The Petition of House Stokeworth

[Poach]

[OOC: Thought of a way to move this to present-day LM rather than trying to time warp it.]

-- It had been some years since the sack of Stokeworth by royal forces, during which the surviving children of the House were kept with their mother in the Red Keep, ostensibly while Rowan was dealt with and the heir was able to come of age.

With the King looking to strip House Stokeworth of their title on account of their father's rebellion against the rightful officers of the Crown sent to apprehend him, the Stokeworth family launched an appeal to be allowed to return home to resume their rule, now that Lord Myles Stokeworth had come of age. They called for a trial to be conducted, for they vigourously protest their innocence and allege that the royal officers sent would not accept surrender in the first place.

The petition was brought before the King for his decision. The realm looked on closely, eager to see how the King would fare as a man of the law, having proven himself already as a man of war.

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[Lucius Malfoy]

OOC: I will reply to this either between my two shifts or tomorrow.

[Lucius Malfoy]

OOC: Alright, so this is gonna be handled after work today (after 3:30 PM EST). I will have Oz join this as the Lord Hand. And, if you want to, Poach, he can make his statement you told me earlier.

[Lucius Malfoy]

Daemon was seated upon the Iron Throne, decorated in his royal regalia save the crown of Maekar which rested beside him on a fashionable pillow. Blackfyre's pommel rested within his right hand, but was leaning up against the Iron Throne. Blackfyre watches as the Stokeworth party came forth. Besides them, there were allowed members of the Small Council, led by the Hand of the King, Lord Fossoway. Daemon beckons them forward, awaiting to hear their words.

[Poach]

"Your Grace," said Lord Myles Stokeworth, now a young man of sixteen years, "I submit to you my family petition to retain our lands and titles on the grounds that we are not rebels, but loyal subjects. When your forces arrived to take my father to trial they would not accept his surrender, except on condition that they be allowed to drag him before you chained and caged. My father was a proud man, he demanded to come before you a free man and defend his innocence by consent, for he truly believed he had done you no wrong. Yet even as the Butcher refused his reasonable request, my father relented, willing to come before you in chains, but the Butcher would no longer hear his pleas and assaulted the walls most cruelly."

A rose tinted version to be sure, but the facts were largely accurate. The late Lord Stokeworth was more confrontational than his son would retell, and very dismissive and condescending to Tom, but it would be for Tom's testimony to put that across...

He stopped, swallowing at this part, his voice becoming shakey as he continued, "H-he then killed my father, your Grace, in cold blood. Slit his... his throat open in front of us. He tried to have my mother and the children put to the sword too... but, thankfully, others present intervened."

"We are not traitors, your Grace," he said, misty eyed, "my father sought only to come before you with his head held high to defend himself from the charges laid."

[Lucius Malfoy]

Daemon kept his eyebrow from raising. Lord Stokeworth had demanded a trial? He had desired to come forth and prove his innocence? The King had not been made fully aware of the situation that befell Stokeworth and yet this was the first time anyone had spoken of what had happened during this encounter. The King strokes his chin, pondering for a moment upon this matter. Had Tom kept this hidden for a reason? Did anyone else know what happened there? Daemon looks at the young Myles.

Your accusation intrigues me, Lord Stokeworth. For I was not made totally aware of what happened during the encounter with my troops and your father. Is there anyone who could back your story? I must know the truth here and ask any witnesses who can reinforce your statement so that I may be enlightened to what had happened the day.

This was, in no way, an offense to Lord Stokeworth, but it was the fact that he was but a child when this happened. Anyone could have made this story up and fed it to his ears in the hopes of exacting revenge upon Tom.

[Poach]

"These black armoured men were present when the Butcher tried to kill us." Myles said, pointing to one of the Blackguard standing in the Great Hall, "There must surely be some among them who witnessed these events."

Part of the Blackguard had accompanied Tom on the mission, back when they were more like sellswords, before they were the organised and fanatical machine they are today.

[Lucius Malfoy]

This was unfortunately for Stokeworth, as there were thousands that supported him now. Yet, at the same time, these men who came with Tom were surely organized into his more core units.

