Ashara's easy morning turns a bit more active as Ashara strolls around Blackhaven some, interacting with the Dondarrions and seeing the castle. She tries to spend most of her time in the company of Cyra and Fatimah. "So, have the Stormlands been all you thought they would be?" she asks Cyra and Fatimah.

Grateful of the non-aggrivating company, Cyra gladly joined Ashara's company. The interaction with the Old Lord left a sour taste in her mouth in terms of Blackhaven nobility, and it left a frown on her normally pleasant face. But the line between her eyebrows began to smooth the longer she spent with both Cyra and Fatimah. But at Ashara's question, her frown returned and she shook her head, glossy black hair framing her face, "Land is storm, but people are storm more. No true lord has seen us. Eye of storm has yet to come." The good news was she was wearing dry clothes, and she wore her favorite yellow silk gown and and a maroon cloak. In comparison to he gloomy landscape the clothing looked strange.

Fatimah responds Well it certainly lives up to its name. Its stormy. Its people have stormy moods. Dark moods. But all in all they are nice enough.

Mardax was in slightly better moods seeing his destination down below.  The slight food he got from the scouts was a bit better then he had in days, and now he could finally get some real food and clean up.  Or, so he hoped...

When the sound of horses and wagons came from behind, he quickly darted around.  His hand went to his side, where his weapon hung.  He must have looked like hell, his armor covered in mud and dried blood, his face bruised, hair messed and caked with dirt.  Was when he saw three riders come ahead and approach him.  His eyes narrowed for a moment, when he saw their coat.

While far from a master of politics, he knew that the coat of arms belonged to no Dornish house, but one of the Reach.  His stance lessened slightly, though his eyes remained on who seemed to be the one in charge.

"Greetings, travelers from the Reach.  I don't suppose you have room for a Dornishmen heading to Blackhaven, do you?  I can pay, if it is required." No sense giving out his name unless he must... he had no idea how far, or deep, this conspiracy ran.

Ashara tends to her needlework as she chats with Fatimah and Cyra. "Yes, the weather was certainly as stormy as we hear and I'm glad to be out of it" Ashara says with a shake of her now-dry hair. She looks a bit worried at Cyra's other words. "Do you think us not seeing the lord yet is significant? I'm hoping he's just busy, but it could be a calculated insult, or something worse" she says quietly to Cyra and Fatima.
"Well, many of the stormlanders are very nice." Ashara replies to Fatimah. "And the old lord was very flattering to me" she adds, blushing. "But I didn't like the way they treated Cyra at all." she finishes softly so none of the Dondarrion's servants overhear them.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 08:47, Sun 14 Dec 2014.

    When the mud caked man spoke, it was as one equal to another. That, combined with his level of speech marked him as no robber. So Mathys came to what to his mind,was a logical conclusion. " Did whatever sway back, you rode finally die on you, Hedge Knight? You look like something that a cat would refuse to drag in." Mathys was not making a jape, even if it might sound like one. His facial expression was one of a frown. And the man's hand movement had not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by Mathys resting his hand on the handle of the hammer that was located in  a saddle scabbard. " Declare yourself, man of Dorne."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:48, Sun 14 Dec 2014.

Ser Hassan had made his appearance that morning wearing some thicker garb to protect against the harsh wind. It was a black doublet with sleeves slashed with lavender, the buttons up the doublet were seven pointed stars. His once longer hair appeared to be freshly cut, and his face trimmed and proper. This is what Ashara and Fatimah remember their Father/Uncle looking like when he was younger. Behind him stood Roland and Gerrin, Squire and Page respectively. Roland, Fatimah's younger brother appeared to be walking around in a set of full plate built for his size and a House Ravenhowe tabard. When the three approached Roland lifted his visor and waved a metal clad hand to the women. "Hello!" Hassan shook his head at his son slightly chuckling, "Good morning ladies, I hope you all slept quite well," he placed his hand on Roland's shoulder.


"Roland here has a big day ahead of him, lots of training, he was planning on entering the Squires Melee in King's Landing. I think he was planning to ask Miss Cyra Vyraes for a favor," it was at this point that Hassan was immediately cut off with a very huffy "DAD!!!" from Roland who's cheeks immediately turned red and his visor fell over his face. "Now I've gone and embarrassed him, I'm sorry my son." But Hassan's face was in a smile.

In reply to Ashara Kolwyn (msg # 8):

Cyra looked at Ashara somberly, but she smiled genuinely at the first words, "You truly innocent, my sweet sister." Her tone grew more grave and quieter as she spoke the next, "If we in Myr, no insult. Servants greet visitors, show them to rooms, allow guests to freshen, relax for hours. Then meet host leaving mud of road in laundry and bath. Is polite. Here, not so. If Lord Dondarian were at castle Kolwyn, he be greeted under hour by your father. Here, they send lecherous bleck man to welcome and true lord not even greet us break fast after. We take hospitality without leave to thank host proper."

She gave a moment to let the words sink in, but upon seeing Ser Hassan approach, Cyra whispered, "House Kolwyn been slapped in face."

