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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 12, 2016 1:29:52 GMT
Belric withdrew the writ and handed it to the man before him. He did not bother speaking, the time for words would come.
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Jun 12, 2016 1:42:01 GMT
Belric withdrew the writ and handed it to the man before him. He did not bother speaking, the time for words would come. Jaime read it without having to move his lips. During the war he had to have written hundreds of reports, and as a blacksmith, be able to read instructions and measurements. He likely won't be quoting the great court poets, but he was a step above the common hick. "My Lord Blackfort." He looked Belric in the eye. "By your escorts, I can deduce you've made peace with either Simon or Bruce Whent... I would know whether you have pardoned the man who has murdered our children." Behind him, his armor was plainly marked with the name 'Jeyne'.
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 12, 2016 2:21:27 GMT
"Their fates were decided through trial by combat." Belric said without flinching, "Ser Simon was victorious and has sworn fealty to me." Without being invited, Belric took a seat at Jamie's desk. "I assume you are Jamie the Smith, or is it Jamie the Solider?" He looked at him with curiosity.
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Jun 12, 2016 2:36:23 GMT
"Their fates were decided through trial by combat." Belric said without flinching, "Ser Simon was victorious and has sworn fealty to me." Without being invited, Belric took a seat at Jamie's desk. "I assume you are Jamie the Smith, or is it Jamie the Solider?" He looked at him with curiosity. Jaime's calm vanished. "Then your first act as Lord is to endorse the murder of your own people's children! We accept no terms of fealty in which Simon Whent still breathes the same air he denied my daughter! We are not your knights! We have sworn no oaths to serve you. We simply live here, and bake your bread, and sew your clothes, and fix your castle when it gets drafty. Not a man in this armory would receive the privilege of being able to murder his kin and call it proof the gods love him. If there are any gods to be found in Harrenhal, then they are not gods any decent man would honor..."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 12, 2016 3:05:54 GMT
"I would not presume to know what you and your men have gone through. Your anger, the rioting and revolting, all completely justifiable actions under the circumstances. As of now, everything you have done can be pardoned. However, I am at an impasse. Seeing as how I am only here because of Lady Lothson's assassination, I cannot offer you the head of the person who is truly responsible for the murder of your children. I also cannot offer you the head of a man who was following his Lords orders and has just won his freedom in trial."
Belric leaned forward, "You obviously are an intelligent man. I'm not asking for you to forgive Ser Simon, nor am I asking you to forget what Lady Lothson did to your loved ones. What I am asking is for you to see reason instead of revenge. Nothing you do will bring them back and the hurt will last a lifetime. It does not matter if you paint their names on your armor, or if you carve them into your bare chests. What does matter is what we do next. The people need protection from bandits and invaders, which we can provide together. They need food and warmth to get them through the winter. I have done what I must to save the granaries, even if the morality behind those choices is detestable. Everything that has happened up until this point has to be cast aside if we are to survive. Winter is upon us. You can waist away, hidden within the shelter of these barracks while your elderly go hungry, or we can start taking steps to rebuild what has been broken. What will it be Jamie? I am here by your mercy." Belric sat back in his chair, wondering what thoughts plagued Jamie's mind.
(Persuasion: 43)
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Post by Sigfry Deddings on Jun 12, 2016 3:15:26 GMT
Yoren had followed his lord to the armory for his confrontation with the villagers. He looked no one in the eyes, and he said not a word, barely making any noise as he walked and stood with the others. He had a duty to fulfill, to faithfully serve his lord and keep him safe. Even if he disagreed with him to the point of wanting to take a hammer to ser simons head right here and now.
So he stood there, ready to put his body to use if need be, but not feeling like talking or looking at anyone right now.
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Jun 12, 2016 3:19:34 GMT
"I would not presume to know what you and your men have gone through. Your anger, the rioting and revolting, all completely justifiable actions under the circumstances. As of now, everything you have done can be pardoned. However, I am at an impasse. Seeing as how I am only here because of Lady Lothson's assassination, I cannot offer you the head of the person who is truly responsible for the murder of your children. I also cannot offer you the head of a man who was following his Lords orders and has just won his freedom in trial." Belric leaned forward, "You obviously are an intelligent man. I'm not asking for you to forgive Ser Simon, nor am I asking you to forget what Lady Lothson did to your loved ones. What I am asking is for you to see reason instead of revenge. Nothing you do will bring them back and the hurt will last a lifetime. It does not matter if you paint their names on your armor, or if you carve them into your bare chests. What does matter is what we do next. The people need protection from bandits and invaders, which we can provide together. They need food and warmth to get them through the winter. I have done what I must to save the granaries, even if the morality behind those choices is detestable. Everything that has happened up until this point has to be cast aside if we are to survive. Winter is upon us. You can waist away, hidden within the shelter of these barracks while your elderly go hungry, or we can start taking steps to rebuild what has been broken. What will it be Jamie? I am here by your mercy." Belric sat back in his chair, wondering what thoughts plagued Jamie's mind. (Persuasion: 43) (Success. +1 to Persuasion.) Jaime stared at him, then marched to the window to peer outside at the hell outside. Eventually, he turned to look at Belric. "We have three demands. If these demands cannot be fulfilled, then I cannot promise any of my men will accept any lasting peace. They must be fulfilled this very day. Do that, and we will return to Harrenhal to live out our lives under your rule."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 12, 2016 3:23:42 GMT
"I will hear your demands," he said in conformation.
