[D1, Early Night] Conversation (Open)

Loreia Merrgal wrote:Loreia glances over from her contest of drinks at the silver-haired man saunters in. She meets poor Becca's gaze from across the way. No use. With renewed determination, she returns to her contest with her head a little clearer, keeping some propriety to finish the contest first before turning her attention. Hang in there, she thought to herself.

She breathed freely when she noticed that the newcomer decided to take the matter into his own hands, and did so with with ease, and her ear perked when one of the men he issued orders to addressed him with title. This silver-haired lord warranted investigation of sorts.

Later, after her brawl - the end to the demands of the unspoken rules in the barroom seemed difficult to fathom - she approached the table of this lord while Becca was away. "
'Ello there, you handled that one outside pretty good, 'milord',"
she opened, placing a hand on the top of the back of a chair to hint at an innocent motive. "
What lofty barfly comes to lend a helping hand to the little people tonight?

Baelon takes stock of the new arrival.
Well isn't she an odd one. The black brothers told me of wildling women fighting alongside their men, but I never expected to see something like that this far south - other than we Targaryans of course, but that's a different matter altogether.
"
Ser Baelon Waters. I'm not actually a lord, but who can blame smallfolk for erring on the side of caution?"

He smiles and gestures for her to take the seat.
She's taller than me, and it wouldn't surprise me if she were at least as strong. I wonder what it would be like to bed her? Well, it would be rude to turn away Becca at this point, but maybe I'll find out some other time.
"
And who would you be?"

She pulls out the chair and steadies herself as she sits opposite Baelon, with an aloof posture. She meets his gaze and notices his violet peepers, an observational discovery on the closeness of his lineage that is sure to be noticeable by the young man, this far into his life as his apparent age would suggest.

"
Loreia Merrgal,"
she replies, still tingling with ale-induced mirth. "
Sorry for the mix-up, but I'd thought you'd be with one of the Targaryen entourages. Do you serve a noble house?"

Baelon smiles.
"
I cannot imagine what might have given you that impression. No, though I am of Targaryan blood and was squired and knighted at Dragonstone, I am not currently in the immediate service of my family. There I would have been nothing more than just another household knight with little chance to make a name for myself. The world does not lay shut up behind castle walls;
a lesson more lordlings should learn."

He takes a sip of ale.
"
Currently I serve House Marsten of the Vale. And you, Loreia, whom do you serve?"

Dunstan, still under the impression from the recent excitement, insists to stay and at least have a drink in the Inn. The guards of course object as they always do, but the stubborn Lord won't have any of that.
Seeing how the Inn is full, and there is scarcely an empty seat in the entire room, he approaches the table occupied by two people. After having a closer look he recognizes Baelon, the knight who escorted Lady Gwyn to Mountain's Reach in the past.

"
Are my eyes deceiving me or is that truly you Ser Baelon? Long time no see!"
Dunstan says.

Ben does his best to ease the troubled Tullison guards. Speaking kindly and commandingly he sends them out of the building, knowing full well what transpire now is on his shoulders.

Upon returning to Dunstan, he finds him speaking with an unusual female sellsword and ... Baelon. His eyes roll, his demeanor taking on a slightly more aggressive appearance. You have got to be kidding me. Can things get worse? At least Gwyn is not with him.

Clearing his head and steeling himself he approaches the table.

"
Lord Dunstan!"
Baelon stands to greet the Tullison lord. "
And Ser... Benjen, too. So good to see you both. Please, join me!"

I had hoped for just a pleasant evening's entertainment, but this could be a good opportunity.

"
Loreia, this is Lord Dunstan Tullison and Ser Benjen. Lord Dunstan, this is Loreia Merrgal, a new acquaintance."


Baelon waves Becca over.
"
Becca dear,"
he says, nonchalantly brushing a stray piece of her hair back behind her ear, his finger casually caressing her cheekbone as he does so, "
would you be so kind as to bring my friends some ale?"


OOC: There's no tone of mockery when he calls Benedict Benjen. He's just misremembering the name.

This invite feels like a lightning bolt out of the blue to Loreia, but she is saved from stuttering out a greeting, owed to the identities of the invited. "
M'lords,"
she greets, the mirth quickly dispersing from her demeanor. She momentarily flashes a genuine smile to Becca, the non-threatening and deferential sort of expression people may recognize as a way of showing whether certain "
interests"
may be challenged - in this case, not at all.

That expression quickly disappears as she turns her attention to Dunstan to respond to Baelon's introduction, her mood mildly soured. "
We might not've met, milord, but I remember your House. Your uncle was part of last year's tourney, at the Twins."
Although losing a lighthearted quality, her tone harbors no malice, but when coupled with refraining to tilt her gaze back to look straight up at him, her eyes rolling up a bit towards her brow to compensate, it projects a guarded attitude.

