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Post by Gandalf on May 12, 2023 16:51:29 GMT -5
 The seat of the old Gardener Kings is a formidable castle, located on a broad hill overlooking the banks of the Mander. Defensible and beautiful, it is filled with verdant gardens and ancient stonework that dates back to the ancient days when the King of the Reach was the most powerful man in all of Westeros. Though that power was lost to the Targaryens, the seat of their successors has lost none of its grandeur.
Strength: 4000 men.
Wealth: Wealthy (15,000 dragons p/a)
Direct Banners:
House Cockshaw of Bradshome
House Ball of Manderford
House Westbrook of Westbrook
House Willum of Smallwood
Household:
Lady Olenna Tyrell, née Redwyne. Born 228
- Lord Mace Tyrell of Highgarden. Born 256
- Lady Alerie Tyrell, née Hightower. Born 257
— Willas Tyrell, born 274
— Garlan Tyrell, born 277
— Loras Tyrell, born 280
— Margaery Tyrell, born 283
Garth Tyrell, Seneschal of Highgarden. Lord Mace’s uncle.
- Ser Garse Flowers
- Ser Garett Flowers
Ser Luthor Tyrell, Master of Horse. Lord Mace’s first cousin.
Leo Tyrell, a squire. Lord Mace’s third cousin.
Renly Baratheon, Lord Mace’s squire and ward.
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trot
Veteran 
Posts: 77
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Post by trot on Jun 21, 2023 18:06:34 GMT -5
Doran Martell arrives at Highgarden some time after the coronation of Rheagar to discuss events with lord Tyrell.
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 21, 2023 18:17:54 GMT -5
The Prince of Dorne is received with all due pomp into the home of the Reachlords; a procession of two dozen knights of various houses line up on either side of the eastern gate to welcome him, holding high the banners of the various houses great and small sworn to the Tyrells. He is greeted at the gates by a rather rotund Ser Garth Tyrell, who explains that Lord Mace is still returning from important business with his wife's kin in Oldtown. However, lodges have been prepared within the white-bleached walls of Highgarden for the Prince and his retinue.
After a few hours for the Prince to get comfortable, he is invited to dine with Lady Mace's mother, Olenna, and a dozen other members of the Tyrell household. The Dornish were led not to the grand chamber used to entertain many hundreds of guests, but a smaller, more intimate solar filled with tapestries and paintings depicting the Gardener Kings.
"An unexpected pleasure, Prince Doran." Olenna greeted; a shrewish woman by all accounts, grey haired and shrunken with age. The conversation between those around her took on hushed tones as she spoke. "Dornish visits here have not always been so."
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trot
Veteran
Posts: 77
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Post by trot on Jun 21, 2023 18:33:00 GMT -5
Doran studied the woman as he took his seat. It was rumored Olenna was the true brains behind house Tyrell. Mace himself was a dandy and a fool.
"Nor have your visits in the South." Doran replies simply. "Yet now we find the realm once again united and at peace." He pauses briefly to sip his wine and study Lady Tyrell.
"It was a shame Lord Tyrell left the council at Harrenhal so suddenly I did not get much of an opportunity to speak with him."
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 21, 2023 18:45:56 GMT -5
”He was too foolish and eager for the comforts of home to see it for the opportunity it was.”
Olenna drily replied, dabbing at her lip with a kerchief.
”Very clever of the King. Not clever enough to get shot of his mad father before he destroyed King’s Landing, though. I would say it was a pity, but it was always a filthy place. We are well rid of Aerys and his city.”
Her laughter came laced with mockery. She gave Doran a long look.
”Like many of his foolish friends, my son finds it difficult to trust a Dornishman. I myself am more open minded. Your house and mine both rose for the Dragons first, yet we find ourselves in the cold and you in danger of being replaced, if the rumours I hear are not mere lies.”
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trot
Veteran
Posts: 77
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Post by trot on Jun 21, 2023 19:24:44 GMT -5
Doran takes a sip of wine letting the drink wash over his tongue as he considers his next words. It was an Arbor vintage not the Dornish Reds he preferred. Olenna was as perceptive as the rumors stated it seemed.
"Your house arrived to the Dragon's defense before even I had managed to assemble my banners and march North, if it was not for Lord Tarly and Lord Tyrell's actions I dare say the out come of the war would have been quite different." He nods to Lady Tyrell, "Yet when all was said and done it was the West that received the highest honors. The Lion once again hand and his man as Master of Coin. And I am sure as you can guess by my presence here there is some truth to the rumors you've heard."
