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Post by Jon Blackfort on Jun 15, 2016 15:29:28 GMT
"War is a pickpocket, nephew. And the last four years have robbed us all. War won't come until somebody can afford it."
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Post by Edwyn Blackfort on Jun 15, 2016 22:08:21 GMT
"War is a pickpocket, nephew. And the last four years have robbed us all. War won't come until somebody can afford it." "Then when it does finally come, let us make sure we can afford it." replied Edmure somewhat grimly. "Come. There is work to do." He chuckled and clapped Jon on the shoulder as they left the vaults.
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 25, 2016 21:58:36 GMT
////////////////////////// 2nd Moon, 23rd Day
Qhorin and his man make their way to the vaults, looking for more of the underpassages that this place had. He was beginning to make a map of the place as they hadn't got one earlier, and this was just another in a long chain of inspections. He'll look for passages to the other towers specifically. He had a feeling this place had as much below it as above. (Civil Engineering 80)
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Jun 25, 2016 22:14:29 GMT
(+1 Civil Engineering)
It takes hours for Qhorin to map out the cavernous vaults, clearly a natural limestone cavern that the lake had hollowed out over eons before receding. He does not find and secret tunnels to other towers, but he does discover a wall with an unusual unnatural slant to it, that to all but the best trained architectural eye, would just look like another stone wall. He eventually finds the mechanism to open the secret passage, a sconce in a nearby wall, and discovers a secret treasure room behind filled with gold and gems, with coins centuries old and a skeletons dressed in faded Hoare livery. Clearly Harren had commissioned a secret vault within his vault to house a special stash and serve as a panic room of sorts if the castle fell, while ensuring he was the only one that knew of it. Had it not been for his hubris, perhaps he would have thought to use it when Balerion melted his towers and extinguished his line.
(+2 to House Wealth)
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 25, 2016 22:23:32 GMT
Qhorin gives a long, slow whistle as he examines the room. He'll send his man to find the nearest Blackfort family member and bring them here, while he takes a look at this little spot. The skeletons intrigue him, because it seems like the panic room doesn't have a way for anyone to open from the inside. Or that something else caused their death beyond thirst and hunger. He wouldn't enter, just leave the torches burning so that whoever came could see.
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Jun 25, 2016 22:30:09 GMT
As it happened, Violet was on her way down to the vaults in the rather vague hope that the lock she sought might be located here in some chest or door. So Qhorin's assistant found her with ease. She approached Qhorin somewhat nervously and had to fight down a shriek when she saw the skeletons.
"Um, hello," she said to Qhorin. "I think you should send your man up to Lord Belric's solar to report this at once. And we'll need to rely on your discretion, of course. We can't have the entire household knowing about this place."
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 25, 2016 22:34:30 GMT
"Milady" said the mason, and gestured to his man "To the Lord then. Think I saw him in the yard last." He hoped the man wouldn't slap him. If the lord tried to punch him, was he allowed to strike back? Nope. Not at all. Was he allowed to dodge? Or block? Maybe he should just take it like a man.
He turns back to the secret chambger and gestures to it "Found it while inspecting t'foundation. Bolt hole looks like, also more secretive vault. That scone there operates it" he said, pointing to the torch location "But not sure yet about how to get out once inside. Haven't gone in yet."
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Jun 25, 2016 22:45:45 GMT
"There must be a way. You could leave the door open while we take a proper look inside," Violet remarked. "But we'd best wait for Lord Belric. The treasure belongs to him, now."
Though she couldn't help casting a wistful eye towards the jewels. It would be wonderful to wear a jewelled necklace like a proper highborn lady.
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 25, 2016 22:46:40 GMT
Belric found his way to the vaults, led by one of the guards who had found him training in the yard. The man was rather vague in explaining the situation, so Belric was not quite sure what to expect. When he saw Violet and Qhorin, his tension eased slightly.
"What have you called me down here for?" He asked, seemingly impatient to be on his way.
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 25, 2016 22:50:07 GMT
"As you command, my lady." says the man respectfully. When the lord approaches, Qhorin tenses up and gets a side-step ready when the punch would make its way to him. "Secret vault of House Hoare. Still has around 400 dragons worth of gold inside milord, as well as good bolt hole... if it can be opened from inside. Not sure yet."
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Jun 25, 2016 22:57:18 GMT
"Belric," Violet said eagerly. "I want to see if my own little puzzle can be answered here. I was coming to the vaults with that purpose in mind, and it would be foolish to ignore such a possibility while I have the opportunity. If you don't mind, of course."
She smiled winningly at her brother.
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Post by Lord Belric Blackfort on Jun 25, 2016 23:00:53 GMT
Belric's eyes went wide when he saw the contents of the hidden room. He had never seen such a fortune in person, if it could be hidden away so discretely he wondered what other secrets lay within the walls of Harrenhal.
"Well done, mason," He said, nodding to the man thankfully.
He turned to Violet, motioning with an open hand to the hidden treasure room. "Be my guest. I am as curious as you are, sister."
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Ser Richard
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Post by Ser Richard on Jun 25, 2016 23:02:32 GMT
The mason relaxed a little bit. The man seemed reasonable, but he was giving him good news. Bad storms bring out the bad men.
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Post by Tim of Raventree on Jun 25, 2016 23:06:21 GMT
Violet glanced once at the skeletons and took a hesitant step forward, then another, and a few more. until she was inside the room. Her fingers tingled with longing to hold the jewels but she dared not do so when they did not belong to her. Perhaps she would be allowed to wear some of them, one day.
She conducted a through search of the secret room, hunting for boxes, chests, secret doors, anything that might hold a lock to match the key she now wore around her neck during her waking hours.
-Observation 43
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The Gambler
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Post by The Gambler on Jun 25, 2016 23:27:55 GMT
Clearly having become a true noblewoman, finding a secret room full of treasure and expecting more, Violet searches in vain. From the coins and the state of the corpses it was clear the room had not been opened in centuries. Danelle Lothson had lived and died without knowing of its existence, so the odds of her key opening anything in this room was less likely than Dany solving a problem without dragons or being fireproof.
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