As we last left our Heroes, folks were gathered on the ramparts (the self-same ramparts that Veronica, Rohran and Jaerith's mother died falling from). Previously Shae and Amari has successfully gotten the armies to fight one another, operating under direction of Jaerith, after they were successful in sneaking back into the castle. Cristoph has successfully gotten the attention of both attacking armies, and after some minor confusion about the potential of having bath water dumped on their heads, the leaders of the armies, Verys Ivyshank and Revec Thistleblood have agreed to parley. Down below they are issuing their orders to their respective armies and each bringing a small unit of no more than three lieutenants each. Once gathered, they stare daggers at one another while waiting for the gates to be opened.

Amari had mostly been hiding behind the stonework speaking quietly with Shae during the negotiations which the Duke was handling well enough, despite the rough start. Her suggestion to yell at the beseiging shavs was sort of followed, even if she didn't do any of the yelling. She's not doing any now either, but has popped up to look down at the leaders and their lieutenants below. No arrows or tubs of bathwater are aimed at them. At least not by her. "Well." Is all she has to say about that, looking mostly pleased by this temporary peace.

Well bloody hell; Cristoph got the attention of the two attacking shav tribes, but now what? Veronica, at least, is no peace-building ambassador; her death-grip on the handle of hs sheathed sword is living proof of that. Hopefully someone else can do the talking here, but for now, it's rude to keep the parleying parties waiting, so Veronica waits by the main gate of the castle among a good number of guards. "Open the gates!" She calls up to the ramparts.

Jaerith, likewise, does not seem totally convinced that this 'talking' thing is worth a damn, and keeps his bow ready for shenanigans. He's keeping rather close to Amari, like keeping tabs; perhaps he'd not like that early success to turn into 'and then Amari fell to her death'.

Norwood has been off doing other responsibilities and only now rejoins them as Cristoph gets their attention and convinces them to talk. He's silent as he comes to stand beside Veronica, hands settled behind his back and eyes simply taking in what is to be.

Ambrose Keaton is on the far end of the ramparts, one of his soldiers having moved to acquire his attention. There is a low grumble to the man, for it is clear that he wants nothing other than to go and meet with the two parties looking to parlay. However, business at the moment has him kept away, until at the last minute he dismisses the soldier's concerns and moves to stand with his daughter and nod once with confirmation to her words.

Margerie has been tucked away in the most secure corner of the structure. The place where the ones that aren't allowed to fight are put. They've been busy enough in there, though, making sure there's warm tea for folks when they return. And will you look at that? Cristoph brought company! It is time for the Lady-In-Hiding to emerge and oversee the setting of a just-so table, designed to keep folks at a small not immediately lethal distance as discussions commence. Just a bit of fussing andlast minute preparing as the gates are opened.
It should be noted that while there is no tea, there are no fancy iced biscuits. Biscuits are for good acorns that do NOT try to attack Thistle Hill.

From the ramparts those still there can hear the loud grinding and clanking of the cogs within the stone walls as the winch is turned, allowing the portculis to raise slowly. Guards stand watch, holding their spears out in preparation of a tide of rushing soliders. Another stands at the winch rope, sword held at the ready to cut it to let the gate free fall down, should any shenanigans begin. And, just in case of arrows, there's a man behind him, ready to take his place. The party of eight, four from each tribe make a show of peace binding their weapons with excessive amounts of flourish and exageration as if in subtle mock of the whole situation. Once the portculis is raised high enough, the two groups pass through into the courtyard and are lead up to the waiting chamber that Margerie has prepared.

Jaerith checked perception + empathy at difficulty 30, rolling 19 lower.

Amari checked perception + empathy at difficulty 30, rolling 4 higher.

Norwood checked perception + empathy at difficulty 30, rolling 11 lower.

Veronica checked perception + empathy at difficulty 30, rolling 18 lower.

Margerie checked perception + empathy at difficulty 30, rolling 6 higher.

Veronica checked perception + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 13 higher.

Norwood checked perception + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 44 higher.

