A Song of Ice and Fire: House Gauthier Quest

>Henri Redbrook, heir to your bannermen the Redbrooks, wanted to talk to you on a matter of some importance. Probably about some trouble with his father. You can meet him at his townhouse in Woolington or invite him to talk with you at Maidenhall.

let it not be said that we don't care for our brothers in arms.

>Henri Redbrook, heir to your bannermen the Redbrooks, wanted to talk to you on a matter of some importance. Probably about some trouble with his father. You can meet him at his townhouse in Woolington or invite him to talk with you at Maidenhall.

Seems pretty decisive. Will you meet him at the Redbrook Townhouse in Woolington or invite him to Maidenhall? As they rest on opposing hills either side of River Road the distance is minuscule, the environment is important however.

>Invite to Maidenhall

He's our banner man we should welcome him like brothers his concerns are ours and ours his.

>Maidenhall

Invite him to Maidenhall

Invite him to Maidenhall, get some good alcohol to greet him with.

Maidenhall.

>Redbrook Townhouse

We could use the ride

So to avoid massive amounts of rape and destruction, we have to marry into the Lannisters right?

Our mother is a lannister

Writing.

Your mother is a very minor Lannister of Lannisport. You have your father's auburn hair but your mother's cat-green eyes.

Our mother is a Lannister. Of Lannisport. So you just know the WotFKs is going to be fun

When did we pick that?

I may have missed a thread.

I think at the end of the very first thread? Someone suggested it when naming everyone and now here we are.

You decide to invite Henri Redbrook to take lunch with you, the cooks are rustling up what smells to be a fine Duck rotisserie. That and it serves as a subtle reminder of who owes who fealty, a lord can’t chase after his vassals after all.
A servant informs you of his arrival in short order, showing him through the door to your own dining room quarters in the South Wing. A few years older than you, Henri has started to grow a beard since you last saw him. Unlike the auburn hair common to the Gauthier line, the Redbrooks have always leaned towards muddy brown. You spot faded streaks of blonde in Henri’s beard and locks, but that’s something you figure will fade out completely as he ages. Not one to be overly familiar, or perhaps an indication the seriousness of this meeting, Henri offers you a curt bow.

“Well met, young Lord. I thank you for agreeing to meet with me, and for your hospitality”

You try to ignore the wafting scent of the duck cutlet sitting on the table and respond. The two of you have met social events before, but you haven't had much opportunity to get to know him the last two years you were squiring.

>

Well met Ser Henri(he is a knight right) Salt and bread? Get formalities out of the way then ask what was the reason for requesting an audience.

Greetings friend, come and enjoy the dinner, let's partake of the age old rites of salt and bread. Now what was this thing that troubles you so?

I agreed to it as a justification for the green eyes and it's in line with our family doing well with arranging marriages.

However it's by no means a get-out-of-pillage card, your mother Cynthea Gauthier of Lannisport is a very distant relative of THE Lannisters. There is potential for an advantage there, but nothing really by itself.

He is not knight. You yourself are, but you earned your spurs in a tourney not in battle. You have yet to kill a man.

>He is not knight.
That's really weird, why not? He's a bit older than Rotrick he should be now.

All right then an appropriate title? He is someone's squire though right?

It's not mandatory for young nobility to be knights.

He is no one's squire. 'Young Lord Redbrook' is appropriate, as you be 'Young Lord Gauthier'.

Then Young Lord Redbrook and let's get the meeting started after bread and salt.

>However it's by no means a get-out-of-pillage card,
Could always marry a Frey. We'll be golden.

Question, was our House loyal to the Targaryens during the Rebellion given our origins? Or did we side with our liegelord?

The young Lord Redbrook nods and joins you at the table. You settle into a fairly standard conversation over lunch, inquiring as to the health of such-and-such and concerns over this bit of court gossip or that. You have heard rumours of the current Lord Redbrook’s… ailment, and Henri’s reluctance to talk about his father with servants at hand all but confirms them. It’s a bit early in the day for wine but you doubt the glass or two you share will prove fatal.
The duck rotisserie is delicious, the skin covered entirely from peelings of some exotic yellow fruit imported all the way from Dorne. Finally, with a full belly and a satisfied groan from Henri you gesture the page, some stableboy your mother insisted on taking on, to leave the room, closing the door behind him. From there, the conversation takes a more serious bent. Henri voices his concerns over the mismanagement of Redbrook lands, how his father has alienated both the small folk and much of the soldiery with his draconian punishments for threats real or imagined, and about the attempted murder of Henri’s bastard brother Marten Rivers.
“You have to understand, if I say these words I can’t unsay them.”
------------------------

