Difference between revisions of "Rea Family/Darren/What Makes a King"

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What was that smile? What was the Duke thinking? What did the Vice Marshall tell him?  
 
What was that smile? What was the Duke thinking? What did the Vice Marshall tell him?  
 
Kite Drakhen
 
Knight of Celtiberia
 
  
 
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Latest revision as of 03:44, 18 October 2021

Letter from Ulfang Mormont
I notice your handiwork in Qubel Lighthouse Rea. You best be very careful travelling through D'Hara old friend.

Ulfang Mormont Lord General of D'Hara Royal of D'Hara Duke of Paisly Margrave of Paisly

Marshal of the Madinan Sun
Ulfang Mormont


Letter from Dominic Rea
King Ulfang,

I should think your previous dealings with my brother would be sufficient to absolve him from whatever antics you are trying to pin on him. Your handiwork on my brother while he was alone and scared has not been forgotten.

Also, from now on if your would specify which brother Rea you speak of, I would appreciate it. Both of us receive mail to the same basket, as it is.

Dominic Rea

Noble of Sirion
Dominic Rea


Roleplay from Dominic Rea
Quietly, so not to disturb his slumbering brother, Dominic wrote a reply to the failed King. He saw no need to trouble his brother with political games, and most certainly not those played by a man that held so little honor, and had proven that he could not take care of his own people.
Dominic Rea


Letter from Ulfang Mormont
Save me from your pointless lies Darren. You were spotted in Port Nebel prior to your expedition to the Lighthouse. I don't fancy your chances if you are caught. I cannot protect you again should you be caught. Your history is well known here and let us say your cowardly reputation proceeds you.

Sleep well.

Ulfang Mormont Lord General of D'Hara Royal of D'Hara Duke of Paisly Margrave of Paisly

Marshal of the Madinan Sun
Ulfang Mormont


Roleplay from Ulfang Mormont
Ulfang read the message from the failed assassin. A chuckle passed his lips. Surely the buffon didn't think he would believe this was the work of another halfwit Rea.

Ulfang Mormont Lord General of D'Hara Royal of D'Hara Duke of Paisly Margrave of Paisly

Marshal of the Madinan Sun
Ulfang Mormont


Letter from Dominic Rea
While it is certainly not of your concern, King Ulfang, you should know that we are travelling south to recover some personal effects that were left behind in Madina.

However, I am curious as to why you would think you have ever protected my brother. You cast him, disabled and alone, from your lands after years of service, for a single, panicked mistake. He is lucky to have lived after that. If you were going to swing an axe, at least have the decency to do so yourself, rather then allow nature to do your dirty work.

~Dom

Dominic Rea

Noble of Sirion
Dominic Rea


Letter from Ulfang Mormont
Your brother received everything he deserved. He is lucky to have lived and that is all down to me. I am happy to hear how he suffered for his well thought out and considered "mistake". Your brother is scum. No more and no less. I am glad my wisdom allowed his miserable existence to continue and be even more miserable.

Knowing your brother as I do I am positive that he has enjoyed every moment of his "misery" and made others lives even more miserable.

Ulfang Mormont Lord General of D'Hara Royal of D'Hara Duke of Paisly Margrave of Paisly

Marshal of the Madinan Sun
Ulfang Mormont


Letter from Dominic Rea
I should think I know my own brother better then yourself. You've broken the man. He does not speak, barely eats, and the only time I see light in his eyes is when one of his students finally overcomes a challenge. The years under a different King have done nothing to teach you of people, Ulfang Mormont. Is Pawl Paxwax as deaf as you are?

~Dom

Dominic Rea

Noble of Sirion
Dominic Rea


Letter from Ulfang Mormont
His treason in Madina was many moons ago. Whatever has broken him must be more recent. I'd be happy to claim responsibility but cannot. Whatever condition he is in there is only 9ne person responsible and that is Darren. It's so like him to blame others for his many failings and it seems that runs in the family.

I thank you for explaining the situation. It has amused me.

