Gold and Steel Session 11

#GoldSteel
	-->|	YOU (antoine) have joined #GoldSteel
	antoine	The rider bearing the brown shield with the splayed arrows of House Hunter heralds three hundred men marching up along the road from the Vale. At the head of the main force is an older man atop a horse with a few others riding beside him.
	antoine	Their horns trumpet to announce themselves to the garrison while the villagers look on warily, their recent brush with non-Kestra forces instilling a healthy amount of paranoia.
	Mercer	steps upon his battlements, looking out at the advancing troops. "I see my good-father made fair march."
	=-=	Mode #GoldSteel +o antoine by Mercer
	=-=	Mode #GoldSteel -o Mercer by Mercer
	antoine	The force comes to a stop before your castle, standing in place as the older man holds up his hand to halt the march.
	Mercer	looks down from atop the wall. "Hail," the Lord Kestra calls.
	antoine	The man raises his hand in reply as he trots forward, "Hail, Lord Mercer. I thought to find you at Hearts Home."
	Mercer	shakes his head. "I'm afraid that business is done already, Good-Father, and done well. Other works called me back to Whitemane. Come inside, and we'll discuss the matter. And might I add, Lord Hunter, you look quite well since I last saw you."
	Mercer	shouts back, "open the gates!"
	antoine	The lord and he close cohort of a few mounted men move forward after the Lord sends a man of his household to organise the three hundred men sitting outside your castle into a camp.
	Mercer	descends from the wall, calling a Talon to his side. "Have rooms prepared for Lord Hunter's party, and also summon my children to the great hall," he instructs. "Ensure a fine feast is prepared for tonight also, and be watchful for any attempts at poison in the kitchens."
	antoine	The five horses make their way into the crowded courtyard, your own men enjoying some rest after the recent but extremely short campaign against the Corbrays. The Talon gives a quick bow, 'Yes, mi'lord."
	antoine	The Lord dismounts with his entourage, handing their horses off to Jacon, the stable boy. The Lord takes measured steps towards Lord Mercer as they meet in the shadow of the wall.
	Mercer	smiles, and outstretches his arms to Hunter. "Ah, my lord, it is good to see you!"
	Aerwyn	hearing the commotion, sets his maps and plans aside, and leaves his chambers to see what has caused it... he hopes that his night-long studies haven't taken too great a toll on his appearance as he rushes out.
	antoine	The liver spotted hands of Lord Eon Hunter copy Lord Mercer's gesture, the old man's beard shifting in what looks like a smile beneath. "It has been too long since I have seen my grandchildren, they do well son?"
	Mercer	"They are wonderful." Lord Kestra nods. "Markas has grown into a strong and handsome man with no shortness for bravery, and Joanna grows ever-more brilliant with each passing day."
	Mercer	lowers his brow. "We should pay respects to Karina tonight, perhaps after dinner unless you want to see to the crypt sooner."
	Aerwyn	steps out and observes the newcomers, noticing his Lord in conversation with the old man.
	Draven	The sound of the gate rising awakens Draven from his slumber. "Oh, what now..." he sighs. After doning his leather armor he heads twords the gate.
	antoine	"Good, good. Its been a long ride, I would sit and rest."
	Ryker	just finished discussing matters with the castle smith. He requested the forging of an ornate shield for his usage in battle. He decided to trot along the main road of the castle as to be sure all were able to see his fine armour and mighty new destrier.He hears the commotion of the guard and makes to the gate.
	Mercer	"I have no doubt. Longbow Hall is a considerable distance, I half expected you to be later than this, but I see your men have no lack of discipline." Lord Kestra pats his departed wife's father on the shoulder, and looks on to the others. "Ah, Good-Father, these are some of my sworn men."
	Mercer	motions for the lot of them to come forwards.
	Aerwyn	bows his head in acknowledgment and steps forward.
	Mercer	"Lord Hunter, I have the great pleasure of introducing you to Ser Jeremy Ryker and Ser Aerwyn Ridhert." He motions to each of the men as he speaks.
