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Post by Tim of Raventree on Jul 26, 2016 19:29:39 GMT
"I didn't know that, truly. At the motherhouse we were taught nothing about the time before the Andals brought the Seven to Westeros. And we were not allowed to ask questions about the Old Gods," she confided. "I daresay they would have told us there was no time before the Andals, if they dared." She smiled a little mischievously. "But they were good women, truly, even though they were not fond of ancient history."
Another pause as she took a morsel of soup. "I have only ever seen two godswoods in my life, at Harrenhal and the Red Keep. I did not know what the custom was in most castles, and I heard that many weirwoods were burned down by the Andals."
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Barley
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Post by Barley on Jul 26, 2016 21:30:05 GMT
(+2 Observation) "I can't rightly be leaving my brother alone," Toren replied curtly, the warning glance from his brother clearly keeping him from adding the phrase 'with you bastards' to the end of that statement. It did not take an astute eye to see that he was straining at his imposed shackles not to paint the hall with Blackfort blood. (If there was a level below Hate, he'd be at it.) Tristan seemed uncomfortable, though rather due to his company or his maiming or simply the awkwardness of youth, Saesha could not tell. Violet at least appeared to have his attention. ( Indifferent or higher with Violet and Indifferent or lower with the rest.) Lysa just seemed bored, a young woman who had been kept under siege during her prime years for receiving suitors, a flower kept in the dark too long. (Indifferent) Lord Medgar was a difficult read. His demeanor was pleasant and he was a gracious host, but Saesha got the sense that it was practiced, perfected over the years of hosting vassals and treating with lords or royals. (No higher than Indifferent) Alynna was more of an open book than her husband, but far more poised than her brother in law. It was clear that she carried some coldness towards the Blackforts; either due to their low/bastard birth, the fact that they had fought against the Tullys and Freys, or perhaps holding them partially responsible for the maiming of her son. (No higher than Dislike) Saesha did not let his implication deter her, it was not as if it were unexpected, "it always warms the heart to find people so dedicated to their brothers,"
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 26, 2016 23:18:04 GMT
"House Tully has the benefit of good friends," Medgar replied easily. "The Lannisters were willing to provide us a loan at a generous interest rate and though the Reach has a new Lord Paramount, there was no shortage of lords willing to sell excess grain at a discount after the war emptied their coffers. Do not concern yourself with our well being. This is hardly the first winter House Tully has endured."
Belric had not been interested in Riverrun's welfare, if that was indeed how Medgar had interpreted his question. Instead, he had been attempting to gain insight into how one of the masters was playing the game. Hearing of Lord Tully's need for a loan, Belric felt vindicated in regards to a subject that had caused a great deal of debate amongst his council. "Riverrun is steadfast, none would deny that." Belric drew another helping of stew from his bowl. He ate indifferently, hiding his disappointment when Toren confirmed he would be joining them while Hawking. Belric had assumed as much, but could not help be on edge whenever the Lord's brother was near. He wondered for a moment if people thought the same of Edmure.
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The Raven
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Post by The Raven on Jul 27, 2016 5:13:31 GMT
Alynna turned to her goodbrother Toren with a concerned look. "Please eat while the food is still warm, Toren. You know they would want you to."
The grim knight's visage softened before turning his attention to the meal before him.
Alynna turned to her guests. "Speaking of Lord Lannister... Is it true you have his nephew as your Maester? What a touch of civilization Percival must be! My Tristan and he might have even boarded together if he had managed to visit the Citadel."
Toren snorted, as he tore into his meat. "Preposterous. Do you think Damon Lannister would let a Blackfort maester tend to his own wife and children? I think not."
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jul 28, 2016 0:10:30 GMT
"Yes," said Belric, nearly choking on his words. "He certainly brings a unique charm to the keep. I can honestly say I've never seen a man with cleaner patchwork. He has treated several of my kin in the short time we have been in the God's Eye." He quickly went back to eating, hoping to avoid the subject of his disobediant maester.