*I assume that, in the prelude, Theomore bowing to Lord Frey means that the "
incident"
took place at the Twins.*

Ben nods respectfully and smiles graciously to Baelon. Then extends the same to Loreia. "
Ser Benedict Blackthorne, Loreia it is good to meet you."

Loreia Merrgal wrote:This invite feels like a lightning bolt out of the blue to Loreia, but she is saved from stuttering out a greeting, owed to the identities of the invited. "
M'lords,"
she greets, the mirth quickly dispersing from her demeanor. She momentarily flashes a genuine smile to Becca, the non-threatening and deferential sort of expression women may recognize as a way of showing whether certain "
interests"
may be challenged - in this case, not at all.

That expression quickly disappears as she turns her attention to Dunstan to respond to Baelon's introduction, her mood mildly soured. "
We might not've met, milord, but I remember your House. Your uncle was part of last year's tourney, at the Twins."
Although losing a lighthearted quality, her tone harbors no malice, obut when coupled with refraining to tilt her gaze back to look straight up at him, her eyes rolling up a bit towards her brow to compensate, it projects a guarded attitude.

*I assume that, in the prelude, Theomore bowing to Lord Frey means that the "
incident"
took place at the Twins.*

"
Nice to meet you as well! Any friend of my uncle is a friend of mine!"
Dunstan says automatically assuming that if they have met, they must be friends.

"
And splendid to see you again as well Ser. How do do things fare in the Marsten household? I hope all is well."

Loreia blinks. The lord apparently did not catch her allusion. She nods respectfully to each of them in turn nonetheless- perhaps she and his lordship could be on good terms - and turns back to Baelon to hear his response, but concerned that the highborn men would be content to carry on without so much as a second glance.

"
Ah, yes, 'Benedict', not 'Benjen'. Forgive me."

Turning to Lord Dunstan, he continues.
"
The Marsten household fairs well - though the clans are as problematic as ever. We shall have to take more aggressive measures against them soon, I think."

He shakes his head.
"
But how fare you and your House, my lord?"


Intrigue (Initiative)
Goal: Friendship (Dunstan)
[url=Initiative][/url]: 3d6 16
Dispositions: Dunstan - Amiable (+1 Per, +0 Dec, 3 DR);
Ben - Indifferent (+0 Per, +0 Dec, 4 DR);
Loreia - Amiable (+1 Per, +0 Dec, 3 DR)

OOC: I included everyone in the dispositions, just in case;
I figure this intrigue can be part of a larger/more inclusive conversation if people wish to converse without participating in the intrigue. Except for Dunstan, of course.

"
Savage man is what they are. I will pray to the Warrior for you when you come to blows. As a matter of fact I have been planning to speak with your Lady about that, and have the interests of both sides on my mind!"
Dunstan says and brings the cup to his lips.

"
Oh, and if that meeting becomes reality, I trust to have you as an ally - we warriors must support each other! If the diplomats were to decide on actions, clans would continue raiding and our bottoms would go numb from sitting and pondering!"
I am sure both Ben and our new friend will agree."
Dunstan speaks with fervor.


Intrigue initiative: [url=Status (Initiative)][/url]: 5d6 22
Disposition: Indifferent, DR 4
Objective: convince to help Dunstan when in meeting with Lady Isobel
Intrigue Defense: 9
Composure: 9


Action: [url=Shield of Reputation vs. Baelon][/url]: 5d6 20

OOC: So this is against your base Will, and increases your disposition by one step. If I am doing anything wrong do say so in the OOC thread, never done intrigues before.

OOC: It is best not to post your action until all the initiatives are in;
sometimes you may be surprised. In this case I doubt that either Ben or Loreia will beat your initiative so it is not a big deal. However I am going to wait for them to either roll initiative or declare that they are not participating before posting my Exchange 1 action.

Initiative: [url=Initiative Drunken Huntsman][/url]: 3d6 6
Disposition: Baelon-dislike DR 5, Loreia-indifferent DR4, Dunstan-friendly DR 2
Objective: Support
Defense: 9
Composure: 9

"
About pushing back against the clans? Absolutely I do. Didn't know we were just sittin' 'round,"
she answers, with mock, downplayed bewilderment(perhaps a little bewildered, if she knows or is learning that little action is being taken against the clans). She takes another sip of what is probably her last safe drink for the night.