After Shae has likely run off to tell her mother what's going on, or find and raid her cache of fancy iced biscuits, Amari stretches her arms out of ahead of her like she's all done with the siege and it's time to relax. She grins at Jaerith and pats his shoulder, "Don't look so grim. They don't know what they're in for." She leans out over the wall some, as if to really make her cousin worry she's going to fall off the ramparts and goes back to watching the parties of shav incoming. At first she's all easy smiles, but then she tilts her head towards one shoulder, and then to the other. In a loud whisper, she says to the group up there with her, "They look especially twitchy, those ones coming with the leaders."

Jaerith checked perception + archery at difficulty 30, rolling 6 lower.

Margerie checked perception + leadership at difficulty 30, rolling 60 higher.

"Aye, cousin," Jaerith tells Amari. "And I'm a-feared neither do we." He watches Amari balance with a peevish eye, and then turns his own down on those coming in the gates. "I know a steady cure for such a twitch," he mutters; it's not a far thought that arrows are involved.

Norwood watches as they come in step by step. There's nothing about their emotions that betrays them, but movement does. His expression hardens and he steps away from Veronica, glancing at her once with an upraised eyebrow - did she see that? - before he comes to rest beside Margerie. His hand rests on Queensguard now, and he bends over to whisper in Margerie's ear quietly.

Veronica keeps her post observing the two groups of shavs come through the gates, remaining close to both her father Ambrose and Baron Norwood. But wait; her brows furrow at the shav lieutenants, and immediately exchanges a look with Norwood. Yes, she saw that. "Close the gates!" She calls to the ramparts, and steps forward to approach the two parties. "You all agreed to Duke Laurent's request to parley in good faith." She announces loudly, making sure no one takes another step into the courtyard... or closer to Margerie especially. "We insist that the peacebonds be secured before we proceed." Veronica adds, upnodding meaningfully at the various lieutenants' weapons.

Margerie smiles at Norwood as he lends his support, but her attention goes to those that have been helping her. There is a murmur to the attendants while they are still out of hearing from the leaders and their lieutenants. "Serve from low rank to high. Get the lieutenants hands busy with tea and whatever food we have at the ready." That said, she smiles at Norwood. Then it is time to sweep forward towards the guests. "Ladies and gentlemen. My niece is correct. Our Duke has made that clear and I'm sure nobody wishes to have to set their arms aside. I do hope you will all be seated so that we can try and clear the air. If we can't come to some sort of accomodation, I am sure the future will afford you plenty of opportunities to try and kill one another when it won't so expressly piss off our lieges." That last is, at least, said with a dazzling smile.

Want to know who is oblivious to whatever is going on? One Lord Ambrose Keaton. The older man is furrowing his brows when his daughter calls the order, his brows lifting in unison. He is immediately putting his hand to the hilt of his blade and advancing a step, taking on a protective pose of his niece; his daughter and son evidently can take care of themselves. Not drawn yet, but certainly wary and at the ready.

The gates were already starting to lower back down, but with Veronica's shout, the solider at the rope swings her blade, severing the taut rope and the Portculis crashes into the ground, shaking the earth beneath their feet. With the jig up, the Ivyshank lieutenants draw their weapons, and immediately lunge towards the nearest targets -- Ambrose, Veronica and Norwood.

Seeing their enemies draw their weapons, the three Thistleblood lieutenants draw hidden daggers and begin slicing at their own peacebonded weaponry.

Verys appears as startled by this betrayal as anyone else, screaming, "What are you lumpheads DOING!?" Meanwhile, Revec begins crowing as he tries to draw his own weapon, "Betrayal! BETRAYAL!"

Margerie gets layered leaves of Keaton leather cloak from a green cloth backpack for when diplomacy works.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + medium_wpn(3) at difficulty 15, rolling 23 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + medium_wpn(3) at difficulty 15, rolling 21 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + medium_wpn(3) at difficulty 15, rolling 30 higher.

Margerie gets layered leaves of Keaton leather armwraps from a green cloth backpack for when diplomacy works.

Margerie puts layered leaves of Keaton leather armwraps in a green cloth backpack for when diplomacy works.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + dodge(2) at difficulty 15, rolling 9 higher.

Veronica checked dexterity + dodge at difficulty 15, rolling 45 higher.

Norwood checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 30, rolling 56 higher.

Amari checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 20, rolling 4 lower.

Jaerith checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 20, rolling 9 higher.

