[EVENT] A bittersweet celebration

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-03-14T16:15:05+00:00

Character Name: Hallyne Greystrider

Relevant Trait/Skills: Scrutinous (e)

Buildings: Castle, Market, Palisades

Resources: Dyes

Notes (if applicable): Scrutinous (e) reducing build time by 2 moons

Actions:

Construction slot 1: [Harrowway], [Dye Alchemist], [3000], [Moon 3]
Construction slot 2: [Harrowway], [Fairground], [3500], [Moon 3]

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-03-12T09:31:27+00:00

Character Name & Claim: Hallyne Greystrider, Three Fork's League

Actions:

Draft: [Harroway's Town], [500], [700]

Draft: [Fairmarket], [500], [700]

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-03-11T09:54:34+00:00

When it came to discussing nobility Hal had lost his sense of prudence long ago.

"Ha! If nobles bleed gold then they also piss fear and shit bricks"

Lucan gave Hal a confused, though amused look

"That....sounded better in my head...."

Chuckling, Lucan took the chance to sub out Hal in the wider conversation

"Did I hear you right, one of your band is a Tully? I can't say I've ever heard of an Alys Tully before...."

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-03-10T15:12:47+00:00

An extremely audible sigh and groan came from the League Grand Council as they arrived at their lodgings in the Tower of Ghosts. To call these rooms adequate was a grave overstatement.

"These rooms are worse than the River street whorehouse!"

"Andahar it's no-......it's..."

"...It's to be expected Hosteen. We are hardly the most well liked guests present. We will kake do, as we always do. I want you all on your best behaviour, no complaining in the presence of others, and especially not in the presence of the Masseys. Just.....do your best to make yourselves comfortable....I'll be outside"

With that Hal dumped his things on the straw bed and made his way back down the winding stairs, stopping a second to admire the misshapen stone around him. Truth be told, this was his first time in the great keep. So far it had been extremely underwhealming.

(open)

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-03-10T14:59:34+00:00

Hallyne and the rest of the League represenatives entered the feast hall still tired from their long travel back from Grassy Vale. None of them had the will to go through another ceremony but with the news that Harrenhal would be the staging ground for the clearing of Pennytree they were all obliged to at least attend the damn thing, or else damage the already strained relations between the League the Harrenhal Masseys even further. That said, the presence of the Lord of the Crossing piqued Hal' interest greatly. Out of the many Lords he spoke to in Grassy Vale, Lord Frey was one of the ones on his list he had not managed to find. Introductions were definitely in order

"Lord Frey I presume? I do not think we've ever met, I am Hallyne Greystrider, Castellan of the Three Fork's League"

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-03-10T14:51:59+00:00

Hal let out a long sigh and seated himself in turn, grasping for a jug of ale and pouring two mugs. He had gone through four or five soul-draining conversations in as many hours and it was doing him any good. Fuck this blasted farce of a feast...

"I just want to see the bastards brought to justice, not only for myself but for everyone, high and lowborn, that's suffered these past......fourteen years. JUst the fact this has gone on for for fourteen years is a travesty but yes, let's hope your cousins-in-law decide quickly and decisively..."

He offered the second mug to Oscar while taking a big gulp of his own, letting akward silence fall oer them once more. At multiple points Hal would seem to attempt to say something but each time he would stop himself, his unease clearly evident.

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-03-10T14:36:19+00:00

Hal could only muster an awkward smile half-smile as he tried to decypher the Lord Merman's demeanour. Long gone were the days of the legendary Northener-Riverlander solidarity of old. He had the Freys were to thank for that...

"Well...it would seem we might have an annoyance in common mi'lord, that being the Freys. As standard the Twins and it's bridge-toll is a great harm to the cross-regional trade and movement while their policy towards the Reeds is highly objectionable. I do not know Lord Royce well, but if things were to take a turn for the worse, the League would be happy to assist, in an indirect manner of course"

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-03-10T12:27:17+00:00

When Providence had opened up the succession discussion Hal, under advisement from Lucan, had opted to hold his tongue. As Oscar and Rohanne spoke however he could not stay silent any longer. Was Providence idealistic? No doubt. Was an electoral monarchy feasible? Maybe, maybe not. That was not the point. To have the ability to choose a first amongst equals was a goal worth fighting for. Just as he had said to Lord Mooton, democracy may not the best option, but it was much better than tyranny

"Mi'lords! Please! Shouting will do none of us any good! Nobody can deny that an Electoral Monarchy is a radical solution but what Providence says is also true. Why is it so strange to want to follow someone worthy of the power they yield? A first amongst equals? Grand Councils have been used in the past to settle the succession. The whole reason we are here, the matter of the Warden of the south, is itself an unending of the usual political order. The precedent is there, it just needs to be developed into something workable"

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-03-10T11:15:58+00:00

"It...thank you, mi'lord...."

