The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Nov 9, 2016 0:39:31 GMT
(Failed)
Their captor glanced at Violet. "Why? I am sure anything you have to say, you can say in front of your dear brother. After all, he seems willing to die to save your pretty face, so it hardly matters now."
"You see Edmure, even now, she does not trust you with her secrets," the hooded man said sadly, "I could respect your sentiment, Edmure, were it not for the fact that I need to be sure you are capable of slaying kinsmen. I need to know that when it comes down to it, if Dacey or Hoster or Jormun raise steel against you, you will put them down without hesitation as well. I can assure you anonymity. I can assure that no one in the realm will know it was you, if it is your reputation that concerns you. But there is nothing you can do to assure me of your commitment short of taking the knife to her. As they say, words are wind."
"Either way, in the end I get what I want. The only thing that changes is whether or not one of you gets a seat at the table. The only way there is through the other. If either of you were the selfless type, you would not be here."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Nov 9, 2016 2:50:03 GMT
"Words are indeed wind. And you will see that my words are not." said Edmure savagely, his innate stubbornness in the face of adversity kicking in. He felt much like what he had felt in Belric's solar when Belric had been on the verge of removing his hand. Anger mixed in with a steely determination to resist undue intimidation. Whatever the cost. Either way he reasoned, it would not change Violet's fate. She would still be marked or killed. But he wouldn't do it.
"Bring any of those three here and I'll show you in person the Edmure Kinslayer that you seem to so desire. I have differing reasons to avenge myself on those three. Violet I do not. Violet can be used against Belric, but sending her back alive to Harrenhal with her face marked achieves little, apart from satisfying some sort of sadistic desire."
He shrugged. "You know my talents. You appear to know what I can do. You know my record. You know what brings me here. If that is not enough, then marking my sister's face beyond repair, should make no difference. The question is whether you, or whoever you serve, wants what I can offer. If you don't, kill me now. Deal with Belric without my help. I will not lift a hand in harming the only person in this world I still regard as family."
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Nov 9, 2016 3:01:33 GMT
"So be it," the hooded man replied, not seeming to much care, kicking the Valyrian steel dagger over to Violet. "That makes the options for you simple then, Violet. I can kill Edmure here, carve up your pretty face, and send you both back to Harrenhal where you will likely live to your dying days an old spinster. Or, you can kill him, keep your looks, keep your marriage, and return home with your assurances to poison Lord Roote against your brother. The choice is yours. Either way, Edmure has chosen death."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Nov 9, 2016 3:24:10 GMT
"Your words are indeed wind." sneered Edmure, not caring much now. The hooded man, if he was who Edmure thought he might be, was a fool. After his death, the man would no doubt accuse Edmure of cutting off his own nose to spite his face, but Edmure could equally say the same about him.
"So much for your talk of 'liberation.' "
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Nov 9, 2016 3:49:21 GMT
"Liberation had a price," the man replied, still standing before Violet. "It is regretful you were not willing to pay it. Now let us see if your sister is."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Nov 9, 2016 4:02:19 GMT
Edmure shrugged. He was a proud man and when it came to it, he would meet death with as much bravery as he could muster. It was clear that the man had looked to recruit him for whatever cause he followed, but it appeared that his own humiliation was the price of it. If he had ever become Lord of Harrenhal, he would not have wanted a sister disfigured by his own hand. That would have been humiliation in itself. Perhaps they were counting on that.
"Just run me through yourself and be done with it." he said to the hooded man sarcastically. "Why do you have to get a seventeen year old girl to do your dirty work for you? Give me a sword you cowards and I'll fight anyone of you in fair combat. Let me die as a knight. No? It seems I made the right choice. Your cause is obviously not one worth fighting for."
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Nov 9, 2016 5:14:41 GMT
The hooded man signaled and Ser Malcolm placed a gag in Edmure's mouth.
"You had your chance to talk and you made your choice," the hooded man said, in a condescending tone, turning back to Violet. "If you have never killed a man before, I promise it is not hard thing. Like blowing out a candle. You might even find you have a taste for it. I am certain you will make far quicker work of it than I would and I would hate to have to carve up that pretty face...cut off that nose...pluck out one of those eyes..."
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Nov 9, 2016 7:08:09 GMT
Violet turned her tear-stained face to the hooded man, appalled by the threats he made. "I have never killed a man, or even hurt one. But I did learn how to use a dagger. I don't want to kill my brother, but perhaps I can give him the one thing nobody else will."
She looked at Edmure. "I'm sorry. I wish there was another way to do this, truly, but you're doomed now. I can't do anything to help you, but I can give you a quick death. It might even be better than the Wall."
She looked down at the dagger in her hand. Such a small thing to be capable of taking a man's life. Yet it had a curious kind of beauty too. She murmured a prayer to the Mother for forgiveness, reached forward, and cut Edmure's throat.
