Post by Rarity on Jul 25, 2011 16:54:22 GMT -5
Jack Penn: A skinny human in most aspects, except he has somewhat of a belly. His light blonde hair is graying, despite his young face. His eyelids are heavy, as if he's incredibly sleepy... or bored.
"So, you met this chap Suffolk before he became the Duke of Stonedale, how did you meet?" yawning.
"We met through a mutual accquaintance. At the time, Alfus was not well. He was seeing physicians but the treatments were not curing him. I properly diagnosed his affliction and we finally got him feeling more like himself."
Staring, almost uninterested he begins writing, "This acquaintance pair you together, or just a friend?"
"That's correct, we were paired together, it being beneficial for us both to marry."
He nods, "So, he's got a couple daughters older than you. How's that working out?"
"Alfus thinks it not an issue, and neither do I."
"I'm sure it's not an issue for him, how are the daughters taking it? You mix well with them?"
"I have not seen much of them, but we get along, moreso with his youngest."
He nods, "Some say Duke Stonedale likes the fact that you are away so often, why would they say that?"
"I don't know who says that. He may like that I keep busy, like he does, but he is always happy to see me."
He snickers, shaking his head, "Probably be happier if he had a boy, any news on any kids?"
"That news would be for my husband."'
He nods, "How far along are you?"
Claire stares for several moments and sighs. "One would only have to count from the honeymoon."
He smiles, "Lucky guess" continues to write for many long moments.
"So, your brother's in a bit of a bind, you helping him at all with Lord Ashwood?"
"It seems you know more about my brother than I."
He chuckles, " I get that a lot, so you helping him?"
"I would be perfectly happy if I never saw nor heard from him again. He is his own person, I don't check in on him."
"So, you've heard the news you're a duchess. What's your take on that?"
"Naturally I was surprised when I heard the news. I was not expecting any sort of raise in station. But of course I am very happy for my husband, who Lord Alden and King Kaius chose to make Duke."
"King Kaius. Your father wasn't too terribly loyal to him, but we know that story, why did you choose to be different?"
"My father is not a person anyone should choose to emulate. I am fortunate that King Kaius has shown me and my family mercy."
Sighing heavily, he doesn't bother writing anything down, "I heard he tortured you. That must have been difficult."
"That's correct. He didn't like that I was disobeying his orders to murder an innocent man."
He begins to write, "What did he do?"
Claire sighs. "After stripping me of my clothes, he branded me with a hot poker, among other things. My brother knew of this, and did nothing."
He begins writing, "You seem to bear a sort of rancor for your brother, does he hold the same enmity towards you?"
"He is like my father, he is pleasant as long as I do as he says and don't interfere with his matters, but if I don't...he will naturally want to see me punished for what I've just said about him."
He continues to write, "Your father is in jail, do you think he has plans to escape?"
"That wouldn't surprise me, he hates being in prison, and he has several accquaintances on the outside that may aid him."
Continues, "If he does escape, ... given that it is entirely your fault he is in prison. Think he will go after you immediately?"
"He may. It is more likely that he will hire others to attack me, like he has done before. Though I have faith in the prison's security."
"If he can hire to kill you when he escapes, why not do it now? Think there's an assailant looking for you as we speak?"
"He is not allowed to write anyone, I don't see how he would be able to order such a commission."
He nods, writes a little more and stops, "I had spoken with your brother somewhat recently, he said you had a fondness for a certain elven ambassador... he thinks you're sleeping with him, but I'm sure he's exaggerating, isn't that right?"
"He knows that I am not seeing the Shallys Ambassador, and I have only lain with my husband. It surprises me that you two have talked."
He nods, "As I suspected, so how close are you and the ambassador?"
"We are good friends, and was very supportive after the incident with my father."
"How supportive?"
She narrows her eyes. "He escorted me to my father's trial, and arranged for protection when I was in Capitol Kellryia. When he returned to Shallys, he wrote to me to stay in touch."
He nods, "Such a nice man, he gives everyone the kind of treatment he gave you, yes?"
"I would not be aware of how he treats others, but I would hope he treats them with the kindness he showed me."
He nods, "Have you met any of the ambassador's friends? How does he treat them?" still writing.
Claire nods. "He recently hired one of his friends to work in his household. I would say he treated her the same as me."
He raises an eyebrow, "He hired a female friend?"
"Yes, is that so shocking?"
He shrugs, "Not to me, I see it happen all the time. How fond is he of the lady?"
"He had tea with her in his parlor and they were smiling as they talked. Later he pat her on the shoulder before she left the room."
He nods, sighing, "What do you think of Suffolk's previous wives?"
"Again, you know more than me. I did not even know he had more than one wife."
He chuckles, writing this down.
"His first wife disappeared and was never seen again, why do you think that was?"
Claire's jaw drops. "I didn't know that."
Penn nods, "I was just a kid when it happened, my father told me she was murdered by him, but no one really knew... a pity, I heard she was beautiful. His second wife was had quite an unnatural disease, the clerics said they didn't know why it kept coming back. They insisted someone was poisoning her... Suffolk thoroughly denied it. Food for thought."
