Great Hall
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A stately glass window dominates the southern wall of Coghill's Great Hall, showcasing the majestic grounds of the estate and flooding the room with sunlight. Austere red draperies adorn the window in an understated but elegant manner. In the center of the room a colossal table made from dark wood stands proudly on carved legs, the design subtly carried into the tabletop border. A massive ironwork candelabra hangs from a beam over the table, while its simpler counterparts hang at either end of the hall.
Cradled in the nook between the foyer and kitchen entrances is a fireplace which stretches from floor to ceiling. The large grey and brown stones are masterfully placed, seemingly suspended without mortar. A thin stone mantle supports a beautiful, intricately carved wooden mural of the Coghill Crest. Two large tapestries are mounted next to the kitchen door, one displaying an idyllic forest scene while the other portrays a scenic mountain panorama.
Sturdy wood beams function as decor even as they support the walls and a wood panel ceiling which is subtly crafted into a geometric pattern. The polished hardwood floors reflect the light from the candles and window. Carved wood doors lead to the kitchen and porch while a wide archway leads to the foyer.
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Tyren enters the great hall through the arch from the foyer.
Tyre sits at his usual place at the end of the table, near the fireplace, which has the best light.
Tyren walks into the hall not from the porch as usual, but from the foyer, with a small bundle of parchments in his hand. He makes his way toward the table, pausing as he notes it already occupied, though he does not seem particularly surprised about it.
Tyre is apparently quite engrossed in his work, as he doesn't look up at the sound of Tyren's footsteps.
Tyren makes his presence known a bit more obviously by simply saying, "Evening, brother," as he bows.
Tyre glances up blinking. "Ah, oh. You don't look like you've been out hunting this evening."
Tyren gestures toward his parchments. "You could say I had business of my own to see to tonight. Might I join you?"
Tyre says, "Ah, yes, very well."
Tyren takes the chair opposite his brother, settling into it with a low grunt. He rifles through the small sheaf in his hand idly, glancing them over.
Tyre glances over his brother's papers and returns to his work.
Tyren pulls out a pen as he comments, "We have had little opportunity to speak of our... recent excursion."
Tyre glances back up. "Ah, yes-- I haven't yet seen your notes on that."
Tyren gestures toward the parchments before him with his pen. "That is because I have yet to put the finishing touches on them." He taps his temple as he says, "After all, I keep most of them here. Transferring them takes time."
Tyre takes a little too long to respond. "Ah, of course."
Tyren lifts a brow slightly as he passes a portion of them over. "These, however, I believe are as detailed as I will be able to provide you with already."
Tyre takes the papers, "Ah, thank you."
Tyren glances back to the remaining papers, saying, "And the rest, I believe, will be ready for review by the end of the night."
Tyre says, "Very good."
Tyren's head remains bowed over his parchment, though his glance shifts back to his brother for a moment. "Will there be anything beyond these notes that you might need of me?"
Tyre says, "That's quite enough."
Tyren lets out a soft breath, returning to his parchment and beginning to scratch away at them as he says, "I thought as much."
Tyre blinks at him a few times and then returns to his writing.
Tyren furrows his brow a bit as he continues to write himself, pausing in his scribblings for a moment before he resumes at a fairly swift pace.
Tyre taps his lips, reading over what Tyren has already written and making a few notes.
Tyren scratches out a word, replacing it with another as he mutters quietly to himself. He gives a small nod of satisfaction at his change.
Tyre fiddles with his glasses fidgetingly, and finally gestures for a servant to refill his glass and plate, and bring Tyren one as well.
Tyren gives a small nod of thanks when the servant returns, and takes a drink as he looks over his work. "I must admit my notes of the... end of our excursion are a bit less detailed, for which I apologize."
Tyre says, "I was sure to record my observations upon returning here."
Tyren lifts a brow. "I do not think it was the time that detracted from the detail."
Tyre says, "Indeed."
Tyren makes one last note, then slides over most of the remaining parchment. "Even so, I hope they shall provide you with sufficient specifics about my own perspective on the matter."
Tyre takes the second set of parchment. "Thank you."
Tyren nods once. "I am always willing to provide what aid I can."
Tyre nods distractedly.
Tyren asks after a moment, "How is the arm, by the way?"
Tyre says, "Ah, a little sore, but it'll serve."
Tyren nods a little. "A sentiment I can relate to. I am glad it is nothing serious."
Tyre replies distractedly, "Yes."
Tyren opens his mouth to say something else, but apparently changes his mind, as he returns to his cup, drinking from it in a thoughtful sort of manner.
Tyre continues his scribbling.