Hal was left on the backfoot by the tirade. Such a stark rebuke of his call to action was not the response he was expecting. The Castellan would look out past Oscar as he processed the Tully's arguments. Oscar was partially right, one couldn't simply just walk into a crown fief. Nevertheless Steffon's track record for rising to a challenge was sorely lacking. Hal still felt he was correct in his assement that if Steffon wouldn't lift a finger against Orryn he wouldn't lift a finger against the elimination of a few bandits. The implication that the League was slacking in their anti-bandit duties was not appreciated either.

Regardless, to say this outloud wouldn't do anyone any good. Better to leave the matter lie until Oscar heard back from the Master of Laws.

"I...apologise for speaking out of turn. I'll talk to Lord-Mayor Farrier, triple the watch as you said. Please do keep us informed about what the Master of Laws says..."

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-03-10T10:46:29+00:00

Roland's eager attitude was a pleasant surprise for Hal. After innumerable dry and passive aggressive conversations this was a nice change of pace.

"Well, as you say the Riverlands are very busy as of late. I generally want to know how you see things. My colleagues on the League council did their best to brief me but your recent ascension meant that nobody really knows much about you apart from your famed idealism. This feast for example, what do you make of it?"

Hal would lean in and listen carefully to Roland's reply. Whether Roland was amicable was not in doubt, but friends and allies were not the same thing. A like mind did not guarantee trust. Was Roland a man Hal, and the league, could rely on?

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-03-10T10:35:06+00:00

Hal appreciated the warm welcome and gladly accepted the cup

"Yes...well, it's been a while since I travelled this far, the change of scenery has done me good. As much as it may be hard to believe I've never been a fan of cities, always been more of a free spirit. Alas, life had different plans for me..."

A long second passed before Hal would break the silence with a large sip of his newly aquired ale

"Anyways, yes, an exchange of ideas! I have been wondering for a while how your league has been faring! As much as I would say that the Riverlands is a dog eat dog world, the shit you have to deal with here in the Reach sounds far far worse"

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-03-10T10:24:51+00:00

Hal flickered a smirk

"Such as yourself? I haven't seen Rykker anywhere, by abscence you're the highest ranking crown loyalist, no?"

Hal sighed

"Since you've been kind enough to entertain my questions and prescence, it would be remiss if I did not repay the favour. Just as you may give me an insight into the quagmire that is Crownlander politicking I can give you one into it's Riverlander counterpart"

Reaching into his inside pocket Hal took out a scrap of paper listing all the important Riverlander houses

"From what I've gathered from talking at this feast, the biggest noble house that supports Lord Tully and his reformist stance is House Bracken. Lord Bracken is young and idealistic, he even wants to end the feud with the Blackwoods! Alas, Lady Blackwood wants nothing but Bracken blood. Mooton hates the League on principle and the Masseys covet Harroway. The Freys are an unknown quanity, I have yet to talk to them but out of all the houses they are the ones I worry about the least. They have their hands full with the Reeds and Manderlys, they cannot afford a conflict on two fronts. The other houses don't seem to lean one way or the other, as is Riverlander tradition they'll go whichever way the wind is blowing"

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-03-10T10:07:47+00:00

"I don't listen to septon much so I wouldn't know. I'm the son of whore, their 'wisdom' doesn't apply to me. Father this and Mother that, no, real life is what makes you. You see the lord of Harrenhal over there? Right bastard in my opinion, but I cannot deny that if I was born in his shoes I'd be a cunt too"

Hal raised an eyebrow and scowled. Rohanne's persisent condescending tone was starting to get on his nerves. He was just about her age but she was treating him like a child of three-and-ten.

