Lord's Council

[Lord Gaspard Yronwood]

Lord Lefford hosts a meeting of nobles, knights, and any royals who might attend his cause. He holds it during the mining hours, so that visitors will be reminded what sway Martyn might asdvance in their favor.

The man himself sits in his largest hall, at a round table where men can speak equally. The chairs range from the ornate to the monkish, Lefford himself in the latter. There is a particularly grand one that Martyn does not let anyone sit in. Though he may have despised Cedric for his craven and cruel ways, there was still nothing but respect for the bloodline itself.

Martyn greets every newcomer pesonally while ocassionally whispering to Payne and Kenning.

[Lord Harold Kenning]

Harold kept his usual quiet council, nodding, and replying to Lord Lefford and Ser Payne as necessary, but for the most reverting to his usual inwards attitude. He had called up much of his riders, and guards wearing the orange and black suns of Kayce intermingled with House Lefford's own armsmen.

[Lord Lester Merryweather]

Ser Lyn sat next to Lefford and Kenning, but on his right was Ser Miles Plumm, his follower and friend. He simply looked at the distance, with an expressionless face, but when Lefford asked him something, Lyn answered.

[Quenton Baratheon]

A bald man enters the room in the finery of house Marbrand. He comes alone and says little.

[Horas]

The turnout is poor. Actual lords at the Lord's Council seem to be very scarce. More common are disgruntled knights and distant relatives to the lords themselves. Many men send scribes or servants to hear what Lefford have to say, but do not attend themselves.

[Lord Gaspard Yronwood]

The wizened old mining lord stood and looked about at his possible allies. He raises his hands to call for silnce, then begins his sppech. "Friends, patriots, Westermen... lend me your ears! I come not to bury Cedric, but to ensure that what good his reign brought us is preserved! The evil that men do dies after them, but the good is oft interred with their conquests, the dirt that covers the ventures and lands they leave to their heir… so let it be with Cedric!"

"I have told you Cedric was ambitious. If it were so, it was his best feature of a many featured life... And grievously has Cedric lived it, with sword and poison and bent knee. Here, under leave of Tyberion and his family, for Tyberion is not his father, we honorable men gather to discuss the funeral of Cedric‘s reign." Which was a really clever way to say, 'Well, I haven't been arrested yet, now have I?'

"He was not my friend, and indeed, I did once attempt to slay him though he was wed to my daughter and gave me three wonderful grandchildren. I have lived a servant to the Westerlands and if for this effort to maintain the land we have taken by virtue of combat I must pay, I would gladly die a servant of the Westerlands."

He then took his seat... "Now I assume someone here is going to question the legitimacy of my actions. Before I open the discussion, I wish to remind everyone here that this is neither a coup nor a means to circumvent any decisions our lord may make in the future. I will also remind you that Tyberion has neither acknowledged his father's actions nor disputed them... this conference is rather a gathering of people, like myself, who believe it is in our best interest to convince Tyberion that we should maintain those sections of the Riverlands we took in the war. If we must submit, then it should be in our best interest that we remind the Dirty Deer that while we are allies, the Riverlords still revolt against him."

He then waited for a response, whether it be agreeing or arguing.

[Quenton Baratheon]

"Treachery!" the Marbrand envoy bellows lustily, rolling his 'r's. "This man speaks of our King as if he were an acquaintance rather than our liege!" There is a strong air of theatre in his voice, something that suggests he is attempting to stir up trouble rather than voice an actual concern.

[Lord Gaspard Yronwood]

He answered calmly enough, "If you are referring to Cedric, then you are correct in your evaluation. But if you mean Tyberion, I can only reemphasize that I mean no direspect to him, merely hinting that I know not whether he will be king or Lord Paramount next week."

[Quenton Baratheon]

The little bald man looks visibly taken aback. "He condemns himself further! Dost thou not know whom our king is? We serve King Rodrick of House Baratheon, and none other!" His eyes are wide with an indignation that is a little too strong to be genuine.

[Lord Gaspard Yronwood]

He does the stern straditionalist Westerlord warrior 'I don't care if you're a prince, young man, you will eat your greens' equivalent of rolling his eyes. "Well, that sums up House Marbrand's position... Anyone else?"

[Erik]

A significant commotion can be heard outside, with what sounds like a large group entering the courtyard and being permitted inside the castle. A disheveled herald, well dressed in silk of crimson and gold, bursts into the meeting room and announces, "Tyberion Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport, Warden of the West!"

Tyberion makes his way into the hall halfway through his herald's words, followed by an entourage of a dozen knights.

"Started without me, Lefford?" He asks, smirking, "Quite all right, I know I'm late. Had some trouble deciding whether to attend a meeting of traitors hoping to undermine my rule. You understand."

[Lord Gaspard Yronwood]

"My lord!" Martyn had expected a Lannister emissary of some sort, likely not quite as sniveling as the one from Marbrand, but he did not imagine the new lord would come himself.

"We have saved a seat in the event of your arrival!" Which was of course the big throne that Lefford had ordered no man sit in out of respect to House Lannister. "And there are no traitors here, your grace, merely proud veterans who wish to keep your land great."

[Quenton Baratheon]

The Marbrand envoy snorted loudly.

[Lord Gaspard Yronwood]

Pointing at the envoy with a warm glare, "There will be no disrespectful behavior or loud snorting in Lord Lannister's presence!"

He might've stood in the road waiting for a chance to cut Cedric's head off, but no man could deny the old fart his sense of etiquette. An older breed of lord, indeed...

[Quenton Baratheon]

The little man opened his mouth ready with a retort, but then closed it again and smiled sweetly. He nodded in agreement with Lord Lefford.

At this point, Lord Dudley Marbrand quietly steps out from the throng behind Lord Tyberion. He gives his envoy a serious nod of acknowledgement. A nod that said you can stand down now.