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Message: <blockquote data-quote="xnosipjpqmhd" data-source="post: 3487971">The Old Man Down the Road"What should I do with these, love?" Ysa held the round of drinks Jack had ordered.Oberyn stood. "Follow me." He led Ysa, Jack, and Tateland to the table where the old man and the half-elf sat. "Pardon me," he said, "I couldn't help notice that we are the sole remaining patrons, and I haven't introduced myself. I am Oberyn Tercival of Redgorge.""I am Shensen Tesseril," said the slender silver-haired woman. "I maintain the shrine to Fharlanghn here.""Fharlanghn?""God of travel and the horizon," said Tateland.Shensen nodded, then motioned to her companion. "This is--""I can introduce myself, dear lady," he interrupted. "My name is Azathan Veermont. I am not only a scholar, I am a sage as well, in addition to being a learned man. That being the case, my forte is knowledge." He cocked his head as if reading Oberyn. "You have questions, do you not?""I do.""I will answer them, but at the price of a tankard each."Oberyn nodded to Ysa, finally giving her permission to set the heavy tray of drinks on the table.Azathan's eyebrows arched, and he straightened his crooked back as best he could. "Ah, you must have lots of questions!""Tell me about the Scarlet Brotherhood."Azathan drew one of the mugs of ale toward him with great relish, but spoke with a low voice. "This is a conversation best carried on in a private room. Let us retire to this booth."When the company had reassembled inside a private booth and drawn the curtain, Azathan began. "Now then, the Benevolent Brotherhood of the Scarlet Banner. You know, of course, of the 27 nobles who perished, victims of the Sea Princes' overconfidence. The surviving nobles, their next of kin, and conspirators on the Brotherhood's side were quick to agree to the demands the following morning. Overnight the Hold of the Sea Princes became a protectorate of the Scarlet Brothers from across the sea."Soon they had landed their great red-sailed ships in our ports and off-loaded knights clad in gold, savages from the jungles of the south, and warbeasts of grisly visage. One Scarlet Brother was sent to each principality to oversee things. It is like the landing of the dice. If the Brother is wise and just, the region prospers; if he is tyrannical, the region suffers. So it was with the Princes, now it is with the Brotherhood."After Margraf Tinardo's demise, Throff was placed under the leadership of his advisor, Yem. Indeed it is said that Yem began making changes in the Margraviate as soon as the Margraf left for the Council at which he died, as if he knew the bloody outcome beforehand. In any case, he reports to one called the Red General."No word has come from the Duchy of Berghof beyond the mountains as to who may be their assigned Brother. They are fiercely independent, so blood may be shed before the Scarlet Banner flies over the Duchy."Cauldron Keep is neither in Berghof nor Throff, rather it is ostensibly a holding of the crown prince and therefore deserves its own Scarlet Brother: Shebeleth Regidin. It was upon his word that the mayor and castellan of the keep were forced to abolish the slave trade and eliminate taxes, so aside from some high nobles, plantation and mine owners, and slavetraders, the majority of the populace are content with the change. They went so far as to extend the upcoming Flood Festival to an entire week in honour of Brother Regidin's arrival.""So, is no one opposing them?" asked Oberyn."There is some scattered opposition, such as the revolt of the peasants of Veemme, which I am sure won't last long. Also I have heard that some disenfranchised nobles have formed a secret alliance against them. They call themselves the Order of the Brazen Blade.""Are you two members of the Brazen Blade?"Azathan and Shensen looked at each other. "No," said the old man finally. "We have our own concerns." Oberyn considered these words. "Who is their leader of the Brotherhood?"Azathan drained his mug and reached for another. "Their leader, at least on these shores, seems to be Elder Brother Hammandaturian in Monmurg. The others refer to him as the Shepherd of the Sea Princes. I know nothing else about him."Three newly emptied mugs occupied the table, and another remained full."Drink your fourth now, and I will return to ask you a question in the future," said Oberyn."Very well," said Azathan. "Visit me here at the Lucky Monkey if ever you are in need of elucidation."</blockquote>

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