Ramiro
Sir Lackner Wrencrest
The Iron Plaines, the Witherlands

"Aye," Said Lackner to Chastity's comment about young. In his mind, he prayed that Bennard would make it back from his trip in good health; Hulward needed more time before the lordship fell upon him. *Not too honourable for his own good, but smart and brave.* Lackner liked to think that that was how he was back in the day; knowing the prizes that truly mattered, and never taking his eyes off of them.

He took note of her change in tone. "Never there?" He said, picturing the vistas of Castle Barrmount. "It's showy. Stone on the outside, wood on the in. Big timber wall all around. They've a grand set of stables for all their beloved horses." He looked down at his steed's neck. "And tall doorways to suit all those massive bear-men they produce."

"If Nathaniel does decide to fire it, I hope we get there in time to see. I'd say it would be a thing of awe to see such a castle burn."

Sir Shaydrin Skagerlly
The Iron Plaines, the Witherlands

Shaydrin let out a weary breath, watching it chill and whiten in the wintery air. He'd planned on taking the lad with him on patrol, but he'd taken violently ill not long after he'd brought him into the camp. The men in the camp would surely have slit his throat, or tossed him into the snow, or perhaps both. He didn't feel inclined to leave the young man to his doom, nor did he want to wet the other bannermen's noses if he could help it. Rather, Shaydrin handed him over to the villagers, people who perhaps had at least some shred of compassion for strangers in the cold.

So the boy was not with him; he had no company on this perimeter walk, but for his brutish half-brother. He turned his head and looked Mallsrek in the eyes, thinking for a moment. Shaking his head, he continued onwards among the trees, gazing out across their encampment, and then at Castle Barrmount. A cloud of thick tension seemed to hang over the place. He wondered what his lord had in store for the lady within.
Christina
Lord Mallsrek Skagerlly
The Iron Plaines, the Witherlands

Mallsrek finally felt at home. His wish for violence had come true and here he was in command of his loyal men about to topple House Barrmont, the second thing that he hated the most. That was all good until his snivelling excuse of a brother, Shaydrin, had arrived to help with the campaign. There was only one thing that he hated more than House Barrmont and it was his brother who was always vying for their fathers attention.

Looking down at his half brother he thought to himself how he could be related to such a thing. Shaking his head he focused on his favourite task, war.

"Let's just attack the castle now. We have the men and the supplies we need and they need to learn what happens when they go up against our House. I'll lead the assault while you can go play with your maps and the logistics for the campaign."
He sneered at the last comment, knowing full well that he was the best warrior and no one could deny his actions in battle.
Christy
Chastity Blacktomb
The Iron Plaines, the Witherlands

Chastity pulled her lips into a tight worried frown underneath her mask, at the imagery Lackner provided of the entire castle burning to the ground. "Ah. In that case, I'm glad I've been able to fully enjoy all Castle Barrmount has to offer." She gestured sarcastically at the wood they occupied. "Maybe between the two of us, we can make off with some of the horses escaping the flames." 

While she joked with a clear confident voice, Chastity's grip on her reins tightened slightly. Those poor Barrmount girls. She sighed out loud and took a deep breath in. "When this is over with I'm going to enjoy drinking the Barrmounts dry to a chorus of their thanks. I don't want to come across as overly familiar, but you'd be welcome return with me to enjoy the celebrations at Blacktomb castle. The smell's a bit much but they roast terrific boar up there."
Raul
Scarlett Prynne
Witherlands

Scarlett hesitated a moment, wondering if this was really her place to speak. This was so far above her station; she was a confidant and a lover, not an advisor and certainly no lady. But perhaps she had the best view of the darkness in Lucius' world. She knew of a host of ghosts that haunted the families of the ruling classes; the dark secrets that were never meant to see the light of day. Now that Lucius had spoken on some of them, wasn't it her duty to warn the poor girl of all this?

She took a deep breath, then said, "This is how they live, Cerei. It... Is not an easy life either. Secrets and lies; honor and deceit; light and dark... They are all mixed together, twisted every way, and it is difficult to tell what is real and what is a mere apparition." She chose her next words carefully. "I would not make your decision lightly, Cerei, so don't rush to make it. But if you choose to join their world, this is something you will have to learn to live with and navigate. Lucius and I will be beside you every step of the way to protect you and care for you. But you can also choose not to accept this, if you wish. Either way, you have a great deal to learn."