Geoffrey sat at a table with some supplies, trying to put together a plan for the tower. He had sent a message to Giles to request he join him. There was also an implication that assistance from Matilda would be appreciated if the two were willing and he could convince her.

After court, Giles had grabbed a quick bite to eat before heading to meet Geoffrey, with Mathilda in tow.

"If he is as insistent on making a connection with your family as it seems, then a public interaction like this might be a good opportunity to learn more about a future brother in law." He ribbed the lady Mathilda.

"Or an opportunity to prove your own worth and strengths." He added far more seriously.

Matilda inclined her head in acknowledgment. "He is clever, for certes. Brother Bill says that he was very open with information with father."

She smiled. "So one should put a brave face on it. I suppose one more-or-less informal flirtation doesn't damn someone."

She opened the door and stepped in.

"Good afternoon, my lord. I understand we are to discuss a tower?"

He wants to say something clever and highly inappropriate at that. Instead he smiles and nods. "Indeed. There is a fair amount to discuss. The king hopes to make the White tower a true bastion. I can say with confidence that I have much experience with this type of work. But I was raised with French sensibilities and this task will need an English touch."

He offers seats as well as cups of wine. "Before we move forward with other questions about how the tower might be shored up, there is the question of God's children living in the direct area that would be affected by construction," he says, clearly having a preference for appropriate relocation and compensation.

"Well I must confess," Giles interjects with a sip of wine. "That I have never been blessed to even visit the Tower, do eithrr of you have any idea of the scope of this project? Or the number of these affected individuals?"

He nods in confirmation that he has visited the tower. He pointed out on the map, and made some estimates about numbers or, but also looked to Matilda. "What do you think, Lady Matilda?"

"And I think that I would benefit greatly from your expertise in identifying an ideal layout for any chapels or libraries that go into the final design. Stone walls and a sword are not all that is needed to protect the people."

Matilda considers. "I do find it distasteful that the area before the castle would need to be cleared, but I understand the necessity. It is difficult to defend a castle when an enemy has cover right up to the walls. It will be traumatic if we simply raze their homes and businesses."

She frowns. "They ought to be compensated. I'm not sure by how much, but it seems the right thing to do. After all, they could have no idea that they were compromising the tower."

"As well, if the tower were to come under attack, their lives and livelihoods are also in danger, so moving them is to their benefit, though they will certainly not see it that way," Geoffrey states.

"So erring on the side of appeasement is likely to cause fewer potential incidents that might cause harm or slow progress. But living that close to the tower... I am curious how many of them actually work within the tower. With the expansion there is potential work for them with the construction and work as servants after completion. Perhaps making housing for the servants a part of the design might ease the burden of relocation a bit."

[Noting: Seems like taking -3 for stewardship is the way to go here, since we're making some sort of accommodation]

Giles agreed with the pair regarding the relocation of the common folk.

"I am glad we are of a mind here, my conscience would not abide anything else in that regard. Alternatively, I did have a chance encounter with the Lord Mayor of London town yesterday, perhaps he might know of an affordable district to which we could relocate the dispossessed to defray costs?"

Geoffrey nods his agreement. "Seems reasonable."

"As for the tower itself... I would like to think that if it has not been renovated or fully repaired in a while it has some need of that. The white tower itself could be made into a bulwark against those that would oppose christendom, and stand in defiance of those that would defy the Lord God. But... how do we translate that into a visually striking image? I can likely make work some idea, to bring functionality to imagery. Ensure that the purpose is not forgotten and function meets form. But I would like to get your thoughts on both."

[Suggesting making changes to the white tower itself, but interested if they are more in line with keeping it out of tradition]

Matilda voices some concern about a break with tradition, but comes around to the idea, because her argument that a break with tradition erodes the psychological effect of the fortress actually cuts both ways: showing that you have the power to change the tower and remake the landscape sends a powerful message of its own.

He nods at that, and looks to Giles wondering if the had an opinion on the matter. Geoffrey at least seemed open to having his mind changed from Matilda's words even if she came around to the suggestion in the end.

Giles listened openly to the opinions, nodding along as points were made. "I am sure that our Lord God will take no offense to that which protects the most shining city in the crown of Britain. While I am not the highest ranking member of clergy here, I would be more than happy to consider this position."

D3 Towering Task - Religion Christianity TN10: 1d20 4

And he ensures that the proposed adjustments do not offend on a religious basis, adding a few helpful hints. "Perhaps a small chapel to allow our noble defenders to honor their faith?"

Geoffrey was pleased with the suggestion, but more than that he liked that there was little pushback which suggested they were all on a similar wavelength despite vastly different life experiences.

He begins writing, with possibly surprising proficiency for a knight. They were known for being only able to sign their names and writing poorly not infrequently.

[-6 to stewardship roll, will await any potential assist rolls for stewardship and battle, will roll to assist orate]

((OOC for roll planning - Battle 0, Stewardship 5, Orate 10))

(Battle 15, Stewardship 15, Orate 8)

Matilda: Battle 1, Stewardship: 12, Orate: 12

(successful assistance with orate 8)

D3 EA, Tower Expansion, Assist Orate, TN 8: 1d20 2

Successful assistance with Stewardship 12.

Stewardship assistance roll tn 12: 1d20 7

Aaaaand....of course.

D3 EA, Tower Expansion, Assisted Orate, TN 14: 1d20 16 - Fail

Geoffrey put his experience with renovations to his own chateau and fortification defense into the effort. It was clear that he knew exactly what he was doing. If he were not a Baron Knight he'd likely make a fine engineer and his display of skill would likely lead many to wonder why he had not already taken the cross in support of his cousin.

The plans that he laid out showed a significant improvement to defensibility, with plans for an expanded moat fed by the river, walls that were designed to give archers room to take cover in stacks of three behind parapets, suggestions for simple wood covered awnings to allow easy firing during frequent rains, and what initially looks like a maze of stairs but is actually a cleverly laid trap for anyone trying to make it to the ground from the top of those walls. Those stairs led absolutely nowhere useful and all and true access is controlled by a quick dropping heavy portcullis in each of the corner towers.

The inner area is likewise designed to be a relative maze of buildings that are linked by storm drains that simultaneously empty into the moat and river but double as quick travel points between buildings. There is housing for plenty of troops and servants.

The white tower though, that is the masterpiece of design. It takes prodding and suggestions from his colleagues to ensure it all matches up. It is designed in something of a counter clockwise spiral of squared off hallway that lead to highly defensible rooms that would have very little strategic value for anyone other than a defender. Those rooms would of course be put to use for other purposes outside of times of war. And at the heart of the tower was a chapel with a vault hidden beneath the altar to protect those relics of greatest value to the realm.

There are also suggestions for the inclusion of chains on the Thames river to either side of the tower walls, that would be able to be raised by dropping counterweights from the nearest wall tower as well as an ambitious flood-able escape tunnel under one of the moats.

D3 EA, Tower Expansion, Stewardship, -6 modifiers, +3 assistance, TN 12: 1d20 11
Success

D3 EA, Tower Expansion, Battle, TN 15: 1d20 10
Success

Giles had struggled to pin down the wording for the presentation, but he was able to help Matilda with her attempts to present their final project.

D3 Towering task Orate assist TN10: 1d20 8

((Matilda gains +4 to her Orate test))

Matilda refines the work Giles had begun into a sterling work of persuasive oratory. It looks like the plan has come together.

Towering Task Orate check+assistance: TN 16: 1d20 2