Looking up at the approaching knight with sons in tow, Cyra allowed the severity to leave her features, leaving her posture and expression pleasant as ever. Though she did not know Hassan the way the other women did, it was hard to miss the difference a hair cut, shave, and knightly clothing made on the father. "Good morning sers. We slept wonderful, and appears you renewed by night, too." And to Roland and Hassan's exchange, Cyra smiled so that her eyes crinkled, but she held back a chuckle for Roland's sake. Looking between father and son, she put a hand over her heart, "I flattered. No knight or knight-to-be ever suggested desire for favor." She lifted her eyes to meet Roland's visor, the genuine smile still alight.

Mardax narrowed his eyes as the man spoke.  At first, he was rather angry, and his mouth turned inward towards a sneer.  But then, he suddenly went the other way, and started laughing.  After all, this man had no idea who he was, and hell, if he looked in a mirror, HE probably couldn't tell who he was.

After the short laughing fit was over, Mardax composed himself again, smirking at the man.  "I am no Hedge Knight.  However, forgive me if I say, the LAST time I said who I was, a group of men tried to murder me.  So i would prefer to be, somewhat anonymous.  However, I can tell you, that if you help me, I will see you are properly rewarded.  Or perhaps, if you give me your own name and house, I might be able to see if your connected to the people who have tried to kill me, and mayhaps trust might be earned."

 The horse Mathys rode, snorted and attempted to back peddle, as horses are want to do, from time to time. He reined it still,as he responded to the stranger  on the road. " You are a bold rascal, to make conditions,when you are asked something by a Knight. If I where an enemy of yours, we would not be speaking, but engaged in the dance of steel. I will not ask you again, Declare yourself."

Leon trots up besides Ser Mathys when then stranger gets confronted, ready to hand over the shield to his knight whenever things become violent.
He tries to peek past Ser Mathys to get a view of this muddy man out of pure curiosity, wondering who dares to speak like that to his knight.

Mardax looked at the man, smirking still, as the man spoke of not being his enemy, or if he were, he would be in a dance of steel. "Mayhaps you are not, because you know not who I am..."  He said, his face staring at the man, before he simply said.

"Besides, I do not need answer to knights, as you are beneath me.  I am Lord Mardax second son to Lord Reinard of House Kaldor.  Now, will you help me, or are you and your retinue going to delcare yourselfs enemys, and we can start that dance you spoke of."

His voice was stern, and rather harsh, as his eyes narrowed again.  His hand did tighten on his weapon, as like he said... last time he greeted with strangers, they tried to kill him.  Without Brindal, he wasn't going to take chances, and prepared himself, just in case.

Edric blood ran cold when the Dornish man started laugh. He knew his friend would not take the laughing fit lightly and now threat were being made. Mathys, we have orders from the King to make peace with the Dornish. Threats will not accomplish that.

Edric attention then turned to the disheveled man on the road. Lord Kaldor, please excuse my friend. While he has no love for the Dornish, I can guarantee that we don't wish you harm. I am Ser Edric Neumann of Blue Hall, second son to Lord Henry Neumann, and this is Ser Mathys Ashfield and his squire Leon. If you require a horse to ride then you can borrow my spare til we reach Blackhaven since it seems we are headed to the same place.

 When  Edric spoke for him, Mathys glared at his friend, words would be spoken between them about this, oh never fear. But now was not the time. He returned his attention to the self proclaimed Lord of Dorne. " As my companion has told you, I am Ser  Mathys of  House Ashfield. Since you claim to be a Lord, then it is a Lord you shall meet and we shall then see." Mathys turned to his Squire. "Leon, ride to my Lord Father,and inform him we have met a Lord Of Dorne, that requests hospitality of him. I shall fetch his " Lordship" to him forthwith. Make haste." Mathys was not convinced this man was as he claimed, but dammit, Edric was correct, even if he was an interloper in Mathys  business.  They had to make nice with the Dorne. He would rather impale one then break bread, but a Royal command,was a Royal command.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:36, Sun 14 Dec 2014.

Ashara smiles back at Cyra. “Thank you, that’s very kind.” She pauses in her sewing as she considers Cyra’s whisper, looking worried, but she doesn’t have time to say anything before her Uncle arrives.
Ashara looks a bit shocked at the years her uncle has lost. She smiles brightly on seeing Roland. She sets aside her needlework, rises and curtsies to him. "Good morning, squire Roland!" she greets him cheerfully. "I slept well, uncle" she says pleasantly enough, but without the warmth she would usually show him; she's still mad about the way he treated Bron.
“I wish you the best of fortune in your training and at the Melee, Roland. I’ll pray to the warrior for you” she says warmly and holds in her giggles when Hassan reveals he is planning to ask Cyra for her favor. Smiling brightly, she says “Every maiden dreams of a knight or knight to be asking for her favor.”

Mardax watched as another man rode forward, and spoke.  A man more diplomatic then the other his eyes watched the pair.  So, they were headed to the same place by royal command.  He was curious if his own family had made it here yet.