It would be maybe a little different if Margerie wasn't quite so close to Norwood when that lieutenant suddenly attacks them. Perhaps he would have dodged and not gone straight into an attack. Alas though, she IS close, and Norwood's protect-the-innocent flairs right into life. Stepping forward and past Margerie the new Baron has Queensguard out and is attacking in the same smooth motion to parry the attack on himself.

Margerie checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 7 higher.

Ambrose, perhaps given enough warning by his daughter's words, shuffles off to the side, just in time to miss being stabbed.

Norwood checked luck at difficulty 15, rolling 8 lower.

Norwood checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 9 higher.

Veronica checked luck at difficulty 10, rolling 8 higher.

Fwip! Amari's arrow flies straight and true... and right into the crease between Norwood's armor at the waist, burying into the fleshy side of Norwood. It's not in there deep, but it's in there.

Perhaps fake peacebonds are a bit of a giveaway, but as the shav lieutenants suddenly attack Veronica leaps backwards to a perfect three-point landing. Her gaze hardens, glare aimed at her attacker. "Thistlebloods, stand down!" She shouts without looking away. "Ivyshanks, drop your weapons NOW!" Already, her sword is out in a flash - swung to the side and fully prepared to strike if her warning is not heeded.

9 inflicted and Norwood is unharmed.

9 inflicted and Norwood is harmed for minor damage.

Norwood's actions perhaps are NOT at all helpful to Veronica's order of peace, as his sword bites into the man attacking him. "They're wearing metal under those leathers!" It's called out as he pulls Queensguard back and was ABOUT to attack again when a sudden pain stings him in the side and he looks down to see an arrow embedded there. Eyes trace the path to Amari and his face is all SERIOUSLY AMARI?!

There's a sound of frustrated anguish from the ramparts, Amari, upon seeing that she's just shot the new Baron. It's an incredible shot, sort of, if she had been intending to hit him, which she clearly wasn't. She draws another arrow, calling down, "I'm very sorry!"

Veronica checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 27 higher.

Jaerith's arrow has more precise aiming and the arrow grazes the sword arm of the man threatening his father. There's a bit of blood, but not enough to drop the man, or make him lose hold of his sword.

Margerie does her darnedest with a stern shout of "Cease this attack now!" Super stern mom and countess voice, and it might work other times, but it's hard to follow through on it when those attendants are yanking her back and away from the fighting. When she's squirming some distance from the fighting, she swats at an arm and points at Norwood. "If that's serious, someone pull that stubborn man out out of there too!"

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + dodge(2) at difficulty 15, rolling 12 higher.

Despite his attempt to dodge Veronica's blade, the lieutenant takes a slice against his side, the blade cutting through the armor enough to leave a bloody furrow along his hip.

Norwood checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 59 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(4) + dodge(3) at difficulty 15, rolling 26 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + medium_wpn(3) at difficulty 15, rolling 11 higher.

Reigna GM Roll checked dexterity(3) + dodge(2) at difficulty 15, rolling 13 higher.

"It's just a flesh wound," that called back to Margerie, though Norwood doesn't have much of a chance to do much else but glance at his wife-to-be before fixing himself on his enemy to attack, laying open a bloody line upon the man's hip. "//Why//." That's demanded of his attacker - "What could you //gain// by this?"

There's a swing again at Ambrose from the lieutenant attacking him, but despite having only one eye, Ambrose proves that age is but a number as he deftly retreats, managing once again to evade the blade.

Frustration and rage fuels the Ivyshank lieutenant's voice as he snarls back at Norwood, "Victory! The death of the gods-damned Thistlebloods! Freedom from their banditry!"

Speaking of the Thistlebloods, their lieutenants are successfully undoing their peace bonds and while they cannot do anything this round, next round they will be able to attack. If that is what they plan to do.

Jaerith checked dexterity + archery at difficulty 20, rolling 26 higher.

Well Veronica tried. And Margerie tried. "You had your warning." The Sword of Oakhaven sneers when the treacherous shavs ignore her command and one of the lieutenant charges her with a scream. She waits till the last moment, until he is upon her, to bring her sword up to parry his swing. Steel meets rubicund in a loud clash, and the Ivyshank blade is knocked to the side to allow Veronica to cut up her attacker on the side. If she can disable the man, she will...

