[D6,EM]Taking the Pulse (Coldbrooks)

(OOC: Not expecting company, but this is in the Coldbrook camp, so fellow Coldbrooks can interfere/help)

After breakfast, Daveth was spending time in the Coldbrook camp, talking with as many people as he could about the current situation, in his typical friendly way. Paying particular attention to the soldiers, and how they felt about the new, friendlier relations with the Tullisons. After all, it would take only one soldier nursing a grudge bad enough to blow the whole situation up far worse than before. Any who seemed doubtful, Daveth spent time telling them about his experiences with the young Lord Tullison, and how any wrong his uncle may have done was definitely his uncle's alone to bear. Not that he expected any serious trouble, but it paid to be safe.

[url=Detecting resentment (TN9)][/url]: 3d6 5 (Wow. 1 off a crit fail.)

[url=Smoothing ruffled feathers (TN9)][/url]: 4d6 7
(In total: 7 dice, 3 ones, 3 twos, one three. OROKOS!!! *Shakes fist*)

Unfortunately, people were too busy to spend the time Daveth needed to make any progress. He resolved to try again later, when hopefully he'd have more success.

(OOC: as guessed, abject failure but not a critical, so you don't rile people and can try again in another slot - feel free to reuse this thread and just note the extra slot used)

As Daveth was talking to the men, Ser Jorah was doing the early drills, though he wasn't scheduled to. As he did so, he spied Steward Ferris carrying out his duties and called him over.

Farris Leed had once been a robust man with a mop of curly brown hair, but the stresses of his position have reduced him to a skeletal, bird like creature. Even worse, he has lost of most of his crowning glory and is almost completely bald. The Coldbrooks support a large military, and life as their steward is not as easy one.

Nevertheless, he remains energetic and loyal.

"
Yes Ser Jorah?"
he asked, dreading whatever new campaign was to be funded or shipment of armour to be paid for.

"
How are you faring this morning?"
Jorah asked jovially. The two men got on well enough, especially as Jorah did not place a lot of burdens on Farris' time. "
I hope our Lord is not placing too much of a burden on you at these festivities?"

Farris tuts, half in mock despair, the other half all too real.

"
The festivities are a burden, but to be honest Ser Jorah, it is the tasks that pile up at Castle Grenward while we dally here that vex me."


"
Every accident or food spoilage while we're away is a cost we can ill-afford and only deepens rumours of that damnable curse."

Ser Jorah smiled;
he was used to Farris' complaints after years of complaining and mostly, it was just a way to relieve the stress of his position.

"
Surely with most of the household, there is only so much damage they can do? Maybe if Garret was to inherit, that might help?"

"
Father and Smith preserve us from the Warrior, eh?"
grumbled Farris, with less humour than others would use in the same circumstances. "
No offence Ser."

(OOC: With Reader permission, the rolls from my first post actually happened D5 EM, substituting in for the aborted attempt to meet with Ser Fendrel. The following rolls are Daveth re-attempting the same thing in D6 EM.)

[url=Detecting Resentment (attempt 2) (TN9)][/url]: 3d6 12

[url=Smoothing Ruffled Feathers (attempt 2) (TN9)][/url]: 4d6 11

(Not pretty, but it's a win. I'll take it.)

Learning from his failure the day before, Daveth chose his targets more carefully, and this time had a much more successful time at locating ill-feeling and smoothing it over.

Reader wrote:"
Father and Smith preserve us from the Warrior, eh?"
grumbled Farris, with less humour than others would use in the same circumstances. "
No offence Ser."

"
None taken Farris,"
Jorah smiled. He had already known the answer to his question, but he wanted to make sure. "
You'd prefer Daveth to be heir instead?"

"
Aye, and I'd prefer my stipend to be doubled, and for the house to discover a gold mine in the woods. Don't mean it'll happen Ser,"
says Farris in a morose tone.

[OOC: Daveth - perhaps unsurprisingly, Kieran Orell, the aged captain of the guard, has some doubts about your suitability. Some of the men say it's just because he's old and set in his ways, others say he fears being pensioned off and longs to serve, and worries Daveth is inclined to restructure the troops with men loyal to him, if he ever takes over.]