>”Don’t say them then.” Best to nip such talk in the bud.
>”Go on…” [Intrigue]

>”Go on…” [Intrigue]

>”Go on…” [Intrigue]

>>”Go on…” [Intrigue]

>”Go on…” [Intrigue]

Our father sided with our liegelord, House Tully. The Riverlands were the most divided during the Rebellion, and many houses that sided the Targaryens have had their holdings and influence much reduced.

Our own aunt Erin Mooton of Maidenpool sought refuge with her brother, our father, rather than remain with the family of her widow. Our cousins from her were adopted into the Gauthier line, but they are by birth Mootons.

>>”Go on…” [Intrigue]

Guessing that explains our last event being Ascent, something to bank on later.

>rather than remain with the family of her widow
Stab in the dark our aunt was married to Ser Myles Mooton?

Henri's careful nonchalance fails to completely cover his hesitation.

"My father cannot continue to rule. He suspects his own shadows of plotting against him. I know that is ironic to say now, but in truth his paranoia is a self-fulfilling prophecy, he has driven away all those who might have been his loyal supporters. Now the only ones left are those who are profiting from their extortion of the smallfolk. Until now I had been content to wait until my time, repair the damage when I came into power naturally."

Henri Redbrook fixes you with a hard glare, with an expression that looks like he's trying to bite at the words as they come out.

"That was before he had me exiled. Exiled! And do you know what for? Because I refused to let him kill my half-brother."

Alright, please forgive me if I stuff this up. The ASOIAF rules for intrigue are either brilliant or awful.
Well written response will glean bonuses to rolls.

1) Objective: What are you trying to get out of this?
>A) Friendship (you will agree to help, hoping to cultivate a more lasting relationship. This angles for an alliance rather than an agreement.)
>B) Information (you are seeking further information, hoping to glean more about the situation.)
>C) Service (In return for your assistance you want something in return. Rights to River Road Tolls between your lands which the Redbrooks currently hold will do. Alternatively he may owe you in the future.)
>D) Deceit (you will fool him into thinking that you have agreed to help.)
>Other objective?

2) Disposition: The friendlier you are to the person you are engaged in intrigue with the easier it is to convince them, but the harder it is to deceive them.
>A) Affectionate
>B) Friendly
>C) Amiable
>D) Indifferent
>E) Dislike
>F) Unfriendly
>G) Malicious

3) Technique: How do you mean to sway them?
>Bargain (Cunning)
>Charm (Persuasion)
>Convince (Will)
>Incite (Cunning)
>Intimidate (Will)
>Seduce (Persuasion)
>Taunt (Awareness)

A
C
Charm

I hate these kinda votes when using my phone.

1) Objective: What are you trying to get out of this?
>A) Friendship (you will agree to help, hoping to cultivate a more lasting relationship. This angles for an alliance rather than an agreement.)
2) Disposition: The friendlier you are to the person you are engaged in intrigue with the easier it is to convince them, but the harder it is to deceive them.
>B) Friendly
3) Technique: How do you mean to sway them?
>Seduce (Persuasion)

A,B,Convince

Convince not charm the fuck is wrong with me?

>A) Friendship
>C) Amiable
>Seduce (Persuasion)

Well done, user.

Our aunt has little love for her dead husband's brother, and vice versa.

This all seems so contrived.
Would anons prefer this layout? I believe will be sorting this out all day otherwise.

