News From Hauxwell

All,
You do know there is a living testament to the dukes identity sitting in a cell right now. All be it safe, and fed, but who knows for how long. My lady, has already told me to heed my call to arms, and use discretion. For what harm my fall from an incursion into enemy territory is completely unknown.
For now I patiently wait for the order to strike. I'll hone my skills and my blades.

May I ask. Who will join me on this rescue mission.

On my honor,

Jericho,

I already know how to get in there and get into the prisons. The only reason I didn't get them out then and there was because it was too high a risk to my cover. They know and understood that I could not take that risk just yet. If I can have a chance to make right and get them out, I will help.

Khala Stormbringer

If it please my knight, Ser Yvain, I would like to put my name into the hat for the extraction mission, when that time comes.

-Adalynn Wells

Thank you all for your thoughts thus far. I am thankful I'm not alone in finding this information... vexing. I would love to hear more theories/research on the matter of this original duke. As for the rescuing of my family, that will come in time--specifically in the very near future. We've been doing well to approach this problem with patience and perseverance, and I have no intention of throwing that away within the final hour when we are so close to liberating them. I also can't, in good conscious, rush in to save them, and skip over the people of Hauxwell or leave land within the duke's grasp. I cannot stop at freeing the people close to me--I seek to free everyone.

I truly appreciate everyone's enthusiasm and loyalty; I would be honored to band together and reclaim my homeland together when the time comes. Right now, I estimate that we will attempt to reclaim Hauxwell in either June or July--that is to say, after I can ensure that the people of Robryn will be safe from further insurrection.

-Sir Odette D. Lucatiel

Sir Odette,

I am so glad to hear your parents live, though I'm sorry for the circumstances they find themselves in. You have my support in retaking your homeland, though I suspect you will find yourself in no lack of support when the time comes.

I want to posit a question as we all tack theories to this board: Odette's mother said this Duke appeared not only younger, but a different man. I think we can all easily imagine why someone would wish to become or appear younger---but if you had a very good claim to the throne, why would you try to appear as a different man and claim to still be yourself? What advantage does that hold?

I suspect this is a different individual, and the simplest explanation is that he is a younger Balliol, as many others have suggested. However, I think all the possibilities merit looking into.

I would be curious to get close to this Balliol, or to have someone we trust do so. It could be possible that he is an amateur disguise artist and is relying on the Chancellor to cover for him in his territory.