[D6, Early night] What's in the box?

A guardsman in Tullison livery and a hastily borrowed mask seeks out Lord Tullison.

It's Lean Paul, normally one of Lady Yve's men. He carries a wooden box, large enough to bear a helm... or a head.

Fears naturally spring up that something has happened to Lady Yve.

A women has indeed been harmed. Men too.

But it is not Lady Yve that suffers.

Lean Paul kneels before Lord Dunstan, pressing a message in to his hand and ushering him away from his fellow guests. He knows what the message says, and what's in the box.

The message reads:

Lord Tullison,
You carry yourself as a pious man. You are not.

Your ungodly men could not stand against the Seven's justice. Your guards were no match for my men.

Like the ungodly Targaryens that marry brother to sister, so too do you pollute the holy vows of marriage, despoiling an innocent maid but failing to honour her with marriage before the seven.

Bring six men for your judgement if you wish to see your "
love"
again. Your lady "
love"
has been judged already.

Seven men, at the seventh hour tomorrow morning at the hanging tree known as Harren's Justice.

A holy hour and a a holy number of companions, to judge unholy actions.

In the Light of the Seven,
Ser Lionel Darry


Lean Paul does not move to open the box, but holds it before Lord Tullison.

[OOC: the exact timing of this thread depends on when Dunstan's schedule, but I'm excited about this and wanted everyone to see it.

House Darry are old foes of House Coldbrook, with Ser Lionel a noted religious fanatic]

His eyes twitching and on the verge of rage, Dunstan to wanted smash a nearby table to bits when he read the message.


Instead he reached his shaking hands to Lean Paul and grabbed the box, opening it.

I will give you a tour of Seven Hells personally you frog brained imbecile!

The severed head of the guardman "
Green Sam"
stares out blankly from the box.

Sam's weathered, faithful old visage has been defiled, with the seven pointed star crudely cut in to the forehead.

A lock of Marei's hair is tied in a surprisingly neat knot beside it.

"
Sam!"
Dunstan cries out, having ran to the Tullison tent previously.

At least it's not Marei, he thinks.

Unquenchable anger fulfills every atom of the young Lord's body and he sends a nearby chair flying through the tent. Talking a deep breath he calls every guard, every page and generally all the personnel present in the tent. This is to be dealt with immediately.

Standing at the table surrounded by servants he speaks as he never really did before, with a voice filled with utter contempt and dedication.

"
We lost a man today! Our own Sam, who ate bread with us, drank and held a spear to defend us for many a year! It seems these brain boiled boot lickers understand only blood, and I plan to bathe them in it! If they are so fond of gods, I'll drag them through Seven Hells myself, and feed them shit of the hellhounds while we are there!"
he displays his wroth, and chugs a cup of wine quickly.

It is better to avenge than to lament!"
he says.

"
Haelis, ink and paper. We are to summon all true knights. If Trial of Seven they want, they will have it. Hendry, Rolland you are to dispatch this message to Ben, Theo, Ser Jon Cobb, Ser Kevan Lyras, Ser Jorah Holt and Ser Baelon."


Dunstan proceeds to dictate a message to the comely Maester.


Knights,family, friends, brothers


A savage band of one Lionel Darry butchered a Tullison delegation heading back to Mountain's Reach, under some pisspoor.."


Haelis advised, "
Please my Lord, I must advise you against foul language."


Dunstan replied, "
Very well, only poor than. And add Ser before Lionel Darry. Whatever he did, the man is still a knight."








Knights, family, friends, brothers


A savage band Ser Lionel Darry butchered a Tullison delegation heading back to Mountain's Reach, under a particularly poor excuse of piety. They demand a Trial by Seven in order to release another member of our household. I call you, Sers, to accompany me to Harren's Justice tree, and end these cravens once and for all. Let all true knights answer!

Dunstan




"
Is that all, why don't you increase the amount of arguments my Lord>
"
Haelis asked.

"
I will leave words for maesters, and actions for knights."

Mere minutes after the letter was delivered, Ser Kevan arrived on his horse. Helmet on his head, spear in his right arm, the large shield strapped to the same arm, he was still still struggling with one of the straps of his armour. He dismounted, threw the reins to one of the Tullison guardsmen and steps into the camp.

"
Lord Dunstan, I received your message. You have my support! We will teach these pisspoo... - pardon - these bandits a lesson and free your men!"



[OOC: D6 is still free, except for the joust, but I guess that should still be possible..?]

Ser Theomore was not long in the coming, fortunately the missive found him before he had departed the Bartheld Ball with some masked girl.

