Correspondence with Ferris Longshore

To Ferris Longshore
Dear Father
You probably remember better than me my travelling to Essos. However, now I am back and helping Uncle Leifnarr winning us glory at the tourney. This letter comes as a forewarning, after the tourney here I will return and take up my duties, and in addition to warn you of my homecoming I wanted to tell you that I am in negotiations with house Tullison, as potential allies in the wars that might come. I will keep you updated daily on my progress.

House Marsten is strong in power (41), but much of this is tied up in banner houses. They only have two units directly sworn to them and their banner houses and House Marsten are sorely pressed by the mountain clans.
Yours sincerely Yoren Longshore

A letter arrives early on [Day 7] in spidery handwriting, stained by ink smudges - it is clear that the unwell old Lord Ferris wrote it himself, despite the discomfort it clearly caused him. However, this personal attention is offset by the praise for Yoren's now departed brother, and the letter's impersonal tone.

My son,

It is a kind wind that returns my eldest son to me after all these years.

Write ahead of your return home with the name of your first battle-axe so that your father may now you are truly returned to him.

You do well to gather allies and bring word to us of House Marsten's strength. House Longshore has ever needed wisdom and intelligence as well as strength, beset as we are by those who would do us harm if given the chance. Show your brother Roddrick that cunning can temper strong iron in to true steel - make him the leader House Longshore needs.

Serve your father in this, and your explanation of your wanderings will go easier, boy. Post such discussions, we shall confirm appropriate "
duties"
.

Lord Longshore [not father, or Ferris]

Yoren quicly scrawls a letter, hoping to break the news if Roddrick before the body itself.
Father

Her name was Last Mercy
A few days past Athelstan slew Roddric. I am sorry to be the one that brings you these tidings. My heart grieves with you, my only solace to you was that he died swiftly and with a weapon in his hand. I sent an escort immediately to bring you his body. This was outside of my authority, and i am ready to take any punishment you will mete out for my crime, but at the time of Roddrics death Leifnarr dissapeared without saying a word and without naming a representative. I took it upon myself to ensure that Roddric returned. Athelstan was sent yesterday back to you so that you may mete out punishment as you wish, although let it be said that he has already paid an eye by Gormans judgement. Gorman also demands 400 dragons from our coffers for it happening at his tourney. Me and Henryk Pyke has tried to manage the situation here at the tournament as well as we were able to without any official authority from you or Leifnarr.
Sorry for such ill tidings
Yours sincerely
Yoren.

[OOC: moving various private threads in to public forums so everyone can enjoy them OOC as we approach the end of our first story. Nominations of topics to move welcome! - I tidy these up and delete some OOC stuff.]