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[Tomcost]

Well, I don't know which kind of rule we are, but a mob attack could actually be the safest way of killing him without making us guilty. I'm speaking from a pragmatic view.

[Gervassen]

We can take it one step at a time, I suppose, and first try to get him in a vulnerable position before we begin talking of mercy or pragmatism. People will probably be divided on that and want a vote, but it's heavily contingent on other success first. Everyone agrees that we can go as far as gathering the people near his Keep, so let's see if we can make that happen.

Also, let's remember that Uriel has to be convinced that he's leading this, so ultimately we let him do the talking and yield to his judgments. Although getting Rat to do skullduggery remains an option, even then.

[GreatWyrmGold]

Okay. How about we get inside the town, if possible, and we march to the Keep while gathering support, but we try to avoid striking the first blow?

I don't think I've ever objected to war if we're attacked first.

If we get access to the town, and if we lead a popular uprising to his keep, then we can offer him safe passage out of town for a renunciation of his wife's claim. It might seem a bit hopeless if half the town is parked outside the keep. Or maybe he's proud and stubborn, thinks aid is coming from outside, and we have to assault. Who knows?

Well, we could do that. At this point, I don't think we know enough to determine the details of the Best Plan^TM.

I'm morbidly curious to find out what adjective will be used for our relationship with him, if he survives this somehow. Antagonistic doesn't seem to cover it all, at that point. The wise thing would be to go to extreme lengths to ensure he doesn't survive, but having an enraged rival with a somewhat tarnished claim on our liege's lands could be interesting down the road...

I, too, am interested. Maybe "Hated"? That's a bit benign and mundane, I guess.

About what to do with the count if he surrenders, why not let the people do whatever they want with him? That way we are not guilty of anything, it was his own people the ones who murdered him anyway...

...Well, that could work...just as long as only Owen is harmed by it...but it seems to be sinking dangerously low, not to mention robbing us of an interesting conflict.
And we might still be blamed for letting Owen die.


I think Gerv and I, at least, agree that there's too much we don't and can't know to delve too deep into our immediate future plans. Shall we instead contemplate what we will do once Owen is off the throne to get Arthur on it, or what we will do under Count Arthur, or something?

[Maldevious]

Extensive role playing section coming up... I plan on posting the first bit this evening. Brace yourselves!

[Gervassen]

Both hands are gripping the desk.

I, too, am interested. Maybe "Hated"? That's a bit benign and mundane, I guess.

I was thinking "Implacable Foe" or "Inveterate Hatred"  or perhaps "Implacably Hate-Filled Inveterate Foe".

[Maldevious]

The air hangs with tension, broken only by the occasional nicker from the horses. You take a look around at the heavily armored horsemen, weighing your options. You fix Sir Lope with a stare, crack a wry smile, and tell him to come in to your manor for a glass of wine and a long story. You yell for Luther to see the men to the barracks, whispering to him to make sure they stay ready to ride.

Sir Lope dismounts and joins you inside, where Lady Marna greets Sir Lope warmly before leaving you to converse. You explain that you have Arthur in a safe location, but you have been waiting for the most opportune moment to introduce him to the realm. Sir Lope perks up at the mention of the name Arthur.

"I've heard... rumors, of a son of the late Count. Nothing concrete, but..." He hesitates momentarily. "The Foles have always passed their lands from father to son, as far back as the records go..."

He casts you a suddenly suspicious glare. "What I can't quite place is what is in this for you. I know that there was no lost love between you and the late Count. Why would you want his son, even if it is a bastard, as your Liege Lord? Would you risk your life for this... boy?"

Roleplaying, go!

[Origami_Psycho]

Be honest, tell him that Owen is none too fond of us, and as such, we see Arthur being a safer bet.  Especially seeing as how Owen has been none to subtle about his desire to wreck our nice little town.

[GreatWyrmGold]

"Justice isn't enough reason?"

If he doesn't say no or otherwise indicate doubt, say:
"Well, it's not the only reason..."
If he does say:
"Fair enough..."

