The Lord's Solar

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"We will put your green eyed prophet to the test. Let us show him what the future of the Riverlands looks like for thieves and murderers." Belric was excited by the thought of the hunt, though he knew the reality of his situation. He was Lord now, no more time for fun. "How many men do you have at your disposal?"

[The Raven]

Shoreham tilted his head as he recited the figures, as though they were written on the ceiling. "According to the last census taken, close to fifteen hundred, my lord. According to my captain of the guard, around fifty. And according to my sworn sword Ser Robert, perhaps five."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"I will need a more accurate count than that, m'lord. If Ser Robert's assumption is not a gross under exaggeration I fear you may no longer be in control of the very lands you hope to defend." He drank from his wine, speaking casually without judgement. "Regardless, it sounds like you will need a bolstering of your defensive forces in conjunction with our efforts to stop Skinner Jon. I will see that you are accompanied on your journey home. The guard I leave temporarily in your hands, under the command and discretion of one of my knights, until we can settle this bandit business. From what you have told me, it will take some time to find their leader."

[The Raven]

He traded water for wine. "I confess, my lord, I am a peacetime ruler. I was never a knight and if not for an accident of birth, I think I'd have been happier as a maester or a castellan. My sons came to manhood during the war like most, except my eldest, who has always been at war with the world in some fashion. If you want advice on how to manage your household or command a township, I can happily advise. But I am not Goodbrook or Vance. I haven't the foggiest notion of how to set about killing my enemies, of which I had none until a year ago."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"I will be sure to heed your council on such things." Belric replied in kind. "I feel no need to confess to you the contrary, that I have been a soldier my whole life and know little of peacetime politics. But perhaps, in each others strengths, we can find a way to govern these lands that is both fair and firm." He followed up his statement with a healthy sip of wine.

"To do such a thing, it is important that we communicate. You have my confidence Lord Shoreham, and I want to have yours. Know that I will never begrudge honesty. I welcome discussion, there is strength in numbers that is not just physical. Though when I make a decision, I expect it to be respected." He said the words directly, not wanting there to be a misunderstanding on how he intended to rule.

Satisfied, he added, "Tell of your relationship with Lords Vance and Goodbrook. What was it like under Lothson rule?"

(Persuasion: 50) (Not sure if I need this, and don't want to be a "stat whore." But I'm assuming the roll may determine what he reveals. I leave it up to you, Raven.)

[The Raven]

"Well, my wife was a Vance. Lord Roger is her brother's son. Our houses were very close before the war, but when Roger declared for Daemon Blackfyre, we had to sever ties with them. Not that we disapproved of him as heir or anything, but our family wasn't nearly as strong as they were. And I had been loyal to the Lothston family my entire life, as had my father and his father. The Vances were once kings, and then high lords. It's a different set of expectations. But we are still kin, and thankfully, Danelle never commanded us to war with each other. No, she was content to keep us as her purse and supplier and leave the bloody work to Goodbrook and Ryger." He sipped his drink before continuing.

"I can't tell you a great deal about Lord Willard Ryger. He kept his vows to Harrenhal, but he was as red as they came. He was the one who vouched for that pale demon that infected this place. And when Bloodraven rejoined Daeron's inner circle, he brought Ryger with him. After that..." Oswell shrugged. "All I can say is that I thought him a decent fellow all the years I knew him, and I am confounded as to how such a man came into such black company."

He paused before continuing. "I think... I think Goodbrook is not so much a good man as a good knight. Not quite like Simon Whent, but cut from the same cloth. A different sort of acceptable monster. If you value honor and loyalty, then you may quite like him. But if common decency and sanity hold substance in your court... You may not."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"Bloodraven has deep roots in the God's Eye." Belric said in confirmation. "I am hoping that Lord Willard will put his past alliances behind him in the name of peace. I am willing to do the same."

He shifted in his seat, still not fully accustomed to the tireless work of a lords rump. He may have been able to fight at length in full plate, but sitting on one's ass had its own challenges. "Thank you for the insight, I will be sure to heed your words when meeting each of them. They all seem like men of strong convictions, a good trait for any leader."

[Vex]

////////

3rd moon, 27th day, morning

Dacey, back from the 'hunt', knocked on the door to report stuff.

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

"Dacey?" He said in greeting, slightly concerned having not expected her. He looked her over, trying to read her expression. "What is it?"

[Vex]

Dacey closed the door behind her and sighed. "Bad news, I'm afraid. The chase for Edmure's murderers took us to a Lord Byrch's lands in the Crownlands. I sent Ser Willem to treaty with him while we kept tracking the bandits as we were already three days behind them. The trail went cold near a village and its inhabitants took us for raiders. We turned back and shortly, received word of Ser Willem's capture. Byrch demands 200 dragons for him and has apparently ordered to kill anyone wearing the Blackfort livery on his lands," she said grimly.

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

Belric let out a groan. "Well... Fuck."

"Is Lord Byrch harboring these bandits? If they are indeed rogue knights, they may be under his influence." He runned at his chin, "I'm feeling inclined to test his word."

[Vex]

Dacey shrugged. "I don't know much about him or these bandits. You might learn more from Violet or even Ser Malcolm, the knight that brought her back and accompanied us on the hunt."

[Lord Belric Blackfort]

Belric immediately sent one of his guards to retrieve Violet and Nathan Fillion. "Stay with me while we ask these questions of your sister and her savior. If we attempt a rescue, it will be you leading the charge."

[Tim of Raventree]

Violet arrived in the solar. She wore a black velvet gown decorated with silver thread. Her eyes were shadowed from several days of sleeping badly but she was a proper lady again after several days back at Harrenhal.

[The Gambler]

Ser Malcom entered in a worn deerhide jerkin, likely the only decent garb he owned. In contrast to Violet, he looked content and well-rested, likely due to a night not spent sleeping in the hedges.