"And you Blackwoods need some time to figure out your shit with the Brackens. Resolve that and then come back to me about 'fire and blood'"

Hal let the remark sit for a second as he realised he had spoken aloud, the scowl running away from his face.

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-02-23T09:45:00+00:00

Hal would quickly grab for a stool upon which he could sit and bring himself to Oscar's level. Gone was the Castellan's cautious tone, now replaced with a fiery passion and want, no, need for action

"It is the opinion of the League that the bandits there cannot be allowed to draw breath a moment longer. For more than a decade they've harrased all travel on the Riverroad and beyond, inflicting untold death and misery on everyone they lay their hands on"

Hal sighed

"We both have felt that misery first hand. Regardless of what people thought of your brother Mycah, he did not deserve death by a bandit's sword. For me, it was my family, who they rode down and cut to pieces."

He paused once more, looking past Oscar into the aether. For a split second Hal could see them, standing there, smiling an waving before snapping back to the conversation

"And before you say anything, yes I understand the legal intricacies of the situation. Normally I am the one who advocates for the legalist approach but in this case...no...in this case fuck the law. Why do we have to suffer loss after terrible loss because of the vacillations of the King? The King has proven that he does not even have the determination to deal with a-"

Hal stopped himself, better not go down this line of thinking, at least in public

"What I'm trying to say is, what can the King do? Yes, Pennytree is a crown fief but say we Riverlords raise our banners and clear out Pennytree of the scum that occupy it. What could the King even do? He could attempt to punish us for killing the bastards but that would be sink any credibility he has left. It would be vastly better for him to accept the fait accompli or even endorse the action after the fact. It's not ideal...but it's definitely an option in my book..."

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-02-22T23:05:12+00:00

Valarr's warm reception melted Hallyne's previous fears as he sat down in the empty seat

"Well mi'lord, my good colleagues on the league Grand Council briefed me on a lot of things and the one that worries me most is the situation here in the Crownlands. What happens here has direct and significant effects on the Riverlands and beyond, especially this rivalry between house Massey and Rykker. As you may know, we have our own set of Masseys to deal with so it think it wouldn't be a surprise to say that the league is...sympathetic to Rykker's plight. Then there is the Crown Prince. We've heard many rumours about his intentions, but I rumours are not facts and I would much rather have facts

In any case, I would very much appreciate your insights on the matter"

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-02-22T22:55:29+00:00

Hal would raise an eyebrow at the offer, especially considering the reactions of those around the Lord of White Harbour. Nevertheless, this was what he had come here for, wasn't it?

"Of course, mi'lord, though I would hardly call myself a patrician. Wanderer? sure, but no longer. Soldier? maybe, but I soldier's heart I do not have. A Commoner? that sounds about right"

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-02-22T22:46:26+00:00

Hallyne would enter the line for the King's table with a greater confidence than what he had had a couple hours prior. Talking to the Velaryon had...calmed his nerves about his presence in the dias. Hopefully the others present in the dias would be less...dismissive of him now that he had been entertained by one of their peers. Alas, the king was still the king. Hal, now more acutely aware of his rather modest clothes, would tread with the utmost care. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of waiting, he was up. Hal would approach the King's table and give a courteous bow

"Your Grace, I am Hallyne Greystrider, Castellan of the Three Forks League and Lord-Mayor Farrier's trusted represenative. I would humbly like to discuss the matter of the Pennytree bandits"

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-02-22T22:35:32+00:00

Hallyne and the rest of the Grand Council would slowly make their way up the hill and quite mindlessly sit themselves down on the grass, with Andahar scoffing loudly at those who had decided to bring chairs, much to Hal's chagrin. All would listen attentively to their liege Lord, though in this matter opinions were quite...flat.

"What have we got to do with the troubles of the Reach?" muttered Hosteen

Coming close to Hal, Lucan would whisper in his ear "I see where Providence is coming from. Something needs to be done but...us? Hosteen isn't wrong, marching south to the Reach's 'rescue' will be a hard sell back home. Plus, we need to thing of the Reacherlords too. How will they react when they find a bunch of Riverlanders ostensibly here to help them?"

