Kurts
Prince
Posts: 3,760
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Post by Kurts on Mar 23, 2016 21:36:15 GMT -5
"A declaration of war," Killion said, sounding relieved despite the gravity of the situation. "Thank the God below, I was afraid it was an invitation to the wedding and I'd rather fall on my own sword than attend another one of these dull northern events."
"I had hoped Benjen here would be smart enough not to repeat the mistakes of his father, but they do make you Northerners thick-skulled it seems." He shook his head slowly. "Normally I would simply return to my keep and marshal my fleet to win this war as I have all the others I've waged. However, that costs time, lives, and coin and it seems this is a far simpler grievance that can be taken care of without all that toil." He picked up the stack of letters.
"I had hoped to keep this a private matter between friends, but if you wish to air your dirty laundry I will not stop you." He threw the dozens of letters out into the crowd towards the non-Northern kingdoms so they could easily pick up and read them. "These are letters written by Lord Kalvin Stark to your traitorous whore of a daughter, found among her possessions, detailing the affair they engaged in during his marriage to Lady Arania Hightower and continued during his current marriage to your king's sister." He stared daggers at Lord Royce. "Despite being advised to burn them, I instead gave them to Princess Robyn, as I felt a true friend should. In return, it seems I have been named a liar and an enemy, to hide the North's shame, when I have acted in good faith and honor as an ally, more than can be said for House Stark. This is their flimsy justification for declaring war on a kingdom who has fought by their side and shed blood in common cause."
"So as far as I understand it, I have made an accusation, naming the Lord of the North a lout and adulterer here before gods and men with evidence to support my claim. His King in turn has championed him and given slight by naming me a liar. Now I admit I am no expert on greenlander law and just named a new Master of Laws to fill this void in my education, but it seems I am entitled to a trial by combat to settle the matter and defend my honor." He looked to Lord Donnel with a smile before taking off his gauntlet and tossing it down before Benjen. "What say you Benny boy? I'm right here. Let's settle this here an now like men. If you all still want a war after, as I suspect you will due to a combination of envy and pettiness, I am but a stone's throw that way." He pointed southeast towards King's Landing.
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Post by Lord Rykker on Mar 23, 2016 21:50:36 GMT -5
Rykker gently puts his cup down on the table. He didn't notice it was upside down nor did he particularly care that it had previously been full. He looked toward King Benjen in silence as he took his feet and crossed the floor to pick up some of the carelessly tossed papers. This was better than most books, but he regretted wishing for one anyway.
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Kurts
Prince
Posts: 3,760
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Post by Kurts on Mar 23, 2016 22:25:27 GMT -5
For those who pick up a letter (obviously have no idea of knowing who will get which one/ones, so here's all of them):
The first letter: It is dated from about eight years ago, to Amelia from Kalvin Stark. It details an amorous adventure they had had while Arania had been away. It is rather graphic in nature, and he mentions something about the Twins, but whether he means the castle or her twins is unclear. The rest of the letters: They get newer and newer, including several detailing Amelia's erotic fire magic being performed while she had been away on one of her misadventures, and the second latest one about their time on the Wall, while Robyn had vanished and been thought dead. Eight are dated after their wedding, and the final letter wishes her love and luck as she seeks to escape those pursuing her, and regrets that she had chosen a life of vagrancy over being the Lady of Winterfell. It is written in his own hand and some of the newer letters still smell faintly of perfume, like Amelia had kept them close.
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Post by Lord Korben of Nightsong on Mar 24, 2016 1:57:40 GMT -5
"Well, I do my best, where I can. I do miss sandstone at times, and my children dearly. But...my duty is to Dorne, and I will do it, however long I breath." He said with a smile, feeling a true sense of peace in his duties. In truth, it kept his mind busy and occupied, which was something he'd come to appreciate as a source of peace.
A peace which was shattered, first by the announcement of the Volantis being married into the North, and then by the news that there would be another war. Though he bore no true love to the Greyjoy or the Iron Born, he felt a rise in anger over the Norths own bloodthirst. As the king who surronded their kingdom threw out his letters and presented the case to all involved, Nymos could not help but stand, and put himself in front of the Princess, keeping close.
One of the letters drifted in front of him, and he snatched it out of the air quickly, looking to the princess as he offered it to her to read, "If you would wish to read first, Princess." He said with a bow of his head.
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Post by Queen Joanna Lannister on Mar 24, 2016 6:26:44 GMT -5
Joanna, who kept her face a perfect mask more often than not, looked annoyed by the debacle, which probably meant she was fairly pissed. She briefly looked to Benjen in disbelief, because... who hosts people for a week, lets them participate in a tourney and then throws a war declaration to their face after the conclusive feast? It was just unfathomably stupid. The irony of Northerners and Ironlanders throwing a scene generating more second-hand embarassment than the ones at southern courts was not lost on her, either.