Then go into the real reasons.

[Gervassen]

"I am a knight, my lord Marshal. Risking my life is merely duty for me. The blood that we spilled on the field of Torchester together ought to convince you that I am found in the front rank when the cause is just and the battle hot."

"And the cause is just here, I assure you. How do I have this son? Because the Count himself mentioned Arthur to me last spring, when we were deep in our cups here at the Fair. Surely you remember that he came to see it. I surprised him with an excellent vintage from abroad that even doctor's orders could not prevail upon him to refuse. We spoke of many things and reached an understanding. I did not consider him anything less than my liege lord after that night."

"But this chance revelation... this was most unexpected of him. It was my impression then, that he was struggling with a decision to legitimise this bastard, his natural son, in order to continue the established custom of Folesden. When the Count died, I had my doubts of the causes and immediately strove to find and protect the lad. That is how rumour has brought you to this place, at last."

"Yet I am but a knight, my lord Marshal, not an experienced leader of men. I do not have the means to press his claim myself, and I can give him precious little protection in the long run, without someone greater to take up his claim. If you have come with this intention, I offer up my lands, my men, and yes, my life to your disposal."

(Let's dig ourselves in. For fun.)

[GreatWyrmGold]

I disagree. Honesty is a pretty good policy.

[Gervassen]

I disagree. Honesty is a pretty good policy.

Nothing in my life has ever upheld that old saying. Whoever told it first was the best liar of all.

Honesty is an admission of weakness. We don't need anyone to know our weaknesses. Now, the exact extent to which I lied, that can be changed. We can simply take out the second and third paragraphs, which are kinda gratuitous lies but rather fun.

However, we don't need to admit that we need Owen gone for our own reasons unless Uriel says, "Horseshit" to us. He wants to know that we're committed to this fully, not our life story. The extent to which he needs the truth is very minimal. He just needs something plausible, and we're apparently good at seeming upright and dutiful. And that's a useful trait to have, if you don't let it go to waste by being upright and dutiful.

The thought pinging about my skull right now is that he's just here to feel us out for Owen, in which case, if he leaves here without signing messages calling the county to arms with his name, he dies.

[Nicholas1024]

Yeah, I'm for honesty here as well.

"I'm not going to hold the late count's mistakes against his offspring, Arthur deserves a chance to prove himself. However, though I did make amends with the count some time before his death, you're correct in that loyalty to his son isn't my only motivation. To put it bluntly, Owen has been seeking a pretext to invade my lands for quite some time now, purely because of his disdain for my heritage and jealousy over what I've managed to build. There's no hope of me reconciling with him, and to let him continue on would be inviting disaster both for myself and my people. So instead I chose to join my cause to Arthur's, in the hopes of defeating those who would seek to harm Feroshire, and obtaining a liege-lord with the people's best interests at heart."

[GreatWyrmGold]

Honesty is a good way of avoiding getting your lies discovered.

Honesty earns friends; if people know you as a liar, they can't trust you. If they know you're honest most of the time, they trust you more.
Yeah, I guess we can clam up if we really want to deceive and risk that he's judging to see how honest we are.

[Gervassen]

Holding firm against telling Uriel what isn't his business. No way. Do what else you want.

Although, I love the paean to honesty given the context that everything we're about to gain is predicated on lies. That's in line with the real world, too. Lies get you farther than truth. Truth is what you encourage rivals to tell.

[Gervassen]

you're correct in that loyalty to his son isn't my only motivation.

How can he be correct, when he hasn't even made that assertion yet? Where did he say we had other motivations? He merely seeks reassurance rather than outright challenging us.

He doesn't even want the real truth. He wants his reasons bolstered by our reasons. People here are giving up our real position for a song. There's no reason to do this, unless we think we're losing him with other angles. The truth is always the last option, of course, but let's keep it back there in the queue where it belongs, not out in front on our sleeves like we're a wide-eyed rube and a gull.

If we ever make it to the King's Court, I give us ten seconds before the lying piranhas there have cleaned our bones.