Ulfang Mormont Lord General of D'Hara Royal of D'Hara Duke of Paisly Margrave of Paisly

Marshal of the Madinan Sun
Ulfang Mormont


Letter from Dominic Rea
Your glee in another's suffering is concerning, King Ulfang. Is it not our solemn duty as nobles to protect the weak, and to champion the innocent? Darren may not be innocent, no man truly is, but he is weak. Is it not your duty, as both his first liege, and first King, to right his path? Is it not the duty of all of us that are bound to rule by divine right, to lift and harden our own, so they may do the same? You are his mentor; while punishment was certainly deserved, your duty to him was not absolved simply because you cast him away. Many cycles ago, when I was a young man, I was given responsibility of a small rural region on the East Island. My King, who, similarly to yourself and Darren, was also my liege and mentor. He entrusted me with a region, and when he did so, made it clear that any who fell under my care were, in fact, under my care. No one else's. He had always been there for me, even when I made mistakes that cost thousands of lives. That's what a true liege does, King Ulfang.

You say you know my brother well. Tell me, do you really think he would have been caught before he even reached your tent, should he really had his heart in it? Do you think the best infiltrator on the island, and one of the best in the world, would have even been caught knowingly making an attempt on his own King's life? Darren makes many mistakes, as he is only human, but an attack on over two hundred of a King's men is not only stupid, its suicidal. I think we both know he is better then that.

Darren made an uncoordinated, sloppy attempt at you, King Ulfang. He was alone and scared for me. Do you think any man wouldn't make a mistake, if there was even a glimmer of hope that they could save someone they love?

I have no doubt you were furious in the aftermath. The breaking of every oath the man had ever taken is not something to be taken lightly. You allowed that anger to fuel your choices, King Ulfang. Few men deserve the lick of the lash, and fewer deserve the care of a torturer. Then, at the worst moment in my brother's life, wounded and permanently disabled, you had him cast into the wilderness, to be summarily eaten by the creatures of the night. Luck saved his life, but I wonder, why is it you did not have him hung instead?

Tell me, King Ulfang, are you a coward, and unable to condemn a man to death, or is your glee of another man's suffering more of a farce then a reality?

~Dom

Dominic Rea

Noble of Sirion
Dominic Rea


Letter from Ulfang Mormont
These are wise words from a Rea. I do not believe that Darren has any honour. He is a rebel and an assassin. There were others in Madina that influenced and used him and remained in the shadows. I know who they are but only Darren acted and was therefore the scapegoat for others.

I do not trust him and I do not trust you yet I cannot deny the wisdom in your words. You are correct but I owe Darren nothing. He chose his bed and has to lie in it. He is no innocent but the reason I spoke to my Judge, who was ready to execute him was because I knew he was just a small oary of a conspiracy and an expendable. As stupid as he is I had little doubt he would survive exile. He is a survivor. There's no doubt about that. Did I care whether he lived or died? Not really but his crimes deserved punishment and he is solely responsible for that.

Do I think he planned to get caught? No. Do I think he walked 8nto the frey hoping to get caught? No. His ego was so great he did not consider anything other than success.

No matter what you believe he does or does not deserve he still an infiltrator and the risks of such an enterprise are high. Do not expect me to believe he is lame and has difficulty moving. No infiltrator could last so long without being able to move quickly. He has eluded the military more than once.


Ulfang Mormont Lord General of D'Hara Royal of D'Hara Duke of Paisly Margrave of Paisly

Marshal of the Madinan Sun
Ulfang Mormont


Roleplay from Dominic Rea
"We are not landing in Paisly."

Dominic pinched the bridge of his nose, his attempts at reason eluding the younger Rea.

"We are too! He thinks I am so stupid, I'll take his region down around his ears!"

While Dominic had been careful to screen Darren's letters, he'd left the stack unattended to go speak with the captain about dealing with an errant sailor. He'd returned to a furious younger brother, clutching the latest letter from the former King.

"Darren," Dominic spoke tightly, his own temper beginning to simmer, "What will you do in Paisly? Get drug off to some dungeon again? Or worse, kill some common folk who are just trying to make a living? Burn food, and have the workers starve? Nothing you can do will affect the man, other then get him out for revenge once again."

The younger Rea scoffed, and sulked out of the room. Dominic wasn't in charge, and Darren could go wherever he wanted, older sibling be damned.
Dominic Rea


Roleplay from Dominic Rea
(1/2)"Darren, please reconsider this. All you are going to do is ma-"

"No!"

The ship had made port that morning, and the eldest Rea brother had spend the entire day attempting to talk down one of the youngest. Most of the day, Darren had been circling the city rooftops, carefully mapping out every able-bodied man that walked in or out of the Ducal palace. Dominic had been on his tail most of the day, although he'd stayed on the ground for the most part, doing his best not to make it obvious he was tracking a man on the rooftops. The brothers both had done well keeping to themselves for the day, and as the sun set, Darren had clambered off the nearest building, and returned to speaking range with his brother. They both stood in an allyway, a small entrance to the Ducal palace a short distance away. Dominic stood between Darren and the door, arms crossed.