[url=Status Initiative][/url](Default to Lord Dunstan) 3d6k3: 16
Goal: shift focus of agenda(mountain raiders)
Dispositions: Baelon - Amiable(DR 3, +1 Per);
Benedict - Indifferent(DR 4);
Dunstan - Indifferent (DR 4)

OOC: [url=tie breaker intrigue initiative vs. Loreia][/url]: 3d6 14

Intrigue (Exchange 1)
Goal: Friendship (Dunstan)
Initiative: 16 (Dunstan, Baelon, Loreia, Ben)
Dispositions: Dunstan - Friendly (+3 Per, -1 Dec, 2 DR);
Ben - Indifferent (+0 Per, +0 Dec, 4 DR);
Loreia - Amiable (+1 Per, +0 Dec, 3 DR)

Action: [url=Persuasion(Charm) vs Dunstan][/url]: 6d6k5+5 24 1d6 4 1d6 1 = 4 DoS
Effect: (4*4)-4 = 12 Influence

"
My lord, should you and the forces of House Tullison aid us against the clans I have no doubt but that we would succeed. I saw firsthand the doughty warriors of Mountain's Reach, and do not doubt that they will be of great value. I will most definitely speak to Lady Isobel..."
He glances out the window, seeing naught but darkness "
...tomorrow."


He turns to Loreia.
"
It's not that we are just sitting around ignoring them. We patrol our lands and stop their raids when we can. Usually though they hit isolated villages and vanish into the hills long before we even find out, never mind get there. Taking the fight to them will require a stronger force than any one house can muster."


OOC: Baelon's disposition towards Dunstan was raised to Friendly by Dunstan's Shield of Reputation - which gave him just enough extra persuasion to get that 4th DoS.

Round 1(fight!)
Goal: Discourage hope for favor from alliance vs Clans(Dunstan)
Initiative: Dunstan(22), Baelon(16), Loreia(16), Ben(6)
Dispositions: Baelon - Amiable(DR 3, +1 Per);
Benedict - Indifferent(DR 4);
Dunstan - Indifferent (DR 4)

Action: [url=Persuasion(Convince) vs Dunstan][/url]: 2d6k2: 10
Effect: 4*1=4 vs DR

"
Well, if it takes two or three houses to do that, then these houses owe it to each other to team up,"
she harumphs. "
Bushwhacking, pretender Ironmen the lot of them, craven to admit they're too thick to make a difference. All I need to know of them, really. We all've nothing to lose dashing them against the stones as it is."


Loreia's inebriated mood seems to have shifted from relaxed contentment - before meeting Dunstan - to somewhat disgruntled in quite a short span of time.

*Favor defined: any sort of reward, service or beneficiary arrangement - not to say that I mean "
all of the above"
, anyway.*
Added Effect of my Action

Initiative: 6
Disposition: Baelon-dislike DR 5, Loreia-indifferent DR4, Dunstan-friendly DR 2
Objective: Support
Defense: 9
Composure: 9
Action: [url=Mollify Dunstan Drunken Huntsman][/url]: 3d6+3 11
Result: Nothing

"
Lord Dunstan is right we must stick together."
Ben tries to make Dunstan feel supported.

Initiative: 22
Disposition: Baelon-indifferent DR 5, Loreia-indifferent DR4, Ben-friendly DR 2
Defense: 10
Composure: 0 (9)
Action: Yield offer - we both change the disposition at friendly and you do get +1D at the next intrigue.
Frustration: 1

"
It seems to me we are on the same page Baelon. Can't wait to show the clans who is who!"
Dunstan says, offering a handshake to Ser Baelon.

OOC: So we both end the intrigue with Friendly disposition until next time, if I am getting this righ. Edit: Added the yield offer, and I need to take 1 point of Frustration.

Baelon takes the young lord's hand with a firm and friendly grip.

"
I look forward to it, my lord! I will speak with Lady Isobel to set up a meeting between or houses."

First Daveth now Dunstan - do I have a sign on my back saying "
offer me help against the clans"
?

OOC: Yield accepted - very generous terms.

Again, Loreia's words seemed to have gone right over the lord's head. She wondered if Lady Isobel would even consider her house over Tullison. Either way, Daveth would not take their 'meddling' very well. She swallows another mouthful of ale.

"
Speakin' of warriors who favor action, those rowdy Roxton boys are no acception,"
she notes to Lord Dunstan, nodding in their direction. "
I'm sure they'd love to meet a likeminded lord, like you."


Action: Yield

Ben picking up on Loreia's not so subtle hint places his hand on Dunstans shoulder. "
My Lord, perhaps we should excuse ourselves it seems we may have interrupted a private conversation?"
Ben looks to the rowdy Roxtons and then to the door. "
I know it would ease the fellows minds if we were to shove off from this place, but if you are inclined we could have a drink."
And my mind too by putting distance between me and him. His gaze falling on Baelon.

"
I look forward to seeing you both again."
Baelon says to the Tullison lord and knight.
Well, half of that is true at least. I don;
t know what that man's problem is with me, but at least he's smart enough not to say anything about it in my presence.