"
Lord nephew."
Theomore does not allow the situation to daunt him in any fashion, when Dunstan was like that, he himself needed to project every bit of calmness that he could. "
What has happened?"

Ser Jorah arrived a few moments later, holding a mask behind under his cloak. He wasn't yet armoured, but his sword was ever present at his side.

"
House Coldbrook stands at your side against Ser Lionel Darry and his miscreants."

"
Uncle! Ser Kevan, Ser Jorah. Thank you for responding so fast! "
Dunstan is excited.

"
This is what happened."
he opens a box with a severed head, "
And they have Marei too."



He walks to the cupboard and picks up a map of the Riverlands.

"
This is where Harren's Justice is if I am correct. We are to meet them and engage in Trial by Seven."

Ser Jorah raised at eyebrow at the mention of a name he did not recognise.

"
If I may ask, who is Marei?"

ooc
Might as well get the elephant in the room out of the way :;
):

OOC: Just so I understand the geography of this thread - Dunstan starts off at the Bartheld party, where he receives the box, then rushes back to the Tullison encampment, composes a letter and has it sent to all us "
true knights"
, correct? So this meeting is actually taking place in Dunstan's tent, and the expected fight will be in the MM slot of Day 7, right?

OOC: Yeah. And I'm not sure if it's gonna be day 7, most probably, it's a question for reader.
EDIT: Day 7, probably LM since Reader said it will be at the same time as Equestrian competition

Baelon arrives, his face a mask of righteous fury.
Maester Haelis had seen fit to include in his message that Ser Lionel had insulted the Targaryans.
Not that I wouldn't have come anyway. Dunstan is my friend, and House Tullison is our ally.

"
Dunstan, my sword is yours. Do you have a full seven? I can think of a few others that would stand with you, if needed."


OOC: Reader, nice Seven reference (very fitting) and also great choice of villain/message. Really gives just about everyone a reason to want to go after him.

"
Ah, Ser Baelon! Welcome, do come in, and thank you! This is the second time you prove your devotion to righteousness in just a few days!"


Dunstan turned to Ser Jorah, and since he was in no mood for secrecy or manipulations, he says

"
Marei is a daughter of our blacksmith"
he picks up a lock of hair, "
this is a lock of her hair. These cretins think it justified to kill Sam and capture her, because her and I maintained a love affair. They think it ungodly to have a lover."


Once again looking at Baelon he says

"
I've sent the pages for Ben and Ser Jon Cobb. Ben will come with us, on that I can stake my life on. If Ser Jon is not to come, I will seek other knights. I am on good terms with Lord Mooton, mayheaps some of his knights might join us."

Jon was the last to arrive, still dressed in his finest festive garb.

"
Lord Dunstan, I beg your pardon for my tardiness, but I'm afraid I was...indisposed...when your page found me. My condolences on the loss of your men,"
he says with a small bow.

"
Pray tell, what happened and what do you know of this man Lionel Darry and his band?"

Dunstan Tullison wrote:I am on good terms with Lord Mooton, mayheaps some of his knights might join us."

"
I hope Lord Mooton has recovered from our fight yesterday. I fear I was rather ungentle with him.
I can also reach out to Ser Eoric Tully, who should want to see these criminals brought to justice, or even Lady Dyana - I suspect it would put those zealots into fits to have a woman warrior face off against them."

Jon Cobb wrote:Jon was the last to arrive

"
But it seems that perhaps my offer is not needed."

"
Does not house Coldbrook have a woman capable of swinging a sword as any man among them? They have as much cause as any to confront Ser Lionel..."
Theomore muses. "
I should like to address Lord Tully regardless, this is a murder conducted on his lands and that is all this is, I say we reject this offer to take part in such mockery of justice, and reply with the true sort."

Ben enters the tent, scanning the familiar faces, nodding to them each. He moves quickly to Dunstan. "
My Lord. This is my fault. Somehow someone found out. I should have escorted her myself."


Ben drops to one knee, head bowed. "
I am so sorry. My sword is yours."

Pray tell, what happened and what do you know of this man Lionel Darry and his band?"

"
Ser Jon, thank you for coming. I am sorry to interrupt your evening so abruptly. Ser Lionel Darry and his band of spurgalled miscreants scourge the Riverlands and take it upon themselves to deliver Father's justice. This time they've slain my guard Sam, and kidnapped a smallfolk gir, Marei,l I had an affair with. Apparently, they deem it honorable to kill a man and kidnap an innocent girl just because we spent time together under the sheets, and were unmarried. I do hope a famous knight such as yourself will join us."
Dunstan told Ser Jon, knowing the old knight preefers calm and rational explanations over bursts of emotions.

even Lady Dyana - I suspect it would put those zealots into fits to have a woman warrior face off against them."