"Brother, this will not he-"

"I don't care! He had me tortured!" Darren's voice was tense, but he was managing to keep the volume low. "It's his fault that monster took my arm, and it's his fault I can't do anything anymore!"

Pushing Dominic aside, Darren stalked toward the doorway.

"And what will you do? When you are standing in front of Ulfang himself, what will you do to him?" Dominic's voice was soft, sad. Darren stopped, halfway between the door and his brother. "Will you slap him? Have his face meet your fist? Or will you try to stab the man again? Where does it stop, Darren?"

"It's.....his fault." Darren's voice had dropped the tense tone, now his voice shook. "All of it. I had a good life. I had woman, wine, I had no troubles at all." Venom dripped from Darren's words. "All he had to do was die."

"Is that it, brother? Stop for a moment and listen to your own words. Were the kidnapper's Ulfang's? Does that overgrown rabbit bow to the whims of Ulfang? Is it Ulfang's fault the only realm that would allow you to wear their banner is a cold, war torn hellscape?"

Dominic paused, watching Darren carefully. The younger man hadn't moved an inch.

"Who's fault is it, really, that you didn't ask for help when those men came for me in the night? Who was the person that dove into Zuma lands, over and over, lifting hundreds of thousands of their rightful gold? Who tried to cast a spell when that same Zuma's magic was literally infused into his skin? How about who chased away the only people that cared for him?"

Dominic let his words drop to a razor sharpness.

"What sort of man have you become, Darren?"
Dominic Rea


Roleplay from Dominic Rea
Many, many years ago, the brothers had lived in the far south, one, a noble of Madina, the other, a permanently - vacationing noble from the east island. They had traveled the southern rogues, training and teaching the peasants to defend themselves from monsters and undead. However, one night, at the outskirts of the very city they find themselves in today, Dominic was ambushed, disarmed, bound, and disappeared. Darren had made a deal, and he had double crossed someone who was more powerful then the few gold pieces Darren had betrayed them for. With no other options, and alone for the first time in years, Darren had made a choice that had haunted his every step since. But what of the kidnapped brother?

Dominic had been shunted place to place for days on end. By the end of the first night, he had bruises up and down his body from all the horses, carts, and even what he thought might have been some large land-walking bird once. Over the next several days, the once-general found himself completely directionless, the only reality the inside of a burlap sack, gnawing hunger, and the occasional water tossed over his head. Finally, he was dragged out of what he thought might have been an actual hay cart, and after a few dozen steps, the sack was pulled off of his head, a man's face staring him down. The man was about as non-descript as can be, brown shirt, brown pants, dark boots, brown hair and brown eyes. Dominic quietly wondered how someone could even have such a flat face. He was on his knees, in what looked like.....a barn stall?

"Where are we?"

His voice cracked, disuse and inadequate water supply making itself known. A horse nickered, and the flat man blinked, and smiled, before tossing a plate of....something mushy at Dominic's knees. The man turned, quickly making his way out of the stall, and slamming the door behind him. With a sigh, Dominic stuck a finger into the mush, and smelled it for a moment. Some sort of gruel, perhaps? At least it was luke warm. He fell on the food, the hunger from the last few days taking all of his attention.

Once the food was gone, Dominic began to search for escape. The walls were made of boards thicker then a man's thumb twice over, and the front of the stall, while it did have iron bars that afforded an excellent view of the stall across the aisle, they were also sturdy well past Dominic's abilities without tools. The door itself had a large lock and was set in a heavy metal track. Dominic paced for a while, but ultimately, the stall was an effective cell, if a bit unorthodox. In a huff, he sat in the far corner, and waited for a chance to escape.

Weeks and months passed, each the same as the last. The flat looking man would bring him food and water twice a day, but otherwise Dominic was left to his own devices. When the first winter came, he was tossed a thick blanket one freezing morning. Even with the blanket, winter was cold, and long. But even old man winter gives to spring eventually, and one spring morning, the flat man came for that blanket. The first winter, and the second, the man took that blanket...........but at the end of the third winter, Dominic took his chance. He tossed the blanket at the man and got around him fast enough to bring a fist on the back of his head. The man fell like a ton of bricks, and Dominic was free.