As the one introduced the pair, and the squire, he relaxed a bit.  The houses of the Reach had always been... coridal at best, but at least they were known enemys of Dorne at times.  It was bad, when he was willing to put more trust in a House of the Reach, then people of his own land.

At the offer of a horse, he shook his head. "Thank you, no.  Me and horses... don't get along. Water would be good, and possibly a spot on the wagon.  Otherwise, I can walk and keep up.  Prefer it that way.  Also, something to clean up my armor a tad, and you will see my houses Sigil, to give a bit more.. Credit, to who I claim, since I don't believe you think I am who I say." His eyes were gazed at Mathys when he said that.  The way he spoke was all he needed to know the man didn't believe him.  But, at least, it helped him trust them to not be part of the plan to kill him.

  Mathys wheeled his horse around to face towards the caravan. " It is not me that you must convince, but my Father, Lord Ascar. I shall escort you to him, " My Lord." Those last two words, they bespoke of  Mathys skeptical view on this matter. But  he would bide his time for the truth to be revealed.

Edric dismounted his horse and retrieves his water-skin from the saddle, handing it to Mardax. Yes let us return to the caravan so we can get this mess straighten out so we can finally get on our way. He says in an agitated tone. I for one just want to reach the warmth of Blackhaven and cleanse my body of this cold and judging by the looks of you I sure you want the samething, but if me must present you in front of Lord Ascar than so be it. Mathys might of forgotten, but your House is potential trade partner with our Houses. We meet your brother Garin a couple fortnights ago at Poppy Hall right before we left to come here.

     Being a third born son left Rikard with plenty of time to do as he will, and he had spent most of it before this journey exploring the woods back home.  Now, he wished nothing more than to be with his father's scouts rather than riding with his family, but apparently his father had other ideas as to where his son should be and so Rikard let his mind wander as his horse plodded along.  As he mused, it was very clear to those around him that his thoughts were as gloomy as the weather.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:49, Mon 15 Dec 2014.

Mardax nodded his head, and got himself a drink from the skin provided.  So, he would have to meet with their Lord Father, which really, would be fine.  He knew who he was, even if.. he didn't look it at the moment.

When Ser Edric mention Garin, Mardax looked over at him with a smile.  "Good, he is still alive then.  How did he fare?  Was he well?"  he asked, looking on over at him for a moment, before taking another sip.  "And it is fine.  Meeting the Lord is a wise precaution.  After all, I am sure I hardly look the lord at the moment.  And.. Dorne and the Reach have always had.. and interesting relationship.  Animosity is something that one grows used to.  This new world of Unification is an interesting one."

He thought on his brother, and wondered if his men had made it to his brothers side.

Your brother was well when he left. He had a run in with Vernon Steiner, but the situation was defused. He did kill one of House Steiner's men so we sent him with an escort to Blackhaven. You will hopefully see him soon, but for now lets introduce you. Edric grabbed the reins of his horse and walked back with Mardax to the caravan. When they finally make it back to Lord Ascar Edric speaks up first. Lord Ascar, this is Lord Mardax Kaldor.

 Mathys all but snarled at Edric, when he dared speak to his father before he could. The urge to strike his friend was almost overwhelming, but he gained control of himself. "He claims to be a Lord of Dorne, father. It is for you to decide the validity of this claim....... And no one else. " these last words where said thru clenched teeth,as he glared at Edric.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:43, Mon 15 Dec 2014.

Leon acknowledged the order of his knight with a quick "Yes, Ser!" while putting the shield away. It seems as things wouldn't get violent anytime soon here.
So he was speeding off as quick as he can. He might be not of much use otherwise but he sure is a decent rider and a swift messenger, making sure to give his best when such opportunities arise.

The last words he heard from the stranger still were concerning him though. "A man who is not good with horses can't be such a good man...

Bron awoke from the common rooms along with the rest of the men. He cleaned up fairly well, as they expected House Kolwyn's men to look presentable. A quick soaking via some cold water, a bit of scraping of the beard, a herb for his breath and he was ready to go. After insuring Sundancer was cared for, he prepared to follow whatever orders they had for him. No doubt Ashara would be too busy with all the noble folk to spare any time. Just as well, really-he still had not finished his note.

In reply to Ser Mathys Ashfield (msg # 25):

"Well Matrhy's what if he is the Lord of Dorne? ... What then, do we apologies for your rudeness. Boy sometimes I think you may serve us better on the front then as my son. Maybe I should force you to take 'The Black' and be done with you?"

"Unfortunately your mother would most likely cut of my manhood as I slept so your safe for now." "Come, you to Rikard, ..." Lord Ascar Ashfield mounts his horse and heads over to the wagon were Mardax is waiting.

Speaking firmly to Mardax, .... his voice sounds off, as if he was questioning you rather then speaking formalities. "I understand you claim to be Mardax Kaldor son of Lord Regenard Kaldor, Prince of the Pass?"


OOC: Mardax AWARENESS test (10), roll before you post.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 15:19, Tue 16 Dec 2014.