> "I agree. Our two families must work together, not only in the open gaining glory, but in sensitive matters such as these. The well-being of the House and your people must come before the individual." [Friendship]

> "This is no small task you come to me with. I can help, of course, but there is a price for that help. The rights to Road Tolls on the River Road would do nicely." [Service]

> "Of course, you can rely on me to champion your cause when I bring this matter to Father." [Deceit]

>"I cannot commit to this without knowing everything, and I mean everything Henri." [Information]

I like this layout and cast my vote for
>Friendship

>> "I agree. Our two families must work together, not only in the open gaining glory, but in sensitive matters such as these. The well-being of the House and your people must come before the individual." [Friendship]

>> "I agree. Our two families must work together, not only in the open gaining glory, but in sensitive matters such as these. The well-being of the House and your people must come before the individual." [Friendship]

>> "I agree. Our two families must work together, not only in the open gaining glory, but in sensitive matters such as these. The well-being of the House and your people must come before the individual." [Friendship]

>> "I agree. Our two families must work together, not only in the open gaining glory, but in sensitive matters such as these. The well-being of the House and your people must come before the individual." [Friendship]

DC: 8 (Henri's Intrigue Defence)

Persuasion 3 and Charm 1B (also the attractive trait allows you to re-roll a 1).

>Hearth and Home
Maidenhall is the seat of your House and the trappings of the nobility are evident, bordering on luxurious, in this picturesque manor.
+1 to Intrigue rolls from Comfortable Living

4d6 + 1. Every degree of success (10) you beat the DC by will increase Henri's friendship with you.

Rolled 3, 3, 4, 1 + 1 = 12 (4d6 + 1)

Rolled 2, 6, 4, 1 + 1 = 14 (4d6 + 1)

Rolled 3, 1, 6, 3 + 1 = 14 (4d6 + 1)

Rolled 5, 2, 2 = 9 (3d6)

Re-rolling those 1's for you.

Rolled 6, 1, 3, 4 + 1 = 15 (4d6 + 1)

Rolling

16, 15, (15)

SCORE = 15.5 (16).

>Henri Redbrook has increased his disposition towards you from Amiable to Friendly. He is willing to take risks on your behalf, and is disinclined to betray your interests.

The young heir to Redbrook doesn't quite slump in his seat with relief, but you can tell he wants to.

"Thank you, Ser. I know what it is I have asked of you here. It is good to see that now as ever the Gauthiers are faithful friends to the Redbrooks, as we in turn shall be to you. Though Marten may feel differently, I have no wish to see my father dead. He is not fit to rule anymore, but I know in my heart the cruelties he inflicts on his people are from an illness of the mind and not a stain on his soul."

You can see this has troubled him for some time, and thank the gods that your own Father hasn't been so terribly afflicted.

"How do you plan to approach this, Ser?"

-----------------------------------------------
> "I will argue your case before Father. He will see the need to have our vassals ruled by those we can rely on when the banners our called." And you will have to do it before your sister gets wind of this, Father tends to listen to her advice more than is suitable in your opinion.

> "We need not trouble Father with this, better his hands are kept clean." Besides you want to discuss this matter with your sister.

> "We need not trouble Father with this, better his hands are kept clean." And you have no intention of bringing your sister into the fold either.

>"We need not trouble Father with this, better his hands are kept clean." And you have no intention of bringing your sister into the fold either.
If this goes horribly wrong, no need to destroy the rest of the family.

>> "We need not trouble Father with this, better his hands are kept clean." Besides you want to discuss this matter with your sister.

>> "We need not trouble Father with this, better his hands are kept clean." Besides you want to discuss this matter with your sister.

>> "We need not trouble Father with this, better his hands are kept clean." And you have no intention of bringing your sister into the fold either.

>297AC
>caring about woman's opinions

"Of course, the more discretely this is handled the better."

--------------------------
>Visit Maester Danan, he should be tending to your sister Susanna now. She had fallen sick but was apparently on the road to recovery. You could wait until he’s free later to talk about the House Finances and the Woolington accounts or you could go now and visit Susanna as well. Perhaps you might raise the matter of the Redbrook situation as well...

>Your eldest sister Genna has had her head buried in scrolls concerning the outlay of Gauthier holdings for the past two days, and it probably doesn't concern in-depth planning of the latest picnic with your other female relatives. Best see what she’s up to in the Father's old study. That and she's always been to wily for her own good, she could have some insight regarding the Redbrooks...

>Your cousin and friend Ser Karles Gauthier has been hinting at a rematch between the two of you for sometime. Not blades, you could ask that of any of the 100 Gauntlets, you and Ser Karles are the ones that have occasionally indulged in that peasant pastime of sparring. He should be somewhere down by the Gatehouse. Any coup regarding the Redbrooks will require muscle...