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 24, 2016 8:05:15 GMT -5
Ben picks up the gauntlet and tosses it back. "Il see you in an hour," he said. He turns and Menion frowned.
"Let me be your champion!" He hissed. "This war is lost if you're hurt too badly to command!"
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Post by Lord Rykker on Mar 24, 2016 10:35:08 GMT -5
Rykker approaches the iron king, and overhears the last comment by Menion. Looking at Killion though, anyone can plainly see the man was spoiling for a fight. He was supposed to advice on law, and this was a case where Killion might not know all his options "There is also the possibility, though it has not been used in centuries, a Trial of Seven would allow you and Benjen..."(Fuck him up the arse to his frozen eyeballs)"... to have six champions accompany you each. I would not recommend it, but the choice is there your grace."
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Kurts
Prince
Posts: 3,760
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Post by Kurts on Mar 24, 2016 11:03:50 GMT -5
Killion returned his gauntlet to his hand and strode from the hall with his retinue to armor up and prepare, leaving the gathered lords and foreign dignitaries to their light reading. He answered his bannermen when he was out of earshot of the no doubt buzzing crowd.
"You think this is a war we can win?" he asked Menion bluntly, as they made their way to the docks. "That man will not lose on land and is a stone's throw from our new holdings. His brother is married to the Queen of the Goldlands, his sister to the Prince of Dorne, and he has pledged his hand to Volantis. That will mean their fleet, one on par with ours, combined with every other ship the Free Cities and Westeros wish to cobble together against us. Our only ally is too busy allowing his own empire to crumble to come defend ours. We will be thrown from these lands and not even have the sea as our sanctuary. If I paint the situation as dire, that is because it is."
"It must be me. A king should fight a king. I cannot have another stand in my place, not this time. I represent our kingdom here, not just my own honor. If I win then almost every ruler of note in the known world will see it and think twice before they raise arms against us, especially if the greatest general and warrior in the North is dead at my feet. Our chance at victory will be won or lost in an hour and I will take it with my own hands or dine in the Drowned God's hall."
He turned to Lord Donnel then. "If either I or King Stark followed the Seven, perhaps I would consider that option. As it is, I am not sure there are six men of note here that would stand with me, less that I could risk losing with war upon us. I thank you for the counsel though."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 24, 2016 11:11:15 GMT -5
"We don't need Vhagus himself to win," Menion insisted. "Just a dragon. Torch some of those ships in harbor and most of those cowards will flee to their holes. At least fighting them on the waters makes them come to our familiar environment." He looked about. "But perhaps you're right." If he wins, do you have...any instructions?" He asked. "I obey beyond death, my liege."
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Post by Lord Rykker on Mar 24, 2016 11:24:46 GMT -5
He turned to Lord Donnel then. "If either I or King Stark followed the Seven, perhaps I would consider that option. As it is, I am not sure there are six men of note here that would stand with me, less that I could risk losing with war upon us. I thank you for the counsel though." Donnel shrugs "Merely a option your grace." He follows along with the party, hopefully heading back to the camp. He'd have the men pack up their tents and get ready to leave immediately, as well as preparing for whatever would happen. If either of the kings died, it would be a bloodbath and he'd like to be prepared.
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Kurts
Prince
Posts: 3,760
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Post by Kurts on Mar 24, 2016 11:29:06 GMT -5
"We don't need Vhagus himself to win," Menion insisted. "Just a dragon. Torch some of those ships in harbor and most of those cowards will flee to their holes. At least fighting them on the waters makes them come to our familiar environment." He looked about. "But perhaps you're right." If he wins, do you have...any instructions?" He asked. "I obey beyond death, my liege." "If I fall, I want the North as my funeral pyre," he replied as if it were a simple request. "See my wife and children to the care of her brother and then let the fourteen seas run red with the blood of any who raise arms against us. If they want to throw us into the sea, ensure they pay dearly for it. If they want to cast us as the monster of this tale, give them one."
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Post by The Forgotten God on Mar 24, 2016 11:31:26 GMT -5
"There will never be such a bloodletting," he promised. "Winterfell will wish Oriax had come to it instead of me," he said.
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Kurts
Prince
Posts: 3,760
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Post by Kurts on Mar 24, 2016 11:35:29 GMT -5
Killion clapped the man on the shoulder as if he had said something profoundly touching and nodded, returning to his galley to suit up and prepare for a duel of kings.
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