Then I shall call forth the Lord Commander of the Blackguard. He will have the necessary documentation to find these men and bring them forth.

The King leans back, giving the order to one of the Blackguards to bring Lefford and a record of the Blackguard's roster, which the King hoped the Lord Commander had.

[Poach]

Before long Donnel arrives, with a scribe following, carrying a hefty book. The proceedings were explained to him.

"Records from that time are not complete," said Donnel, "The task of organising the Blackguard into the force that exists today had not even started. That said, there are records of sellswords that fought in your Grace's army, allowing us to document with reasonable certainty who might have served as a Blackguard instead of a normal paid sword. In lieu of such a task, however, I submit myself as witness."

"No Blackguard witnessed Tom and Lord Stokeworth negotiate: he proceeded with only his own men, while I and the Blackguard were busy constructing siege lines. It was on Tom's word that the negotiations had failed." he said "I can, however, vouch for the truth in Lord Myles' account of what happened after the castle fell. Lord Stokeworth was in a distraught state, begging to know why his agreement to surrender had been ignored. Tom branded him a liar and killed him immediately, and it was only with my intervention that the wife and children, one of whom is this Lord Myles, were spared."

"Whether Lord Stokeworth had fabricated this refusal I cannot say." he concluded.

"He did not, your Grace!" blurted out Myles, "He only sought to come before you in dignity! He was prepared to accept humiliation once it became the only recourse!"

[Lucius Malfoy]

Daemon listens attentively to the Lord Commander's word. Something had happened at Stokeworth that the King was not made aware of. However, there was still the unknown matter of whether Stokeworth truly desired to come forth to the King and accept whatever his punishment was or if it was all a lie. Since Myles had not been present there, the King's gaze remained upon Donnel. He had not been there for the negotiations, but he had seen the emotions and heard the words of Lord Stokeworth.

Tell me, Lord Commander, from what you saw, did Lord Stokeworth's plea seem genuine or false? As you were an eyewitness to his state before death, I wish to hear what you saw and if you thought his emotions were genuine or not.

[Oznerol]

Fossoway sits on a carved chair, right under the shadow of the fearsome and twisted throne. He was surrounded by scribes, clerks and various retainers. Several of them recorded everything said by the king, the petitioner and the witnesses. Raymun wore black mourning robes and the clasp of his office over the chest. The Kingsguard surrounded both the King and the Hand as a silent white wall of steel and flesh.

[Poach]

"His grief was certainly genuine, your Grace, but having your home sacked may elicit such a response regardless. The Holy League did not move to attempt to rescue him, something they did attempt with House Bywater, though opposing the Rowans and opposing the King's armies are two very different things." said Donnel. In truth he didn't know: it certainly seemed suspicious to him at the time: refusing to go before the King when a vast army was outside your doors was suicidal, even if the Holy League were expected to come, as they were much reduced in the immediate aftermath of Daemon's victory over Steffon Baratheon. Tom did have a reputation for being bloodthirsty and cruel. It would not, in Donnel's mind, be too much of a stretch to imagine the man refusing to accept surrender so he could sack a keep, but would he lie to the man he'd fought to put on the Iron Throne in as blatant a manner as was being suggested?

"He was not in the Holy League any more!" protested Myles, "He renounced the High Septon in Oldtown after Steffon Baratheon died, as did many Lords that once followed Oldtown's sermons."

"Those slain in the sack did not appear as Warrior's Sons or Poor Fellows," conceded Donnel, "The Holy League at the time, and I presume to this day, continue to recruit such men into their own households and retinues."

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[Lucius Malfoy]

Donnel knew more of the Holy League than any Lord present and, since Lord Stokeworth was not flying their colors, had something been misinterpreted? Had there been faulty intelligence? Did Tom refuse Lord Stokeworth's surrender as an excuse to sack the keep and kill off the family? Daemon's head was flooding with questions with no answers. The King could see something wasn't right here, something was missing or out of place with this story. He had not been informed fully on what had happened at Stokeworth, perhaps this was the reason why he had not been told. Daemon looks to Myles, seeing that the boy was fervent in his desire to clear his family's name and that of his deceased father. In a ways, the King saw himself in Myles, a boy without a father to guide him or to look to for advice.