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Jun 12, 2016 3:44:59 GMT
"I will hear your demands," he said in conformation. "First, our taxes paid over the past four years should be returned. Under the King's law, or at least the old King's law, a lord receives that coin under the assumption they will use to defend the well-being of his subjects. Instead, Lothson used that coin to fund treason, witchcraft, and the slaughter of innocents. We don't want the entire treasury... Just what is owed the people of Harrentown. "Second, the granary will be opened to the people of Harrentown. Not carefully fucking doled out, but the doors left open for any family to claim their fill. Not indefinitely, but until we can no longer see the rincages of our loved ones." "And thirdly..."Belric thought he could hear the man's teeth grinding. "You will have Simon Whent stripped of his position. He will not command the knights of this castle and he certainly will not command the people of Harrentown. And I would extract from you one of those oaths you knights are so proud of. If Simon Whent should be found dead, and any man of Harrentown be thought guilty, he shall be allowed to take the Black."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 12, 2016 4:58:51 GMT
Belric did not answer for a time, his head hanging low in thought. These were all reasonable requests, far more so than what he had anticipated. Nevertheless, they were not all easy to fulfill. Belric was without support from the crown financially, four years of taxes was no small sum. Leaving the grain storages open for common use was also a hard deal to swallow. The winter could be long and the starving families would lay waist to the supply before the snow could clear.
"Thank you Jamie, for being reasonable." Belric looked him in the eyes, knowing he was talking to rational man, "I can offer you one as it stands, if you will compromise on the rest." He was direct with Jamie, a trait he was thankful to have reciprocated.
"A selected group of men, choose by you, will be granted positions responsible for the accounting and distribution of Harrenhal's grain. To leave the granaries open and unchecked would only leave ourselves vulnerable to disaster. The people are hungry, they will sack our storages out of self preservation if they are granted unbridled access. There must be a mediator that can understand both the hunger of the people, as well as the importance of rationing to survive. I will not have my people starve, but that also means we have to make it through winter."
"Furthermore, I will order two years worth of taxes to be redistributed to the people, effective immediately. I will also exempt them of their taxes for this present year, requiring only a half taxes for the following two. Much like overfeeding a starving man, throwing too much coin into a persons pocket can be a dangerous thing. I would rather see this Castle grow into a city, use these future tax incentives to ensure stability and allow the commoners to get back their lives back. Otherwise, you risk them losing it all while they are still stricken by grief."
"If you will compromise on these two things, then I will do as you ask with Simon Whent. He will not lead the knights of this castle, nor will he command in Harrentown. If he were to be found dead, and one of your men found guilty of the crime, I will grant him the option of joining the Nights Watch. Were situations any different, Ser Simon would have found himself on the sharp end of my own sword. However, the situation is not different, and we must adapt."
Belric had more to say, and it was clearly written on his face. "I have a request for you as well. It is not a requirement of our deal, but I hope you will honor it all the same. Take your vows, and become a Knight of Harrenhal. Command my men like you have commanded these common folk, and help me to protect our people. I need good men around me Jamie, and it is apparent that you are cut from the best."
(Persuasion: 44)
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Jun 12, 2016 5:14:29 GMT
(Success on all counts but the last.)
Jaime nodded. "I believe my people will accept those terms. But I am not a knight, my lord. Honor and glory are what men desire when they lose sight of the value of hearth and home. I just want to return to my smithy, look after my wife and grandfather, and mourn my little girl. I have spent too much time killing for other people."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 12, 2016 5:34:25 GMT
Belric was relieved, despite the fact that Jamie had rejected his offer. "That is good news, though it would be a lie if I said I wasn't disappointed. You are a good man, if you are as good a smith as you are a leader I would like to see your wares. Are there any men amongst you that would like to join the ranks?"
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Jun 12, 2016 5:43:50 GMT
"You've been looking at my wares since you arrived in Harrenhal, my lord. I, my father, and his father before him have served as smiths to House Lothson since they were first given this place. We did not take the armory by force, because I already had a key. And I don't doubt you will find many men, now that our needs will be tended to."
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Post by Maester Percival on Jun 12, 2016 6:43:05 GMT
Percival once again had to fight to maintain a non-committal expression upon his face. He had come to serve a lord but been stuck with a dog. No lower then a dog. For even a dog would have hung himself rather then accept such treatment. Lord Piggy had allowed this... smith... to make him sandwich of shit. And then Lord Piggy had eaten it in front of all these rabble; and he had smiled about it, like it tasted good. . Now these men would go home talking about the time they had made their lord bow to them. This house was doomed. The peasants could sense this man was weak, and Percival knew they had been right, down to the bottom of his soul.
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 12, 2016 6:49:52 GMT
Belric stood up from his chair, "I expect to see more of your work as we rebuild. If we are done, I would hear you tell your men the terms of our deal and that they can return to their homes. You may choose the men to accompany me to the granaries, I will be wanting an accurate appraisal of the stores before we begin distributing it amongst the people."
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