The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Aug 24, 2016 1:30:19 GMT
(You're outclassed, not outnumbered. You have 50 peasant levies, 30 guardsmen, and 14 knights. Including Lord Vance and the PCs that's 99 individuals. Smallwood has in the 70s, but all knights. Persuasion Attempt Failed. Due to this, you can order the 14 knights and 10 guardsmen you provided of the 99, but that's it.)
Lord Vance rounded on Ser Edmure, looking livid, stone-faced demeanor cracking at order to retreat.
"I was right to name you craven," he declared, standing his ground. "You call my men to mount a defense, refusing to call your own knights, then order me to abandon my village at the first sign of conflict. I am starting to question whether or not you fought in the war at all. We have options here other than turning our tails and fleeing. I'm half a mind to swear to Piper and be done with this mummer's farce!"
A rider in Smallwood garb road up and planted a white flag on the far side of the bridge, indicating the spot for the proposed parley.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Aug 24, 2016 4:18:33 GMT
(OK. Wasn't quite aware of the exact numbers)
Edmure, fuming at being railroaded into something that was much against his better judgment, sawed at the reins of his horse to bring it round to face the enraged lord.
"Do not lecture me Lord Vance." he said between set teeth. "We are here to avoid a war if possible, not start one. That was clear to you from the beginning when we agreed to assist you in seeking the return of the village, as was our obligation."
It looked like he had no choice. Lord Vance's refusal to obey his orders meant a retreat to Atranta was out of the question. Very well then. He would remember though.
"Willas, deploy twenty guardsmen and thirty levy along the river bank on our side of the bridge. I want the knights and Lord Vance's guardsmen to deploy at our side of the bridge end, in case there is an attempted forced crossing, if our 'discussion' goes badly. You are in command here. Send a couple of scouts up and down the river to keep a watch out for any attempt by Smallwood to ford the river to cut off a retreat if necessary. Willem and myself, together with Lord Vance and two other knights will meet with Lord Smallwood at the bridge. The other twenty levy and ten guardsmen will form a rearguard at the tavern to warn of treachery from the Smallwood knights located there."
He looked around for the Septon. "Septon Jared. I have a special task for you. Return to Harrenhal now. Tell my uncle Jon of what has transpired. Tell him if we are not back within two days that to assume that a state of war exists between Smallwood and Vance and by extension between Piper and Blackfort. Tell him to re-inforce Atranta with knights and to raise the levies. Also get him to send word to my brother."
Edmure drew a deep breath and loosened his sword. As much as he misliked it, he issued his orders and moved towards the bridge.
[Command: 85] + 5 = [90]
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Aug 24, 2016 4:59:30 GMT
Ser Willem nodded at Ser Edmure's new commands, and drew up alongside him. As much as he disliked it, the state of tension was much of his own making, and he felt he owed it to Edmure to tell him about his service to Smallwood. Not only did he not want Edmure to be surprised if Lord Smallwood recognised him, but perhaps the Blackfort Castellan would be able to use the knowledge to their advantage in negotiation.
"Ser Edmure." He said quietly, his visor up. "There is something you should know."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Aug 24, 2016 5:17:38 GMT
Edmure's heart sank. From Willem's demeanor, it didn't sound good. Nonetheless he kept a calm face.
"Don't tell me you've killed someone else you shouldn't have."
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Aug 24, 2016 6:09:29 GMT
"No." Willem said, taken aback by the suggestion. He paused, recollecting himself. Then he spoke quietly enough for only Edmure to be able to hear. "I fought for Lord Smallwood during the war. At riverrun. He knighted me."
Willem eyed Edmure nervously, wondering how his information would be received.