"I was told his second wife died delivering a child."
He laughs, "yes, that's WHEN she died, but that's hardly the start of her health problems."
He continues to write, "Did he tell you he had a son?"
"The infant that died shortly after delivery?"
He nods, "Guess he did manage to tell you that."
He continues to write, "He's been arrested once, did he tell you that?"
"Arrested for what?"
"Unlawful assault."
"He was in the military before he was a bank owner, it was shortly after he left the Aldenshire Regulars."
"What was the nature of the assault?"
He shrugs, "Apparently some woman he knew, it was a few decades ago and Aldenshire won't let me look into their criminal records."
"A woman?" She frowns.
He nods, "I wish I knew more." He continues to write, "Raethor, why are you so fond of him?"
"I prefer his stance on retribution and emphasis on obeying the laws of the realm."
He sighs and gets up, offering his hand, "It's been a pleasure. Tell Duke Stonedale I said hello again, he'll appreciate it," and leaves.
----------------------------
Cloak and Dagger: The Story of Whidmoore
Everyone knows of the famous Charles Whidmoore, both a cousin of King Kaius and traitor to the Kingdom. How well have the children done to pick up the pieces of their shamed family?
Desmond has turned a lucrative trading business into disaster and brought his reputation down with it while attempting to seduce the daughters of many local lords. Earl Ashwood has demanded he be arrested for molestation, but it would appear that the Lady Ashwood refuses to speak out against him; a pity. Desmond's losses has crippled the economy at Blackfern Wood as he has raised taxes four times in the last year, yet he has been personally spending for his own benefit the entire time. All he's missing is a plot against his King and he's following in his father's footsteps.
Then there is the tragic tale of Claire. A young girl looking towards a father figure for authority and acceptance, she now is with child with the recently appointed Duke Stonedale, previously Suffolk. Duke Stonedale's reputation for murdering wives has somewhat, shall we say, died in the past years as he has gone nearly half a decade without one. Hopefully Claire fares better than the previous two, given that all she needs is for someone desperatly to give their approval of her. Cavorting around with a renegade band of hooligans, doing a vigilante's duty has brought her some attention among the Kellryians. This is behavior of someone who was stripped, bound and tortured by her own father, everyone knows she'll never be whole again.
Despite all this, she has a scandalous love life. Earl VonStrossenburg, the Butcher, apparently once had attempted to woo her, having bedded with her only once before she fled from his murderous past. The Ambassador from Shallys has been seen with her from time to time, no doubt her recent ventures into Shallys Vevir were more than business. Given that Duke Stonedale is blissfully unaware of this, it troubles me to think of her fate when he finds out.
"So, you met this chap Suffolk before he became the Duke of Stonedale, how did you meet?" yawning.
"We met through a mutual accquaintance. At the time, Alfus was not well. He was seeing physicians but the treatments were not curing him. I properly diagnosed his affliction and we finally got him feeling more like himself."
Staring, almost uninterested he begins writing, "This acquaintance pair you together, or just a friend?"
"That's correct, we were paired together, it being beneficial for us both to marry."
He nods, "So, he's got a couple daughters older than you. How's that working out?"
"Alfus thinks it not an issue, and neither do I."
"I'm sure it's not an issue for him, how are the daughters taking it? You mix well with them?"
"I have not seen much of them, but we get along, moreso with his youngest."
He nods, "Some say Duke Stonedale likes the fact that you are away so often, why would they say that?"
"I don't know who says that. He may like that I keep busy, like he does, but he is always happy to see me."
He snickers, shaking his head, "Probably be happier if he had a boy, any news on any kids?"
"That news would be for my husband."'
He nods, "How far along are you?"
Claire stares for several moments and sighs. "One would only have to count from the honeymoon."
He smiles, "Lucky guess" continues to write for many long moments.
"So, your brother's in a bit of a bind, you helping him at all with Lord Ashwood?"
"It seems you know more about my brother than I."
He chuckles, " I get that a lot, so you helping him?"
"I would be perfectly happy if I never saw nor heard from him again. He is his own person, I don't check in on him."
"So, you've heard the news you're a duchess. What's your take on that?"
"Naturally I was surprised when I heard the news. I was not expecting any sort of raise in station. But of course I am very happy for my husband, who Lord Alden and King Kaius chose to make Duke."
"King Kaius. Your father wasn't too terribly loyal to him, but we know that story, why did you choose to be different?"
"My father is not a person anyone should choose to emulate. I am fortunate that King Kaius has shown me and my family mercy."
Sighing heavily, he doesn't bother writing anything down, "I heard he tortured you. That must have been difficult."
"That's correct. He didn't like that I was disobeying his orders to murder an innocent man."
He begins to write, "What did he do?"
Claire sighs. "After stripping me of my clothes, he branded me with a hot poker, among other things. My brother knew of this, and did nothing."
He begins writing, "You seem to bear a sort of rancor for your brother, does he hold the same enmity towards you?"
"He is like my father, he is pleasant as long as I do as he says and don't interfere with his matters, but if I don't...he will naturally want to see me punished for what I've just said about him."