	Ryker	urges his ill tempered destrier over toward Lord Mercer
	Draven	stumbles out into the open, and it's quite obvious he is hung over. However, upon noticing lord hunter he quickly composes himself.
	antoine	"Well met Sers, this is my son Ser Eustace Hunter", he indicates a man in his late thirties, early forties."
	antoine	the man nods in greeting, "Well met brother and Sers."
	Mercer	warmly grins once more. "Ah, Eustace, you are well, I see."
	Aerwyn	"My Lords." he nods to the two men, slightly distracted by Draven's... 'entrance'
	antoine	"Well enough, are those some of the late Lord Arryn's men?" he point to some of the men bearing the falcon and moon sigil.
	Mercer	looks to Draven, inwardly grateful for his composure. "Ah, vigilant as ever. My kin, this is Goodman Raphael Draven, who has guarded this household valiantly."
	antoine	points*
	Mercer	quickly looks back.
	Mercer	"Yes, actually, they came into my service to assist with the Corbray matter, and as it is not yet fully finished they stay with me. We shall discuss that soon, however. Joanna and Markas are in the great hall now, and I'm sure they are excited to see family..."
	antoine	Lord Eon motions to the great hall, "Very well, let us retire to your hall."
	Mercer	leads the men in, cheerily making conversation with his good-father as they go.
	antoine	The great hall is being hurriedly filled with food and drink as Captain Falk stands beside Markas and Joanna. The wafting of crisping boar meat and mulled wine reaching your senses.
	Mercer	"Markas! Joanna!" Mercer calls, lifting his head up to take in the smell of the fresh food. "Come! Come see your grandfather and your uncle!"
	Ryker	looks at ease for once with a group of Lord Mercer's guests in the hall.
	antoine	Markas strides forward, head held high as Joanna rushes forward into Lord Eon's arms. The Old man's face genuinely lighting up with joy at the embrace before depositing the child on the ground and hugging Markas. "You were not wrong Lord Mercer, they have grown up astonishingly fast."
	Mercer	laughs and nods. "Markas overtook me in height last year, and he insists on continuing further."
	Draven	follows, rubbing his head every now and then whenever he is sure he is out of sight.
	antoine	"Joanna looks as beautiful as Markas is strong, let us sit and relax as family."
	Aerwyn	still getting accustomed to the House he now serves, silently observes the rest from a distance.
	Mercer	"Yes, yes." Lord Kestra guides the train of dinner-guests to seats. "From the smell of things, I suspect my kitchen may have outdone itself this time, and on good occasion."
	Aerwyn	allows the others to find a seat before allowing himself to acquire one.
	Ryker	makes his way over to Ser Aerwyn and sits "You missed quite the battle, Ser....... I look forward to the next to see your work with a blade"
	antoine	The man looks visibly relieved as he seats himself down, his son by blood sitting close as do his lieutenants.
	Draven	takes a seat next to Ryker.
	Mercer	sighs as he sits down in his tall chair at the head of the table, flanked on both sides by his children. "Lord Arryn recalled our old maester, Nochester. Do you remember him, Good-Father?" he says. "I imagine gossip has reached you by now, he made an obscene fortune in this household's name... off of dresses! With it we were able to make some proper improvements to the decoration
	Mercer	around here. Karina always did wish there were some proper tapestries in here."
	Aerwyn	"I wouldn't want to disappoint you, Ser..." he says giving off a smile, "I hear it is you who wields the blade with greater skill." He takes the seat available to the other side of Ryker.
	Mercer	points out the pieces of red cloth embroidered with the Kestra heraldry hanging from each of the pillars along the hall.
	antoine	The children find their places as more dishes are brought forth, marinated goat, crisp bacon, honeyed Trout, Iced milk sweetened and Lemon cakes frosted in sugar.
	Mercer	bites into some bacon before partaking of trout. "How was your march, Lord Hunter?"
	Ryker	turns to Draven "Oye punch man, that was good work in the Corbray Keep, I hate being shot at by some spineless bastard with a bow"
	antoine	Eon remarks, looking at Aerwyn, "You have a reminder of different times with you Lord Mercer."