Free, but lost. The outside of the barn was a small farm surrounded by woodland, with no indication of which way was north, let alone a settlement. He melted into the forest quickly, taking only the blanket, and both his sword, and a set of bow and arrows he'd found propped up next to each other near the entrance of the barn. Idly, he wondered why the man had kept Dominic's sword all this time. It would have fetched the man a good price at any market.....

Thankfully, after less then a day of walking, he'd come across a small lake. Water and fish were plenty, and he got plenty of practice with the bow. He spent a week there, just trying to learn to use the peasant weapon and getting himself some survival necessities(such as poorly crafting a waterskin), before moving on. Many, many months passed, lost in the wilderness. Seasons changed several times, many cycles went by. Everything from wolves to a group of brigands had tried to kill him, but he came through, many times by the skin of his teeth. The group of brigands finally saw him acquire both a rough map and some ill fitting armor. Finally, years after he'd been kidnapped, he could find his brother.


Dominic Rea


Roleplay from Dominic Rea
"What sort of man have you become, Darren?"

The words echoed between the two men, seemingly hanging in the air. Dominic's words cut through the air.

"What sort of man will you be, when you stab a foolish old man for crimes he did not commit?"

The silence from the younger Rea held, filling the entire ally.

"Would you prove that man right, Darren?"

The infiltrator hung his head, and let out a sigh, breaking his silence. Voice cracking slightly, Darren turned to his brother.

"You are right." Slowly, Darren made his way back to his brother.

"Let's go."

Dominic smiled, and clapped a hand on Darren's back. The pair started to leave the ally........

"Halt, who goes there?"

Both men came to a dead stop, even as several of the city guard turned into the allyway in front of them. Darren tried to step behind Dominic, to shield his face from the guards...........

"Hold on, is that-" The lead guard's eyes widened, and before Dominic could even try to defuse the situation;

"Arrest them! That is Darren!"
Dominic Rea


Event
Seven men lay dead, but several more had made it out of the ally. Alarms across the city began to ring..........


Roleplay from Ulfang Mormont
Duke Ulfang Mormont crashed through the double doors into a large waiting room with his guard trying to keep pace. Sir Kite Drakhen waited 8n the room and stood to attention as the old, grizzled Duke exploded into the room.

"Report Sir Kite." Ulfang was clearly impatient for news but as always spoke with respect.

"Your Grace. I doubled the guard on the street as requested. The rumours are true. Darren Rea is in the City. He travels with one other. His brother I presume. Darren was recognised by one of the guards. A fight ensued and they escaped. The brother is deadly. There have been sightings of movement on the rooftops."

The Duke nodded as the report was given. Good work Sir Kite. I am glad you returned to Paisly to assist in this matter. I expected Darren to pay a visit once I heard he was in the realm. I have had letters from the brother, Dominic I believe. I know little about him." Ulfang began to pace.

"I do not know what they intend to gain by entering the City. They must have known that they woukd be spotted? Continue to search. Lock down the City. I want them alive if possible. Rea... Darren is a troubled individual. Difficult to deal with. He is obsessed. He's an assassin, a rebel and all that has befallen him is of his own doing but he blames me. He's ignorant but a dangerous individual."

Sir Kite coughed. You know best your Grace but the reports I've had suggest He's a cripple. The danger is from his brother judging by his skills."

Ulfang smiled. "Never underestimate your enemy Sir Kite. The danger is Darren but I have no quarrel with him. I'd prefer if he didn't stick a knife in my back of course but I do not wish harm to come to him. That is up to him however. The brother seems even tempered. I can probably talk to him logically. I doubt I can talk any sense into Darren but I want no more casualties. Take them alive if possible but if they resist then do whatever is required to preserve life."

With that the Duke turned and swiftly left with his guard attempting to keep pace.
Ulfang Mormont


Roleplay from Kite Drakhen
Captain Caedwen was standing at the ready. Ser Kite approached with a peculiar grimace on his face. The captain had been with him long enough to know what that meant - - he was troubled.

Curtly, the Knight spoke, "Master Caedwen, I want them caught!"

Easier said than done! thought the wise captain. "What are we to do, Ser Kite? The Kindlers are at the ready! Awaiting orders, Sir!"

"Redouble your efforts!" Ser Kite said. "I want you all as vigilant as possible. Heads will fall should a finger be laid on our General! Is that clear?!"