He continues to write, "Your father is in jail, do you think he has plans to escape?"
"That wouldn't surprise me, he hates being in prison, and he has several accquaintances on the outside that may aid him."
Continues, "If he does escape, ... given that it is entirely your fault he is in prison. Think he will go after you immediately?"
"He may. It is more likely that he will hire others to attack me, like he has done before. Though I have faith in the prison's security."
"If he can hire to kill you when he escapes, why not do it now? Think there's an assailant looking for you as we speak?"
"He is not allowed to write anyone, I don't see how he would be able to order such a commission."
He nods, writes a little more and stops, "I had spoken with your brother somewhat recently, he said you had a fondness for a certain elven ambassador... he thinks you're sleeping with him, but I'm sure he's exaggerating, isn't that right?"
"He knows that I am not seeing the Shallys Ambassador, and I have only lain with my husband. It surprises me that you two have talked."
He nods, "As I suspected, so how close are you and the ambassador?"
"We are good friends, and was very supportive after the incident with my father."
"How supportive?"
She narrows her eyes. "He escorted me to my father's trial, and arranged for protection when I was in Capitol Kellryia. When he returned to Shallys, he wrote to me to stay in touch."
He nods, "Such a nice man, he gives everyone the kind of treatment he gave you, yes?"
"I would not be aware of how he treats others, but I would hope he treats them with the kindness he showed me."
He nods, "Have you met any of the ambassador's friends? How does he treat them?" still writing.
Claire nods. "He recently hired one of his friends to work in his household. I would say he treated her the same as me."
He raises an eyebrow, "He hired a female friend?"
"Yes, is that so shocking?"
He shrugs, "Not to me, I see it happen all the time. How fond is he of the lady?"
"He had tea with her in his parlor and they were smiling as they talked. Later he pat her on the shoulder before she left the room."
He nods, sighing, "What do you think of Suffolk's previous wives?"
"Again, you know more than me. I did not even know he had more than one wife."
He chuckles, writing this down.
"His first wife disappeared and was never seen again, why do you think that was?"
Claire's jaw drops. "I didn't know that."
Penn nods, "I was just a kid when it happened, my father told me she was murdered by him, but no one really knew... a pity, I heard she was beautiful. His second wife was had quite an unnatural disease, the clerics said they didn't know why it kept coming back. They insisted someone was poisoning her... Suffolk thoroughly denied it. Food for thought."
"I was told his second wife died delivering a child."
He laughs, "yes, that's WHEN she died, but that's hardly the start of her health problems."
He continues to write, "Did he tell you he had a son?"
"The infant that died shortly after delivery?"
He nods, "Guess he did manage to tell you that."
He continues to write, "He's been arrested once, did he tell you that?"
"Arrested for what?"
"Unlawful assault."
"He was in the military before he was a bank owner, it was shortly after he left the Aldenshire Regulars."
"What was the nature of the assault?"
He shrugs, "Apparently some woman he knew, it was a few decades ago and Aldenshire won't let me look into their criminal records."
"A woman?" She frowns.
He nods, "I wish I knew more." He continues to write, "Raethor, why are you so fond of him?"
"I prefer his stance on retribution and emphasis on obeying the laws of the realm."
He sighs and gets up, offering his hand, "It's been a pleasure. Tell Duke Stonedale I said hello again, he'll appreciate it," and leaves.
----------------------------
Cloak and Dagger: The Story of Whidmoore
Everyone knows of the famous Charles Whidmoore, both a cousin of King Kaius and traitor to the Kingdom. How well have the children done to pick up the pieces of their shamed family?
Desmond has turned a lucrative trading business into disaster and brought his reputation down with it while attempting to seduce the daughters of many local lords. Earl Ashwood has demanded he be arrested for molestation, but it would appear that the Lady Ashwood refuses to speak out against him; a pity. Desmond's losses has crippled the economy at Blackfern Wood as he has raised taxes four times in the last year, yet he has been personally spending for his own benefit the entire time. All he's missing is a plot against his King and he's following in his father's footsteps.
Then there is the tragic tale of Claire. A young girl looking towards a father figure for authority and acceptance, she now is with child with the recently appointed Duke Stonedale, previously Suffolk. Duke Stonedale's reputation for murdering wives has somewhat, shall we say, died in the past years as he has gone nearly half a decade without one. Hopefully Claire fares better than the previous two, given that all she needs is for someone desperatly to give their approval of her. Cavorting around with a renegade band of hooligans, doing a vigilante's duty has brought her some attention among the Kellryians. This is behavior of someone who was stripped, bound and tortured by her own father, everyone knows she'll never be whole again.
Despite all this, she has a scandalous love life. Earl VonStrossenburg, the Butcher, apparently once had attempted to woo her, having bedded with her only once before she fled from his murderous past. The Ambassador from Shallys has been seen with her from time to time, no doubt her recent ventures into Shallys Vevir were more than business. Given that Duke Stonedale is blissfully unaware of this, it troubles me to think of her fate when he finds out.