>>Your eldest sister Genna has had her head buried in scrolls concerning the outlay of Gauthier holdings for the past two days, and it probably doesn't concern in-depth planning of the latest picnic with your other female relatives. Best see what she’s up to in the Father's old study. That and she's always been to wily for her own good, she could have some insight regarding the Redbrooks...

>>Your eldest sister Genna has had her head buried in scrolls concerning the outlay of Gauthier holdings for the past two days, and it probably doesn't concern in-depth planning of the latest picnic with your other female relatives. Best see what she’s up to in the Father's old study. That and she's always been to wily for her own good, she could have some insight regarding the Redbrooks...

>>Your eldest sister Genna has had her head buried in scrolls concerning the outlay of Gauthier holdings for the past two days, and it probably doesn't concern in-depth planning of the latest picnic with your other female relatives. Best see what she’s up to in the Father's old study. That and she's always been to wily for her own good, she could have some insight regarding the Redbrooks...

>Your eldest sister Genna has had her head buried in scrolls concerning the outlay of Gauthier holdings for the past two days, and it probably doesn't concern in-depth planning of the latest picnic with your other female relatives. Best see what she’s up to in the Father's old study. That and she's always been to wily for her own good, she could have some insight regarding the Redbrooks...

You find your sister pouring over a mess of scrolls in the Maidenhall Study. You recognise the striking backless velvet gown, usually she has her hair done up in white lace to match the ermine stole she’d wear with it. Not today though, on these bright summer days where the sun is shining and the winds sifting through the open windows carry the warmth of season with them your sisters prefers to let her hair down. You can see the fair maiden that saw her as the centre of attention for many knights at one of Lord Frey’s wedding tournament a year ago.

You remember that tournament for a lot of reasons actually, it was where you squired for The Blackfish and accounted yourself so well, breaking two lances against Ser Altin Frey and unhorsing the freerider Callous Caldrin, that Ser Arlen Rivers had you and Karles both knighted. But you also remember how the knights fawned over your beautiful sister just come-of-age, and how she had them wrapped around her fingers. No need for you to defend her honour, she had ways of ensuring those who displeased her suffer the worst of the attention from her other admirers in the melee. Maybe the others didn’t notice the little ways she incited them, but you did.

“Brother, how good of you to join me.” She smirks, glancing up from the parchment. “I was just revising my knowledge on the family’s lands and holdings.”
-----------------------------------------------

>

incest time

How about we put that thought on hold? We might need her to marry someone.

>Write In

Indeed? And what have you found out? After a bit tell her about the Young Lord Redbrook.

>"Genna, there's trouble afoot."

You didn't get that line of thinking from your fathers side of the family

But think of the cute babbies we would make!!

+1

You decide not to broach the Redbrook matter just yet.
"Indeed? And what have you found out?"

“Nothing I didn't already know. As a matter of fact I was looking at how small our land is. Perhaps figuring out how many sheep we have and where those sheep are allowed to graze would be much less tedious if there was plenty of grazing land to go around.”
Genna returns to gazing with vague frustration at the map before her.

“Seeing as sheep can’t swim the Red Fork we don’t have to worry about the North, besides I fear dealing with the Blackwood’s and their dour old Gods would be dreadfully dull. To the East, the wide green pastures stretch all the way to Castle Darry, same for Stone Hedge and the Bracken’s ilk to the West. South offers some easy pickings for expansion, but the problem of there is of a different sort…”

----------------------------------------
> “Tell me more about the Darry lands, they’re not exactly in favour with the Crown or our Liege lord since the end of the Targaryens.”

> “The wall will melt long before the Bracken’s and Blackwoods make peace, what makes you look to their lands with interest?”

> “A different sort? You speak of the White Fawn bandits in the woodlands is my guess. Why is that easy pickings?”

>I'd be interested to hear Sister, I have something of note that might interest you as well, but go on I'm getting ahead of myself.

Might as well take a seat this is going to be a lot of talking here i think.

>“The wall will melt long before the Bracken’s and Blackwoods make peace, what makes you look to their lands with interest?”

>“The wall will melt long before the Bracken’s and Blackwoods make peace, what makes you look to their lands with interest?”

>> “The wall will melt long before the Bracken’s and Blackwoods make peace, what makes you look to their lands with interest?”

>> “A different sort? You speak of the White Fawn bandits in the woodlands is my guess. Why is that easy pickings?”