"
Does not house Coldbrook have a woman capable of swinging a sword as any man among them?

"
I do believe only knights can participate in a trial by Seven, and women as much as the two of them are good with a sword, cannot be knights"

They have as much cause as any to confront Ser Lionel..."
Theomore muses. "
I should like to address Lord Tully regardless, this is a murder conducted on his lands and that is all this is, I say we reject this offer to take part in such mockery of justice, and reply with the true sort."

"
These are fanatics we are dealing with uncle. If they see the Tully men approaching they will kill poor Marei. I intend to ride there and than we will defeat them in a trial by Seven, as they requested. That will prove them guilty in front of the Gods themselves, and afterwards we can bring their survivors to Lord Tully in chains. I cannot risk doing anything else."
Dunstan says sounding sure of himself.

My Lord. This is my fault. Somehow someone found out. I should have escorted her myself."

Ben drops to one knee, head bowed. "
I am so sorry. My sword is yours."

"
Rise, Ben. It is not your fault but the fault of those bandits that did the deed. Now we must not think over it but ride out and punish them, avenge Sam, and rescue Marei."




"
This is a big request I put in front of all of you, I am well aware of that. When the message got into my hands there, you six men are the first to cross my mind. In order to defeat these currish cravens we will need

"
Ferocity"
Dunstan looks at Baelon

"
Cunning"
he nods at Theo

"
Wisdom"
, he said looking at Ser Jon

"
Friendship"
, looking at Ben,

"
Strength"
, looking at Ser Jorah

"
and loyalty alike"
he finished speaking with his eyes set on Ser Kevan Lyras.

"
If anyone is to decline, I will hold no ill will towards 'em. We are, after all riding to battle, and those are dangerous."

"
A word in private, lord nephew?"
Theomore knew better than to undermine Dunstan's authority in front of others, but this mad plan would need undermining nonetheless.

"
I believe we can all be upfront among each other. After all, these men came here in such short notice upon my call, I feel like I would do them injustice if I were to talk alone, without everyone listening. Say what you have here, now- at this table, and we can all discuss this matter as equals. If anyone does not want to come, as I said, I will not hold it against them. If you do I thank you."

Dunstan Tullison wrote:This time they've slain my guard Sam, and kidnapped a smallfolk gir, Marei,l I had an affair with. Apparently, they deem it honorable to kill a man and kidnap an innocent girl just because we spent time together under the sheets, and were unmarried.

Hm. So that's why he was so resistant to Gwyn. I suppose I owe her a debt of gratitude, then.

Dunstan Tullison wrote:"
I do believe only knights can participate in a trial by Seven, and women as much as the two of them are good with a sword, cannot be knights"

With attitudes like that, I imagine that he is vulnerable to green influence. I'll have to keep an eye on that.

Dunstan Tullison wrote:"
This is a big request I put in front of all of you, I am well aware of that.
...
"
If anyone is to decline, I will hold no ill will towards 'em. We are, after all riding to battle, and those are dangerous."

"
No sane person chooses battle without some trepidation... but no true knight could let this stand.
Perhaps some of you may feel the need to bow out due to injuries new or old, and there is no dishonor in that.
I for one, however, will gladly stand with you, my friend."


Preferably with a unit of cavalry not too distant, ready to charge in should we signal that this be a trap.

"
Well, then."
Theomore shrugs. "
Do we even know that these are Ser Lionel's band? This might well be a trap."
Designed to prey upon the most idealistic of lords present at the tourney. "
You are not without enemies, and some might think you prone to take this sort of bait."
And if so, they were certainly right.

"
And if it is not, you are risking seven lives for the sake of one, a life that may very well have been taken already."


"
If you bring a force, then there is the risk of them murdering her as well, but that risk is no greater than that which you take by only bringing a force of seven knights."

"
So then we have a force of swift cavalry waiting out of sight for a signal. Should it be an ambush, we blow a horn or some such and they charge in to the rescue."

Dunstan listens, his heart still pounding. It very well could be a trap, he did not think of it, with blood boiling and rage inside his head instead of thoughts, there were no room for speculation.

"
I could stand behind that. Cavalry, maybe archers too. Hidden, so they do not suspect we are breaching their wicked sense of justice."


Might already be dead? No! She is not dead and I will save her!.

"
The letter only said for you to bring six knights to settle the matter, it did not say that additional retinue could not be brought along."
Theomore offers.