Jaerith has another arrow nocked before he can even express some sort of disappointment in the grazing blow the last delivered, and on his second shot the bolt lands true - thick in the meat of the man's non-sword arm. Such determination to prevent his father from being hurt!

If they'd maybe stop moving so much, Amari would feel more confident about shooting into the melee, but she's already stuck Norwood, so. She realizes she's not going to be much help and leaves the archery to Jaerith's capable hands, "You get them, cousin." She encourages before turning the opposite direction entirely, to lean her hip into the stonework wall and look out over the field to perhaps see if all the commotion inside is just a distraction for another massed attack from outside.

Outside the walls there is general milling about and hissed insults back and forth between the forces. There seems to be discord brewing, but the attention is on one another rather than the castle. Ambrose moves back and reaches for a decorative sword from the wall and moves to put himself between Margerie and the man attacking him.

Painbow, a militant pygmy goat arrives, delivering a message to Norwood before departing.

From her Corner of Comparative Safety, everyone's favorite Auntie Superior of the Oathlands stomps her foot and raises her voice over the clattering and attempted bloodletting. "PARDON ME. When you idiots are eventually -forced- to talk, I am the one that will be managing the negotiations and I -haven't gotten any in over TWENTY YEARS- and you are trying to gut the fiance who will theoretically change that in a few weeks. Next person not part of the Duke's coterie that wounds someone else is in serious danger of being marryied off to a bloody goat as part of any treaty," Margerie shouts!

Veronica checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 40, rolling 11 lower.

Veronica follows through on her wounded attacker, but her swing is aimed at the man's weapon rather than a vital organ. The intent is clearly to disarm, but Veronica's blade is caught against the handguard of the shav's sword, and thus continues to hold on to his weapon.

Norwood checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 20, rolling 32 higher.

Norwood was SUPER focused on the man in front of him, but he's not SO focused that he misses Margerie's words. It makes his attention flicker to her as heat that has NOTHING to do with battle rises up in his face. "Margerie." See, he is going to try to be cool while cutting into his enemy, "I have //no// intention of //bandits// getting in the way of our wedding knight."

The Thistleblood lieutenants draw their weapons and advance, moving to flank the Ivyshanks, though they do not yet move to attack, they are, however, purposely pressing their weapons to their opponants backs. "I'd listen to the Keaton Lady there, Gunter. You're being a thrice-willy'd fool." The woman's voice is low and raspy, her eyes narrowed as she looks to the Ivyshanks.

When the Ivyshanks stop attacking, standing there with their weapons in hand, it is Verys who speaks up, and loudly. "Kill them. This is *not* how the Ivyshank act while under parley. They have brought dishonor on us all." Revec looks surprised at Verys' words, his expression uncertain as he watches her.

Jaerith, observing the holding pattern below, nocks another arrow but keeps it just so, for now, trained on his current pincushion Just In Case. He gives a glance over at Amari, but then resumes watching the semi-demi-hemi-parley proceed down below.

With nothing doing outside the walls, nothing pressing like an imminent attack, Amari turns again and looks into the courtyard. She doesn't try to shoot anyone. What she does do is mutter over to Jaerith, "That was incredibly stupid. A turnip could have come up with a better plan than that. An actual turnip." She lets out a slow breath.

The Ivyshank lieutenants are holding still, murder in their eyes, but neither surrendering their weapons or attacking.

Norwood isn't putting his sword down but he's also... not attacking if the man before him is going to still. They'll just face one another with Queensguard still smeared with the man's blood. "You said something about their Banditry." Talking, Margerie, he's trying TALKING! "What do you mean?" From the way he spits the word 'bandit' out, it's clear the older Baron has opinions on banditry.

At least the treacherous Ivyshank lieutenants stop attacking, Veronica remains on guard and looks back to make sure everyone is COOL. Letting Margerie, and Norwood do the talking, she approaches the Ivyshanks cautiously and with a flick of her sword, knocks the weapon out of each of their hands, one after another. Once they are properly disarmed, Veronica moves to collect their weapons so no further violence can be instigated.

The lieutenant who had been attacking Norwood, Gunter, grunts when Veronica takes his sword from him, a snarl curling his lip, but he looks back to Norwood. "The Thistleblood bastards have preyed on us for *years*. We are barely staying alive. More of us die than are born at this rate. They raid our homes and steal our things, kill us. We are just trying to live! If we could just take this place, we'd be safe. We wouldn't have to fear them ever again! We'd be strong enough to kill them once and for all!"

