| Finding a Route to Tenebrae |
| Summary: | Emrys and Shirlyn are talking about the route they will take to Tenebrae, Thomas stops by and offers some troops to Emrys |
| Date: | (1866-10-07) |
| Related: | S&E Adventures: How Much for These? |
| NPCs: | {$npc} |
| Players: |
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| Charing Manse - Study |
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Two large leaded glass windows sits behind a large table that is ornately carved with the suns of House Charing. Between the windows, the shield of the royal House Romante, a griffon rampant on green and black sits above the Charing shield of blue and white with it's golden sun. The chairs that sit in front and behind the desk are all well stuffed, covered in dark blue velvet and share the markings that are subtly set through the room. The table shows years of use, ink pots, quills, sand, parchment and wax, set with a mass of scrolls rolled up neatly to one corner of this large sized table. Other plain chairs sit against the walls, proffering a space, and seating, for a larger meeting. This room is also the family library, though not so richly appointed as some. There is a single bookcases to hold the modest wealth of tomes and scrolls the family has collected at the manse over the years. With seats near the other windows in the room for comfortable reading and ample light in the day time. |
| 1866-10-07 |
The house is abuzz with planning, apparently the weather wouldn't let the lady leave without giving Galenthia a good dousing of rain. Emrys' men are out in the Great Hall and milling about the receiving room. Shirlyn's two guards are eyeing the others with cool disregard.
"We've got to have some form of route to Tenebrae lands that won't take us through flooded pathways, Emrys," Lady Shirlyn says over a map that is sprawled out over the desk in the room, casting her gaze upward to the Baron of said lands to which she was — sort of — forced to travel. She's wearing her leather boots, breeches, and blue tunic with her leathern and hardened corset synched tightly about her waist.
"No, we don't." Emrys replies dryly without looking back down to the map. Instead his eyes are on his men who seem all too preoccupied with milling about and eyeing things. As if they have never been in a proper manse before-which is all too likely. And with that he is turning to look at the map, ever so briefly. "We don't even have to take a bloody horse. We can go by boat once the river cools and take her all the way to Kaedon, cross there." and then he frown for a moment. "Or we take out to Alicante and cross through Sokar lands." a plan he doesn't entirely relish "Or all the way to Duval. Either way it can be done." For his part, Emrys is clad in browns, simple yet perhaps more noble than he has looked in the past.
The Baron of Repton March is a relatively regular visitor to the Charing manse these days and despite the fact that he had not wanted to idle in Firen, events have dictated otherwise. He's still got business to attend to, after all. Having shed his two guards at the door, Corporal Lewis and Lance Corporal Stewart now lollygag with the Charing guards and sit down to a good game of cards. Thomas himself proceeds into the study, looking calm and relaxed. Never an excitable man, these last three months away from battle have done wonders for his psyche. "Planning a little trip, are we?" A smile graces his features.
He wears his usual tunic in house colours covered by an off white padded gambeson. Of course, the Baron goes nowhere without his house's device in badge form on his chest. A proud lot, these Chandus.
"But then we have to deal with the huge fucking hill, mountain, whatever it is in Solizar," Shirlyn says while pointing to the location she speaks of on the map. "It would be better to go to Duval and then up via horse, and go around the bend in the river on Solizar lands…" Shirlyn snaps her attention from the map to that of Thomas, causing her long braid to fall over her shoulder and pool onto the map. "Thomas," she says raising her chin in greeting, "we are. Someone needs help with his lands, what he needs is a good Steward or a wife, but he'll not hear it right now. So I will go."
There is a roll of his eyes there, before he is nodding to Thomas, his own usually sleepy gaze having vanished these past days since the new heap of responsibility on his shoulders. A glance is given back to Shirlyn before he is moving to come and greet the fellow Baron with a hand shake and a placement of hand to shoulder. "I have requested for a Steward from the Royal House, in order to get things in order, I also have men who left ahead-what good it did em, to reconnoiter the lands as best as they could sus. I likely will send a moon gazer along in hopes they reached Tenebrae before we do." a pause and then the Baron continues. "I will wait on a wife, till I am sure it will help my house in some manner of alliance. Trade or otherwise."