The Captain nodded. Generally, he couldn't care less for all the royals in the world. They were spoiled brats, most of them, in his opinion. But not the Duke. He had confirmed his Valor, time and time again, in the Heat of battle.

So, this time, it mattered. This time, he cared.

"I will make you proud, Ser Kite!" he reassured the young noble. "Have no worries. The men will be vigilant--"

"The rooftops!" Ser Kite interrupted. "Eyes towards the sky!"

He could see the young man's plight, so he attempted a joke, "Remember my mother-in-law, Ser Kite?"

The noble didn't quite fancy the interruption, but let it slide just the same.

The captain continued, "Eyes in the sky, and a third one towards the rear!"

Both men started to laugh. Loudly. Too loud. "Do all mothers-in-law have three eyes, Captain?"

With a stern face Captain Caedwen retorted, "some of men have four!"

Another bout of laughter. Loud. Nervous.

As he was departing, Ser Kite glanced into his eyes and added, "No armor piercing arrow heads, yes?"

Captain Caedwen nodded.

"Let's take them alive! Let's keep everyone safe!"

After the noble was at a safe distance, the captain mumbled between his teeth, "Easier said than done!"
Kite Drakhen


Roleplay from Dominic Rea
Ulfang Mormont was right, of course. The danger to his men was certainly the smaller, one armed man. Across town, that very lesson was being learned by a small group of guards. Darren flashed across a rooftop, putting his shoulder squarely into one of the armored men. The edge of the roof was a bit too close, and the guard found himself off balance, teetering perilously for a moment before losing the fight to gravity. The infiltrator was long gone, of course, already engaged with two more men several feet away. Those two men in turn fell, one from a dagger to the throat and the other a gash to the thigh. Dominic was a little ways away, blocking blow after blow from a beast of a man. The infiltrator moved like a snake, and jumped for the back of the beast-sized fellow. A quick slice, and the brothers stood on the rooftop, alone. Or, at least, they had thought they were.

"Surrender, or we will fire!"

The call echoed across the rooftops, even as two separate sets of troops rose from behind cover on either side of the brothers. Each man held a bow at the ready, nocked and ready to fire.......two dozen men sighting down two dozen arrows. Darren's eyes flicked to Dominic's, and in the moment, Dominic saw fear flash across them.

"Darren..."

Dominic only got a single word out before Darren flashed across the rooftop, attempting to run out of the well-placed trap. In a smooth motion, several of the archers pulled back and fired. In the same breath, the infiltrator leaped, jumping for the next rooftop. Most of the arrows fell just short of their mark, but two found their way into the back of Darren's leathers. They didn't pierce the thick hide far enough to cause more then superficial wounds on the man, but the final arrow that flew true right in between the plates of the greave his calf sure did. Darren crumpled on the wounded leg, and the guards moved in on both of the brothers.

Captured............again.
Dominic Rea


Roleplay from Kite Drakhen
Even the fox gets outfoxed sometimes.

Forty of the archers kept patrolling the streets. Deliberately, they weren't quiet about it.

But there were twenty more.

The lofty-headed knight was young and full of zeal, but Captain Caedwen was not; rather, he was quite the opposite. Embittered. Vigilant. Experienced.

He hid twenty of the Kindlers up on the rooftops in the most uncanny of places: drain pipes, garret windows, pigeon coops.

And then the guards started falling. One by one.

Captain Caedwen was aware of what was happening. He respected human life as any other man, but life taught him that, sometimes, if one wants to make an omelet, then one has to brake (or let brake) some eggs (heads).

Teeth clenched, he waited, waited and then produced a sound both musical and piercing at the same time.

Spurred by some hard to image force, all twenty of the hidden archers burst from their hiding holes, bows at the ready.

It was like they didn't even aim.

Two volleys darkened the moon. One, to test the reflexes of the infiltrators -- excellent, at that!-- the other to kill.

Kill they did not, but connect they did.

The two hooded assailants plummeted in the night. They could have easily evaded their pursuers - - such was their skill-- were it not for that sly fox Captain Caedwen.

Personally aiming his privately made bow, the kill shot was coming. Then staid.

"Hold fire, hold your fire, everyone! Can't you see they're down!" Knight Kite cried from among the shadows. "Stay your hands!"

Caedwen looked at him savagely, but he knew the face of a stern man when he saw it. And Ser Kite was adamant.

