OOC: Feast at Winterbourne Stoke

[GM Craig]

No sweat, my friend. Though it was 8-9 years ago the last time I had a child in diapers, I recall well the sleepless nights. Do not stress about this.

The threads can wait until you have the sleep to deal with them.

[Geoffrey]

Rodric has two ladies who seem to indicate initial interest.

One is a young girl named Habren. As the second daughter of an esquire, she is below you in status and would have a modest dowry. but you do recall the late Sir Gwyn was the son of an Esquire, so great and heroic things might come from such a union. She is very beautiful [APP: 18] which might go a long way to bridging the social gap, but honestly there would be little glory in the pairing [Glory: 10]. On the plus side, she would be easier to woo. As the daughter of a commoner, she may lack the training the wife of a knight would normally have. She is very petite [SIZ: 4] Her father is a servant of Earl Roderick, who was elevated to Esquire for some service to the Earl. His daughter is technically a noble, though of lower rank.

The other lady that shows any interest is Lady Heulog, the second daughter of a vassal knight. She comes from a large family, with 5 brothers. Her father is the same social status as you are. Her dowry will not be great either, but there is glory to be had in the pairing [Glory: 100]. As the daughter of a noble, it is far more likely that she is trained to be the wife of a knight, and so would know the appropriate wifely skills. She is also attractive [APP: 14], but would be a more difficult challenge to woo. She is a little shorter, but much closer to average height. [SIZ:7]

For Habren, would marriage to Rodric be a step up in social status?  For Lady Heulog I'm guessing there would be no major change in her status?

[GM Craig]

Yes, Habren would get a step up. It would be a significantly advantageous match.

[GM Craig]

Further to that, as a byproduct of your relative social standing, she'll be much easier to woo.

[Geoffrey]

Going to go with Habren.

[Geoffrey]

Look at that, the roll is a success!

Would I address her as Lady Habren?

[GM Craig]

Yes, as the daughter of an esquire, she's been en-nobled.

[GM Craig]

Her father is still a commoner, so you wouldn't use a title for him.

[Cedwyn]

Rodric...you lucky dog!

[GM Craig]

He was going downhill, so it was easier. He's also not tied up the deal just yet.

[Geoffrey]

Yeah, I decided to try and raise Habren's social status over having Lady Heulog make more of a lateral move.  I think Habren is also more likely to appreciate what little (in terms of wealth) Rodric has to offer.

[Geoffrey]

I understand that marriage is more of a business arrangement, but I'm working on the premise that he might actually care who his daughter marries and that she'd be willing and happy about the arrangement.

[GM Craig]

You've pretty much already crossed that hurdle.

You have proven you're able to get along with her. You've expressed an interest in heirs and marriage, and it is a fortunate arrangement for her. You are a well-mannered knight, with a reputation for courage, and have faced evil and won.

Now the ball is in his court, to see if the dowry is enough to entice you. He lives on a stipend from the Earl, so he's not going to have a lot of cash to sweeten the pot, but if that's not an issue for you, he's unlikely to complain.

[Geoffrey]

Is Cedrych's first daughter already married?

What are the ramifications if I respond with a counter as to not clean the man's dowry out?  Would it be an insult to the man, would it appear that I have placed a lower monetary value on is daughter etc.

[GM Craig]

His first daughter is already married.

It could be a magnanimous gesture to accept his daughter without (or with a reduced) dowry. Depending on the delivery, it would earn you a check for the Generous trait later in winter phase.

It's potentially treacherous ground - you may insult him (again depending on the delivery). He could see it as implying he needs charity.