getting back. I'll tell you the news when we reach Tidehall."
Saying that, he began walking toward the small castle, a thoughtful expression on his face.
ooc: Awareness(Empathy) roll on Lord Daeron: 17
ReplyDeleteAwareness of surroundings as we walk to Tidehall roll: 11
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Ser Roger takes a hard look at Daeron, trying to determine what his young Lord is thinking about. Roger then diverts his attention to their surroundings, hand on his hilt, as they make their way back to Tidehall.
Roger keeps his eyes peeled for danger as they make their way through the town to Tidehall, but all they pass are alley cats and smallfolk. The night watch raises the gate when they arrive and they find themselves in the yard again. It looks like the watch has been doubled for the night. Torchlight flickers from the tower chambers of Maester Aldrik, deeper inside the keep it is unclear who is still up.
ReplyDeleteAs the crowd start to thin out, Dunk approaches Lara during the break and hands her 2 silver stags, combined with the 4 she got from the crowd that makes 6 total. "You sold a lot of drink tonight. Looks like even those black painted sailors like to laugh at that old fool. You're welcome to a bed here tonight if you need one. Come back any time to perform, though it would help to tell me ahead of time."
ReplyDeleteSeff made his way towards Lara and pulled out three of the silver stags that Malcolm gave to him.
ReplyDelete"This one is for the performance on the beach." Seff flipped from his right hand to his left.
"The one is for your performance tonight." Seff flipped another coin.
"And this one is for not causing trouble this time." Seff flipped the final coin.
Seff held out the coins in his left hand for Lara.
ooc: anything off the empathy roll?
ReplyDelete--------------------------------------------------
"Lord Daeron, do you require anything further from me?" asks Ser Roger, "Malcolm suggested I speak with Maester Aldrik. With your permission, I will take my leave."
Lara pulls off the beard of seaweed. She sticks out her tongue in disgust. She throws the seaweed onto a plate covered with fish bones and other scraps.
ReplyDelete“I’ve just discovered the most striking smell,” she informs Dunk with a smile. She slips the coin he offers into her pocket. “Expect me tomorrow then.”
Lara’s mood changes when she sees the squire standing there. She looks at the coins in his hands.
“For tonight?” She asks plucking one of the coin out of the squire’s hand. She slips it into her pocket.
“And this one, this one is for not causing trouble?” She points to one of the coins in his hand. “Well, I can’t in good conscience take that one,” she says as she plucks it too out of his hand and deposits it in her pocket.
“And this one, the beach?” She says her finger hovering over the shimmering coin in the squire’s left hand. “Tell me, what did happen at the beach? Rumors seem to race ahead of the truth in this town." She feigns innocence. "And why is it worth a stag to you?” Lara hesitates feeling more than a little foolish, “And what do you know about buried treasure?”
ooc: empathy will only tell you what Luke is willing to reveal. I can't give you any more detail.
ReplyDeleteSeff raised an eyebrow at Lara and tilted his head. "Treasure? I haven't searched for buried treasure since I was a little lad. I would think that you're a bit old for such games as well."
ReplyDeleteSeff's face went from slightly mischievous to more serious. "This isn't time for playing games, and I have questions that need answers. Why was a troupe boy eavesdropping on the conversation I was having with Ser Malcolm this morning? Any why were you on the beach - no rumors, I know what happened - riling up a priest and nearly getting yourself attacked by a mob? Your performing skills are certainly quite good, but I think it was mostly luck that you got away in one piece."
"And when I come to this inn to take care of business for my Ser Malcolm, I find you again! There are too many coincidences for one day. Is it just you and the boy or are others from the troupe involved? Why have you be paying attention to our business today?"
"You were not incorrect about what you had to say regarding Lord Castriati during your performance on the beach. I am worried, though, that you yourself might foolish enough to make trouble in sight of Tidehall. You are not in trouble yet, but you may be before too long if you do not explain yourself!"
ooc: Roger realizes that Daeron is an adolescent who has recently be displaced in many ways: one parent is dead, one parent is dying; he has left the only home he knew, and, due to the circumstances of being declared heir, is unlikely to return for years, if ever; whatever occupation he was being groomed for, ruling a house in Westros was not it (as was quite evident in the early days of his training).
ReplyDeleteAll that aside, on the walk to the castle, Daeron appearance alternated between that of one remembering a lost love, embarrassment at being a teenager, and exasperation and impatience to do something. Not that most people would notice...
Daeron nods at Ser Roger to acknowledge his comments, then heads into the castle. He begins heading towards his room, but begins meandering the halls after a bit. Eventually he ends up outside his father's room, where he pauses at the door and listens for the sounds of his father sleeping. When he eventually makes them out, he sighs, the begins wandering the halls aimlessly again.
ReplyDeleteDespite the squire's serious tone, Lara looks more than pleased. "That's great! Already stories of my exploits spread. Next time you tell it, you should add in the part about the disappearing coin and the quip about 'disappearing heads.' That's guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser."
ReplyDeleteLara slings her backpack over her shoulder and starts to walk out the bar. She continues talking, and the squire has no choice but to walk with her out into the crisp night air. "Well, I thought my earlier jests were going to be crowd pleasers as well, but that was a tougher than average crowd." She turns to face the squire, "Have you ever preformed in front of vale folks? You think those beach small folk were hard to please. As high as honor, and as humorless as the mountains." Lara laughs to herself, shaking her head ruefully. She notices the squires look has gotten markedly colder.
"All right," Lara throws her hands up defensively, "what else were you asking about?" She looks up at the night sky thoughtfully as if trying to recall his words.
"Ah, yes," she starts to walk toward Tidehall, and once again the squire is forced to walk with her if he wants to hear her reply. "Your young spy." She laughs.
"Let me give you a lesson about troupe boys - they are like horse dung, always under foot at the worst moments. They are lazy layabouts who don't do their fair share, and make trouble anyway they can." She turns again to face the squire. "Although, come to think of it I've heard more than one knight use that same description to talk about their lazy no good squire." She shrugs. "So who am I to judge?" Before the squire can respond she turns again and continues walking toward Tidehall.
"I imagine his eavesdropping was the product of nothing other than idle hands. Give me a name and I'll make sure those hands are scrubbing pots for a week. Will that help set your mind at ease?" She pauses only long enough for the squire to start to reply before she cuts him off again. (Deception 2,1,4 = 7)
"Oh, and if you plan to do business at an inn, don't be surprised if you aren't the only one taking advantage of a warm fire, loose coin, and fresh drink. I pay your business no mind when I decide to perform in such a place." Lara shakes her head, starts to walk away and then stops. She turns on the squire again as a sudden realization strikes her. The jumbled message from Peg, the squire's accusations - they all seem focused on one thing.
"But that's not the business you mean." She stares at the squire trying to read his reaction (Awareness 2,6,3 = 11). "The business you seem most interested in is my dealing with the drowned priest. Is that what this is all about?" She gives the squire an accusatory stare of her own. "Well let me give you a friendly warning then. That man, for all his mystic talk is nothing by a no-good charlatan, a dangerous rabble-rouser, a..." Lara angrily searches for the right word but can't seem to find it, "...a fool! And mark my words, Tannyr's Quay only has room for one of us!"
moving Roger and Daeron over to Tidehall Yard.
ReplyDeleteLara and Seff arrive at the gate of Tidehall just in time to see a rider emerge from the gate and turn to leave toward the East. Seff recognizes him as Ser Rymon's squire, though can't recall his name.
ReplyDeleteLara, embarrassed at her outburst, takes advantage of the squire's momentary distraction to slip into Tidehall courtyard.
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ooc: Hopping to the other thread.