"We are no savages! We are D'Hara, after all. A beacon. An example! They shan't be execute here like dogs!"

The two men were surrounded. Captured.

"Orders, Sir?" Caedwen asked with a foul tone and disposition.

"Take them to our Duke! He will know what to do with them!"
Kite Drakhen


Roleplay from Ulfang Mormont
Ulfang was in his Throne Room in Paisly City. It was just a ducal seat of course but when he left Madina he brought his Throne with him. The was a Throne with much history. Originally constructed for Abbot Nosferatus it was a Ducal Throne and survived Madina's original destruction. It was restored and used as a Ducal Throne when Madina was part of Fissoa. It became a royal Throne when Madina was forced into independence after the Great Southern War against Luria. Madina's split from the defeated Fissoa was part of the peace treaty Ulfang had only recently left D'Hara to join Madina and found himself King of a struggling Kindom forced apart from a declining Fissoa.

Ulfang studied the Throne. It had been re-upholstered recently and looked fine. A Throne fit for a King. Ulfang reminisced over his time in Madina. Darren was vocal opposition to his rule. A fair and fine rule. Darren could not begin to understand the pressure of rule the responsibility. It is easy to criticise and find fault but Mormont ruled with strength and Wisdom. Some within that Kingdom wanted him out, craved the power. Wanted to move the Kingdom to the other side of the continent. Ulfang chuckled at the memory. Ridiculous.

Kabrinsky! Ulfang remembered his influence. Knew that the rebels were working with him to move his population to Darfix. Idiotic idea and how easily that fraud influenced nobles. The rebels were ignorant. They used the easily influenced Rea as their mouthpiece whilst hiding in the shadows. Ulfang didn't blame Rea particularly. He was a tool. He had to be tortured. It was the only way to get the information. He got it but it did little good. The rebels departed and Madina joined D'Hara.

Ulfang had done right by Rea. He was a rebel and assassin. Ulfang did not want to torture him but had no choice. He had made up for that by directing his Judge to spare his life and exile him. Rea owed Mormont. That was a fact and yet here he was again. Causing trouble. Causing death! What more did he want? "Haven't I given him enough? Spared his life when others wanted him dead?" He whispered.

Sir Kite entered the room with the Rea brothers. "Your Grace. You ordered them brought before you! They have caused mayhem in the City. The blood of many of your soldiers are still fresh on their hands!"

The brothers were dragged into the room in chains. Battered and bruised from their time with the guards.

"Unchain them." the Duke said. There are enough guards here. They pose no threat.

"Now tell me Darren. What brings you here? Why woukd you risk your life and that of your brother to enter MY City. Have I not spared your life enough? You give me cause to end you once again. Do you expect me to save you once again? Have I not been lenient enough with you in the past? You are a constant thorn in my side. WHY ARE YOU HERE?"
Ulfang Mormont


Roleplay from Dominic Rea
Pasily, evening

Dominic had been careful not to resist once the brothers found themselves surrounded. Darren had fought of course, but a pile of guards, the arrow sticking out of his leg, and a manacle with a thick chain looped around his back beltloop and clasped around his hand had rendered the infiltrator powerless. Several minutes passed, with a small group of healers that had popped up over the roof edge working on the wounded guards, as well as Darren's leg. Soon enough, everyone that was still alive was patched up, including a thick set of bandages around the struggling infiltrator's calf.

A small, cramped and dark carriage ride later, the pair were frog marched into the very keep they had been attempting to sneak into. A few halls, and they entered the throne room of Ulfang Mormont, or, at least, the most recent one. The man himself stood on the center dais, lighting dancing in his eyes. Wonderful, Dom thought. He really hoped that that was a trick of the light and not barely restrained anger. somehow, he doubted the former. The noble knight(A Sir Kit or Sir Cite, Dom wasn't really sure) that had sprung the clever trap was speaking, but Dominic was more focused on the room, looking for anything he could use. There really wasn't much out of the ordinary to it, some banners and trophies and whatnot, but Dominic noted the throne, as it was either a very good replica, or Ulfang had had some poor slops drag the original King's throne all the way from Madina.