Let us have a small recess. I must consider your statement and that of Ser Lefford's more thoroughly. I wish to make this judgment with a clear conscious and sound mind. I do not wish for another mistake to befall your household. Lord Stokeworth, your family and you will be housed comfortably for some hours while I speak with my councilors. If you need anything, simply ask and it will be brought to you.

He nods to his Blackguard who escort the Stokeworths away for now. Daemon kept Lefford with them though. The King was troubled by this petition, knowing all too well that this was an important decision.

Lord Fossoway, what do you think of this petition and the statements made? Do you see the truth in Stokeworth's cause?

[Oznerol]

Fossoway had watched all the proceedings carefully.

"I think he is honest, your Grace"

Said Fossoway.

"Tom is fiercely loyal, but he is a blunt instrument; a sword without hilt, dangerous and unpredictable. I fear Myles Stokeworth speaks the truth, Tom butchered his father only to gain himself a throne or some loot. Such attitude has no place in a pacified realm sire, or it will make the nobility look for... another claimants, whose lifes, by mercy, we spared"

He sighs.

"I would restore House Stokeworth to their lands and keep"

[Lucius Malfoy]

The King nods to Lord Fossoway's words, knowing Raymun speak truthfully on the matter. Tom is indeed a fiercely loyal man, but he was a wild card and a man whose ambitions were of his own design as well. The King remains silent for a moment, pondering on the words of Fossoway before his gaze turned to the rest of those on the Small Council; Lord Yronwood, Ser Frey, and Lord Bywater who had yet to speak. It was unfortunate that the Master of Ships was now vacant and that Lord Darklyn was still unwell.

Councilors, speak your words. I wish to hear what you all think of this matter.

OOC: Thought you guys could be given something to do if you all chipped in and spoke your thoughts.

[Gandalfus]

Yronwood remembered Spotted Tom, the thug who slew his brother in battle. While he bore a hefty grudge, he did not let it show upon his countenance, keeping a rather aloof demeanour as he addressed the King.

"Your Grace, the Hand speaks well. The Butcher is a heavy-handed man of war, a wicked instrument to be wielded when all other options are exhausted. He possesses not the patient, even handed nature that Stokeworth required. I concur with the Lord Hand, in his deliberation. I advise Stokeworth be restored to its rights, in compensation for the injustice done to them."

[Iron Aquilifer]

Ardrian had looked on with loathing as the Stokeworth boy professed his House's loyalty. It had been a miserable sight, to see such a noted family brought low. That is what faith does for you, he conceded. The crown is where the power lies.

When the King called his councillors to his side, Ardrian moved quickly to his place. "Both the Lord Hand and Lord Yronwood have sound reasoning for their preference, Your Grace," the man began. "But the nature of the man in question is unlike most. He is a man of war yes but a feared man nevertheless. Tom and his men were more integral to your victory than mine levies and the people will remember that. Who can any pretender boast at his side as fierce and noted as Spotted Tom? The Stokeworths were Holy Lords and arrogant in their defiance. Their punishment is as lasting as the dynasty that the Butcher has helped to create.​"

[Lucius Malfoy]

OOC: Just gotta wait for Ponti and a decision will be made. Unless Lefford wants to speak further.

[Poach]

"Are all men who were once affiliated with the Holy League to suffer such lasting punishment, Lord Bywater?" asked Donnel, looking dispassionately at the Master of Coin. It was no secret that Donnel himself had fought for the Holy League as part of the Warrior's Sons for the duration of Steffon Baratheon's claim. Known to none was that his chest still bore that legacy: a seven pointed star scarred on his left breast, over his heart, inflicted on Dragonstone as penance.

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[Iron Aquilifer]

"If it brings with it the lasting support of Spotted Tom then definitely. How long can this Stokeworth be trusted before he follows in his fathers footsteps? Tom has no friends out with the capital. His nobility is only secure with," Ardrian bowed towards their King. "Your Grace's continuing reign. That is the sort of constant support the realm needs to keep from bloody conflict."

After a pause he threw his arms out to the side. "Or we can give Stokeworth back his keep and try to appease Tom some other way."


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