"Shirlyn." Evidently the formality and slight distance Thomas kept the Charing at for the first several months of their aquaintance has fallen away. He shifts his eyes to Emrys, an amused look on his face. "You do need a wife. You've no heirs. I've got some cousins, if you don't mind marrying low and are desparate, but I suspect that you deserve a well bred wife. Maybe that Kaedon witch woman, hmm?" He laughs. "Well, what can I help with?" The Marcher Baron steps closer to the map, giving Emrys a familiar pat on the shoulder.
"Suit yourself, Emrys, I care not either way. It's just what will be expected of you, is all. Take my counsel or don't, it's of no matter to me." Shirlyn waves a hand off the question at hand and eyes the map further, squinting at this line or that.
"See! I'm not the only one who thinks that way, Emrys," her eyes lift away from the map briefly to proffer a grin to the man before snapping back down. "Yes, Thomas, we're looking for away around all the swollen creeks and smaller rivers from the recent rains. Any suggestions, I'm thinking Duval and up around the bend in river near Solizar and over to Tenebrae."
'God no." Emrys is quick to cackle out. "No, I met her once in Ironhold and that was enough for me." he adds, before his hand tucks at the sleeve of his over tunic, to pull over some stray ink showing. "As for a wife, Thomas you and I hold a bond, that none else do. You are like a brother to me, as I would consider Wulfred or Gauvain." only one of those being his actual brother. With a sweep of his arm, Emrys allows the good Chandus a view of the map procured. " I know what is expected of me-and I also know everyone will be waiting to see if I spectacularly fuck up-yes?" And he snaps his eyes back towards Shirlyn. "I intend to get some poor woman with children, never you both fear."
"Which you won't - bollocks it up, that is. You're the right man for the title, a true brother in arms to me and more. You know I'm a big believer in the old blood, but firstly, you've got that, and secondly, our old blood can sometimes lay stagnant for so long that it stops moving. Need something to get it flowing once more." Again, Thomas laughs. My, in good spirits tonight. "Good. As for your route…" He leans over the map board, but his mind is made up easily, it seems. "Take a boat to Duval and a barge up the Leonor until Riverrend." His right index finger, calloused from thousands of hours gripping a sword, traces a route up from Riverrend, the capital of House Reine, and Griffon Point, Tarris's capital. "The main road from Riverrend to the capital," referring to the Duchy, of course, "is paved and well laid. From Griffon Point, the roads are of a lesser quality, but still acceptable." His index finger rises in the air all of a sudden. "Or, you can just take the barge up the Leonor, to Solizar's Lake Meldus and then up the Hellena to your fief. That might be wisest, to know your own river as well as possible. And quickest!"
"Of course they will, that is why we must endure to not allow you to do so," Shirlyn says 'we' encompassing Thomas in this mess, of course. "As for a wife, choose well and choose wisely, they will judge you on that too. You could always take Thomas' squire, she's of a good house," Shirlyn raises a brow and a smirk to Emrys, "I never fear that sort of thing, that is always as it should be and it happens whether one wants it to or not, I'm sure. All I know is that I have no time for it, but someone does to be sure."
That is all she offered on marriage and children before addressing Thomas' suggestions. "Ah, yes, that would be wisest. We're going to look at the lands, might as well see the port town." With a nod Shirlyn leans back away from the map, tossing her braid to her back.
Emrys squints as he leans in to inspect Thomas' calloused trail before he is leaning back. Mussing now with his own fingers, letting the joints pop, before he is looking between the pair of nobles once more. "I do wish to see all of my lands, but I also am not a huge fan of boats." added as an aside. "Quicker to be sure, but ever since the Kent, I don't care for it.." likely a reference to something in the 30 years, though one never can be too certain with Emrys' background and knack for adventuring.
Thomas laughs out loud at the idea of Emrys taking Synthia as a wife. "Ah, Shirlyn, he might take Lady Synthia but… that would be another nail in the coffin as far as Daltre is concerned! Tying himself even further to the Tarris portion of the Eastern Province, and to Reine, their nemesis!" He stands fully back up, crossing his arms. "There are… unusual dynamics in the East. The south, which is comprised of the Duchy proper and Reine lands, are almost a seperate area as far as the province is concerned. The Daltre are loyal, but they run the entire north of the Duchy and do things their own way. They don't trust us as well as they ought and the favour's returned. Of course, Viscount Justin is the Duke's uncle… but on his mother's side." He winks at Emrys.