How.......arrogant.
Dominic Rea


Roleplay from Darren Rea
Unlike his brother, Darren had fought every step of the way, and was still struggling right up until the very moment Ulfang f***ing Mormont himself spoke. That old bastard ordered his own guards to release the chain holding Darren's hand to his belt. Why would he do that? The infiltrator weighed his options, holding down the panic rising from his gut. In a single breath, he weighed his options for escape from this nightmare. Several windows, but based on the number of steps they'd been drug up they were not on ground floor any more.....the guards had taken his climbing gear, and without it, he couldn't compensate for his missing arm to climb anyways. That left doors. There were several around the room, but every one of them was absolutely stuffed with guards, both around the doors and down the limited distance he could see down the hallways. There was a small, closed set of doors off to the side, but he could see the rivets for a door bar, likely set. Probably just anti-chambers anyways, and they rarely led anywhere that wasn't windowless and very tight quarters. He was certainly slowed from the leg wound anyways, so running was just as likely to end poorly. The panic from his gut rose higher with the assessment. He was sure he could get a weapon off one of the nearby guards, but where would he go with it....and what would he do about protecting Dom?


WHY ARE YOU HERE?


The old man's irritated tone cut through the air, a bold challenge to be met. He could probably take a weapon and make it across the room to Ulfang before he was overwhelmed, leg be damned......

But Dominic spoke first.
Darren Rea


Roleplay from Dominic Rea
Yes, irritated, and understandably so. Dominic had stood quietly up to this point, attempting to size up the former King, but one glance at his brother told him all he needed to know. The younger man was nearly shaking, and Dominic was sure it was only indecision that had saved the room from bloodshed so far. Whatever had happened to Darren in the intervening years had clearly changed the man, and not for the better. He'd clearly seen more of the world, and not the nice parts of it. The older Rea had tried to catch up several times now, but all Darren would say was he'd "just been working."

Dominic quickly answered the former King, thanking the Tree that he'd cut anything Darren had to say off, or worse, anything he'd come up to with to do.

"Your grace, we are here as an unplanned stop between the Goldran lands and the Far South." Dominic's voice was calm, his accent clipped and neat. "My brother had come across our last correspondence, and had the idea to speak to you himself. However, he changed his mind at the gates. The men on watch, however, took offense to our presence, and I am afraid a few peasant casualties have resulted. Our deepest apologies for the trouble, however, I am sure some coin for your damages could be sent along as soon as we can make it to the central bank. If you so wish, we will leave your city with all haste."

Not a lie, at least. One could hope the situation was still salvageable......
Dominic Rea


Roleplay from Kite Drakhen
He could see it in their eyes.

Thus, the young Knight, Kite, all of a sudden, interrupted the smoldering dialogue - - not by words; by action. ​​​​​​ He made sure the clinking of his mail, a superb armor piece, reserved for Marshall and Vice Marshall only, could be heard by everyone in the room.

Discretely, with an elegant, yet cocky motion, he coiled around the Marshall and started whispering something. Something very good, as His Grace, Duke Mormont was satisfied as to what he was hearing.

And then the Duke had another one of those glinting eyes. More so, a smile - - unlike anything the brothers had experienced before, in their troubled, complex lives - - was reaching out from ear to ear.

What was that smile? What was the Duke thinking? What did the Vice Marshall tell him?
Kite Drakhen


Roleplay from Ulfang Mormont
Ufang stared at Dominic. Eyes unflinching, unreadable. "Just passing through? I see." Ulfang's expression didn't change. "Well I must apologise then for the unprovoked attack on two innocent travellers just.... passing through." Ulfang took a step forward. His guards followed him, the guards surrounding the brothers moved closer their weapons still in hand.

"So tell me Dominic? You were just passing through Paisly, on your way back from the south? But via Qubel Lighthouse where you... or should I say your sorry excuse of a brother attempted to rob the tax offices. He was identified and let's face it he is quite recognisable. You then have the audacity to enter MY region. MY seat of power!" Ulfang's voice was booming now. "Passing through? Oh I think NOT! "

Ulfang's face had reddened but he suddenly composed himself. "No. Not passing through." Ulfang's eyes were set on Darren now. "So tell me. What are you doing here Rea? We're you looking for a reunion with your former King? Well I'm here now and if you don't want to remain here for the remainder of your life you will tell me why you are standing before me now in my Throne Room whilst I decide to hold you, your brother or both of you responsible for the death of my guards and and attack on D'Hara by Tol Goldora. I already have messengers en route to your King demanding an explanation for this outrage!"

Ulfang eyes were set on Darren and did not look at Dominic. "And you will answer or your brother will be the first in the interrogation room."
Ulfang Mormont

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