	Aerwyn	"The presence of a man like you on the field can make the difference of 200 well-trained men in the eyes of the enemy. That is where I wish to serve our Lord, you see. Where and when to allow skilled men like yourself to strike for best effect. My pen, if you will, is my greater sword." Aerwyn says to the hot-tempered Ryker.
	Draven	"I still intend to ring his neck when the time is right. You didn't do to bad yourself. Enjoying the sword I trust?" Draven whispers.
	Aerwyn	"You noticed, my Lord?" Aerwyn jests.
	Ryker	"Hah, I have grown quite attached, we should melt the next one we gain to make you some proper gauntlets"
	antoine	"Your hair would be as grey as mine if it was not for the shine of youth Ser. There was not much love for Valyrians after the war, an endangered species in Westeros it would seem."
	Draven	"They would make a good heirloom for my family, but I fear they would make me more noticeable given my current ocupation."
	Aerwyn	"The late Lord Arryn was above the petty whispers of hatred towards us of silver hair. He allowed me to serve him, rather than to see me killed. A tragic loss..." Aerwyn stares blankly now at his plate.
	antoine	"Ah, yes. Lord Arryn, word reached me on the road of him joining the seven."
	Mercer	"We heard of it soon after." Lord Kestra puts down his fork and sits back. "This was truly a terrible time to lose such a man. I doubt King Robert will be able to find a replacement for him at King's Landing."
	antoine	"Little finger is always grasping, he may use his gold to buy his way into the position."
	antoine	Ser Eustace Hunter adds, "I don't think Robert trusts anyone who cannot swing a sword, which sets Little Finger aside."
	Mercer	chuckles, and then goes back to finishing off his piece of goat. "Aye, and Littlefinger is best on the Small Council as master of coin. Robert will probably want someone he trusts as Hand, as it was with Jon Arryn. Hence why Tywin Lannister wasn't recalled to his position after the war."
	Aerwyn	"Thank the Seven..."
	antoine	The discussion continues until the children are sent to bed and the topic of Hearts Home is brought up, "So you settled a dispute with the Corbrays. What has happened?"
	Mercer	frowns, and reclines in his high seat. "An utter mess, that. Lord Corbray is dead, as are his brothers."
	antoine	The Hunter men raise eyebrows, gasp and look at each other in surprise. Lord Eon's busy eyebrows crease together, "How did that come about?"
	antoine	bushy*
	Mercer	looks to Ryker. "Go see if you can't train the men to your caliber, Ser Jeremy."
	Mercer	sighs. "I was setting in to make siege with old Corbray. The idea was not very appealing, because I knew with great certainty he was calling on his allies, so I came up with a plan. Not the most glorious plan of mine, but an effective one. I would send a group of my men over the wall to slip the gates open and lead my foot straight in. Apparently that went over well, but when we came
	Mercer	in through the gates, Heart's Home was in chaos."
	Mercer	leans forward, rolling a few kinks out of his joints. "Corbray's men were in disarray and quickly broke. When we came into the castle I set about searching for him, and instead found several of his guards had betrayed him and murdered him in his halls."
	Mercer	visibly shivers.
	antoine	"And his brothers?"
	Mercer	"I seized the land and left a large garrison after reorganizing the survivors. Apparently, Lord Corbray had sent his forces to invade me because of mountain men I'd driven from my own land harrassing his people. Some of Lord Arryn's foot are still there, helping to track them down."
	Mercer	"Ser Lyn lead the initial attack on Whitemane, and died on the field. Lucas was slain at Heart's Home, trying to lead an ambush on my men as we initially settled in for siege."
	Ryker	answers "I will my lord" and looks to Mercer's son "Come Marcus, I'm sure you've heard enough about the battles as of late and have become eager, but if you want to live to succeed your father we should prepare you for the ones that may be forthcoming"
	Mercer	casts a wan smile. "Markas had hoped to meet Ser Lyn on the field. I'm grateful Ser Jeremy found him first, though, else I'd be without a son."
