The Great Hall of Byrch Hall

[The Gambler]

The Great Hall of Byrch Hall

[Lucas of Brindlewood]

3rd Moon, 26th Day

Willem and the three guardsmen sent with him by Lady Dacey ride for Byrch Hall. Willem sets a more leisurely pace than his ride to Harrenhal, seeing less need for urgency.

[The Gambler]

Byrch Hall was a great shell keep of granite, sitting atop a motte. It's gates flew the house banner, their arms blazoned with quarterly, gyronny white and black, a silver axe on a green field.

"Halt! Who goes there?" the most stereotypical guardsman in all of Westeros for 4 years running called down from the gatehouse.

[Lucas of Brindlewood]

Willem slowed his mount to a halt, motioning his companions to do likewise. "I am Ser Willem Rivers, and I come as a messenger of Lord Blackfort, of Harrenhal. I would speak with your Lord." he called up.

[The Gambler]

The gates open to allow the knight entry into the circular inner courtyard, at which point he is escorted to the great hall located in the east end of the ring fortress. Lord Thomas Byrch was not a particularly well loved lord, not a particularly fearsome warrior, and not a particularly handsome man. He had spent most of the war fighting the Blackfyre armies in the Kingswood while his smallfolk suffered raid after raid once Lord Butterwell turned his cloak and promptly, as Lord Byrch had often articulatley surmised, "fucked his former ally in the ass."



"Hear you've got a message for me," the lord practically snarled. "Out with it then." 

[Lucas of Brindlewood]

Somewhat put off by Lord Byrch’s demeanor, Willem nevertheless bowed his head respectfully before beginning the speech he had rehearsed in his mind for much of his ride there.

“My lord, thank you for your hospitality.” He said, without a trace of sarcasm. “I come to you as a messenger of Lord Blackfort. His brother and his escort were set upon by bandits and slain while riding in his lands. We have tracked them to your lands, and we seek your permission, and assistance if you are of mind to provide it, in eradicating this danger that threatens both your smallfolk as well as those of House Blackfort.”

[The Gambler]

"Are you implying that House Byrch cannot maintain law and order on its own lands without assistance?" the petulant, lord inquired, clearly seeing insult where none was intended. From his shabby attire at least two years out of date, the chill in the room from rationing firewood, the almost embarrassingly low number of servants milling about; Willem surmised that keeping law and order was likely the least of lord Byrch's concerns at the current moment.

[Lucas of Brindlewood]

"That was not my intention, my lord." Willem said, after having looked surprised for the briefest of moments. This was not going anything like he had imagined it going on the ride to Byrch Hall. "But perhaps I misspoke. I apologise for any affront caused."

He hesitated for a moment, trying to figure out an inoffensive way of framing his request. The rational offer of help clearly wasn't working."I hope you can agree, my lord, that a member of house Blackfort having been murdered by these detestable men is a most serious matter. House Blackfort has a strong desire to see these men brought to justice. We have come for you out of our recognition of your right to dispense justice on your lands, and we only beg that you allow us to assist you in hunting these men down with the greatest haste."

(OOC: Not sure this fits a persuasion role, but if it does, Persuasion 5)

[The Gambler]

(+1 Persuasion. You still fail pretty badly.)

"I have larger concerns than a branch cut from your family tree," Byrch said, with no trace of empathy for the loss. "And could not care less for your desires or haste. Get off my lands, ser."

They were interrupted by a peasant bursting into the hall, sweat pouring down his brow and breathing labored. "Milord! Raiders near Brindlewood! At least a score in Blackfort colors!"

Lord Thomas turned beat red, a vein pulsing in his forehead as he turned back to the knight. Clearly whoever said it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission had never run into this situation.

"I see how it is, you bastards come to take what scraps your bannerman left behind?" he sputtered, spit flying from his mouth and fuming. "Guards! Seize him!"

A half dozen guardsmen  leveled their spears at Willem.

[Lucas of Brindlewood]

Willem was surprised for half a moment, before he realized that obviously Dacey had not followed his counsel to act discretely. While angry, he tried to set that aside in light of his current predicament.

"My lord, what purpose would I have in coming to you if House Blackfort were truly raiding your land?" Willem asked, making no move for his blade. "If you ask this man if any raiding in fact occured, I am sure you will hear of no ill having been done."

[The Gambler]

"That fucking snake Ambrose Butterwell didn't do much different," he snarled, as the guards grabbed Willem by either arm. "Acted my friend one moment and raiding my coffers dry he next. Not this time!"

The lord turned to his castellan. "Call up my knights and chase these devils off my lands!" he barked, before turning to his maester. "Send Lord Blackfort word that we have his man and are holding him for trespassing and banditry. He can give us 200 dragons (1 Wealth) as ransom for his return or we'll hang him."

[Lucas of Brindlewood]

"If you believe Lord Blackfort will suffer such aggression against his messenger, you are sorely mistaken, my lord." Willem shot back, angry at the threat of being hung. "This is not a fight you will win."

[The Gambler]

He is hauled off to the dungeons.

[Vex]

//////////

3rd moon, 28th day

Dacey arrived with a score of guards, one of them waving a peace banner, lest the idiot Byrch think the Blackforts had come to their lands to declare war.

[The Gambler]

The gates are opened for the party and Dacey is escorted to the great hall. Lord Thomas Byrch sits upon the dais, the typically impertinent and disgruntled lord looking more cowed. It could have something to do with the man standing nearby that he kept glancing at; tall, pale, black of hair, with narrowed discerning eyes.

"Welcome to Byrch Hall," the lord of the keep said in greeting, with the most forced fake smile Dacey had ever witnessed....and she had known Edmure.