Margerie draws a deep breath when the immediate fighting seems to have paused. She looks at the snarling lieutenant before answering calmly. "And we would like as many of you to be safe as possible, to have neighbors that are successful, prospering, and at peace. The killing them once and for all part is the part that puts that at risk, especially when people begin uninvolved parties. Can you tell me - what do you think the Thistleblood would tell me were I to ask them for their side of the story?"

"Don't judge your produce before it's eaten," Jaerith offers Amari, watching closely; he doesn't put that arrow away, but holds it loose, wanders along up above, seeking new angles on the scene below.

Painbow, a militant pygmy goat arrives, delivering a message to Norwood before departing.

If the fighting really is going to pause for a moment, Norwood will let Queensguard drop and steps back. "Amari." Calling up to the woman, "I don't suppose you could come and get this arrow out of me?" Leaving Margerie to do the talking while he keeps an eye on the men who MIGHT still attack.

Gunter's eyes shift to Margerie and before he can speak, Verys steps forward and hauls off and backhands the man with her mailed gauntlet. Gunther's head flies back and there's a spray of blood as she stands there, looking with utter disdain at all three of them. "Fools! Fools! All of you!"

"That's when you should judge your produce, Jaerith. Do you really want to eat rotten vegetables?" Amari counters, brows raised. Then her name is called from below and she peers down, opens her mouth, and before she can say anything, Verys just cuffs that one lieutenant and there's blood. She runs down to help Norwood

Norwood isn't going to take his armor off, though it would make Amari's life easier. "Amari. We need to get you a teacher for that bow." He's being very diplomatic about getting shot.

Veronica gathers the lieutenants' weapons, and passes them to nearby soldiers while she stalks around the gathered entourages. Diplomacy isn't her thing, so she is mostly content to let Aunt Margerie play ambassador. But when Verys backhands his own man, Veronica stops in her tracks. "Verys of the Ivyshanks." She calls out the man, then after a brief pause, turns to Revec. "And Revec of the Thistlebloods. We know there is much bad blood between your tribes, but you both agreed to Duke Laurent's request to parley. What brought you both to shed blood in a vain attack on the castle, when we have all co-existed for generations? What must we do to stop this nonsensical bloodshed?"

Amari checked strength at difficulty 15, rolling 11 lower.

Ambrose is a stern figure, grim in the background. He looks on the cusp of speaking and thereafter is nodding his head in approval to those that do speak -- in particular, his daughter.

"There is no co-existing," snarls the Ivyshank leader as she peers menacingly. "We keep to our domain, but more and more we battle with one another. We find enemies and we seek each other's resources." The Thistleblood leader nods, grunting once, and evidently has the same accusations. Now, that being said, he is snapping, "My people voted, if we had hold of the castle, then we could take hold of the area." There's no denying it, and from the reaction of the Ivyshanks, they had similar plans. Eerie, both epiphanies at the similar time.

It doesn't take ages for Amari to get down to the courtyard. Gravity helps her down the stairs well enough, and once she's on the ground she runs right over to Norwood, glances worriedly at the shavs who look much bigger now than they did from up on the ramparts, then sets her bow down. "I'm sorry." she says. With that, she very, very cautiously grips the shaft of the arrow sticking out of his side from an opening in his armor and says again, "I'm sorry!" Then she pulls, and it doesn't come out. She's probably just made it worse somehow. Her hands fly off and up into the air like she didn't just do that, but she did, she can't feign innocence now. "I wish Reigna was here."

Norwood checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 4 higher.

Jaerith shoots Amari a peevish look as she goes; one might believe that there is a lecture on the planning skills of turnips in her future, one for the ages. But he turns his attention on his sister, leaning down on the battlements to watch the conversation, watch and listen.

Norwood grits his teeth when Amari goes to try to pull that arrow out and it doesn't go. The blood spot grows but there is likely no more damage than before. "It must be stuck in my armor proper. Try one more time." Norwood will stand very very still for that arrow to be pulled out. Hopefully.