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Post by Ser Willis Blackfort on Aug 24, 2016 6:25:53 GMT
"Willas, deploy twenty guardsmen and thirty levy along the river bank on our side of the bridge. I want the knights and Lord Vance's guardsmen to deploy at our side of the bridge end, in case there is an attempted forced crossing, if our 'discussion' goes badly. You are in command here. Send a couple of scouts up and down the river to keep a watch out for any attempt by Smallwood to ford the river to cut off a retreat if necessary. Willem and myself, together with Lord Vance and two other knights will meet with Lord Smallwood at the bridge. The other twenty levy and ten guardsmen will form a rearguard at the tavern to warn of treachery from the Smallwood knights located there." Willis rode off and gave the orders, splitting the guards and levy between either side of the bridge. He himself rode to their edge of the bridge and called to the man with the white flag on the other, "Lord Vance and Ser Edmure will be along momentarily."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Aug 24, 2016 9:20:30 GMT
"No." Willem said, taken aback by the suggestion. He paused, recollecting himself. Then he spoke quietly enough for only Edmure to be able to hear. "I fought for Lord Smallwood during the war. At riverrun. He knighted me." Willem eyed Edmure nervously, wondering how his information would be received. It was with considerable difficulty that Edmure fought down the urge to laugh hysterically. The Gods were toying with him he felt sure. That it was his own cousin that had served the Lord Smallwood waiting across the bridge with a force that could well finish them all off was ironic. That it was at Riverrun where Edmure had fought for two years against Tully and Targaryen forces was even more improbable. That the same man had then killed the Piper knight making Edmure's own efforts to broker a peace between their two houses almost impossible topped it all off. Was Willem some sort of double-agent? Edmure passed the back of his hand across his forehead where he had broken out in a sweat, despite the coldness. He wondered if it has been all pre-arranged, that there was some sort of grand conspiracy to provoke the Blackforts into a war they could not hope to win. Was Vance in on it as well, looking for an excuse to forsake his allegiance to Harrenhal in favor of Pinkmaiden? Edmure shook his head slightly to clear his thoughts. No surely not, he told himself fiercely as he tried to fight down a rising wave of despair. "I will not lie cousin." he said finally, emphasising the family link, his voice calmer than he inwardly felt. "Your revelation surprises and concerns me."
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Aug 24, 2016 15:54:16 GMT
Jared wasn't sorry to be given the order to get out of there. As much as he suspected a fight was coming - and he liked a good fight - he felt the current situation was likely to be a shitstorm. And someone would have to act as the voice of reason if Hoster were inclined to be reckless. So he mounted his horse, called "May the Warrior guard you all" to the Blackfort men, and galloped away.
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Aug 24, 2016 16:15:25 GMT
"I know it does not look good." Willem replied. "But I am no longer Smallwood's man, whatever you may think. I do not know how that knight escaped, but it was not my doing."
He hesitated, before adding. "I never said anything of this before because I had assumed it would be taken poorly."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Aug 24, 2016 23:41:17 GMT
Edmure's brow wrinkled. "Why aren't you still with Smallwood? Did he release you from his service?"
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Aug 24, 2016 23:46:14 GMT
"I left when the war ended." Willem replied, not fully answering the second question.
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The Gambler
Administrator
Alea Iacta Est
Posts - 1,984
Likes - 612
Joined - December 2015
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Post by The Gambler on Aug 25, 2016 0:00:34 GMT
Two figures road out to the parley spot in the distance, each flanked by a pair of knights, one carrying the Smallwood banner and the other that of house Piper.
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Aug 25, 2016 0:17:28 GMT
"I left when the war ended." Willem replied, not fully answering the second question. Edmure realised that Willem had not fully answered his question. Keeping his voice low he looked his cousin directly in the eye and spoke urgently. "In your favor Willem, is that you did not have to divulge this information about your former service to Smallwood, but volunteered it. However I must know the circumstances of your leaving Smallwood's service before we cross that bridge. Is there any reason that your presence with us could negatively affect this parley? Does Smallwood know you by face and name?"
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Post by Lucas of Brindlewood on Aug 25, 2016 0:44:24 GMT
"He does, yes." Willem replied, consigned to telling all since Edmure was demanding it of him. "I saved his life in the war, and served him for its duration, which I would hope count in my favour. When the war ended I anticipated he would not have the coin to retain the services of all who had fought with him. I made a difficult decision easier for him by looking for a new liege on my own initiative. How he took that I know not. All in all I would expect to be viewed favourably on the whole, but I can make no promises, especially now I have killed one of Lord Piper's men."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Aug 25, 2016 0:52:57 GMT
"They don't necessarily know that it was you that killed one of Piper's men." replied Edmure, digesting this new piece of information. "Although they might if the rider sent out was the Smallwood knight that escaped the peasant's hut."
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