"Well, my friend, that's something you have to decide on your own. When you've got larger forces to move, a boat is really the only way that makes sense. And speaking of forces… how are you looking for what's left after Fitzroy's treason and flight?"
Shirlyn looks at Emrys incredulously. "You'll just have to deal with it, then. Suck it up, for One's sake." Shirlyn huffs, leaning up against the wall with her arms crossed. "There are a lot of things that I'd rather not do because of this reason or that, but I do it anyway, because I have to." She says this flatly, matter of factly even.
"You noble houses and your angst," Shirlyn shakes her head. "That might be so, but there isn't any more tying into Tarris than being a brother, albeit half, to the Duke himself. A match is a match and I'm quite sure Daltre would get over it," Shirlyn waves a hand at the question. "It would really be of no consequence, and if there is that much animosity between houses then the Duke should be doing something about it."
"Yes, my brother's nuncle and I have never seen eye to eye. In fact were Laurna ever loving to me, I am sure Justin would be a shade cooler than hell himself." A shake of his head. "I am sure Justin will love having me as a vassal and in his own backyard, though he does see my usefulness in the field he won't be quick to poke or accept help from me. Being there when Ventius or however you say Julian's fucking name- was likely not good on my end for familial relations."
And then either out of spite, or likely notice of Shirlyn's proximity. "I could always marry a Charing." And then he quiets for a moment. "I am the reason of the animosity, and I doubt Gauvain would drown me like a kitten now. It was our father's bringing me back home that did it-though Justin has bastards himself-when it is his sister being horned, then, well."
"Oh, we work together well enough, Shirlyn, else the good Viscount wouldn't have marched to the south to help relieve Reine. But him getting first trounced by Venantius the Mercenary Captain, and then having to swallow his pride when Venantius the Mercenary Captain was defeated by County Windholme and turned into Lord Julian Venantius of the Redoubt, also in Windholme… You can see with this where the rub is." Thomas is momentarily amused at the suggestion of marrying a Charing, fully aware of the implications for present company. However, he pokes Emrys in the ribs. "Focus. Troops. How many do you have."
"Perhaps all of that is true, perhaps none of it. You can never tell what will be a boon in disguise for another house until it's done." Again with the flat tone from the Charing woman. His comment about marrying a Charing draws a hearty laugh. "You'd have to talk the Charings into wedding one of their own outside of Wayston besides myself."
Shirlyn snorts, then gets quiet herself, her half-smirk turns down in a half-frown. "No," she says harshly yet simply, "I've got better things to do right now than to cater to you as a domsetic housemate, absolutely not." She happily looks to the subject of Emrys' former bastard status, though. "You're noble now, and they must treat you as such. To your face at least." Shirlyn shrugs and turns her attentions to Thomas as she shifts uncomfortably and clears her throat. "Yes, troops, he needs those too."
"Personally?" See Emrys can be brought in to focus real easy. "I have about fifty men, not counting my own lance." Emrys rattles off. "That is what supported me. I have written to Gauvain for some help, though we will see if my brother answers." he assays with a wave. "He has enough on his plate than to worry over me, and I need to prove him I am worthy of this." A quick glance back to the snorting lady before he is smirking back "You must have grand assumptions of what a wife of Tenebrae must be." see he can poke too, you two. Still. "I know what's been said of me, and I have seen reactions when they note I am a noble now." People are rather honest here on that account.
"I was thinking another reason to go by Kaedon would be to scout out whom they have coming in the tournament in order to recruit from under the Viscountess' nose."
"Nothing grand, just what is normal for those sorts of things. Go on," she waves a hand to Emrys when he does she frowns even deeper than before. "Fuck them, they'll eat their ill favored words and choke on their tongues for all they poorly use it. Nobility is earned not given, true respect that is, they are nothing. As for Kaedon, we can stop on the way back through." Shirlyn nods and grins. "I have a mind to compete, after all. Oh! You also have Tomas out gathering your archers for you," Shirlyn adds, "he has raised 10 men for his band, what did you name them?"
"Not only a noble, but a Baron. It took my family a thousand years to shake off their dew and step out of the Valley for that!" Rubbing his hands together, Thomas shoots a glance back at the map table. He's looking particularly at his own fief. "I am going to cut a number of the Malkess men to you, Emrys. How does fifty spears and fifty archer skirmishers sound? I know you said you wanted to go with longbowmen, but these chaps will give you some versatility." He flashes a grin at Shirlyn. "Does that work for gathering his archers and then some?"
