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Posted by Puffin on 02/09/18
And having worked with the Keatons to call their banners, now Duke Cristoph turns his attention to House Laurent. He's sending out word through the marches to rally and raise their banners, and encourage their vassals to do likewise. He's smart about it too, he isn't trying to do it all on his own, but rather includes his family and those willing to stand with him.

Count Kael and the Keatons are already doing a tour of their lands, and he takes the time to speak highly of the Honey Duke and his skills, inspiring them with tales of his liege. Lord Naka concentrates on the populace, organizing troops for home defense to free up additional forces to answer the call. Duchess Nicia stands by her husband, appealing to their people's sense of loyalty and honor. As often as she can she turns this into a series of personal conversations, using her charm to encourage as many as she can.

Lord Klaus is a man of few words now, relying on honor and the respect his men have for him, the Sword of Laurent, Sir Norwood, at his side. Lady Aeryn adds some cheer and charm, enthusiastically supporting the message and spreading it far and wide.

Saedrus Whisper steps in as well, sending missives with poignant prose to stir the recipients to answer their calls to duty. Lady Margerie tries a more oblique tack, talking to those who stand as the moral centers, the ones who give The Look to entire neighborhoods when they decide something needs to be done. Or she's reaching out to that man who employs half the town, who knows how to train the other half to keep business going. She's calling on decades of service and her finely-honed intuition to reach out to influential movers and shakers wherever they go.

Prince Rook works as a ghostwriter of speeches. Bastien also works writing speeches of honor and oaths and sacrxifices, tailoring speeches to the varying houses, trying to include known notes from their histories in order to apply particularly targeted pressure to answer the call.

Some of these are used by Duke Cristoph, others delivered by Derovai to Lady Jael to use as she rides out to every part of the Laurent territory on a wicked-looking black warhorse named Freddie to rally the troops. She gives inspiring speeches while performing ancy horseback maneuvers like caprioles and courbettes, pirouettes and piaffes. Maybe even some friendly jousting! All this proves to their vassals that the Commander of the Laurent forces is competent and approachable, and worth rallying to. Also a badass who can manage large wayward beasts with ease. In a different house this might be less welcome, but here in Valardin where Knights are often riding before they can walk, they cheer on Lady Jael's acrobatics.

Laurent is rallied to war!