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Jul 29, 2016 14:35:33 GMT
"I didn't know that, truly. At the motherhouse we were taught nothing about the time before the Andals brought the Seven to Westeros. And we were not allowed to ask questions about the Old Gods," she confided. "I daresay they would have told us there was no time before the Andals, if they dared." She smiled a little mischievously. "But they were good women, truly, even though they were not fond of ancient history." Another pause as she took a morsel of soup. "I have only ever seen two godswoods in my life, at Harrenhal and the Red Keep. I did not know what the custom was in most castles, and I heard that many weirwoods were burned down by the Andals." "My father used to bring me to other keeps when he visited...before...the injury," Tristan replied, growing quiet again, the wound still fresh in his mind at least. "Despite the best efforts of the Andals, it truly is a resilient member of the arboreal family, living for centuries if not millennia, growing in soft soil and barren rocky soil alike. It would be a fitting sigil for a house, with more traits to admire than a lion or direwolf, but the only house and know that uses one is House Blackwood...and it is dead."
"Yes," said Belric, nearly choking on his words. "He certainly brings a unique charm to the keep. I can honestly say I've never seen a man with cleaner patchwork. He has treated several of my kin in the short time we have been in the God's Eye." He quickly went back to eating, hoping to avoid the subject of his disobediant maester.
Thankfully, the next course was brought out before the awkward silence became too oppressive, griddled whole trout with lemon butter and potatoes.
"Nothing serious, I hope?" Lord Medgar inquired, at the mention of the Blackwoods already requiring the use of their master on multiple occasions.
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Jul 29, 2016 15:54:22 GMT
"My father used to bring me to other keeps when he visited...before...the injury," Tristan replied, growing quiet again, the wound still fresh in his mind at least. "Despite the best efforts of the Andals, it truly is a resilient member of the arboreal family, living for centuries if not millennia, growing in soft soil and barren rocky soil alike. It would be a fitting sigil for a house, with more traits to admire than a lion or direwolf, but the only house and know that uses one is House Blackwood...and it is dead." "I see. I hope to become less ignorant of such matters in the future," she replied. "it must be wonderful to know so many things about our history. Do you know much about Harrenhal, Tristan?"
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Jul 30, 2016 17:56:47 GMT
"I do, though I never much cared for ghost stories, and the history of Harrenhal seems to be inseparable fromt them," he replied.
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Jul 30, 2016 20:52:28 GMT
"So it does," she agreed. "I would be happy to learn anthing you cared to share with me, though. I suspect the local tales are born from exaggeration and superstition. An educated man surely know how to separate facts from peasant gossip."
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Jul 31, 2016 17:54:00 GMT
"Of course, but it is hardly a topic for the dinner table, or a pleasant walk in the godswood for that matter," Tristan said, taking a drink from his goblet at the thought. "How do you like living there? I saw it once and it looked a place built for giants, not men. I imagine only the Wall ellicits the same sense of awe and foreboding."
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Jul 31, 2016 18:39:57 GMT
"I couldn't say," she said with a giggle. "I've never seen the Wall, and I probably never will! You're right, though. I feel like I'm no bigger than a mouse, sometimes. Harrenhal is very grand, but it's not a...warm place to live, you know? There's something a little unfriendly about the size of it, and the damaged towers. I miss my old home sometimes, in Harroway's Town. It wasn't very big but it was cozy and warm."
She shrugged. "But it will probably be different for Belric's children, when we has them. They will be born in Harrenhal and will learn to love it in a special way."
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Jul 31, 2016 18:48:44 GMT
"That is what happens when a man builds a keep to fit his ego rather than his needs," the heir to Riverrun remarked. "Yes, I imagine when it is all they ever know, everything else will seem cramped and stuffy by comparison."
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Jul 31, 2016 19:00:01 GMT
"Yes, of course. I do quite like having more space than I grew up with, but I never knew there was such a thing as too much space, until I came to Harrenhal. That sounds awfully silly, I know, but it's the truth."
She shrugged again and took a sip of wine.
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Jul 31, 2016 19:03:59 GMT
"Hardly, in fact, is that very notion not the basis of feudalism?" the scholarly lad mused. "A continent is too much land for when to manage, even a King. So a king splits it up between Lord Paramounts, who split it up between High Lords, who split up up between Lords, who split it up between Landed Knights. Yet they always want more. If history tells me anything about human nature, it is that we always want more than we can properly manage."
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Jul 31, 2016 19:13:26 GMT
"Oh, yes. There's that, I suppose," she agreed. "Perhaps women are like that too, sometimes. But not me, I would rather be happy than have riches beyond telling. So I suppose it's a good thing I'm not a Lannister. Truly, I would rather have a dozen silk dresses than a parcel of land to call my own."
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