Emrys does smile now, likely as war and things of that nature come easier to him, than anything else. "The Lion's Teeth." Which historically has it's place- or Thomas would know given his placement close to the east. "I know some think I am damned for taking in a dead house's name, but Tenebrae did not go away in some epic failure, we bred them out." likely meaning House Tarris. "I am no more cursed than any other man. I've not killed my kin." which is saying something. Still he flashes his teeth in a smile to Thomas. "One hundred? I think that would be a fine start, specially as I seek to raise professionals as well from my militia. And the Malkess men know me, I had some of them in my command once we took them in."
A brief look is passed to Shirlyn. "What will you compete in, my dear? Archery?"
"Precisely, and that garners a bit of respect on its own, but he'll show them what fools they are. I don't bring my lot in with lackwits," Shirlyn nods and raises a brow to Thomas. "What is so bloody amusing!" the Charing lady says with mirth. "If you wish them to be a part of the band he has," Shirlyn grins, "Lion's Teeth, right," Shirlyn smiles at Emrys, "yes, that'll do nicely."
Shirlyn frowns at Emrys. "I don't do archery, perhaps you should watch and find out for yourself," she says smugly.
"Hah, well, wouldn't you like to know, Shirlyn." Thomas barely changes his reaction at the Charing lady's questioning. His concentration, though, is on business. "I'll send them under Captain Sir Travis Martine. I have him commanding number two company in my regiment's second battalion. He's an old Malkess hand, a solid, good natured and funny chap. Actually, if you remember when we were in Scales and sleeping out in the muddy, wet fields after the first battle? He was holding Circester, the nearest village, for the Malkess. We parlayed and he withdrew with his lads on good terms and from then on, we had hard roofs over our heads. So you can thank him for his accommodating nature!"
"Indeed I will, I was starting to bloody chafe the saddle due to the fucking rains." Emrys offers with a laugh. Apparently that there is a woman in the room, doesn't seem to stop the baron from cursing as he is prone to do. "Ah, yes-well I think I will find him just right. He can lead my household men, and I can promote one of my knights to my lead outrider and let him recruit.." This should indeed prove fruitful enough. "It's a good start. I know there will be men looking to come on and serve as they will need the work. Fighting men and with Windholme's unease there will be men looking. I can weed out the undesirables."
with a wave of his hand he looks back towards the map. "I guess I will." he answers Shirlyn without looking. "Are your things ready?"
"You can just ask Thomas where my true skills lie," Shirlyn laughs heartily at this before shover her hand in front of her face. "Oh yes, Thomas, I worry about your dastardly thoughts. Probably something along the lines of dragging me to chapel so I may pay the bounty for my sins, scandalous indeed." Her eyes go wide in a mock expression of shock before settling back to a more relaxed mien.
"Well all but my costume, yes," Shirlyn grins, "I'm not much for womanly pursuits but I do love a good masque. Betta!" Shirlyn shouts, the servant bustles in and curtsies, "My newest costume please." The servant scurries away with a nod. "Now I'm ready, when do we leave?"
"There will undoubtedly be men looking for work. Your peasantry, too, might be interested; winter is a slow time and you are LOYAL to the Crown. That means something." Thomas snorts at Shirlyn. "Costume? What costume?"
"A ball?" And then he is raising his brows. "Oh, Fucking Kaedon yes?" And he looks back to Shirlyn and then to Thomas. "I have to dress for this yes? Bloody never been.." and he's cursing for a moment, before he is turning heel. "Excuse me..It seems there is more to baroning than house troops..I-" he fumbles for words before pointing at Left. "You- Help me." As it seems ti will take someone who knows Shirlyn's haunts for finding poor Emrys, something suitable.
"Wouldn't you like to know, Baron Chandus? However, the idea of a masque is so that no one knows who you are. I rather like the game of it, it would seem the Sokar Viscountess can admire all of my skills that week." Shirlyn giggles and leaves it at that. "Yes, Kaedon, dear." Shirlyn laughs. "And you do need to choose a costume, indeed, at least a mask." She waves Emrys off and her trusty Left. "Oh, good choice, Lefford is infinitely better at more noble delicate matters than Right, the gruff. Off you go!"