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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Aug 18, 2016 6:53:43 GMT
Having deployed some of the newly arrived men to guard the bridge and the mill, and drawn up the rest to surround the tavern, Edmure approached the Smallwood captain once again.
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Aug 18, 2016 15:52:57 GMT
He heard the brace of crossbows in the second floor windows being loaded, but the smallwood knight waved them off.
"Have you made your decision, Ser?" he inquired.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Aug 20, 2016 22:03:57 GMT
"My men advise me to burn down that tavern with you inside it." said Edmure matter of factly. "It could be done easily enough. I don't think the small folk would object either."
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Aug 20, 2016 22:17:34 GMT
"Certainly sounds like one option," the knight replies, unfazed. "I've got a score of knights in here though, all willing to die for their lord. Can the peasant rabble you have out there say the same? We won't go down alone and either way, you'll have a war on your hands when we're ash."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Aug 21, 2016 1:40:00 GMT
"We're not all 'peasant rabble' here." replied Edmure calmly, as if he was half expecting the answer from the Smallwood knight to be what it was.
"I'd say the knights I have here at my disposal would at the very least match yours if it came to a fight, Ser. Can your Lord Smallwood cover the loss of twenty or so of his knights before a war has even started?"
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Aug 21, 2016 3:50:56 GMT
"More than he can losing a major grain store on the middle of winter," the knight replied. "Do what you will, Ser. I have no authority to negotiate on my lord's behalf. I was tasked with holding this village and I shall until I am commanded otherwise, even if you bring a thousand men. Start a war today or take the chance to treat and perhaps avoid one. Just decide, because frankly, I'm tired of talking in circles."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Aug 21, 2016 5:14:15 GMT
Edmure eyed the knight in disbelief. "If Lord Smallwood cannot afford to lose a major grain store in the winter, then what is there to talk about?"
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Post by The Gambler on Aug 21, 2016 17:08:35 GMT
"It's my experience that it is that sort of close minded thinking that starts wars in the first place, Ser," the knight replied, clearly exasperated. "By men too blind, stupid, or stubborn to see the middle ground."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Aug 22, 2016 0:34:16 GMT
"We have talked here long enough." agreed Edmure, coming to a decision. "In the interests of peace, I will agree to meet Lord Smallwood. Send your rider. Tell him that the meeting will take place at the bridge."
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Post by The Gambler on Aug 23, 2016 3:36:21 GMT
9th Day, 3rd Moon
The rider is sent and 4 days later one of the scouts reports of contingent of at least 50 mounted knights approaching the bridge.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Aug 23, 2016 9:59:59 GMT
Edmure cursed, when he heard the scouts' report, but he didn't find it surprising, given the death of the Piper knight. The river was shallow and trying to hold the bridge would be futile. He approached Lord Vance.
"At least fifty knights Lord Roger. Possibly more. Smallwood is bent on war. He knows our numbers here and if he has not the sense to bring a force that is similar to our own to a peace conference, then he needs to expect that there will be no talking this day. I am sorry, but we have no choice but to withdraw and I would suggest we do so to Atranta as soon as possible, which I will help you re-inforce until we can determine our next course of action. We have not the men to resist such a force, given there's another twenty-odd knights in that tavern. We have fifteen knights, twenty guardsmen and some peasant levies. We're outnumbered at least two to one and we dont have the quality either. I'm not going to negotiate from an inferior position which can only end badly for us. We negotiate from an equal or greater position or not at all."
"Form up." he roared to his men.
[Persuasion: 53] + 5 = [58] [Command: 85] + 5 = [90]
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Aug 23, 2016 18:56:54 GMT
Ser Willem, dent still present in his armour, slowly made his way over to his horse and mounted it with a grunt. He saw no benefit in running away with their tails between their legs now, since it would only make it appear they were in the wrong. However he made no comment.
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Post by Ser Willis Blackfort on Aug 23, 2016 20:44:14 GMT
"Oh good," Willis said to Edmure while he mounted, armored and expecting trouble for the last few damn days, "At least we waited just to be routed. Wouldn't do to smoke his men out, or kill 'em, or to let 'em go out of mercy. Just had to let this one be an outright defeat, huh?"
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Aug 23, 2016 20:48:34 GMT
Willem looked on, saying nothing, but finding himself in agreement with Willis on something for the first time in the time they had known each other. Instead of joining in on the insubordination however, he glanced sadly in the direction of the house where their problems had begun. One didn't have to be the Crone to realise things would end poorly for that family as a result of Edmure's decision.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Aug 23, 2016 21:34:43 GMT
"Oh good," Willis said to Edmure while he mounted, armored and expecting trouble for the last few damn days, "At least we waited just to be routed. Wouldn't do to smoke his men out, or kill 'em, or to let 'em go out of mercy. Just had to let this one be an outright defeat, huh?" "We waited here to negotiate a settlement in the hope of avoiding a war." replied Edmure sharply. "That's not going to happen now. Think about it Willis. We stay here outnumbered. Smallwood arrives and with his numerical superiority, refuses to even consider the possibility of settling the issue. What exactly can we achieve under those circumstances? If the worse came to the worse here then we couldn't even fight him on a even basis. Fifteen knights some guardsmen and peasant levies is no match against seventy knights. We'll negotiate with Smallwood, and fight if necessary, but we'll damn well do it on a more even basis, where he'll be forced to listen. And right now the odds are heavily stacked in Smallwood's favor. I'm not throwing away our lives in a futile gesture. We will not be abandoning Lord Roger's cause, so if it's any consolation you're very likely to be fighting soon enough." Edmure gave the order to begin an orderly, but rapid, withdrawal towards Atranta. He would try and avoid flat open ground in their withdrawal, in case Smallwood's knights pursued them. [Command: 85] + 5 = [90]
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