Just in case, Small Blades 80
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Nov 9, 2016 7:12:06 GMT
(Your hands are unbound Edmure. Your call if you want to roll to defend yourself.)
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Nov 9, 2016 8:34:04 GMT
(Not much choice really)
Edmure fought back as he had been trained to do since he had first borne arms as a boy. He wasn't going to meekly bare his throat to the blade like a lamb to the slaughter. At 24, he was bigger and stronger than the seventeen year old Violet, but she had the blade. He didn't know if that would make much difference.
The sense of betrayal stung from the only member of his family he still felt anything for. Her sense of self-preservation was obviously greater than his. His hands fended off the dagger, not caring if he cut them.
{Unarmed: 5 + 5 = 10]
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Nov 9, 2016 8:43:48 GMT
The hooded man had lied. Killing a man was nothing like snuffing out a candle. Edmure moved his head back sharply as the dagger went for his throat, Violet tearing a gash that resulted in a spray of blood, but did not cut deep enough to kill. The betrayed brother managed to fend off another strike and step back, only halted when he backed up into one of the knights in armored plate. The knight wordlessly drew his sword and threw it down in front of Edmure's feet, as the pair he had seen exchange gold pieces before hurriedly made a new wager.
(Edmure gains +6 to Unarmed. Edmure takes a Light Wound for -10, now -30 from his earlier arrow wound, ironically also caused by Violet)
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Nov 9, 2016 8:57:37 GMT
Despite the pain of yet another wound, Edmure didn't hesitate, his extensive military training kicking in again. He stooped to make a grab for the sword, like he was on the battlefield, while using his other hand to fend off Violet's dagger. He had no choice now but to fight for his life. He had refused to harm Violet, but that was before she had moved to kill him. Now he felt no such obligation. The Gods were laughing at him he was sure. And if it wasn't the Gods laughing, it was the hooded man and his cronies.
If without sword: [Unarmed: 11 + 5 = 16]
If with sword: Sword: [81 + 5 = 86]
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Nov 9, 2016 9:20:47 GMT
Edmure picked up the sword and slashed the blade in a horizontal arc as Violet lunched at him, the point tearing a crimson line across her stomach. (Violet takes a Light Wound for -10. +1 Sword for Edmure)
Edmure's arm screams in protest as he swings the blade, arrow wound tearing open, and his broken ribs feel like shards of broken glass as they grind against one another inside him. Violet closes the distance and drives the razor sharp dagger into his shoulder, wedging it beneath his collarbone. (Edmure takes a Medium Wound)
Violet twists the blade as she tries to draw it out and stab Edmure again, causing the wound to breed profusely and Edmure to howl in pain. (Edmure takes a Light Wound)
Violet pulls the blade free and slides it between Edmure's ribs to the hilt, piercing a lung, causing her elder brother to cough up a glob of blood on her face. (Edmure takes a heavy wound)
Violet slides the blade out again, handle and her hands slick with her brother's blood, then stabs him again, this time in the gut. He drops the sword and clutches her shoulder weakly, eyes swimming, knowing this was the end. (Edmure take a heavy wound and is mortally wounded.)
Violet pulls out the blade free one last time, all the fight out of Edmure now, raising it up slowly and slicing his throat, deep enough this time that he begins choking on his own blood. He slumps to the ground and a death rattle gurgles from his lips. Two of the knights exchange gold pieces, one of them cursing under his breath. (Violet slays Edmure. +1 Small Blade for Violet)
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Nov 9, 2016 16:48:44 GMT
Still clutching the dagger in her bloody hands, Violet fell to her knees beside Edmure, heedless of the blood that now stained her travelling attire. Tears streamed down her face.
"Oh, Edmure. I didn't want to kill you. I didn't, But there was no other way. I wish...oh gods, I don't know! But I wish I didn't have to kill you." She closed his eyes, gently, then staggered back to her feet, in pain and crying.
It took Violet a moment to composure herself and she accidentally wiped blood over her face as she used the sleeve of her free hand to roughly dry her tears. She looked at the hooded man.
"So Edmure is dead, and you made me a killer," she said, fighting back the bitterness and grief. "What happens now?"
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Nov 10, 2016 16:53:42 GMT
"Do not blame others for what you are," the hooded man said evenly.
"What happens next is you go back home, Lady Violet," he answered after a moment, as Ser Malcolm approached her with the bag. Apparently they intended to to go back the same way she had come in and her act had not bought her their trust. "I would tell your family the story as it happened, to a point. You were accosted on the road by bandits, while Edmure and the guards were slain to facilitate you escape. Add what flourishes you like and a few tears. One of my associates will be in touch shortly with further instructions."
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