Your sister can’t help but roll her eyes, she has little need to hide her true feelings when it’s just you. You suppose that means she either cares deeply for your or doesn't rate you at all.

“The sun shines, the sea is wet and the Brackens hate Blackwoods. It’s a foolish feud that I don’t doubt has been a constant headache for the Tullys, but it can’t be denied that they have a lot of land and it is good, fertile land. Perfect for raising livestock or growing crops, and between here all the way to Riverrun those two have the pick of it. If we could wrestle away a small portion of it, or even ally with one against the other in return for lands…”

---------------------------------
> “You’d risk the feuds of the Blackwoods and Bracken become our own? The Palebrooks swore their swords to the Blackwoods and profited from it, but now they too are the target of a House that can raise well over 1000 men.”

> “Those Bracken lands to our west are tempting, but how best to take advantage of this feud? Side with the Bracken’s for a reward, or carve out our own territory from them and while they are distracted?”

>> “You’d risk the feuds of the Blackwoods and Bracken become our own? The Palebrooks swore their swords to the Blackwoods and profited from it, but now they too are the target of a House that can raise well over 1000 men.”

>> “You’d risk the feuds of the Blackwoods and Bracken become our own? The Palebrooks swore their swords to the Blackwoods and profited from it, but now they too are the target of a House that can raise well over 1000 men.”
Unless your meaning of marrying a cousin to each side sister.

>“You’d risk the feuds of the Blackwoods and Bracken become our own? The Palebrooks swore their swords to the Blackwoods and profited from it, but now they too are the target of a House that can raise well over 1000 men.”

>“You’d risk the feuds of the Blackwoods and Bracken become our own? The Palebrooks swore their swords to the Blackwoods and profited from it, but now they too are the target of a House that can raise well over 1000 men.”

>> “You’d risk the feuds of the Blackwoods and Bracken become our own? The Palebrooks swore their swords to the Blackwoods and profited from it, but now they too are the target of a House that can raise well over 1000 men.”

"They're our neighbours, oh wise brother of mine, our very large and powerful neighbours. If the feud spirals down to drawn steel again neutrality may not be an option. Why not at least profit from it?"

-----------------------
>"Tell me more of our prospects to the East."
>"Tell me of the woodlands to the South."
>"So... sister... about the Redbrooks..."

>>"Tell me more of our prospects to the East."

And I apologise for my shit-tier drawing skills. Unless the epileptic-monkey style is exactly what does it for you.

>>"Tell me of the woodlands to the South."

We need to get in a jab about her being a nerd, or whatever the appropriate slang is.

>>"Tell me of the woodlands to the South."

>"Tell me of the woodlands to the South."

'Thou dost realise no amount of scholarly frivolities shall make thee a Maester?'

>>"Tell me of the woodlands to the South."

A little less wordy, brotherly teasing and all that

“Politically speaking the lands to the South are the least problematic. They are held on trust by the Tully’s for Lord… I forget his name. But the important part is that he is a widower, old and childless. The Tully’s currently earns no income from it and the White Fawn Gang has been a constant thorn in any endeavours they might implement. If we were to drive them out the Tully’s would be sure to agree to our request that the trust of such an unprofitable land be handed over to us. Free from the threat of the bandits, our lands would effectively double and timber could replace wool as our primary resource if we exploited it.”

Your sister doesn't bite her nails ever since the late Septa Goodrem starting caning her hands each time, but you can tell she has the urge to. Politics, manipulation, intrigue and social circles are where Genna feels comfortable, not in areas that require a bloody blade.

“The problem is twofold. First, that the White Fawn Gang isn’t just a band of robbers. This is only rumour and what my cousins have told me of survivors of their attacks, but their number could be anywhere between 300 to 500. Even were Father to call in our bannermen these bandits potentially outnumber us. I’m sure you have plenty to say about the strength of our arms and courage and so on and so forth but I don’t like those odds. And the Second problem is that if, however unlikely it may be, this Lord regains his faculties or worse sires more children all our efforts would come to nought.”

----------------------------------
> “I’m sure there are allies to be found that would even the odds, the Whitewoods are famed bowmen and foresters. Besides, this may be the perfect chance to blood our troops.” Perhaps yourself included…

>”Old Lords have a habit of dying off in completely natural ways. I’m sure it won’t become a problem we can’t handle.”