	Ryker	is in the armour yard with Marcus. He grabs two blunt blades from the sword rack and tosses one lightly to Marcus.
	antoine	Lord Eon sucks in a breath through his wizened lips and aging teeth, "Well then, I guess we have something to be thankful for. Lysa Tully is not a warrior but she may send someone to treat with you on this or the other Lords of the Vale may take it upon themselves to relieve you of Hearts Home."
	antoine	Markas grasps the sword out of the air easily enough, spinning the blunt blade around to loosen his arms.
	Mercer	nods. "I fear the Redfort already is acting on this disaster, however. Ser Aerwyn came to me at Heart's Home after a round-about to Whitemane, and roused me home quickly with knowledge that the village had been attacked by brigands. The smallfolk and my Home Guard swear they saw the men lead by a fellow with the Redfort on his shield."
	Mercer	"I suspect, Good-Father," Lord Kestra explains, "that it may be a precursor to an attack on Whitemane."
	antoine	Lord Eon thinks for a moment, "Redfort... Ser Lyn had a Redfort squire, I hope you were smart enough to spare him and more importantly, capture him?"
	Aerwyn	shifts uncomfortably
	Mercer	shakes his head. "Alas. But this may be good news for us, as these brigands are also apparently the surviving Corbray men from the initial battle. If this is indeed Mychel Redfort."
	Mercer	"... Then it won't be difficult to take him."
	antoine	"Hmm, yes. Before he is reinforced by his family and their allies."
	Aerwyn	"We should take the fight to them. I must insist on focusing on acquiring an army worthy of this House, my Lord."
	Ryker	nods as Marcus deftly catches the sword's handle. "Good. I've been fighting with these my entire life, I was never taught to use the sword, but when guarding a caravan through the woods of the north or saving the life of a certain Lord's son in the Vale I had to learn on my own quickly"
	Mercer	"You are right, Ser Aerwyn, but we must not be too hasty, I think. We need to plan out how we'll track down Redfort and his outlaws."
	Mercer	ponders. "Ser Aerwyn, what say you to this? We should send out my archers to scout the mountains around Whitemane while we send a couple riders down the roads into the Vale to see if they can't catch Redfort trying to run for home."
	Ryker	"One thing I can say with certainty is that knowing 100 different strikes and ripostes is not as important as being able know what your enemy is going to do next" "A good sword fighter will never let his eyes out of lock with the other man's"
	Ryker	"Come Marcus, make the first strike"
	antoine	Markas, waits a moment to aim his strike and then suddenly thrusts forward.
	antoine	"Well, we will need to act quickly to prevent this expanding further throughout the vale. I would see my daughter and then sleep on this."
	Ryker	is surprised by the young man's quickness and just barely clanks the unwieldy blade away from striking true. Though he is cut slightly on the arm.
	Aerwyn	"Do not fly your colours, my Lord. The scouting operation should be done in secret. They will have to stop to raid villages for supplies. What we need..." Aerwyn leans forward and makes gestures on the table as if drawing out a battle-plan, "is a ruse, my Lord. We should force them to come out. Make them think we've marched in force, we need to make noise, send word out of a general advance;...
	Aerwyn	...let them think we've left ourselves open and vulnerable. Set up a fake camp with your banners and lure them out..." Aerwyn suddenly stops, realizing his strategy-making mind is racing faster than he can explain. He looks up at Mercer again, "Excuse me, my Lord, may I retire to my chambers to draft the details of this out?"
	Mercer	nods. "You may do so. Lord Hunter and I need to pay our respects to my beloved."
	Aerwyn	"I shan't disappoint, my Lord." Now facing the older man, "Lord Hunter. It has been a pleasure. If you'll both excuse me." Aerwyn bows and takes his leave.
	Ryker	barely flinches after his arm is sliced. Marcus is horrified by the thought of having wounded the man that saved his life. Ryker returns the blow with one of his own that knocks the fat blade from Marcus hands and across the court floor.
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	=-=	Mercer is now known as Staffen
	Ryker	"I know you didn't mean to strike me Marcus, but you should have never left my eyes" "I am in loyal service to your father and saved your life, but in the coming times there may be friends turned enemy that we must fight" "Now grab your sword, that was a lucky strike anyway"
	Ryker	"Be wary of even your best friends when they are standing with a sword pointed at you"