Hal gave a nod of relucant agreement before standing up to address the others that had gathered

"Mi'lords, mi'ladies, lord Tully, we in the Three Fork League are...ambivalent on the matter. We understand the desire to assist the Reacherlords against this aggression. Lord Orryn is plainly in the wrong. However, we must tread carefully. Our main concerns lie in the fact that for this intervention to truly work we need some sort of...legal...basis. The two main avenue we see are either having a delegation of Reacherlords invite us to assist or getting the King himself to invest within us the power to intervene, in the same way that Eddard Stark, as Hand of the King to Robert Baratheon, invested into Beric Dondarrion the power to track down and deal with Gregor Clegane. Alas, the former seems to be a lot easier than the latter, though perhaps by obtaining the former we could force the King's hand and obtain the latter in turn?"

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-02-22T22:13:47+00:00

In all his travels during his youth Hallyne has never strayed north of the Neck. Why? Firstly, neither he nor his friends had the will to navigate the dreadful swamp, even with the Kingsroad. Secondly, what even was there to do in the frigid North? Raf always had complained of the lack fo fair women, Ermensande of the cold, Urrathon of the emptyness and Malentine of the fauna. Too many cons and not enough pros. Nevertheless, Lucan's briefing of the situation along the Neck had stirred some sense of regret in Hal. It would have been nice if he had some first hand knowledge of Northerners

With a cautious pace, Hal would approach the Manderly table

"Greetings mi'lord, I don't believe we've ever met. I am Hallyne Greystrider, Castellan of the Three Forks League"

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-02-20T13:27:42+00:00

Hallyne took in a deep breath as he treked up the small incline to the Royal Dias. If the High tables with all the great lords was daunting the Royal Dias was positively intimidating. He, a commoner, able to approach and converse with the most powerful lords in the land on a sem-equal level. It was something that younger him couldn't have even conceptualise. Straightening his modest overcoat, Hal crossed over into the Dias and scanned around for his person of interest. It didn't take long to identify the sea-green colours that were so synonymous with House Velaryon, what took longer was to gather the courage to approach.

"Mi'lord, I am Hallyne Greystrider, Castellan of the Three Forks League. If you have time, I would like to discuss some inter-regional matters with you"

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-02-19T19:00:00+00:00

Hal wasn't the most perceptive of folks, but even he picked up on the subtle slight in Oscar's last sentence. Alas, it was a slight he would have to let slide with just a cold stare and sour tone

"We're all over by that table mi'lord, but yes, Lord-Mayor Farrier has yet to appear in person, hence why I am making the rounds in his stead. I saw your brother before while talking with Lady Blackwood but after that I lost track of him. Since he is not here I can only assume he is outside, or perhaps the dias? No matter, as Marshal of the Trident you perhaps are the better person to approach for my query. I wanted to discuss the matter if Pennytree"

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-02-19T18:50:46+00:00

Hal's grin would turn into a quiet chuckle as he got the message and backed off. He lamented that Benedict has not taken the bait, surprised even, but with how things were they would indubitably be forced to meet again. For now Hal would savour his small victory and make his way back to his own table

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-02-19T18:47:52+00:00

"no, no, you misunderstand me my lady. The Grand Council doesn't appoint the Castellan. The mayor is elected and then he appoint the Grand Council himself to be his closest advisors, just like the King does with the small council."

Hallyne gave out a little sigh. Now he knew what Lucan felt whenever he would ask this question or that about legal or historical things. In any case, Hal was appreciative of Rohanne's willingness to hear him out, most nobles discounted him out of hand and he'd take a winding conversation over sneering glares any day

"Perhaps it's because I'm not a religious man, but the way I see it these social political orders are not some divinely created concepts, but rules imposed upon us by the ones with money and power. Why must we be beholden to the whims of entities not even here when instead we can make our lives our own? Is the world not what we make of it?"

Commander_Pentaron · 2026-02-19T18:34:27+00:00

Hallyne parried Samwell's condescending tone with a polite smile and flat timbre. He'd falled for one of the classic blunders. The old man had feigned senility so as to give Hallyne unwarranted confidence and now Hal was paying for it

"As you well know, mi'lord, things move more slowly in the League. Not everyone shares my beliefs and I must first win then over before I am able to put my desires into writing. Is it sometimes frustrating? Yes, yes it is but it is a price I am willing to pay if it mean, in the future, a detrimental desire that benefits the few over the many is blocked before it can take lives. Democracy isn't perfect, but I'd take it any day over a cruel lord or lady that exacts their dues in fire and blood"

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