The timing of those epiphanies does rather catch the ear (as do all the I'm sorry comments from Amari's direction, but she can fuss later). Margerie takes up a position standing at the table that lest her watch both leaders. "Well. Then you at least have that much in common as a starting point. You mention seeking each other's resources - what has happened in the past that leads to you being unable to trade for one another's resources so that you can both prosper? And perhaps stay the everloving ... goodness away from one another when you aren't trading? And what prompted these votes now at such a similar time?"

Amari checked intellect + medicine at difficulty 15, rolling 0 higher.

Veronica continues to stalk like a predator, back and forth between the two shav leaders, but keeping her intense gaze on each in turn, and also look back in Margerie's direction as Aunt Keaton weighs in. When she hears one leader voice her grievances, and the other nods in agreement, she stops to regard both. "Also, I ask this. You keep to your domain, and you are increasingly attacked by your enemies." She points her sword to the other. "You keep to your domain, yet you are ALSO increasingly attacked by your enemies." Turning slightly, she points back towards Ambrose. "WE also keep to our domain, and here we are, attacked by both of you. So tell me, how is it possible that we are ALL attacked at the same time?" Well, let them figure THAT out.

Norwood checked perception + empathy at difficulty 20, rolling 1 higher.

Margerie checked perception + empathy at difficulty 20, rolling 35 higher.

Veronica checked perception + empathy at difficulty 20, rolling 3 lower.

Pulling the arrow out, that didn't work. Amari crouches and tries to remember things she's read about arrow wounds. Surely she's read something. There's a look of total concentration and even though there's an edge of wild panic in her eyes, she takes a break, squeezes the fingers of one hand into the gap in Norwood's armor while holding the arrow steady with the other. She applies some pressure, twists the arrow and eases it out. It's probably EXCRUICIATING, but it's out. She did it! She lets it drop and presses on the hole in him so the blood doesn't spray out so much.

Jaerith checked perception + empathy at difficulty 20, rolling 3 lower.

Amari checked perception + empathy at difficulty 20, rolling 16 higher.

It is clear that as the former Keaton Countess speaks, a bit of confusion is evident on the leader's faces, a furrow of their brows. Yet despite that, there is an underlying nature of something grim. Something so very, very stubborn. This is a battle that has gone on for some time and has had horrible losses, wearing down on the pair. Now, that being said, when Veronica continues there is a bit of a shift. It is an awkward thing and it is actually the other female that speaks up first, Verys saying, "You are suggesting peace." There is a hint of something incredulous, even as there is a give there. "Peace between the Compact and us?" Yes, that incredulous tone gains strength. "The Shadowood has claimed that there will be no peace and we should all prepare for war."

Norwood checked composure at difficulty 20, rolling 12 higher.

Hissing once is Norwood's only answer to the arrow coming out and he reaches over to take up the pressure. "Thank you. Amari." His eyes are focused on the people though, and his gaze narrows at someone in the back. Gripping Queensguard he steps forward to Margerie's side. "Shadowood is lying to you now just like he was lying to do you hundreds of years ago when Queensguard first came to these lands." If that's what happened. Norwood might be making things up.

Margerie says, "The young man in the back there, hold your peace." Margerie nods Veronica towards a particular young man getting twitchy in the back of Thistlewood's contingent. "Shadowood's corrupting claims spread even now. makes the claims that feed one man's hunger for blood, violence, and more dominion. We do not suggest that you must like one another, or like us, or like the dominion. We -do- suggest that killing one another this way? It benefits Shadowood. It does not benefit your children and your future. Perhaps we could start with a truce and work up to peace.""

Amari reclaims her fingers, now slick with Norwood blood and doesn't say 'your welcome' but smiles awkwardly instead. "Sorry." As she's rising, she looks to the shavs, eyeing each carefully, curious. One Thistleblood in the back garners extra attention, if not a full on stare. Slowly, she arches her brow at him. Margerie evidently spotted the same suspiciousness, so she doesn't call him out a second time, simply watches.

"I am suggesting the Shadowood is playing both of you." Veronica hisses, pausing only to glance back towards Norwood and Margerie both when they chime in. She lifts her sword and points it at them, reinforcing their points. Oh, and yes, the Thistlewood man in the back gets a stern glare, along with a loud warning of "HEY!" before she contines. "He sets you against each other, and against the Compact, so that your people can shed their blood while he sits back and reaps the rewards. All of our ancestors have lived here for a thousand years; we have had disputes, yes. You have raided us, and we have chased you away. But there has NEVER been war between us."