Tyren studies his brother for a moment over the rim of his glass, then sighs quietly, near inaudibly. "I suppose you've a lot on your metaphorical plate this eve?"
Tyre glances up again. "Did you need something?"
Tyren does not answer to the question as swiftly as such a simply query might elicit, but after a moment replies, "Need... no. No, I suppose not."
Tyre returns to his notes. "Very well."
Tyren says, "Want, perhaps, but not I would not call it need. If you are busy, it can wait."
Tyre looks up again and sets down his quill. He removes his glasses to clean them. "Please go ahead."
Tyren's brows rise slightly, perhaps in surprise, perhaps due to some other reason. He takes another drink before he sets his cup aside. He asks simply, "Why did you stop me that night?"
Tyre blinks at him. "Sorry?"
Tyren waves vaguely toward Tyre's arm. "After your little bout. Had you not given me that look I would have had one of my own. And my curiosity is wondering why."
Tyre says, "Ahh... arm-wrestling was a way to /prevent/ a fight, Tyren."
Tyren gives a slow nod. "So it was - and it worked, to a point. I may not have been the only one to have questioned such bravado as was displayed by your opponent afterward, however. Even if I had stayed silent, there was no guarantee."
Tyre says, "I don't know what you are trying to say."
Tyren takes a breath, running a hand through his hair. "I have little patience for such swagger as he demonstrated to begin with... but even moreso when my brother pays the price for it. I didn't... didn't just want to stand idly by and let it pass. To do so was... a bitter taste to swallow."
Tyre blinks at his brother. "We were conducting an experiment."
Tyren says, "The fact did not make it any easier."
Tyre says, "If we had initiated anything it would have tampered with the results. Were we not preserving the sanctity of the experiment, we would still have our own duty as lords to keep to. I realize your training as a knight has provided you a love for fisticuffs, but our duty as noblemen is to keep peace, not disrupt it."
Tyren's jaw clenches slightly for a brief moment before he responds. "Love for it, perhaps, but I am not unaware of the fact there is also a time and place for it."
Tyre says, "Then I don't see why you are in doubt."
Tyren falls quiet for several moments, picking up his cup again and staring into its depths. Eventually, he says, "I wanted to stand up for you. And it was the only way I saw to do so. It was... instinct. I couldn't take it sitting down."
Tyre pushes his glasses up his nose, "Ah yes, well, I know my general reputation would indicate that I needed someone standing up for me, but I assure you that the sentiment is more appreciated than the action, in this case."
Tyren relaxes somewhat at this. "It's... not so much as your reputation as it is you're simply my brother. I need no more reason than that. But I will... keep that in mind, should the situation arise again."
Tyre picks up his quill and puts it down, looking fidgety again. "Insults are too common and usually too ignorant to earn a reaction, Tyren, especially if you're listening for ones about me." He removes his glasses and cleans them again. "You may not have noticed since I am your elder brother and you have spent your youth looking up to me and the rest of your life away," he says, apparently quite sincere. "But I am actually... quite awkward at interaction. It does not come naturally to me. Insults, then, are simply part of my life and I am quite used to it. Your fist is meant to defend the common folk, not punish them for being stupid. Save it for battle."
Tyren hehs quietly, and even smiles faintly. "I have not been entirely oblivious to it, but it is who you are. And I have borne my share of insults over the years as well - I simply bear those thrown at me better than I do those thrown at those I care about. Most of the time I do prefer to save my skills as a last resort, but I do get a little... inflamed, on rare ocassion."
Tyre says, "Ahh, perhaps, ah, a bit of restraint is in order, in such cases. Or--" he waves a hand, "--I don't know. I've been told poetry is excellent for the emotionally driven.""
Tyren chuckles at the last portion of this. "Believe me, I have tried my hand at it before, and the results were not particularly pleasant." He shrugs a shoulder. "It has... simply been some time since I have found myself in that sort of situation."
Tyre asks, "Have I explained the situation completely enough to assuage your curiosity?"
Tyren nods once. "I believe so."
Tyre picks up his quill. "Very well."
Tyren notes this, and stands. "In which case I suppose I shall leave you to your work."
Tyre says, "Now that Lady Astera will be spending more time in Chesterton, perhaps you will join her from time to time."
Tyren hehs. "It has... been on my mind off and on for some time, and even moreso as of late. I believe that will be likely."
Tyre says, "I'll be sure to speak with the servants about keeping your room prepared."
Tyren smiles a bit at this. "It would be much appreciated."
Tyre nods in reply.
Tyren bows. "Until next our paths cross, then, Tyre. A good eve to you."
Tyre says, "Good night, Tyren."
Tyren walks through the arch into the foyer.