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 22, 2023 3:52:43 GMT -5
Doran takes a sip of wine letting the drink wash over his tongue as he considers his next words. It was an Arbor vintage not the Dornish Reds he preferred. Olenna was as perceptive as the rumors stated it seemed. "Your house arrived to the Dragon's defense before even I had managed to assemble my banners and march North, if it was not for Lord Tarly and Lord Tyrell's actions I dare say the out come of the war would have been quite different." He nods to Lady Tyrell, "Yet when all was said and done it was the West that received the highest honors. The Lion once again hand and his man as Master of Coin. And I am sure as you can guess by my presence here there is some truth to the rumors you've heard."
She sighed disapprovingly as she dipped a chunk of bread into her goblet.“He never knows how to play his hand. It must be galling for you, to have played your own so well and still be at a disadvantage. You can never trust the Targaryens not to indulge in their queer customs.”
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trot
Veteran
Posts: 77
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Post by trot on Jun 22, 2023 7:12:30 GMT -5
Doran nods,
"Young Renly right? One of the few smart things Rheagar did was demand wards from defeated lords. Although I found it strange he let Stark go without such a demand." Martell took a swig of wine before continuing.
"I of course learned later that it was because the man had already spit on 250 years of convention to claim a new bride." Doran sighed laying his hand on the table. "The mad king was threatening the life of my sister and her children when Rheagar marched on the capital. I wondered why he acted so recklessly with their lives and I now know the reason." He turns to Lady Tyrell. "Mace may have marched to war just to fight, but I doubt you would have advised that if you saw no gain in it. What do you desire for house Tyrell?"
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 22, 2023 7:25:23 GMT -5
”We march for oaths, not gain, Prince Doran. House Tyrell knows that the Dragonlords are to whom we owe this storied seat.”
Olenna chided back, those wrinkled eyes studied him cautiously as he spoke. The corners of her mouth twitched with amusement.
”You Dornish are very fanciful with your stories. To accuse the King of wanting to murder his own son and heir? He’s a man of the Targaryen line. Their blood runs hot and foolish, and they all think with their manhood. Though it leaves your dear sister’s position precarious.”
She took another cup of wine.
”I care not if the King has one wife or twelve. What I do care about is whether the choices he makes are wise or not. Casting off a loyal bannerman and rewarding the disobedient with the same hand is not wise. A marriage might have been a fitting reward for staying true, when so many others have proven false.”
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trot
Veteran
Posts: 77
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Post by trot on Jun 22, 2023 9:57:52 GMT -5
Doran considers the woman's words and studied her.
"I worry the man has more of his father in him then we know." Rheagar's fervent words about a three headed Dragon before rang in his ears. "It would not be the first time a Targeryn King has turned against their own blood, or even the first time one has given a bastard legitimacy over their true born heirs." The sword Blackfyre was lost when that had occurred.
A marriage? He thought he saw what the woman wanted.
"It is a shame my nephew is so young. It would be good to find him a wife among one of the houses that had remained loyal when the time comes if Rheagar is wise."
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 22, 2023 10:08:30 GMT -5
Olenna smiled in recognition of the offer.
”Why then it would only strengthen our duty to defend your nephew’s inheritance, should a good wife of sufficient breeding be found.” Her eyes twinkled at the prospect of her granddaughter one day seated next to the King on the Iron Throne.
”I am sure if the King is well counselled he will not venture the way of his father. He seems to have more of his grandsire in him, who was a smarter man than many gave credit.”
Of course, he had also run off with his own sister. But the Targaryens had the queer ways of those born to royal blood.
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trot
Veteran
Posts: 77
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Post by trot on Jun 22, 2023 10:49:06 GMT -5
"Perhaps he does and my fears are unfounded." He sighs, "Of course if the faith approves of the kings current venture Rheagar may be reluctant to look outside of more traditional customs for a bride. A High Septon that is less amicable to the Doctrine of Exceptionalism would go a long way to ensuring the king sees wisdom."
He could convince Elia of this marriage he was sure, but Rheagar was another matter.
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 22, 2023 11:05:51 GMT -5
”Perhaps. I doubt he will stop even if the Faith denies him.”
She did not know the King’s mind on this; his own parents were siblings and had been forced to marry. They had been famously unhappy despite the many children Aerys had fathered on her. Olenna seemed to mull the words over.
”My son is wed to the Hightowers, who have great influence over the Faith in their present state of disarray. A word in the right ear could go a fair way to ensuring the King’s stance is… moderated.”
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Post by Royal Joker on Jun 22, 2023 15:33:12 GMT -5
Lord Randyll Tarly arrives at Highgarden with a small retinue of knights, requesting an audience with Lord Tyrell.
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Post by Gandalf on Jun 22, 2023 16:42:54 GMT -5
Lord Tarly is admitted into the solar of Lady Redwyne; Mace is in Oldtown visiting his father-in-law.
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