Up on the parapet, Jaerith straightens, paces. He casts his eyes back over the assembled armies outside the walls; but there's a perpetual sense that the bulk of his attention is on the conversation his family is having down below. Not in the sense that he seems to have things to add, but rather that he seems thoroughly discomfited by the tenor of the talks, uncertain about the way the wind is blowing. This might be down to some congenital defect where his diplomacy skills were supposed to grow.

When he is called out, the Thistleblood stills. He continues to look nervous, a bit grim, and there is a little waver of his arm. It is the Inquisitor's additional shout that has him slowly raise his hands, showing that they are open and with no weapon. Better believe that there is one behind that coat however.

Verys and Revec stare at one another and there is no doubting the animosity there. A back and forth look is given before Verys is once more the one to speak up. There is no small amount of cunning there before she calls, "Will the Keatons aid the Ivyshank if truce is called and the Thistlebloods do not hold fast to their word?" Revec stares at the woman hard, and gestures, as though this is supposed to prove his point.

"I will cut down anyone who resorts to banditry myself." Norwood says this oh-so-seriously, pressing still on that wound and eyeing the nervous one.

Margerie gives both Verys and Revec (and really, the names are even similar - why can't they be friends?) a stern looking at. There is no immediate answer. Instead she tilts her head towards Veronica. The Voice murmurs to The Sword quietly for a moment, even as Norwood answers somewhat more decisively.

One of the lieutenants snickers in the face of Norwood's comment, "Then you'd best get to slicing grandpa, cuz half the world are bandits. We're all bandits according to your laws." Now which one was it? It's hard to say.

Norwood checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 15, rolling 62 higher.

Veronica listens to something whispered by Margerie, nods and turns back to address the shavs. "You will abandon this senseless siege, and Lady Margerie Keaton will negotiate the terms of a truce between you. House Keaton will pledge to uphold the truce as a neutral party, and whoever decides to break that truce will pay for that treachery. As Sword of Oakhaven, I can personally promise you /that/." She announces firmly, and lets the leaders consider the offer. While they do so, Veronica points her chin towards the Thistlewood in the back. "I would also suggest keeping the hotheads in your tribes on a tight leash."

Norwood hefts Queensguard and swings it once, one handed this time, before pointing the weapon in the direction of the talkative one. "Shall we test if I can?" Mildly, ohso mildly.

Amari stands there, listening, looking away from the small group of shavs and the two leaders only once or twice to make sure Norwood isn't bleeding too profusely. She addresses Verys and Revec in a thoughtful way, "You'd have the rest of the summer to make hay, so to speak, in peace. It will be a hard winter with your numbers badly depleted in a war against each other and us. Not only that, do you really want then what remains of the Ivyshanks and Thistlebloods to be fully under the boot of a demon worshipper like Shadowood? He'll take your surviving women and children and make them his slaves, those few he doesn't feed to the fires to satisfy his demon master, anyway. That doesn't strike me as a very noble end for your peoples nor a good way to ensure your survival. Do what's practical and prudent now. Put aside your feuding and end this siege."

Ambrose frowns and crosses his arms as he observes all of this. He leans in to speak to Veronica and Margerie quietly murmurs to the pair of them, "Are you really speaking of forging a pact with these... Abandoned? It could not be official unless they are willing to bend the knee." There is skepticism heavy in Ambrose's voice, as if he knows this, at this stage is highly improbable.

After Ambrose's comment, there are talks to be had. Margerie gets Verys and Revec to sit down and hash out an informal arrangement. During the negotiations, it becomes clear that both tribes are on the brink of collapse, and while the hatred between them is generations old, Margerie's skill in negotiating goes a long way. The talks conclude with the two tribes agreeing to no longer listen to and be manipulated by, Braeock Shadowood. They pledge to a season of non violence and to considering further dealings with the Compact at the end of the truce.

More quietly, solemnly, Ambrose speaks to his daughter and imparts the following words: "When you go to hunt this Braeock Shadowood, send summons to me and I will lend soldiers to the cause." This is, as always, a Keaton vow.